Rig Veda
samudrād ūrmir madhumāṁ ud ārad upāṃśunā sam amṛtatvam ānaṭ ghṛtasya nāma guhyaṃ yad asti jihvā devānām amṛtasya nābhiḥ
Forth from the ocean sprang the wave of sweetness: together with the stalk it turned to Amrita, That which is holy oil's mysterious title: but the Gods' tongue is truly Amrita's centre.
vayaṃ nāma pra bravāmā ghṛtasyāsmin yajñe dhārayāmā namobhiḥ upa brahmā śṛṇavacchasyamānaṃ catuḥśṛṅgo 'vamīd gaura etat
Let us declare aloud the name of Ghrita, and at this sacrifice hold it up with homage. So let the Brahman hear the praise we utter. This hath the four-horned Buffalo emitted.
catvāri śṛṅgā trayo asya pādā dve śīrṣe sapta hastāso asya tridhā baddho vṛṣabho roravīti maho devo martyāṁ ā viveśa
Four are his horns, three are the feet that bear him; his heads are two, his hands are seven in number. Bound with a triple bond the Steer roars loudly: the mighty God hath entered in to mortals.
tridhā hitam paṇibhir guhyamānaṃ gavi devāso ghṛtam anv avindan indra ekaṃ sūrya ekaṃ jajāna venād ekaṃ svadhayā niṣ ṭatakṣuḥ
That oil in triple shape the Gods discovered laid down within the Cow, concealed by Panis. Indra produced one shape, Surya another: by their own power they formed the third from Vena.
etā arṣanti hṛdyāt samudrācchatavrajā ripuṇā nāvacakṣe ghṛtasya dhārā abhi cākaśīmi hiraṇyayo vetaso madhya āsām
From inmost reservoir in countless channels flow down these rivers which the foe beholds not. I look upon the streams of oil descending, and lo! the Golden Reed is there among them.
samyak sravanti sarito na dhenā antar hṛdā manasā pūyamānāḥ ete arṣanty ūrmayo ghṛtasya mṛgā iva kṣipaṇor īṣamāṇāḥ
Like rivers our libations flow together, cleansing themselves in inmost heart and spirit. The streams of holy oil pour swiftly downward like the wild beasts that fly before the bowman.
This verse is not included in this edition.
As rushing down the rapids of a river, flow swifter than the wind the vigorous currents, The streams of oil in swelling fluctuation like a red courser bursting through the fences.
abhi pravanta samaneva yoṣāḥ kalyāṇyaḥ smayamānāso agnim ghṛtasya dhārāḥ samidho nasanta tā juṣāṇo haryati jātavedāḥ
Like women at a gathering fair to look on and gently smiling, they incline to Agni. The streams of holy oil attain the fuel, and Jatavedas joyfully receives them.
kanyā iva vahatum etavā u añjy añjānā abhi cākaśīmi yatra somaḥ sūyate yatra yajño ghṛtasya dhārā abhi tat pavante
As maidens dock themselves with gay adornment to join the bridal feast, I now behold them. Where Soma flows and sacrifice is ready, thither the streams of holy oil are running.
abhy arṣata suṣṭutiṃ gavyam ājim asmāsu bhadrā draviṇāni dhatta imaṃ yajñaṃ nayata devatā no ghṛtasya dhārā madhumat pavante
Send to our eulogy a herd of cattle bestow upon us excellent possessions. Bear to the Gods the sacrifice we offer the streams of oil flow pure and full of sweetness.
dhāman te viśvam bhuvanam adhi śritam antaḥ samudre hṛdy antar āyuṣi apām anīke samithe ya ābhṛtas tam aśyāma madhumantaṃ ta ūrmim
The universe depends upon thy power and might within the sea, within the heart, within all life.