Atharvaveda · Sūkta 12.4
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12.4.1
ददामीत्येव ब्रूयादनु चैनामभुत्सत ।
वशां ब्रह्मभ्यो याचद्भ्यस्तत्प्रजावदपत्यवत् ॥ १२.४.१ ॥
Say "I give" indeed, and afterwards do not revile her. To the brahmins who ask, one should give the vaśā (cow); she becomes rich in offspring and progeny.
12.4.2
प्रजया स वि क्रीणीते पशुभिश्चोप दस्यति ।
य आर्षेयेभ्यो याचद्भ्यो देवानां गां न दित्सति ॥ १२.४.२ ॥
He buys himself free with offspring, and he also comes to ruin through cattle — the one who is unwilling to give the cow of the gods to the asking brahmins of the seers' lineage.
12.4.3
कूटयास्य सं शीर्यन्ते श्लोणया काटमर्दति ।
बण्डया दह्यन्ते गृहाः काणया दीयते स्वम् ॥ १२.४.३ ॥
Through his crooked one (kūṭā) his property is destroyed; through the lame one (ślokṇā) he digs a pit; through the barren one (baṇḍyā) houses are burned; through the one-eyed one (kāṇā) his own wealth is given away.
12.4.4
विलोहितो अधिष्ठानाच्छक्नो विन्दति गोपतिम् ।
तथा वशायाः संविद्यं दुरदभ्ना ह्युच्यसे ॥ १२.४.४ ॥
The blood-red śakna (a noxious creature) finds the cow-lord from its place; likewise there is acquaintance with the vaśā — for you are called hard to deceive (durad-bhnā).
12.4.5
पदोरस्या अधिष्ठानाद्विक्लिन्दुर्नाम विन्दति ।
अनामनात्सं शीर्यन्ते या मुखेनोपजिघ्रति ॥ १२.४.५ ॥
From the place of her foot the one called viklindu finds him; through the unbending (anāmanā) things are destroyed — she who sniffs with her mouth.
12.4.6
यो अस्याः कर्णावास्कुनोत्या स देवेषु वृश्चते ।
लक्ष्म कुर्व इति मन्यते कनीयः कृणुते स्वम् ॥ १२.४.६ ॥
He who cuts off her ears is severed among the gods; he thinks, "I am making a mark" — becoming lesser, he makes his own (loss).
12.4.7
यदस्याः कस्मै चिद्भोगाय बालान् कश्चित्प्रकृन्तति ।
ततः किशोरा म्रियन्ते वत्सांश्च घातुको वृकः ॥ १२.४.७ ॥
When anyone cuts up this cow's calves for some enjoyment, then the young ones die, and the slaying wolf (kills) the calves.
12.4.8
यदस्या गोपतौ सत्या लोम ध्वाङ्क्षो अजीहिडत् ।
ततः कुमारा म्रियन्ते यक्ष्मो विन्दत्यनामनात् ॥ १२.४.८ ॥
When, while in the keeping of the cattle-lord, the crow angrily stirs this (cow's) hair, then the boys die; wasting disease seizes the one who does not bow.
12.4.9
यदस्याः पल्पूलनं शकृद्दासी समस्यति ।
ततोऽपरूपं जायते तस्मादव्येष्यदेनसः ॥ १२.४.९ ॥
When a maidservant mixes this (cow's) pal-pūlana, the stirring of dung, together with dung, then deformity arises; therefore one would not be freed from sin.
12.4.10
जायमानाभि जायते देवान्त्सब्राह्मणान् वशा ।
तस्माद्ब्रह्मभ्यो देयैषा तदाहुः स्वस्य गोपनम् ॥ १२.४.१० ॥
The vaśā, being born, is born together with the gods and the brahmins; therefore this (cow) should be given to the brahmins; they call this the protection of oneself.
12.4.11
य एनां वनिमायन्ति तेषां देवकृता वशा ।
ब्रह्मज्येयं तदब्रुवन् य एनां निप्रियायते ॥ १२.४.११ ॥
For those who come to her as an alms-gift, the vaśā is made by the gods; the one who misuses her, they have said, commits brahmin-injury.
12.4.12
य आर्षेयेभ्यो याचद्भ्यो देवानां गां न दित्सति ।
आ स देवेषु वृश्चते ब्राह्मणानां च मन्यवे ॥ १२.४.१२ ॥
He who does not wish to give the gods' cow to the asking ṛṣi-descendants is cut off among the gods, and becomes the target of the brahmins' wrath.
