Heimdallr is the guardian of Bifröst. He needs less sleep than a bird, can hear grass growing and wool growing on sheep. His horn is Gjallarhorn and his horse Gulltoppr.
Heimdallr heitir einn. Hann er kallaðr hvíti Áss. Hann er mikill ok heilagr. Hann fœddusk níu mœðr, allar systr. Hann er ok kallaðr Hallinskíði ok Gullintanni. Tennr hans eru af gulli. Hestr hans heitir Gulltoppr. Hann býr við þat er heitir Himinbjörg, þat er við Bifröst. Hann er vörðr goðanna ok sitr þar við himins enda at gæta brúarinnar fyrir bergrisum.
One is called Heimdallr. He is called the white Áss. He is great and holy. He was born of nine mothers, all sisters. He is also called Hallinskíði and Gullintanni. His teeth are of gold. His horse is called Gulltoppr. He lives at the place called Himinbjörg, which is by Bifröst. He is the watchman of the gods and sits there at the edge of heaven to guard the bridge against mountain-giants.
Hann þarf minna svefns en fugl. Hann sér jafnt um nætr sem um daga hundruð rasta frá sér. Hann heyrir ok þat er gras vex á jörðu eða ull á sauðum ok allt þat er hárara er. Hann hefir lúðr þann er Gjallarhorn heitir, ok heyrist blástr hans um alla heima. Horn hans er fallit undir rót Yggdrasils.
He needs less sleep than a bird. He sees as well by night as by day for hundreds of leagues around him. He also hears grass growing on the ground and wool on sheep and everything finer than that. He has the horn called Gjallarhorn, and the sound of its blowing is heard through all the worlds. His horn is hidden under the root of Yggdrasil.
Eddic quotations
Himinbjörg heita, er Heimdallr kveðr sér um rǫð ráða; þar vörðr goða dreckr í væru ranni glaðr inn góða mjöð.
Himinbjörg is its name, where Heimdallr says he holds sway; there the gods' watchman drinks in his good hall cheerfully the good mead.