Atharva Veda 11.3

tasyaudanasya bṛhaspatiḥ śiro brahma mukham

Extolling the rice-dish (odaná)

Of this rice-dish Brihaspati is the head, Brahman the mouth (múkha).

dyāvāpṛthivī śrotre sūryācandramasāv akṣiṇī saptaṛṣayaḥ prāṇāpānāḥ

Heaven-and-earth are the ears, sun-and-moon the eyes, the seven seers the breaths-and-expirations.

cakṣur musalaṃ kāma ulūkhalam

Sight (cákṣus) the pestle, desire (kā́ma) the mortar.

ditiḥ śūrpam aditiḥ śūrpagrāhī vāto 'pāvinak

Diti the winnowing basket, Aditi the basket-holder; the wind winnowed (apa-vic).

aśvāḥ kaṇā gāvas taṇḍulā maśakās tuṣāḥ

Horses the corns (káṇa), kine the grains (taṇḍulá), flies the husks.

kabru phalīkaraṇāḥ śaro 'bhram

Kábru the hulls, the cloud the stalk (çára).

śyāmam ayo 'sya māṃsāni lohitam asya lohitam

Dark metal its flesh, red its blood (lóhita).

trapu bhasma haritaṃ varṇaḥ puṣkaram asya gandhaḥ

Tin [its] ash, greens (? háritam) [its] color, blue lotus (púṣkara) its smell.

khalaḥ pātraṃ sphyāv aṃsāv īṣe anūkye

The threshing-floor [its] receptacle, the two splints (sphyá) [its] shoulders, the two poles (īṣā́) [its] spines (anūkyā̀).

āntrāṇi jatravo gudā varatrāḥ

Entrails [its] 'neck-ropes (? jatrú), intestines [its] straps.

iyam eva pṛthivī kumbhī bhavati rādhyamānasyaudanasya dyaur apidhānam

This very earth is the vessel (kumbhī́) of the finishing (rādh) rice-dish, heaven the cover.

sītāḥ parśavaḥ sikatā ūbadhyam

The furrows [its] ribs, gravel the content of [its] bowels.

ṛtaṃ hastāvanejanaṃ kulyopasecanam

Righteousness (ṛtá) [its] hand-washing, the brook (kulyā̀) [its] pouring-on.

ṛcā kumbhy adhihitārtvijyena preṣitā

With sacred verse (ṛ́c) is the vessel put on, with priesthood sent forth;

brahmaṇā parigṛhītā sāmnā paryūḍhā

With sacredness (bráhman) seized about, with sacred chant (sā́man) carried about.

bṛhad āyavanaṃ rathantaraṃ darviḥ

Bṛhát the stirring-stick, rathaṁtará the spoon.

ṛtavaḥ paktāra ārtavāḥ samindhate

The seasons the cooks; they of the seasons kindle fire.

caruṃ pañcabilam ukhaṃ gharmo 'bhīndhe

Heat (gharmá) burns upon the pot of five openings, the boiler (ukhá).

odanena yajñavataḥ sarve lokāḥ samāpyāḥ

By the rice-dish of him who hath an offering (?) all worlds are to be obtained together.

yasmint samudro dyaur bhūmis trayo 'varaparaṃ śritāḥ

In which ⌊rice-dish⌋ are set (çritá), one below the other, the three, sea, sky, earth.

yasya devā akalpantocchiṣṭe ṣaḍ aśītayaḥ

In the remnant (úchiṣṭa) of which took shape six times eighty gods.

taṃ tvaudanasya pṛcchāmi yo asya mahimā mahān

Thee here I ask of the rice-dish, what is its great greatness.

sa ya odanasya mahimānaṃ vidyāt

He who may know the greatness of the rice-dish—

nālpa iti brūyān nānupasecana iti nedaṃ ca kiṃceti

May not say "[it is] little," not "[it is] without onpouring," nor "[it is] this thing soever."

yāvad dātābhimanasyeta tan nāti vadet

As much as the giver may set his mind upon, that one should not overbid (ati-vad).

brahmavādino vadanti parāñcam odanaṃ prāśīḥ pratyañcam iti

The theologues (brahmavādín) say: hast thou eaten (pra-aç) the rice-dish as it was retiring (párāñc), or as it was coming on (pratyáñc)?

