In the ancient wisdom of the Atharva Veda, there is a wondrous tale of Virāj, the sovereign principle, whose presence is both subtle and profound. She who is without breath moves alongside the breath of all living beings, and Virāj herself follows in their wake. Those who examine her closely may glimpse her radiant beauty—some are able to perceive Virāj, while others cannot. Many mysteries surround Virāj: Who truly understands her dual nature? Who knows the rhythm of her seasons, the order she keeps, the steps she takes, or how often she has been milked? Who knows her dwelling place, or the number of dawns she has witnessed? Virāj is the first among all, moving within the multitude, having entered into them. Her powers are vast and hidden, and as the bride, she has triumphed, becoming the mother of nine generations. When the moon waxes, the Dawns shine forth, journeying together toward the same womb. The Sun’s wife, wise and adorned with auspicious marks, ageless and rich in seed, moves along with them. Three entities travel the path of truth, three hot seasons accompany the seed: one brings forth offspring, one brings strength, and one guards the divine realm. Agni and Soma established Virāj as the fourth, as the two wings of sacrifice, arranging the stallions of ritual. The meters—Gayatri, Trishtubh, Jagati, Anushtubh, and Brihati—carry sound for the sacrificer. There are five dawnings, five milkings, the cow of five names, and five seasons follow after five. The five directions are arranged with the fifteenth, all united under one head, encompassing the world. Six beings are born, the firstborn of truth; six are the Saman hymns, carried for six days. Following the sixfold connection, Sama upon Sama, it is said that the heavens and earth are six, as are the wide spaces. Six cold seasons and six hot months are spoken of. O season, tell us which one is in excess. Seven swans—sages—have settled down, along with seven meters and seven initiations. Seven offerings, seven kindling sticks, seven sweet things, and seven seasons; seven clarified butters have encompassed the being. These are the seven vultures, so it is said. Seven meters, each with four more, are established one upon another. How do the chants stand among them, and how are they placed within the stomas? How did the Gayatri meter expand to threefold? How is Trishtubh arranged with fifteen? How does Jagati with thirty-three, Anushtubh, and Ekavimsha? Eight beings are born, the firstborn of truth; eight are Indra’s divine priests. Aditi is the eightfold womb, mother of eight sons; the eighth night receives the offering. Thus, considering this as the better way, I have come to your assembly, seeking your friendship. Your will is of one birth, auspicious is your resolve; may he, the knower, move among you all. Eight for Indra, six for Yama, seven for the seers—sevenfold; waters, humans, and plants—these five are sprinkled upon them. The cow yielded solely for Indra, the first milking, the sweet essence. Then she satisfied four, in fourfold ways—the gods, humans, asuras, and the seers. Who is the cow? Who is the one seer? What is the abode? What are the wishes? What is the wonder on earth, the single form, the one doer—who indeed is he? One is the cow, one the seer, one the abode, one the wish; the wonder on earth, the single form of the doer, is unsurpassed. In the beginning, Virāj alone existed. When she was born, she divided all things, thinking, “This indeed will become.” She moved forth and entered the household fire. Whoever knows this becomes a householder, master of the house. She stepped forth and entered the āhavanīya fire. Whoever knows this, the gods come to his invocation, and he becomes dear to the gods. She stepped forth and entered the southern fire. Whoever knows this, for him the sacrificial fee is proper, and he becomes fit for hospitality. She stepped forth and entered the assembly. Whoever knows this, the assembly comes to him, and he becomes foremost among them. She stepped forth and entered the council. Whoever knows this, the council comes to him, and he becomes foremost in the council. She stepped forth and entered the consultation. Whoever knows this, the consultation comes to him, and he becomes foremost in consultation. She stepped forth and stood in the midspace, advancing in fourfold manner. The gods and men said to her, “She alone knows that by which we both subsist; let us call her here.” And so, they called her. They invoked her: “Come, O nourishment! Come, O inherent power! Come, O fair speech! Come, O one rich in refreshment!” Of her, Indra was the calf, uttering the Gāyatrī, moving about, never wandering away. Bṛhat and Rathantara were her two udders, Yajñāyajñiya and Vāmadeva her other two. The gods milked the plants with Rathantara, and radiance with Bṛhat. They milked the waters with Vāmadeva, and the sacrifice with Yajñāyajñiya. The plants themselves milked Rathantara for him, and radiance Bṛhat. Whoever knows the waters as Vāmadeva, and the sacrifice as Yajñāyajñiya— She stepped forth and went to the trees. The trees struck her, and she became one with the year. Thus, among trees, even what is cut off grows again in the year. Whoever knows this, his rival is not dear. She stepped forth and went to the ancestors. The ancestors struck her, and she became one with the month. Therefore, from the ancestors, they give the upamāsa in the month. Whoever knows this knows the path of the ancestors. She stepped forth and went to the gods. The gods struck her, and she became one with the half-month. Therefore, for the gods, the vaṣaṭ is made in the half-month. Whoever knows this knows the path of the gods. She departed and came to humans. The humans struck her, and she immediately became manifest. Thus, among humans, those who know this bring her near both day and night, and she is brought into the house for worship. She departed and came to the Asuras. The Asuras called to her, “Come, O magic!” For her, Virocana Prahrāda was the calf, and the vessel was an unbaked pot. The two-headed priest milked her below, and only magic was milked out. The Asuras live by that magic. Whoever knows this becomes a possessor of magic for sustenance. Thus, the story of Virāj unfolds, linking all beings, seasons, rituals, and mysteries, weaving together gods, humans, ancestors, and even Asuras, in the eternal play of creation and sustenance.