Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem Brahma (1856) is often regarded as the finest and most complete of his orientalist poems. Some scholars think Emerson may have confused Brahmā, the Creator, with the Upaniṣadic Brahman, the One, which Emerson calls “that Unity, that Over-soul.” However, both terms Brahmā and Brahman, go all the way back to India’s ancient Ṛgveda (1500 -1200 BCE), the first book of lyric poetry in the world. Thus, most intriguing about Emerson’s Brahma, especially the verses, “I am the doubter and the doubt, I am the hymn the Brahmin sings,” is that it seems to allude to the famous and difficult hymn composed by one of the Ṛgveda‘s greatest poet-seers (kavi), Dīrghatamas, which is called The Riddle of the Universe (Asya Vamasya Sukta, RV I.164).

If the red slayer think he slays,

Or if the slain think he is slain,

They know not well the subtle ways

I keep, and pass and turn again.

Far or forgot to me is near;

Shadow and sunlight are the same;

The vanished gods to me appear;

And one to me are shame and fame.

They reckon ill who leave me out;

When me they fly, I am the wings;

I am the doubter and the doubt,

I am the hymn the Brahmin sings.

The strong gods pine for my abode,

And pine in vain the sacred Seven;

But thou, meek lover of the good!

Find me, and turn thy back on heaven.