10.72.1.  We will now proclaim the origins of the gods to win applause (from any) who  shall behold them in a later age, as the hymns are chanted. 
2.  Brahmanaspati (the Lord of the Holy Word) smelted them together, as a smith.  In the primal age of the gods the Existent was born from the Non-existent. 
3.  In the first age of the gods the Existent was born from the Non-existent.  After it (the Existent) the regions were born--(after) it, from the (World-mother) in labour. 
4.  The world was born from the (World-mother) on labour; from the world the regions were born.  From Aditi Daksa was born from Daksa likewise Aditi (was born).  

[NOTE:  Aditi "is Mother, is Father, is Son . . . is all that is born, that will be born." Normally, however, Aditi is taken to mean the Great Mother from whom the world was born, as well as the mother of the gods themselves.  Daksa is masculine and often referred to as the "primordial cause," the original power of wisdom.  Daksa's personification fluctuates throughout the Vedas.] 

10.81.1  The seer who, in sacrificing all these worlds, took his seat as hotar-priest, our father--he, with prayer seeking wealth (i.e. sacrificing), concealing that which was first, entered into the later beings. 
2.  What, verily, was that resting-place (support)?  What manner of thing did he begin from, and how vast was it, that from which the All-maker, the all-seeing, creating the earth, unfolded the heaven by his might? 
3.  With eyes and face in all directions, likewise with arms and feet in all directions, he welded (as a smith) them together with his arms, with fan-bellows, creating heaven and earth, the sole god. 
4.  What, verily, was the wood, what the lumber, from which they carpentered out heaven and earth?  You wise ones, with your wisdom inquire into that, upon what base he rested, establishing the worlds. 
5.  These your highest places, your lowest also, and these that are your mid-most, All-maker, teach to (your) friends at the oblation, O Self-mighty One.  Yourself offer sacrifice, prospering your own self (thereby). 
6.  O All-maker, thriving on sacrifice, do you sacrifice for yourself (i.e. create, by the cosmic "sacrifice" of creation.) earth and heaven.  Let other people round about stray helplessly; for us here let there be a generous patron. 
7.  Let us summon today for aid at the (sacrificial) contest the Lord of Holy Utterance, the All-maker, who inspires the intellect.  Let him take pleasure in our offerings, being helpful to all, working surely unto our support. 

10.90.1  The Purusa [man as a cosmic being, a sort of world-giant] has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, and a thousand feet.  He, encompassing the world on all sides, stood out ten fingers' lengths beyond. 
2.  The Purusa alone is all this universe, what has been, and what is to be.  He rules likewise over (the world of) immortality (viz. the gods), which he grows beyond, by (sacrificial?) food. 
3.  Such is the extent of his greatness; and the Purusa is still greater than this.  A quarter of him is all beings, three quarters are (the world of) the immortal in heaven. 
4.  In his three-quarters the Purusa arose to the upper regions; a quarter of him, on the other hand, came to be here below.  From this (quarter) he expanded manifoldly into the things that eat and those that do not eat (animate and inanimate beings). 
5.  From him the Shining One (the cosmic waters) was born, from the Shining One (was born likewise) the Purusa.  Being born (from the Shining One) he extended beyond the world, behind and also before. 
6.  When the gods, with the Purusa as oblation, extended (performed) the (cosmic) sacrifice, Spring became the butter for it, Summer the firewood, Autumn the oblation. 
7.  They consecrated on the sacred grass this sacrifice, (namely) the Purusa, born in the beginning.  With him the gods sacrificed, the Sadhyas [ancient gods and demi-gods], and the Seers. 
8.  From this sacrifice, offered as whole-offering, the ghee-mixture (the juice that flowed off) was collected; it made these animals--those of the air, of the jungle, and of the village. 
9.  From this sacrifice, offered as whole-offering, the stanzas of praise (the Rigveda) and the melodies (Samaveda) were produced; the meters were produced therefrom, the sacrificial formulas (Yajurveda) were produced there-from. 
10.  therefrom were produced horses, and whatever animals have (cutting-)teeth on both jaws.  Cattle were produced therefrom, therefrom were born goats and sheep. 
11.  When they divided the Purusa (as the victim at the cosmic sacrifice), into how many parts did they separate him?  What did his mouth become?  What his two arms?  What are declared to be his two thighs, his two feet? 
12.  The Brahman was his mouth, his two arms became the Rajanya; his two thighs are the Vaisya, from his two feet the Sudra was produced. 
13.  The moon sprang from his thought-organ, the sun was produced from his eye; from his mouth Indra (war-god and soma-drinker) and Agni (the Fire-god), from his breath Vayu (the wind) was produced. 
14.  From his navel arose the atmosphere, from his head the heaven evolved; from his two feet the earth, from his ear the directions.  Thus they fashioned the worlds. 
15.  Seven were his surrounding sticks (at the burnt-offering), thrice seven were made the pieces of kindling wood, when the gods, extending (performing) the (cosmic) sacrifice, bound the Purusa as the victim. 
16.  With offering the gods offered the offering; these were the first (holy) institutions.  Verily these powers have followed up to heaven, where are the Sadhya-gods of old. 

10.129.1  Non-existent there was not, existent there was not then.  There was not the atmospheric space, nor the vault beyond.  What stirred, where, and in whose control?  Was there water, a deep abyss? 
2.  Nor death nor immortality (mortals nor immortals) was there then; there was no distinction of night or day.  That One breathed without breath by inner power; than it verily there was nothing else further. 
3.  Darkness there was, hidden by darkness, in the beginning; an undistinguished ocean was This All.  What generative principle was enveloped by emptiness--by the might of (its own) fervour That One was born. 
4.  Desire (creative, or perhaps sacrificial, impulse) arose then in the beginning, which was the first seed of thought.  The (causal) connection of the existent the sages found in the non-existent, searching with devotion in their hearts. 
5.  Straight across was stretched the (dividing-) cord of them (i.e. of the following); below (what) was there? above (what) was there?  Seed-bearers (male forces) there were, strengths (female forces) there were; (female) innate power below, (male) impellent force above. 
6.  Who truly knows?  Who shall here proclaim it--whence they were produced, whence this creation?  The gods (arose) on this side (later), by the creation of this (empiric world, to which the gods belong); then who knows whence it came into being? 
7.  This creation, whence it came into being, whether it was established, or whether not--he who is its overseer in the highest heaven, he verily knows, or perchance he knows not. 

[Taken from Discovering the Global Past: a Look at the Evidence  by Merry E. Wiesner, William Wheeler, Franklin Doeringer, and Melvin Page.  Published by Houghton Mifflin Company: Boston, New York.  1997]