This Purusha, born in the earliest time, the Gods embalmed on the grass as sacrifice and performed their holy rites, so also did the Seers and Sages. From that universal sacrifice the curd dripping with butter was collected. Thence came the creatures of the air, and beasts both domestic and wild. From this universal sacrifice were born the Vedic Richas and Saman hymns, from this came the various meters, and from this were born spells and sacred formulas. From this were born horses, all creatures such as have two rows of teeth. From it sprang kine, from it the sheep and goats were born.

When they divided up Purusha, in how many parts did they divide him? What did his mouth become? What his arm? What were his legs called? What his feet? The Brahmin was his mouth, his arms the heroic prince, his thighs became the Vaishya, from his feet came the humble Shudra. The Moon was born from his mind, the Sun was born from his eye. Indra and Agni were born from his mouth, and the Wind from the breath. From his navel came forth the air, the heaven was formed from his head, the Earth from his feet, the four directions from his ear. Thus were formed the worlds. Seven were the fencing-sticks, thrice seven the sticks of fuel were formed, when the Gods performing sacrifice, bound Purusha as their victim. Thus the Gods in the sacrifice sacrificed victim. They were the earliest established rites. The mighty ones ascended up the heaven, where dwell the Gods and other celestial beings.

These stones, who have like race-horses ten sets of rein and iron bits well fixed in their jaws, and travel round and round. They were the first to taste the flowing Soma, they were the first to enjoy the milky fluid of Soma stalks. These Soma-tasters kiss the bay steeds of Indra, they are placed on the ox-hide for their task of Soma-pressing. Having drunk the sweet Soma draught drawn by them, Indra growing in might waxes great like a Bull. Strong is your stalk, you shall never be harmed, you are full of sap, ever satisfied, fair likes wealth of a rich, in whose sacrifice, O stones, you find delight. Bored deep, but not pierced through, are these Stones, never tired and ever free from death. Immortal, free from sickness, old age and suffering, slim looking, free from the thirst of craving.

Arise, my friends with one mind, enkindle Agni, my numerous companions. I call on you Agni, Sun and the Goddess Dawn, come ye down to aid us. Spin out your songs of praise, be pleasant in your thoughts, make a boat equipped with oars to cross the waters, get ready the implements and let the sacrifice now proceed further, my friends. Fix well the ploughshares, lay on the yokes. The furrows are made, sow now the seed. If your speech is heard with attention, the richer the harvest for our scythes. The learned make the ploughshares ready for ploughing of the wisdom gain favour of Gods. Arrange the buckets well in their places, and fasten securely on the straps. We shall draw from a copious well, rich in stream, fair flowing and inexhaustible.

The fool acquires food with fruitless labour, that food, I tell the truth, shall be his doom. He feeds neither a friend nor a man who loves him. Alone he eats, alone he bears the guilt. The ploughshare that ploughs the soil grows the food that satisfies hunger. The traveller, on his legs, reaches his goal, the eloquent priest surpasses that who is mute, a friend who gives is better than a miser one. The Sun with one foot outruns the two-footed man, and the two-footed man overtakes the old man with three. Quadruped like dogs come when called by the biped men. They stand and keep watch where five men meet together. The hands are both alike but differ in their work. So do two cows, or offspring of the same mother. The sister milch-cows may differ in their yield of milk, even twins differ in their strength, or kinsmen in charity.

In the beginning arose Hiranyagarbha, the Golden Germ, born only Lord of all created beings. He did fix and hold up the Earth and Heaven. What God shall we adore with our oblation? He who gives vital breath and manly vigour, whose commands even the Gods obey, whose shade is life eternal, the lord of death. What God shall we adore with our oblation? Who by his grandeur his emerged the sovereign of every living thing that breathes and slumbers, he who is lord of two-footed man and four-footed creatures. What God shall we worship with our oblation? By right the snow-capped mountains, the world-steam and the sea belong to him. By his own might they are his possession. The four directions and these heavenly regions are his extended arms. What God shall we adore with our oblation?

By him the mighty Heaven and Earth are upheld steadfast, by him are propped the vast vault on high and light’s realm. By him were measured out the regions of the mid-air. What God shall we adore look while trembling with fear. Through him the sun rises to shed forth his light. What God shall we adore with our oblation? When did the mighty Waters come, bringing the universal germ, whence sprang Agni. Then sprang the God’s one spirit into being. What God shall we adore with our oblation? He with his great might surveyed the Waters pregnant with creative force and generating sacrifice. He is the God of Gods and none beside him. What God shall we adore with our oblation? O Father, thou Creator of Heaven and earth, by eternal Law ruling, pray protect us, O Father of the great and lucid Waters. What God shall we adore with our oblation? O Prajapati, the Lord of beings, you alone pervade all the created beings. Grant us our heart’s desire when we call on thee. May we possess a store of many riches.