Vafþrúðnismál
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
1. 1.
"Ráð þú mér nú, Frigg, "Advise me now, Frigg,
alls mik fara tíðir for I long to go
at vitja Vafþrúðnis; to visit Vafþrúðnir;
forvitni mikla great curiosity
kveð ek mér á fornum stöfum I declare I have in ancient lore[1]
við þann inn alsvinna jötun." concerning that all-knowing jǫtunn."
Frigg kvað: Frigg said:
2. 2.
"Heima letja To keep Herjafjǫðr
ek mynda Herjaföðr at home I would like,
í görðum goða; in the stronghold of the gods;
því at engi jötun because no jǫtunn
ek hugða jafnramman I consider equally strong
sem Vafþrúðni vera." to be, as Vafþrüðnir."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
3. 3.
"Fjölð ek fór, Much have I travelled,
fjölð ek freistaða, much have I dared,
fjölð ek reynda regin; much have I tested the regin;
hitt vil ek vita, this I will know -
hvé Vafþrúðnis how Vafþrúðnir's
salakynni sé." home hall is."
Frigg kvað: Frigg said:
4. 4.
"Heill þú farir! "May you go safely!
heill þú aftr komir! May you come back safely!
heill þú á sinnum sér! May you be safe on the way!
æði þér dugi, may your mind[2] serve you,
hvars þú skalt, Aldaföðr, when, Aldafjǫðr, you have to
orðum mæla jötun. exchange words with the jǫtunn.
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5. 5.
Fór þá Óðinn Then Óðinn went
at freista orðspeki to make trial of the word-wisdom
þess ins alsvinna jötuns; of the all-knowing jǫtunn;
at höllu hann kom, to the hall he came,
ok átti Íms faðir; and it was owned by Ím's father;
inn gekk Yggr þegar. Yggr went therein.
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
6. 6.
"Heill þú nú, Vafþrúðnir, "Hail now, Vafþrúðnir,
nú em ek í höll kominn I have now come into the hall
á þik sjalfan sjá; to see you yourself;
hitt vil ek fyrst vita, first I wish to know
ef þú fróðr sér if you are wise
eða alsviðr jötunn." or, jǫtunn, all-knowing."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
7. 7.
"Hvat er þat manna "What man is this
er í mínum sal who in my hall
verpumk orði á? throws words at me?
Út þú né komir You will not come out
órum höllum frá, of our halls
nema þú inn snotrari sér." unless you be the wiser."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
8. 8.
"Gagnráðr ek heiti, "Gagnráðr is my name,
nú emk af göngu kominn, now I have wended my way
þyrstr til þinna sala; thirsty to your hall;
laðar þurfi - in need of hospitality -
hef ek lengi farit - I have travelled a long way -
ok þinna andfanga, jötunn." and of your welcome, jǫtunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
9. 9.
"Hví þú þá, Gagnráðr, "Gagnráðr, why do you there
mælisk af golfi fyr? speak from the floor?
Far þú í sess í sal! Take a seat in the hall!
Þá skal freista, Then shall be tested,
hvárr fleira viti, who knows more,
gestr eða inn gamli þulr." the guest or the old þulr."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
10. 10.
"Óauðigr maðr, "The unfortunate man,
er til auðigs kemr, who has come to the home of the
fortunate,
mæli þarft eða þegi; let him speak what he needs or be silent;
ofrmælgi mikil, a great excess in words,
hygg ek, at illa geti I think, brings ill
hveim er við kaldrifjaðan kemr." to him who is come to one of cold
heart."[3]
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
11. 11.
"Seg þú mér, Gagnráðr, "Tell me, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill since on the floor you wish
þíns of freista frama, to advance yourself by testing,
hvé sá hestr heitir, what is the name of that horse
er hverjan dregr that draws every
dag of dróttmögu." day over the human population."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
12. 12.
"Skinfaxi heitir, "Skinfaxi is his name,
er inn skíra dregr who draws the bright
dag of dróttmögu; day over the human population;
hesta beztr best of steeds
þykkir hann með Hreiðgotum; he is held to be among the Hreið-geats,
ey lýsir mön af mari." always the mane shines on that mount".
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
13. 13.
"Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr, "Say, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill since on the floor you wish
þíns of freista frama, to advance yourself by testing,
hvé sá jór heitir, what is the name of that equine
er austan dregr that westwards draws
nótt of nýt regin." night over the good[4] regin?"
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
14. 14.
"Hrímfaxi heitir, "Hrímfaxi is his name,
er hverja dregr who draws every
nótt of nýt regin; night over the good regin;
méldropa fellir hann drops from his bit he lets fall
morgin hvern; every morning;
þaðan kemr dögg um dala." thence comes dew in the valleys."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
15. 15.
Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr, "Say, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill since on the floor you wish
þíns of freista frama, to advance yourself by testing,
hvé sú á heitir, what is the name of that river
er deilir með jötna sonum that divides between the sons of jǫtnar
grund ok með goðum." and the gods, the land."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
16. 16.
"Ífing heitir á, "Ífing is the name of the river
er deilir með jötna sonum that divides between the sons of jǫtnar
grund ok með goðum; and the gods, the land;
opin renna run open
hon skal of aldrdaga; it shall for eternal days;
verðr-at íss á á." never will there be ice over the river."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
17. 17.
Seg þú þat, Gagnráðr, "Say, Gagnráðr,
alls þú á golfi vill since on the floor you wish
þíns of freista frama, to advance yourself by testing,
hvé sá völlr heitir, what is the name of that field,
er finnask vígi at where meet in battle
Surtr ok in svásu goð." Surtr and the dear gods[5]."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
18. 18.
"Vígriðr heitir völlr, "Vígriðr is the name of the field,
er finnask vígi at where meet in battle
Surtr ok in svásu goð; Surtr and the dear gods;
hundrað rasta a hundred rasts[6]
hann er á hverjan veg; it is in each direction;
sá er þeim völlr vitaðr." that field is reserved for them."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
19. 19.
"Fróðr ertu nú, gestr, "Now you are wise, stranger,
far þú á bekk jötuns, come to the jǫtun's bench,
ok mælumk í sessi saman; and let us speak together in [one] seat;
höfði veðja wager our heads
vit skulum höllu í, we must in [this] hall,
gestr, of geðspeki. stranger, on [our] wits."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
20. 20.
"Seg þú þat it eina, "Say first,
ef þitt æði dugir if your mind is good enough,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvaðan jörð of kom whence came the earth
eða upphiminn and the sky above
fyrst, inn fróði jötunn." in the beginning, wise jǫtunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
21. 21.
"Ór Ymis holdi "From Ymir's flesh
var jörð of sköpuð, the earth was created,
en ór beinum björg, and from his bones the mountains,
himinn ór hausi the sky from the skull
ins hrímkalda jötuns, of the rime-cold jǫtunn,
en ór sveita sær." and from his gore the sea."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
22. 22.
"Seg þú þat annat, "Say second,
ef þitt æði dugir if your mind is good enough,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvaðan máni kom, whence came the moon,
sá er ferr menn yfir, who is far above humans,
eða sól it sama." and likewise the sun."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
23. 23.
"Mundilfari heitir, Mundilfari is his name
hann er mána faðir who is father to the moon
ok svá Sólar it sama; and so also of Sól;[7]
himin hverfa turn around the sky
þau skulu hverjan dag they shall every day
öldum at ártali." for humankind[8] for reckoning of years."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
24. 24.
"Seg þú þat it þriðja, "Say third,
alls þik svinnan kveða since they call you swift[9]
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvaðan dagr of kom, whence came the day
sá er ferr drótt yfir, which fares over the people,
eða nótt með niðum." or the night with moonlessness."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
25. 25.
"Dellingr heitir, "Dellingr is his name
hann er Dags faðir, who is father to Dagr,
en Nótt var Nörvi borin; but Nótt was born to Nǫrr;[10]
ný ok nið waning moon and waxing moon[11]
skópu nýt regin the regin created new
öldum at ártali." for humankind for reckoning of years."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
26. 26.
"Seg þú þat it fjórða, "Say fourth,
alls þik fróðan kveða, since they call you wise,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvaðan vetr of kom whence came the winter
eða varmt sumar or the warm summer
fyrst með fróð regin." first among the wise regin."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
27. 27.
