Therefore one must not accept a boon; for she is a boon; verily he would be accepting a thousand. Let him say, 'She is a boon', and of another, 'Let this be mine'; verily he avoids accepting a thousand. She should be spotted on either side. They say, 'Let her be spotted on one side only; spotted is the thousand on the other side.' The one for a boon [5] should be beautiful, perfect in form; for she is a boon; (verily it serves for) prosperity. Leading her round to the north of the Agnidh's place he makes her smell the wooden tub near the Ahavaniya fire, saying, 'Smell the tub, O great one, with broad stream rich in milk; Let the drops enter thee as the streams the ocean; Give me a share in a thousand, with offspring, with cattle; Let wealth again visit me.' Verily he unites him with offspring, with cattle, with wealth [6]. He becomes rich in offspring, in cattle, in wealth, who knows thus. Having gone round the Agnidh's place with her, he should offer in front, while the cow stands facing (him), Saying, Ye twain have conquered; ye are not conquered; Neither of the two of them hath been defeated; Indra and Visnu when ye contended, Ye did divide the thousand into three.' The thousand is divided into three parts at the three-night festival; verily he makes her possessed of a thousand, he makes her the measure of a thousand [7]. He offers to her forms; verily he unites her with her forms. Rising up he mutters in her ear, 'O Ida, Ranti, Aditi, Sarasvati, Priya, Preyasi, Mahi, Viçruti, These, O inviolable one, are thy names; Proclaim me among the gods as a doer of good deeds.' Verily she proclaims him among the gods, and the gods take note of him. By the thousandth the sacrifice goes to the world of heaven. She makes him go to the world of heaven. 'Do thou make me go to the world of heaven', he says; verily she makes him go to the world of heaven. 'Do thou make me go to the world of light', he says; verily she makes him go to the world of light.YV 1.7g · Yajur Veda
YV 1.7g
Yajur Veda · translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith
Themes in this passage
TruthWealthThe DivineChildrenCharityKarmaNatureService
Truth in other traditions
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Confound not truth with falsehood, nor knowingly conceal the truth.Quran 2:42 · Quran · The Cow
They who know truth in truth, and untruth in untruth, arrive at truth, and follow true desires.Dhp 1.12 · Dhammapada · The Twin-Verses
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.John 17:17 · Bible · John
Stopp’d in the tumult Cleobulus lies, Beneath Oïleus’ arm, a living prize; A living prize not long the Trojan stood; The thirsty falchion drank his reeking blood: Plunged in his throat the smoking weapon lies; Black death, and fate unpitying, seal his eyes.Iliad 16.33 · Iliad · 16
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