12.4.13
यो अस्य स्याद्वशाभोगो अन्यामिछेत तर्हि सः ।
हिंस्ते अदत्ता पुरुषं याचितां च न दित्सति ॥ १२.४.१३ ॥
Whoever enjoys this barren cow and desires another, she then harms him; she harms the man who does not give, though begged.
12.4.14
यथा शेवधिर्निहितो ब्राह्मणानां तथा वशा ।
तामेतदछायन्ति यस्मिन् कस्मिंश्च जायते ॥ १२.४.१४ ॥
As the hidden treasure of the brahmins is, so is the barren cow; wherever she is born, they attend to her.
12.4.15
स्वमेतदछायन्ति यद्वशां ब्राह्मणा अभि ।
यथैनान् अन्यस्मिन् जिनीयादेवास्या निरोधनम् ॥ १२.४.१५ ॥
The brahmins go to the barren cow, claiming her as their own, so that the gods, through her restraint, may make them victorious over others.
12.4.16
चरेदेवा त्रैहायणादविज्ञातगदा सती ।
वशां च विद्यान् नारद ब्राह्मणास्तर्ह्येष्याः ॥ १२.४.१६ ॥
O gods, let the barren cow wander from the three-year-old calf, her ailment unknown; O Nārada, recognize the barren cow; then let the brahmins approach her.
12.4.17
य एनामवशामाह देवानां निहितं निधिम् ।
उभौ तस्मै भवाशर्वौ परिक्रम्येषुमस्यतः ॥ १२.४.१७ ॥
Whoever calls her 'not barren' (insults) the hidden treasure of the gods; going around him, both Bhava and Śarva shoot their arrow at him.
12.4.18
यो अस्या ऊधो न वेदाथो अस्या स्तनान् उत ।
उभयेनैवास्मै दुहे दातुं चेदशकद्वशाम् ॥ १२.४.१८ ॥
Whoever does not know her udder and teats: if the barren cow is able to give, she yields milk for him from both.
12.4.19
दुरदभ्नैनमा शये याचितां च न दित्सति ।
नास्मै कामाः समृध्यन्ते यामदत्त्वा चिकीर्षति ॥ १२.४.१९ ॥
The unassailable one lays low the man who will not give when asked. Desires are not fulfilled for him who wishes to act without giving.
12.4.20
देवा वशामयाचन् मुखं कृत्वा ब्राह्मणम् ।
तेषां सर्वेषामददद्धेडं न्येति मानुषः ॥ १२.४.२० ॥
The gods, with the brahmin as their mouth, asked for the barren cow Vaśā. The man who gives to all of them falls under the wrath (heḍa).
12.4.21
हेडं पशूनां न्येति ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽददद्वशाम् ।
देवानां निहितं भागं मर्त्यश्चेन् निप्रियायते ॥ १२.४.२१ ॥
The man who gives the barren cow Vaśā to brahmins falls under the wrath (heḍa) of the cattle. If a mortal, having withheld the portion placed for the gods, becomes displeasing...
12.4.22
यदन्ये शतं याचेयुर्ब्राह्मणा गोपतिं वशाम् ।
अथैनां देवा अब्रुवन्न् एवं ह विदुषो वशा ॥ १२.४.२२ ॥
When a hundred other brahmins might ask the lord of cattle for the barren cow Vaśā, the gods said to her: "Thus is Vaśā the possession of the one who knows."
12.4.23
य एवं विदुषेऽदत्त्वाथान्येभ्यो ददद्वशाम् ।
दुर्गा तस्मा अधिष्ठाने पृथिवी सहदेवता ॥ १२.४.२३ ॥
For the one who, not giving her to the knowing one, gives the barren cow Vaśā to others, the earth in his abode becomes hard to cross, together with the deities.
12.4.24
देवा वशामयाचन् यस्मिन्न् अग्रे अजायत ।
तामेतां विद्यान् नारदः सह देवैरुदाजत ॥ १२.४.२४ ॥
The gods asked for Vaśā, who was born at the beginning. The knowing Nārada drove her upward together with the gods.
12.4.25
अनपत्यमल्पपशुं वशा कृणोति पूरुषम् ।
ब्राह्मणैश्च याचितामथैनां निप्रियायते ॥ १२.४.२५ ॥
The barren cow makes a man childless and poor in cattle; when she is begged by brahmins, she becomes dear to him.
12.4.26
अग्नीषोमाभ्यां कामाय मित्राय वरुणाय च ।
तेभ्यो याचन्ति ब्राह्मणास्तेष्वा वृश्चतेऽददत् ॥ १२.४.२६ ॥
For Agni and Soma, for Kāma, for Mitra and for Varuṇa: brahmins beg from them, and among them the giver cuts off (his share) while giving.