"Vindsvalr heitir, "Vindsvalr is his name,
hann er Vetrar faðir, who is father to Winter,
en Svásuðr sumars." but Svásuðr to the summer."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
28. 28.
"Seg þú þat it fimmta, "Say fifth,
alls þik fróðan kveða, since they call you wise,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hverr ása ellztr who oldest of the Æsir
eða Ymis niðja or of Ymir's sons
yrði í árdaga." came to be in ancient days."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
29. 29.
"Örófi vetra "A vast number of years
áðr væri jörð of sköpuð, before the earth was created,
þá var Bergelmir borinn, then was Bergelmir born,
Þrúðgelmir Þrúðgelmir
var þess faðir, was his father,
en Aurgelmir afi." and Aurgelmir his grandfather."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
30. 30.
"Seg þú þat it sétta, "Say sixth,
alls þik svinnan kveða, since they call you swift,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvaðan Aurgelmir kom whence came Aurgelmir
með jötna sonum among the sons of jǫtnar
fyrst, inn fróði jötunn." first, the wise jǫtunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
31. 31.
"Ór Élivágum "From Elivágur[12]
stukku eitrdropar, dripped drops of poison,
svá óx, unz varð jötunn; so he grew, until he became a jǫtunn;
þar eru órar ættir from there our races have
komnar allar saman; come, all entirely;
því er þat æ allt til atalt." hence [that race] is ever entirely fierce."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
32. 32.
"Seg þú þat it sjaunda, "Say seventh,
alls þik svinnan kveða, since they call you swift,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvé sá börn gat, how he begot children,
inn baldni jötunn, the unruly jǫtunn,
er hann hafði-t gýgjar gaman." since he had no pleasure of an ogress."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
33. 33.
"Undir hendi vaxa "There grew under the arm
kváðu hrímþursi of the rime-þurs, they have said,
mey ok mög saman; a girl and a boy together;
fótr við fæti foot with foot
gat ins fróða jötuns of the wise jǫtunn begot
sexhöfðaðan son." a six-headed son."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
34. 34.
"Seg þú þat it átta, "Say eighth,
alls þik svinnan kveða, since they call you swift,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvat þú fyrst of mant what you first remember
eða fremst of veizt, or oldest thing you know of,
þú ert alsviðr, jötunn." you are all-wise, jǫtunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
35. 35.
Örófi vetra A vastness of years
áðr væri jörð of sköpuð, before the earth was created,
þá var Bergelmir borinn; then was Bergelmir born;
þat ek fyrst of man, that I first remember,
er sá inn fróði jötunn when that wise jǫtunn
á var lúðr of lagiðr." long ago was in a flour-bin laid."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
36. 36.
"Seg þú þat it níunda, "Say ninth,
alls þik svinnan kveða, since they call you swift,
ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, and you know, Vafþrúðnir,
hvaðan vindr of kemr, whence comes the wind
svá at ferr vág yfir; which passes over the sea;
æ menn han sjalfan of sjá." always humankind see it not, itself."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
37. 37.
"Hræsvelgr heitir, "Hræsvelgr is his name,
er sitr á himins enda, who sits at the end of the sky,
jötunn í arnar ham; a jǫtunn in eagle's form;
af hans vængjum from his wings
kvæða vind koma they say the wind comes
alla menn yfir." [which passes] over all humankind."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
38. 38.
"Seg þú þat it tíunda, "Say tenth,
alls þú tíva rök since you matters[13] of gods
öll, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, know all, Vafþrúðnir,
hvaðan Njörðr of kom whence came Njǫrðr
með ása sonum - among the sons of the Æsir -
hofum ok hörgum hofs and hǫrgs
hann ræðr hundmörgum - he rules over hundredfold -
ok varð-at hann ásum alinn." and he was not reared among the Æsir."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
39. 39.
"Í Vanaheimi "In Vanaheimr
skópu hann vís regin wise regin created him
ok seldu at gíslingu goðum, and gave him as a hostage to gods,
í aldar rök in the course of ages[14]
hann mun aftr koma he will return
heim með vísum vönum." home with the wise Vanir."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
40. 40.
