26 W. Norman Brown TO THE GODDESS VAC (Rgveda 10,71) lo 0 Brhaspati, the first beginning of Vac was when they (the Wise) appeared, engaged in bestowing names, when what was their best, what was perfect, which had been kept in secret, was revealed from their love (of mankind)» [Utterance of a name caused the creature named to come into existence.] 2. Where the Wise, as if cleansing grain with a sieve, with mental application produced V5c, there the colleagues recognized the usages of collaboration; their auspicious symbol lay in Vac« 3o With the sacrifice they followed Vac^ track; they found her entered in the rsis. They brought her out and divided her manifoldly. Seven singers join in praising her. 4 One (priest) looks but does not see Vac; one listens but does not hear V5c. To another she discloses herself like a richly arrayed, passionate wife to her husband, 5c One colleague they (the fellowship of priests) speak of as fixedly reserved; they do not urge him to take part in the sacrificial contests. He operates with an unproductive (literally, milkless) delusion; he has listened to a Vac that is fruitless and flowerless. 6 He who fails a faithful colleague has no part in Vaco When he listens to her, he listens in vain; for not at all does he know the way o£ the successful Act (sacrifice). 7c Though colleagues all have eyes and ears, they are unequal in mental capacityo Some are like pools that reach to the mouth or armpits; others are like pools fit for bathing. 8. Where pliestly colleagues together perform a sacrifice with the product ot their mental quickness shaped by the heart (that is, fashioned with their utmost skill), there indeed they intentionally leave one behind: the others go away as Brahmans of renowno 9 Those who (at the sacrifice) move neither to this side nor to thai (that is, lazily stay still), acting neither as priests noi as preparers of soma, and insincerely sidling up to Vac, they weave a web of szris, the ignoramusesu [The word szr^s occurs no where else in the language and its meaning is unknown,,] 10 Ali colleagues rejoice in a colleague who returns in glory, victorious in the assembly; for he saves them from shame, wins subsistence for them, and remains prepared for contest. 11. One (priest, the invoker) is engaged in bringing to flower the wealth ^t the sacred stanzas; another (the chanter) sings the chants in the Sakvar-z meter; another, the Brahman (the supervisory priest) speaks