Rigveda 1.161.09
Rigveda · Mandala 1, Sukta 161 · Verse 1.161.9
Vedic Classification
Sanskrit Original
आपो॒ भूयि॑ष्ठा॒ इत्येको॑ अब्रवीद॒ग्निर्भूयि॑ष्ठ॒ इत्य॒न्यो अ॑ब्रवीत् । व॒ध॒र्यन्तीं॑ ब॒हुभ्यः॒ प्रैको॑ अब्रवीदृ॒ता वद॑न्तश्चम॒साँ अ॑पिंशत
āpo bhūyiṣṭhā ityeko abravīdagnirbhūyiṣṭha ityanyo abravīt vadharyantīṃ bahubhyaḥ praiko abravīdṛtā vadantaścamasām̐ apiṃśata
One said: 'Waters increase'; another said: 'Fire increases.' Some said: 'They shall be gathered manyfold.' They spoke the rite; the knives struck the offerings.
Waters are the most excellent said one (of them). Agni is that most excellent, said another; the third declared to many the Earth (to be the most excellent), and thus speaking true things the Ṛbhus divided the ladle.
Most excellent are waters, thus said one of you; most excellent is Agni, thus another said. Another praised to many a one the lightning cloud. Then did ye shape the cups, speaking the words of truth.