"Seg þú þat et ellifta, "Say eleventh,
hvar ýtar túnum í [what] men in the stronghold
höggvask hverjan dag; battle each other every day;
val þeir kjósa the slain they choose
ok ríða vígi frá, and ride from the battle,
sitja meir of sáttir saman." sit once more reconciled together."[15]
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
41. 41.
"Allir einherjar "All einherjar
Óðins túnum í in Óðin's stronghold
höggvask hverjan dag, battle each other every day,
val þeir kjósa the slain they choose
ok ríða vígi frá, and ride from the battle,
sitja meirr of sáttir saman." sit once more reconciled together."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
42. 42.
"Seg þú þat it tolfta, Say twelfth,
hví þú tíva rök since you matters of gods
öll, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, know all, Vafþrúðnir,
frá jötna rúnum of the mysteries of jǫtuns
ok allra goða and of all the gods
segir þú it sannasta, say you most truly,
inn alsvinni jötunn." all-wise jǫtunn."
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
43. 43.
"Frá jötna rúnum "Of the mysteries of jǫtuns
ok allra goða and of all the gods
ek kann segja satt, I can tell truth,
því at hvern hef ek because into every
heim of komit; world have I been;
níu kom ek heima into nine worlds I have come
fyr Niflhel neðan; down to Niflhel;
hinig deyja ór helju halir." men die from Hel into there."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
44. 44.
"Fjölð ek fór, "Much have I travelled,
fjölð ek freistaðak, much have I dared,
fjölð ek of reynda regin: much have I tested the regin:
Hvat lifir manna, What will remain[16] of mankind,
þá er inn mæra líðr when the great Fimbulwinter
fimbulvetr með firum?" comes over humans?
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
45. 45.
"Líf ok Lifþrasir, "Líf and Lifþrasir,
en þau leynask munu who yet will be able to hide
í holti Hoddmímis; in Hoddmímir's wood;
morgindöggvar morning dews
þau sér at mat hafa, they [will] have for their food,
en þaðan af aldir alask." and thence generations[17] [will] be born."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
46. 46.
"Fjölð ek fór, "Much have I travelled,
fjölð ek freistaðak, much have I dared,
fjölð ek of reynda regin: much have I tested the regin:
Hvaðan kemr sól From where [will] come a sun
á inn slétta himin, into the smooth sky,
er þessa hefr fenrir farit?" when Fenrir [will have] done away
with[18] this one?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
47. 47.
"Eina dóttur "One daughter
berr alfröðull, Alfrǫðull bears,
áðr hana fenrir fari; before Fenrir does away with her;
sú skal ríða, she is to ride,
þá er regin deyja, when the regin die,
móður brautir, mær." [her] mother's paths, the girl."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
48. 48.
"Fjölð ek fór, "Much have I travelled,
fjölð ek freistaðak, much have I dared,
fjölð ek of reynda regin: much have I tested the regin:
Hverjar ro þær meyjar, who are those maidens,
er líða mar yfir, who move over the sea,
fróðgeðjaðar fara?" travelling wise in mind?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
49. 49.
"Þríar þjóðár "Three great rivers[19]
falla þorp yfir fall above the village
meyja Mögþrasis; of Mǫgþrasir's maidens;
hamingjur einar the only hamingjar[20]
þær er í heimi eru, that there are in the world,
þó þær með jötnum alask." and they are born of the jǫtuns."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
50. 50.
"Fjölð ek fór, "Much have I travelled,
fjölð ek freistaðak, much have I dared,
fjölð ek of reynda regin: much have I tested the regin:
Hverir ráða æsir What Æsir [will] hold
eignum goða, the holdings[21] of the gods,
þá er sloknar Surta logi?" when Surt's fire is quenched?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
51. 51.
"Víðarr ok Váli "Víðarr and Váli
byggja vé goða, [will] build the vés of the gods,
þá er sloknar Surta logi, when Surt's fire is quenched,
Móði ok Magni Móði and Magni
skulu Mjöllni hafa are to have Mjǫllnir
Vingnis at vígþroti." at the end of Vingnir's battle."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
52. 52.
"Fjölð ek fór, "Much have I travelled,
fjölð ek freistaðak, much have I dared,
fjölð ek of reynda regin; much have I tested the regin:
Hvat verðr Óðni What will be the bane
at aldrlagi, of Óðinn,
þá er of rjúfask regin?" when the regin are destroyed?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
53. 53.