tvam odanaṃ prāśīs tvām odanā iti

Hast thou eaten the rice-dish, or the rice-dish thee?

parāñcaṃ cainaṃ prāśīḥ prāṇās tvā hāsyantīty enam āha

If thou hast eaten it retiring, thy breaths (prāṇá) will quit thee: so one says to him.

pratyañcaṃ cainaṃ prāśīr apānās tvā hāsyantīty enam āha

If thou hast eaten it coming on, thine expirations (apāná) will quit thee: so one says to him.

naivāham odanaṃ na mām odanaḥ

Not I, indeed, [have eaten] the rice-dish, nor the rice-dish me.

odana evaudanaṃ prāśīt

The rice-dish itself hath eaten the rice-dish.

tataś cainam anyena śīrṣṇā prāśīr yena caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan jyeṣṭhatas te prajā mariṣyatīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam bṛhaspatinā śīrṣṇā tenainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tenainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If ⌊ca⌋ thou hast eaten it with another head than that (tátas) with which the ancient seers ate this, thy progeny, from the oldest down, will die: so one says to him; it verily I [have] not [eaten] coming hither (arvā́ñc), nor retiring, nor coming on; with Brihaspati [as] head, therewith have I eaten it, therewith have I made it go; this rice-dish, verily, is whole-limbed, whole-jointed, whole-bodied; whole-limbed, whole-jointed, whole-bodied becometh he who knoweth thus.

tataś cainam anyābhyāṃ śrotrābhyāṃ prāśīr yābhyāṃ caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan badhiro bhaviṣyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam dyāvāpṛthivībhyāṃ śrotrābhyām tābhyām enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tābhyām enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other ears than those ⌊tátas⌋ with which the ancient seers ate this, thou wilt become deaf: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with heaven-and-earth as ears, with them have I eaten it, with them have I made it go etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyābhyām akṣībhyāṃ prāśīr yābhyāṃ caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan andho bhaviṣyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam sūryācandramasābhyām akṣībhyām tābhyām enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tābhyām enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other eyes than those with which the ancient seers ate this, thou wilt become blind: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with sun-and-moon as eyes, with them have I eaten it, with them etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyena mukhena prāśīr yena caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan mukhatas te prajā mariṣyatīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam brahmaṇā mukhena tenainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tenainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another mouth (múkha) than that with which the ancient seers ate this, thy progeny will die from in front (mukhatás): thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with bráhman as mouth, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyayā jihvayā prāśīr yayā caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan jihvā te mariṣyatīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam agner jihvayā tayainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tayainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another tongue than that with which the ancient seers ate this, thy tongue will die: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with Agni's tongue, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyair dantaiḥ prāśīr yaiś caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan dantās te śatsyantīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam ṛtubhir dantaiḥ tair enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tair enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other teeth than those with which the ancient seers ate this, thy teeth will fall out (çad): thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the seasons as teeth, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyaiḥ prāṇāpānaiḥ prāśīr yaiś caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan prāṇāpānās tvā hāsyantīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam saptaṛṣibhiḥ prāṇāpānaiḥ tair enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tair enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other breaths-and-expirations than those with which the ancient seers ate this, breaths-and-expirations will quit thee: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the seven seers as breaths-and-expirations, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyena vyacasā prāśīr yena caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan rājayakṣmas tvā haniṣyatīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam antarikṣeṇa vyacasā tenainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tenainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another bulk (vyácas) than that with which the ancient seers ate this, the king-yákshma will slay thee: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the atmosphere as bulk, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyena pṛṣṭhena prāśīr yena caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan vidyut tvā haniṣyatīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam divā pṛṣṭhena tenainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tenainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another back than that with which the ancient seers ate this, the lightning will slay thee: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the sky as back, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyenorasā prāśīr yena caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan kṛṣyā na rātsyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam pṛthivyorasā tenainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tenainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ saṃ bhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another breast than that with which the ancient seers ate this, thou wilt not prosper with plowing: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the earth as breast, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyenodareṇa prāśīr yena caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan udaradāras tvā haniṣyatīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam satyenodareṇa tenainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tenainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ saṃ bhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another belly than that with which the ancient seers ate this, the colic (? udaradārá) will slay thee: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with truth as belly, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyena vastinā prāśīr yena caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan apsu mariṣyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam samudreṇa vastinā tenainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tenainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ saṃ bhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another bladder than that with which the ancient seers ate this, thou wilt die in the waters: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the ocean as bladder, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyābhyām ūrubhyāṃ prāśīr yābhyāṃ caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan ūrū te mariṣyata ity enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam mitrāvaruṇayor ūrubhyām tābhyām enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tābhyām enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other thighs than those with which the ancient seers ate this, thy thighs will die: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the thighs of Mitra-and-Varuṇa, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyābhyām aṣṭhīvadbhyāṃ prāśīr yābhyāṃ caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan srāmo bhaviṣyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam tvaṣṭur aṣṭhīvadbhyām tābhyām enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tābhyām enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sambhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other knees (aṣṭhīvánt) than those with which the ancient seers ate this, thou wilt become lame: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with Tvashṭar's knees, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyābhyāṃ pādābhyāṃ prāśīr yābhyāṃ caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan bahucārī bhaviṣyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam aśvinoḥ pādābhyām tābhyām enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tābhyām enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ saṃ bhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other feet than those with which the ancient seers ate this, thou wilt be much-wandering: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the feet of the two Açvins, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyābhyāṃ prapadābhyāṃ prāśīr yābhyāṃ caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan sarpas tvā haniṣyatīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam savituḥ prapadābhyām tābhyām enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tābhyām enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ saṃ bhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other front-feet than those with which the ancient seers ate this, a serpent will slay thee: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with Savitar's front-feet, therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyābhyāṃ hastābhyāṃ prāśīr yābhyāṃ caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan brāhmaṇaṃ haniṣyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam ṛtasya hastābhyām tābhyām enaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tābhyām enam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ saṃ bhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with other hands than those with which the ancient seers ate this, thou wilt slay a Brahman: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; with the hands of righteousness (ṛtá), therewith have I etc. etc.

