OF THE VEDAS. 
71 
(1) Creation ovk ovtcov, or creat ion out of nothing. 
The 129th hymn of the tenth book of the Eig-Veda is the 
most striking illustration of this " (1) There was then neither 
nonentity nor entity, there was no atmosphere, nor sky above. 
What enveloped (all) ? Where in the receptacle of what 
(was it contained) ? Was it water, the deep abyss ? (2) Death 
was not then, nor immortality ; there was no distinction of 
day or night. That One breathed calmly, by itself ; ^ there 
was nothing ditferent from It (that one), or beyond it. (3) 
Darkness there was ; originally enveloped in darkness, this 
universe was undistinguishable water ; ^ the empty (mass) 
which was concealed by a husk (or by nothingness) was 
produced, single, by the power of austerity (or fervour). 
(4) Desire first arose in It, which was the primal germ of 
mind. This the wise, seeking in their heart, have discovered 
by the intellect to be the bond between nonentity and entity. 
(5) The ray which shot across these things — was it above 
or was it below ? There were productive energies and mighty 
powers; nature (svadha) beneath, and energy (prayati) 
above. (6) Who knows, who here can declare, whence has 
sprung, whence this creation ? The gods are subsequent to 
its formation ; who then knows from what it arose ? (7) From 
what source this creation arose and whether (any one) created 
it or not — He who in the highest heaven is its ruler, he 
verily knows, or (even) he does not know.^' * 
' " Breathed witliout afflation, single with, (svadha) her who is sustained 
within him." — Colebrooke. 
" Breathed calmly, self-supported." — Muir. 
" Breathed breathless by itself." — Max Miiller. 
" Breathed calmly, self-contained." — Monier Williams. 
2 " There was a time in which all was darkness and water." — Babylonian 
Traditinn of the Creation. 
T%irT^iNj f f ^ ^T^^^: f^JTw'rs^ ii ^ ii 
