The one

I had an enlightening conversation with skm today. He was talking about the Vedas and the abstractness of the philosophy contained in them! It is very very interesting. I think I will make a serious effort to relearn Sanskrit and read some verses everyday.

One of the most profound pieces of writing that I came across thanks to the conversation is the Naasadiya Suktam. Found in the RigVeda, it talks about the beginning of existence. The origin of the cosmos. Only the first verse is here. The rest of the suktam and a good commentary can be found at this page.

nAsadeeya sUktam RigvEda 10.129

Nasadaseenno sadasit tadanim. Na sidrajo no vyoma paro yat.

Kimaavareevaha kuhakasya sharmann. Ambhaha kimasit gahanam gabhiram.

At first was neither Being nor Nonbeing. There was not air nor yet sky beyond. What was it wrapping? Was Water there, unfathomable and deep?

There was no death then, nor yet deathlessness; of night or day there was not any sign. The One breathed without breath by its own impulse. Other than that was nothing else at all.

Note: English translation by Prof. Raimundo Panikkar