12.4.27
यावदस्या गोपतिर्नोपशृणुयादृचः स्वयम् ।
चरेदस्य तावद्गोषु नास्य श्रुत्वा गृहे वसेत् ॥ १२.४.२७ ॥
As long as the lord of the cows does not himself hear the verses of this vaśā, let him wander among the cows; having heard them, let him not dwell in the house.
12.4.28
यो अस्या ऋच उपश्रुत्याथ गोष्वचीचरत् ।
आयुश्च तस्य भूतिं च देवा वृश्चन्ति हीडिताः ॥ १२.४.२८ ॥
Whoever, having heard this verse of the vaśā, then wanders among the cows, the gods, angered, cut off his life and his prosperity.
12.4.29
वशा चरन्ती बहुधा देवानां निहितो निधिः ।
आविष्कृणुष्व रूपाणि यदा स्थाम जिघांसति ॥ १२.४.२९ ॥
The vaśā, moving about in many forms, is the treasure deposited by the gods. When she desires to slay, reveal your forms.
12.4.30
आविरात्मानं कृणुते यदा स्थाम जिघांसति ।
अथो ह ब्रह्मभ्यो वशा याञ्च्याय कृणुते मनः ॥ १२.४.३० ॥
When she desires to slay, she reveals herself openly; then the vaśā makes her mind ready to be begged by the brahmins.
12.4.31
मनसा सं कल्पयति तद्देवामपि गच्छति ।
ततो ह ब्रह्माणो वशामुपप्रयन्ति याचितुम् ॥ १२.४.३१ ॥
Resolved in the mind, it reaches even the gods. Then the brahmins come to Vaśā to ask for her.
12.4.32
स्वधाकारेण पितृभ्यो यज्ञेन देवताभ्यः ।
दानेन राजन्यो वशाया मातुर्हेडं न गच्छति ॥ १२.४.३२ ॥
With the svadhā-offering to the fathers, with sacrifice to the gods, and with a gift, the warrior does not incur the anger of Vaśā's mother.
12.4.33
वशा माता राजन्यस्य तथा संभूतमग्रशः ।
तस्या आहुरनर्पणं यद्ब्रह्मभ्यः प्रदीयते ॥ १२.४.३३ ॥
Vaśā is the mother of the warrior; likewise she came into being first. They say that what is given to the brahmins is, for her, a non-offering.
12.4.34
यथाज्यं प्रगृहीतमालुम्पेत्स्रुचो अग्नये ।
एवा ह ब्रह्मभ्यो वशामग्नय आ वृश्चतेऽददत् ॥ १२.४.३४ ॥
As clarified butter taken up for Agni is spilled from the ladle, so he who gives Vaśā to the brahmins is cut off from Agni.
12.4.35
पुरोडाशवत्सा सुदुघा लोकेऽस्मा उप तिष्ठति ।
सास्मै सर्वान् कामान् वशा प्रददुषे दुहे ॥ १२.४.३५ ॥
Vaśā, with the purodāśa as her calf and easy to milk, stands by him in this world; for the giver she milks out all desires.
12.4.36
सर्वान् कामान् यमराज्ये वशा प्रददुषे दुहे ।
अथाहुर्नारकं लोकं निरुन्धानस्य याचिताम् ॥ १२.४.३६ ॥
In the realm of Yama, Vaśā milks out all desires for the giver. Then they say that for one who withholds from the petitioner there is the hellish world.
12.4.37
प्रवीयमाना चरति क्रुद्धा गोपतये वशा ।
वेहतं मा मन्यमानो मृत्योः पाशेषु बध्यताम् ॥ १२.४.३७ ॥
Driven forth, the enraged Vaśā wanders for the lord of cattle. Let him who thinks me a wicked one be bound in the snares of Death.
12.4.38
यो वेहतं मन्यमानोऽमा च पचते वशाम् ।
अप्यस्य पुत्रान् पौत्रांश्च याचयते बृहस्पतिः ॥ १२.४.३८ ॥
He who, thinking me a wicked one, cooks the barren cow together with raw flesh — may Bṛhaspati cause his sons and grandsons to beg.
12.4.39
महदेषाव तपति चरन्ती गोषु गौरपि ।
अथो ह गोपतये वशाददुषे विषं दुहे ॥ १२.४.३९ ॥
This Vaśā, wandering among the cows, burns exceedingly; and for the lord of cattle she milks poison for the one who gives the barren cow.
12.4.40
प्रियं पशूनां भवति यद्ब्रह्मभ्यः प्रदीयते ।
अथो वशायास्तत्प्रियं यद्देवत्रा हविः स्यात् ॥ १२.४.४० ॥
What is given to the priests is dear to the cattle; and dear to the Vaśā is that which becomes an oblation among the gods.
