Rigveda 4.001.16
Rigveda · Mandala 4, Sukta 1 · Verse 4.1.16
Vedic Classification
Sanskrit Original
ते म॑न्वत प्रथ॒मं नाम॑ धे॒नोस्त्रिः स॒प्त मा॒तुः प॑र॒माणि॑ विन्दन् । तज्जा॑न॒तीर॒भ्य॑नूषत॒ व्रा आ॒विर्भु॑वदरु॒णीर्य॒शसा॒ गोः
te manvata prathamaṃ nāma dhenostriḥ sapta mātuḥ paramāṇi vindan tajjānatīrabhyanūṣata vrā āvirbhuvadaruṇīryaśasā goḥ
They first appointed three named cows, seven mothers obtaining abundant measures. He who knew that sang praises, the breath came forth—mighty, renowned, cows of the two worlds.
They first have comprehended the name of the kine, knowing the thrice seven excellent (forms) or the maternal (rhythm); then they glorified the conscious dawns and the purple dawn appeared with the radiance of the sun.
The Milch-cow's earliest name they comprehended: they found the Mother's thrice-seven noblest titles. This the bands knew, and sent forth acclamation:with the Bull's sheen the Red One was apparent.