tataś cainam anyayā pratiṣṭhayā prāśīr yayā caitaṃ pūrva ṛṣayaḥ prāśnan apratiṣṭhāno 'nāyatano mariṣyasīty enam āha taṃ vā ahaṃ nārvāñcaṃ na parāñcaṃ na pratyañcam satye pratiṣṭhāya tayainaṃ prāśiṣaṃ tayainam ajīgamam eṣa vā odanaḥ sarvāṅgaḥ sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ sarvāṅga eva sarvaparuḥ sarvatanūḥ saṃ bhavati ya evaṃ veda

If thou hast eaten it with another firm standing (pratiṣṭhā́) than that with which the ancient seers ate this, without firm standing, without support (āyátana) wilt thou die: thus one says to him; it verily [have] I not [eaten] coming hither, nor retiring, nor coming on; standing firm in truth, therewith have I etc. etc.

etad vai bradhnasya viṣṭapaṃ yad odanaḥ

This—namely, the rice-dish—is indeed the summit (viṣṭápa) of the ruddy one (bradhná).

bradhnaloko bhavati bradhnasya viṣṭapi śrayate ya evaṃ veda

He cometh to have the ruddy one for his world, he resorteth (çri) to the summit of the ruddy one, who knoweth thus.

etasmād vā odanāt trayastriṃśataṃ lokān niramimīta prajāpatiḥ

Out of this rice-dish Prajāpati verily fashioned thirty-three worlds.

teṣāṃ prajñānāya yajñam asṛjata

In order to the knowledge (prajñā́na) of them he created the sacrifice.

sa ya evaṃ viduṣa upadraṣṭā bhavati prāṇaṃ ruṇaddhi

He who becomes the on-looker (upadraṣṭṛ́) of one knowing thus stops [his own] breath.

na ca prāṇaṃ ruṇaddhi sarvajyāniṃ jīyate

If he does not stop [his own] breath, he is scathed a complete scathing.

na ca sarvajyāniṃ jīyate purainaṃ jarasaḥ prāṇo jahāti

If he is not scathed a complete scathing, before old age breath quits him.