issue 35 > poetry > slavitt

From the Rig Veda, HYMN CLX. Heaven and Earth

1 Heaven and Earth, bestow prosperity on all, sustainers of the region, wise holy

                        ones,

            two noble bowls: between these goddesses the god, the radiant Sun,

                        travels by fixed decree.

2 Widely capacious pair, unfailingly mighty, the Father and the Mother, keep all

                        creatures safe:

            the two world-halves, the spirited, the beautiful, because the Father has

                        clothed them in goodly forms.

3 Son of these parents, the priest with power to cleanse, the sage, sanctifies the

                        worlds with his surpassing power.

            For his bright milk he milked through all the days the brindle Cow and the

                        prolific Bull.

4 Among the skillful Gods most skilled is he who made the two world-halves that

                        bring prosperity to all;

            with great wisdom he measured out both the regions and established them

                        with pillars that shall never decay.

5 Extolled in song, O Heaven and Earth bestow on us glory and lordly dominion

            whereby we may extend ourselves forever over the people and send us

                        strength that shall merit the praise of men.




HYMN CXCI. Water. Grass. Sun.

1 Venomous, slightly or deadly, aquatic worms,

            stinging unobserved, have infected me with poison.

2 Approaching, it kills unobserved; as it goes away it kills;

            it kills as it drives them off, bruising them to death.

3 In the Sara grass, Darbha, Kuśara, and Sairya, Muñja, Vīraṇa

            all dwell unseen; with poison they have infected me.

4 The cows had settled in their stalls, the beasts of prey had sought their lairs,

            the lights of men were extinguished, when things unseen infected me.

5 These reptiles are observed, like lurking thieves at evening.

            They are seers of all but are themselves unseen: therefore be vigilant.

6 Heaven is your Sire, your Mother Earth, Soma your Brother, Aditi

            your Sister: seeing all, unseen, keep still and dwell happily.

7 Biters of shoulder or of limb, with needle-stings, most venomous,

            unseen, whatever you may be, vanish all of you and be gone.

8 Slayer of things unseen, the Sun mounts up, eastward,

            consuming all things that are unseen, all the evil spirits of the night.

9 There has the Sun God mounted up, who scorches much,

            even the Āditya from the hills, destroying things unseen.

10 I hang the poison in the Sun, a wineskin in a vintner's house:

            he will not die, nor shall we die: his path is far: he whom the bay horses

                        bear has turned you to sweet mead.

11 This little bird, so very small, has swallowed up all your poison.

            She will not die, nor shall we die: his path is far: he whom the bay horses

                        bear has turned you to sweet mead.

12 The three-times-seven bright sparks of fire have swallowed up the poison's

                        strength.

            They will not die, nor shall we die: his path is far: he whom the bay horses

                        bear has turned you to sweet mead.

13 Of ninety-nine rivers with power to stay the venom's course

            I have secured the names of all: his path is far: he whom the bay horses

                        bear has turned you to sweet mead.

14 So have the peahens three-times-seven, so have the seven maiden sisters

            carried your venom away, as girls bear water in their jars.

15 The poison-insect is so small; I crush the creature with a stone.

            Thus, I turn the poison away, departed as if to distant lands.

16 Issuing forth from the mountainside the poison-insect spoke and said:

            Scorpion, your venom is but weak.






Also by David R. Slavitt:

From: The Odes of Mørch