OR SACRED WRITINGS OF THE HINDUS. 453 



celebrated (aprafhafa), and conspicuous (prifhi- 

 I'i); and therefore is that name (Pnthivi) assigned 

 to the earth. 



* The lord of creation meditated profoundly on 

 the earth; and created the gods, the Vasiis, Rn- 

 dras, and 'Aditi/as. Those gods addressed the lord 

 of creation, saying; " How can we form crea- 

 tures?" He replied, "As I created you by pro- 

 found contemplation (tapas) ; so do you seek in 

 devotior^ (tapas), the means of multiplying crea- 

 tures." He gave them consecrated fire, saying, 

 " With this sacrificial fire, perform devotions." 

 With it they did perform austerities ; and, in one 

 year, framed a single cow. He gave her to the 

 Vasus, to the Riidras, and to the ^Adityas, [suc- 

 cessively]: bidding them 'guard her.' The Vasus, 

 the Rudra's, and the ^Adityas, [severally] guarded 

 her; and she calved, for the Vasus, three hundred 

 and thirty-three [calves]; and [as many] for the 

 Rudras; and [the same number] for the \4dityas: 

 thus was she the thousandth. 



* They addressed the lord of creation, requesting 

 him to direct them in j>erforming a solemn act of 

 religion with a thousand [kine for a gratuity]. He 

 caused the Vasus to sacrifice with the Ag'nisht'oma; 

 and they conquered this world, and gave it [to the 

 priests]: he caused the Rudras to sacrifice with 

 the Uctliya; and they obtained the middle region, 

 and gave it away [for a sacrificial fee] : he caused 

 the Adityas to sacrifice with the Atirdtra; and 

 they acquired that [other] world, and gave it [to 

 the priests for a gratuity].' 



This extract may suffice. Its close, and the re- 

 mainder of the section, bear allusion to certain re- 

 ligious ceremonies, at which a thousand cows 

 must be given to the officiating priests. 

 Gg3 



