Atharvaveda 20.16

Like birds who keep their watch, plashing in water, like the loud voices of the thundering rain-cloud, Like merry streamlets bursting from the mountain thus to Brihaspati our hymns have sounded.

The son of Angiras, meeting the cattle, as Bhaga, brought in Aryaman among us. As Friend of men he decks the wife and husband. As for the race, Brihaspati, nerve our coursers.

Brihaspati, having won them from the mountains, strewed down, like barley out of winnowing-baskets, The vigorous, wandering cows who aid the pious, desired of all, of blameless form, well-coloured.

As the Sun dews with meath the seat of Order, and casts a flam- ing meteor down from heaven, So from the rock Brihaspati forced the cattle, and cleft the earth's skin as it were with water.

Forth from mid-air with light he draye the darkness, as the gale blows a lily from the river. Like the wind grasping at the cloud of Vala, Brihaspati gathered to himself the cattle.

Brihaspati, when he with fiery lightnings cleft through the weapon of reviling Vala, Consumed him as tongues eat what teeth have compassed: he threw the prisons of the red cows open.

That secret name borne by the lowing cattle within the cave Brihaspati discovered, And draye, himself, the bright kine from the mountain, like a bird's young after the eggs' disclosure.

He looked around on rock-imprisoned sweetness as one who eyes a fish in scanty water. Brihaspati, cleaving through with varied clamour, brought it forth like a bowl from out the timber.

He found the light of heaven, and fire, and Morning: with lucid rays he forced apart the darkness. As from a joint, Brihaspati took the marrow of Vala as he gloried in his cattle.

As trees for foliage robbed by winter, Vala mourned for the cows Brihaspati had taken. He did a deed ne'er done, ne'er to be equalled, whereby the sun and moon ascend alternate.

Like a dark steed adorned with pearl, the Fathers have decorat- ed heaven with constellations. They set the light in day, in night the darkness, Brihaspati cleft the rock and found the cattle.

This homage have we offered to the Cloud-God who thunders out to many in succession. May this Brihaspati vouchsafe us fulness of life with kine and horses, men, and heroes.