"Ulfr gleypa The wolf will
mun Aldaföðr, swallow Aldafǫðr,
þess mun Víðarr vreka; this Víðarr will avenge;
kalda kjafta the wolf's[22] cold jaws
hann klyfja mun he will rend
vitnis vígi at." in battle."
Óðinn kvað: Óðinn said:
54. 54.
"Fjölð ek fór, "Much have I travelled,
fjölð ek freistaðak, much have I dared,
fjölð ek of reynda regin; much have I tested the regin:
Hvat mælti Óðinn, What did Óðinn say,
áðr á bál stigi, himself in his son's ear,
sjalfr í eyra syni?" before he went up onto the pyre?"
Vafþrúðnir kvað: Vafþrúðnir said:
55. 55.
"Ey manni þat veit, "No person knows that,
hvat þú í árdaga what you in days of yore
sagðir í eyra syni; said in your son's ear;
feigum munni with a doomed mouth
mælta ek mína forna stafi I have spoken my ancient lore
ok of ragnarök. and of Ragnarǫk.
Nú ek við Óðin Now I have with Óðinn
deildak mína orðspeki; matched my word-wisdom;
þú ert æ vísastr vera." you are always the wisest of mankind."
[1] Literally ancient staves; see also Verse 55.
[2] Æði or œði is related to óðr and can have either of its meanings: fury (when it is feminine), and wits or disposition (when it is neuter). Here the gender is unspecified; the context suggests the second meaning.
[3] Lit. "cold-ribbed".
[4] Nýt here appears to be nýtr: "Fit, usable."
[5] Goð in heathen Norse texts is always neuter plural. Sváss originally meant "my own, our own", as in A-S swæs, but in all teh texts occurs metaphorically for "dear, beloved," as here.
[6] The röst was technically the distance between two rests, and varied according to terrain, but was generally approximately a mile.
[7] Following the text here: it capitalises in this one place, otherwise treats Sól and Máni as words not names. The manuscripts do not clearly distinguish names from ordinary nouns in this fashion, so in the preceding verse it is ambiguous which is meant. The same for Dagr and Nótt in the next two verses, and Winter and summer in Verses 26-27.
[8] The literal meaning of ǫld is an age, an era; this poetic usage for "human" is especially common in the plural.
[9] i.e., wise.
[10] Recorded only in this dative form, here and in Alvíssmál 29. Snorri gives his name as "Nǫrfi or Narfi".
[11] Or: full moon and new moon. The first literally means "new moon" but the latter is the normal term for the dark of the moon, as at the end of Verse 24.
[12] Ice-waves.
[13] Rǫk has a multitude of meanings: origins, history, marvels. The predominance of ragna rǫk - the history of the regin, but especially their end - and the fact it is here tíva rǫk, with another word for the gods - make a clear echo of that phrase here.
[14] Alda rǫk, the rǫk of ages, referring here to after ragnarǫk; elsewhere it is used for the beginning of time.
[15] All but the first line and teh last line of this verse appear to be corrupt: hvar is actually "where" but the question requires "what", and lines 4 and 5 repeat Vafþrúðnir's answer from Verse 41; the characterisation of Vafþrúðnir has been omitted. The verse can be amended to: Seg þú þat et ellifta, | alls þik svinnan kveða, | ok þú, Vafþrúðnir, vitir, | hverir'u ýtar | es Óðins túnum í | höggvask hverjan dag? : who are the men who in Óðin's stronghold battle each other every day?
[16] An old meaning of lifa, usually "to live"; also seen in "Vǫluspá" 16.
[17] Aldir, the plural of ǫld, here and often in poetry refers to humans, as it presumably also does in the name of Óðinn, Aldafjǫðr, used at the start of the poem. However the primary meaning is "age", as in Verse 39.
[18] Farit, and fari in the next verse, can alternatively be interpreted as "overtake".
[19] Later manuscripts have þjóðir, "tribes, troops".
[20] Hamingja here used interchangeably with fylgja.
[21] Eign is usually used for lands, especially in the plural.
[22] Vitnir, a poetic word for "wolf".