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


p. 58

HYMN VI

A prayer to all Divinities and Sanctities for deliverance from distress

1We call on Agni, on the trees lords of the forest, herbs and.
   plants,
  Indra, Sūrya, Brihaspati: may they deliver us from woe.
2We call on Vishnu, Bhaga, on Mitra and Varuna the King,
  Ansa Vivasvān we address: may they deliver us from woe.
3We call on Savitar the God, on Pūshan the establisher, p. 59
  Tvashtar the foremost we address: may they deliver us from
   woe.
4Gandharvas and Apsarases; the Asvins, Brāhmanaspati,
  Aryaman, God, by name we call: may they deliver us from woe.
5This word of ours to Day and Night, and to the Sun and Moon
   we speak,
  All the Ādityas we address: may they deliver us from woe.
6Vāta, Parjanya we address, the Quarters, and the Firmament,
  And all the Regions of the sky: may they deliver us from woe.
7From all that brings a curse may Day and Night and Dawn
   deliver me,
  May Soma free me, God to whom they give the name of Chan-
   dramās.
8All creatures both of heaven and earth, wild beasts and sylvan
   animals,
  And winged birds of air we call: may they deliver us from woe.
9Bhava and Sarva we address, and Rudra who is Lord of Beasts,
  Their arrows which we feel and know: may they be ever kind to
   us.
10We speak to Constellations, Heaven, to Earth, to Genii, and to
  Hills,
  To Seas, to Rivers, and to Lakes: may they deliver us from woe.
11Or the Seven Rishis we address, Waters divine, Prajāpati,
  Fathers with Yama at their head: may they deliver us from woe.
12Gods whose abode is in the heaven and those who dwell in
   middle air,
  And Mighty ones who rest on earth: may they deliver us from.
   woe.
13Ādityas, Rudra, Vasus, Gods aloft in heaven, Atharvan's sons,
  The sages, sons of Angiras: may they deliver us from woe.
14To sacrifice, to worshipper, hymns, songs, and healing charms,
   we speak,
  To priestly acts and Yajus texts: may they deliver us from woe.
15To the five kingdoms of the plants which Soma rules as Lord we
   speak.
  Darbha, hemp, barley, mighty power: may these deliver us from
   woe,
16To demons and fierce fiends we speak, to Holy Genii, Fathers,.
  Snakes, p. 60
  And to the hundred deaths and one: may these deliver us from
   woe.
17We speak to Seasons, Season-Lords, to years and sections of the
   year,
  To Months, half-months, and years complete: may they deliver
   us from woe.
18Come hither from the south, ye Gods, rise and come forward
   from the west.
  Gathered together, all ye Gods, ye mighty Ones, from east and
   and north: may they deliver us from woe.
19This we address to all the Gods, faithful, maintainers of the
  Right,
  With all their Consorts by their side: may they deliver us from
   woe.
20We speak to the collected Gods, faithful, maintainers of the
  Right.
  Present with their collective Dames: may these deliver us from
   woe.
21The spirit, yea, the spirits' Lord, ruler of spirits, we address.
  Together let all spirits meet: may these deliver us from woe.
22The five Sky regions, Goddesses, and the twelve Seasons which
   are Gods.
  The teeth of the completed year, may these deliver us from woe.
23The deathless balm that Mātalī knows, purchased at a chariot's
   price,
  Indra effused into the floods. Waters, give us that healing
   balm!


Next: Hymn 7: A glorification of the Uchchhishta or Residue of Sacrifice