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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at sacred-texts.com


HYMN VI

A prayer for protection and prosperity

1Eastward at first the prayer was generated: Vena disclosed bright
   flashes from the summit, p. a161
  Disclosed his deepest nearest revelations, womb of the non-
   existent and existent.
2None have attained to those of old, those who wrought holy
   acts for you,
  Let them not harm our heroes here. Therefore I set before you
   this.
3Sweet-tongued, exhaustless, they have sent their voices down
   together in heaven's vault that pours a thousand streams.
  His wildly-restless warders never close an eye: in every place
   the snarers stand to bind men fast.
4Speed forward, conquering all foes, to win the spoil,
  Thou comest on thy haters with a surging sea. Thy name is
  Fragile. The thirteenth month is Indra's home.
5Through this now hast thou sent thy gifts. All hail!
  With sharpened arms and missiles, kind and friendly, be gracious
   unto us, Soma and Rudra!
6Through this hast thou been left in want. All hail!
  With sharpened arms and missiles, kind and friendly, be gracious
   unto us, Soma and Rudra!
7Through this hast thou committed faults. All hail!
  With sharpened arms and missiles, kind and friendly, be gracious
   unto us, Soma and Rudra!
8Free us from trouble, free us from dishonour, accept our wor-
   ship, give us life immortal.
9O missile of the eye, missile of spirit, thou missile of devotion
   and of fervour!
  Thou art the weapon shot against the weapon. Let those be
   weaponless who sin against us.
10Make with thy weapon weaponless, O Agni, all wicked men
   who deal with us as foemen with eye, with thought, with
   spirit, or intention.
11Thou art the house of Indra. I betake me to thee, I enter thee
   with all my cattle,
  With all my people and with all my body, with all my soul, with
   mine entire possessions.
12Thou art the guard of Indra. I betake me to thee, etc.
13Thou art the shield of Indra. I betake me to thee, etc.
14Indra's protection art thou. I betake me to thee, I enter thee
   with all my cattle.
  With all my people and with all my body, with all my soul, with p. a162
   mine entire possessions.


Next: Hymn 7: A charm to deprecate Arāti or Malignity