Sacred Concord

YV 6.4d

Yajur Veda · translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith

e May the five regions divine aid the sacrifice, The goddesses driving away poverty and hostility, And giving to the lord of the sacrifice increase of wealth. In increase of wealth the sacrifice hath been established, Waxing great on the kindled fire, Grasped with hymns as wings, to be adored; They sacrificed embracing the heated cauldron. g When with strength the gods laboured at the sacrifice For the divine supporter, the enjoyer, Serving the gods, benign, with a hundred drinks (was it); The gods kept embracing the sacrifice [2]. h With the rays of the sun, with tawny hair, Savitr hath raised before (us) his unending light; On his instigation fareth Pusan the god, The guardian, gazing on all things. i The gods stand serving as priests for the gods; Ready (is it) for the immolator, let the immolator sacrifice; Where the fourth offering goeth to the oblation, Thence let our pure invocations be accepted. k As measurer he standeth in the midst of the sky, Filling the two worlds and the atmosphere; The all-reaching [3], the butter-reaching, he discerneth, Between the eastern and the western mark. l Bull, ocean, ruddy bird, He hath entered the birthplace of his ancient sire; In the middle of the sky is the dappled stone set down He hath stepped apart, he guardeth the two ends of space. m All songs have caused Indra to wax To encompass the ocean, Best charioteer of charioteers, True lord and lord of strength. n Let the sacrifice invite favour, and bring (to us) the gods; let the god, Agni, offer and bring (to us) the gods. o With the impulse of strength, With elevation he hath seized me; Then Indra hath made my enemies Humble by depression. p The gods have increased my prayer, Which is elevation and depression; Then do ye, O Indra and Agni, Scatter my foes on every side. a Swift, like a bull sharpening his horns, the warrior Fond of slaughter, disturber of the people, Bellowing, unwinking, sole hero, Indra at once conquered a hundred hosts.
YV 6.4d · Yajur Veda

Themes in this passage

WorshipThe DivineNatureStrengthWarWealthCharityHumility

Worship in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hellenism address it.

And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering.
Numbers 29:31 · Bible · Numbers
Nor will ye worship that which I worship.
Quran 109:5 · Quran · The Unbelievers
Whatever a man sacrifice in this world as an offering or as an oblation for a whole year in order to gain merit, the whole of it is not worth a quarter (a farthing); reverence shown to the righteous is better.
Dhp 8.108 · Dhammapada · The Thousands
Full fifty more from Athens stem the main, Led by Menestheus through the liquid plain. (Athens the fair, where great Erectheus sway’d, That owed his nurture to the blue-eyed maid, But from the teeming furrow took his birth, The mighty offspring of the foodful earth. Him Pallas placed amidst her wealthy fane, Adored with sacrifice and oxen slain; Where, as the years revolve, her altars blaze, And all the tribes resound the goddess’ praise.) No chief like thee, Menestheus! Greece could yield, To marshal armies in the dusty field, The extended wings of battle to display, Or close the embodied host in firm array. Nestor alone, improved by length of days, For martial conduct bore an equal praise.
Iliad 2.41 · Iliad · 2

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