12.4.41
या वशा उदकल्पयन् देवा यज्ञादुदेत्य ।
तासां विलिप्त्यं भीमामुदाकुरुत नारदः ॥ १२.४.४१ ॥
The barren cows which the gods, having risen from the sacrifice, made like water — Nārada raised up their terrible smearing.
12.4.42
तां देवा अमीमांसन्त वशेया३ अवशेति ।
तामब्रवीन् नारद एषा वशानां वशतमेति ॥ १२.४.४२ ॥
The gods debated about her: 'Is she a Vaśā or not a Vaśā?' Nārada said to her: 'This one goes to the most barren of the barren cows.'
12.4.43
कति नु वशा नारद यास्त्वं वेत्थ मनुष्यजाः ।
तास्त्वा पृच्छामि विद्वांसं कस्या नाश्नीयादब्राह्मणः ॥ १२.४.४३ ॥
Nārada, how many human-born vaśās do you know? Knowing one, I ask you: of which vaśā should a non-brahmin not eat?
12.4.44
विलिप्त्या बृहस्पते या च सूतवशा वशा ।
तस्या नाश्नीयादब्राह्मणो य आशंसेत भूत्याम् ॥ १२.४.४४ ॥
O Bṛhaspati, the smeared vaśā and the sūta-vaśā vaśā — a non-brahmin who desires prosperity should not eat of it.
12.4.45
नमस्ते अस्तु नारदानुष्ठु विदुषे वशा ।
कतमासां भीमतमा यामदत्त्वा पराभवेत् ॥ १२.४.४५ ॥
Homage to you, Nārada, O knowing anuṣṭubh: of the vaśās, which is the most fearsome, that one who does not give it is ruined?
12.4.46
विलिप्ती या बृहस्पतेऽथो सूतवशा वशा ।
तस्या नाश्नीयादब्राह्मणो य आशंसेत भूत्याम् ॥ १२.४.४६ ॥
O Bṛhaspati, the smeared vaśā and the sūta-vaśā vaśā — a non-brahmin who desires prosperity should not eat of it.
12.4.47
त्रीणि वै वशाजातानि विलिप्ती सूतवशा वशा ।
ताः प्र यच्छेद्ब्रह्मभ्यः सोऽनाव्रस्कः प्रजापतौ ॥ १२.४.४७ ॥
Three are born of the vaśā: the smeared, the sūta-vaśā and the vaśā; he who gives them to brahmins is unharmed in Prajāpati.
12.4.48
एतद्वो ब्राह्मणा हविरिति मन्वीत याचितः ।
वशां चेदेनं याचेयुर्या भीमाददुषो गृहे ॥ १२.४.४८ ॥
When asked, let him think: 'Brahmins, this is your oblation.' If brahmins beg for a vaśā, let him give it in the house of the one who gave the fearsome vaśā.
12.4.49
देवा वशां पर्यवदन् न नोऽदादिति हीडिताः ।
एताभिर्ऋग्भिर्भेदं तस्माद्वै स पराभवत् ॥ १२.४.४९ ॥
The gods reproached the vaśā, saying, "She has not given to us"; angered, they struck Bheda with these verses, and therefore he was defeated.
12.4.50
उतैनां भेदो नाददाद्वशामिन्द्रेण याचितः ।
तस्मात्तं देवा आगसोऽवृश्चन्न् अहमुत्तरे ॥ १२.४.५० ॥
And Bheda did not give this vaśā when Indra asked; therefore the gods cut him off from his guilt — (in the following verses) "I am the highest."
12.4.51
ये वशाया अदानाय वदन्ति परिरापिणः ।
इन्द्रस्य मन्यवे जाल्मा आ वृश्चन्ते अचित्त्या ॥ १२.४.५१ ॥
Those reviling slanderers who speak of not giving the vaśā, are cut off, through thoughtlessness, as wicked ones, by the wrath of Indra.
12.4.52
ये गोपतिं पराणीयाथाहुर्मा ददा इति ।
रुद्रस्यास्तां ते हेतीं परि यन्त्यचित्त्या ॥ १२.४.५२ ॥
Those who, leading away the lord of cattle (the vaśā), say "do not give," around them revolves the missile of Rudra, through thoughtlessness.
12.4.53
यदि हुतां यद्यहुताममा च पचते वशाम् ।
देवान्त्सब्राह्मणान् ऋत्वा जिह्मो लोकान् निर्ऋच्छति ॥ १२.४.५३ ॥
If, having offered the vaśā in oblation or not offered her, one cooks her raw, he, harming the gods together with the brahmins, crooked, falls away from the worlds.