Sacred Concord

YV 6.4k

Yajur Veda · translated by Arthur Berriedale Keith

e Hotr Adhvaryu, atoner, fire kindler, Holder of the stone, and skilled reciter, With this well-prepared sacrifice Well offered do ye fill the channels. f The cutters of the stake, the bearers of the stake, And they that fashion the top piece for the stake for the horse, And they that collect the cooking-pot for the steed [2], May their approval quicken us. g He hath come forth--efficacious hath been my prayer-- To the regions of the gods, straight backed; In him the sages, the seers, rejoice, For the prosperity of the gods a good friend have we made. h The bond of the strong one, the tie of the steed, The head stall, the rope of him, And the grass placed in his mouth, May all these of thine be with the gods. i Whatever of the horse's raw flesh [3] the fly eateth, Whatever on the chip or the axe hath stuck, Whatever is on the hands, the nails of the slayer, May all these of thine be with the gods. k The refuse that bloweth forth from the belly, The smell of raw flesh, Let the slayers see that in order Let them cook the fat to a turn. I Whatever flieth away from thy limb As it is cooked by the fire when thou art spitted, Let it fall not on earth, nor on the grass; Be that given to the eager gods. a Those who watch for the cooking of the strong one, And call out, 'It is fragrant; take it out,' And who wait to beg for the meat of the steed, May their approval quicken us. b The trial spoon of the meat-cooking pot, The vessels to hold the juice, The coverings of the dishes for warming, The hooks, the crates, attend the steed. c The starting-place, the sitting down, the turning, The hobbles of the steed, What it hath drunk, what it hath eaten as fodder [1], May all these of thine be with the gods. d May Agni, smoke smelling, not make thee crackle; May not the radiant pot be broken, smelling; Offered, delighted in, approved, offered with the Vasat cry, The gods accept the horse.
YV 6.4k · Yajur Veda

Themes in this passage

StrengthFriendshipJoyNatureTemptationWealthWorshipImpermanence

Strength in other traditions

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

Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
Job 36:5 · Bible · Job
Allah is He Who shaped you out of weakness, then appointed after weakness strength, then, after strength, appointed weakness and grey hair. He createth what He will. He is the Knower, the Mighty.
Quran 30:54 · Quran · The Romans
“Stern power of war! by whom the mighty fall, Who bathe in blood, and shake the lofty wall! Let the brave chiefs their glorious toils divide; And whose the conquest, mighty Jove decide: While we from interdicted fields retire, Nor tempt the wrath of heaven’s avenging sire.”
Iliad 5.6 · Iliad · 5
Hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces does not conquer; and a tree which is strong will fill the out-stretched arms, (and thereby invites the feller.)
Tao Te Ching 76.3 · Tao Te Ching

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