The Nasadiya Sukta, the hymn of creation, and the most philosophically radical text in the Rig Veda. Griffith's small capitals on the first word mark the start of the hymn and are normalised here. The hymn ends four verses later by doubting whether even the highest god knows how the world began.
Facts
Passage
TextTHEN was not non-existent nor existent: there was no realm of air, no sky beyond it. What covered in, and where? and what gave shelter? Was water there, unfathomed depth of water? Death was not then, nor was there aught immortal: no sign was there, the day's and night's divider. That One Thing, breathless, breathed by its own nature: apart from it was nothing whatsoever. Darkness there was: at first concealed in darkness this All was indiscriminated chaos. 1 Reference Scheme Translation
TranslationThe Hymns of the Rigveda 1 Connections
Concerns
Its One Thing is read by Advaita as an early statement of nondual Brahman.
Hinduism, Religions The oldest surviving Indian speculation on the origin of things.
Passage Of
Source The Hymns of the Rigveda, translated with a popular commentaryRalph T. H. Griffith
Sources
1. The Hymns of the Rigveda, translated with a popular commentary
Ralph T. H. Griffith, E. J. Lazarus / Internet Sacred Text Archive, 1896Rig Veda 10.129.1-3View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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