Av06 H50

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 02 Jul 2011 10:41 and updated at 02 Jul 2011 10:41

ATHARVA VEDA

BOOK VI (6)

Table of Contents

HYMN L (50)

A charm for the destruction of vermin

[0605001] Destroy the rat, the mole, the boring beetle, cut off their heads and crush their ribs, O Asvins.
Bind fast their mouths; let them not eat our barley: so guard, ye twain, our growing corn from danger.

[0605002] Ho! boring beetle, ho! thou worm, ho! noxious grub and grasshopper! As a priest leaves the unfinished sacrifice, go hence devouring not, injuring not this corn.

[0605003] Hearken to me, lord of the female borer, lord of the female grub! ye rough toothed vermin! Whatever ye be, dwelling in woods, and piercing, we crush and mangle all those piercing insects.

HYMN LI (51)

A prayer for purification and forgiveness of sins

[0605101] Cleansed by the filter of the Wind comes Soma past all our enemies, meet friend of Indra.

[0605102] May the maternal Waters make us ready: cleanse us with fat ness they who cleanse with fatness! The Goddesses bear off each blot and tarnish: I come forth from the waters cleansed and stainless.

[0605103] O Varuna, whatever the offence may be, the sin which men commit against the heavenly folk [p. a224] When, through our want of thought we violate thy laws, punish us not, O God, for that iniquity.

HYMN LII (52)

A charm against noxious reptiles and insects

[0605201] Slaying the Rakshasas, the Sun mounts upward in the front of heaven, Aditya, from the mountains, seen of all, destroying things unseen.

[0605202] The kine had settled in their pen, wild animals sought their lairs The wavelets of the brooks had passed away, and were beheld no more.

[0605203] I have brought Kanva s famous Plant, life giving, and itself inspired, The medicine that healeth all: may it suppress my hidden foes.

HYMN LIII (53)

A prayer for recovery and preservation of health and security

[0605301] May Heaven and Earth, wise pair, may lofty Sukra grant me this thing by reason of the guerdon.
May Agni, Soma mark through this libation: may Vayu, Savitar, and Bhaga guard us.

[0605302] Again return to us our breath and spirit, again come back to us our life and vision! Vaisvanara, unscathed, our bodies guardian, stand between us and every woe and danger!

[0605303] We are again united with our bodies, with happy mind, with spirit, strength, and splendour. [p. a225] May Tvashtar here make room for us, and freedom and smooth whatever is injured in our bodies.

HYMN LIV (54)

A benediction on a newly elected King

[0605401] Win the love of Indra that his friend may reach yet higher state.
Increase, as rain the grass, this man s dominion and his lofty fame.

[0605402] Confirm the princely power in him, Agni and Soma! grant him wealth.
In all the circuit of his rule make him yet higher for your friend.

[0605403] The man who shows us enmity, whether a stranger or akin, Thou wilt give up entire to me who sacrifice and press the juice.

HYMN LV (55)

A prayer for general protection and prosperity

[0605501] Of all the many God frequented pathways that traverse realms between the earth and heaven, Consign me, all ye Gods to that which leadeth to perfect and inviolable safety.

[0605502] Maintain us in well being Summer, Winter Dew time and Spring, Autumn, and Rainy Season Give us our share of cattle and of Children.
May we enjoy your unassailed protection.

[0605503] Pay to the Year your lofty adoration, to the first Year, the second, and the present.
Many we abide in the auspicious favour and gracious love of these who claim our worship.

[p. a226]

HYMN LVI (56)

A charm against snakes

[0605601] Let not the serpent slay us, O Gods, with our children and our folk.
Let it not close the opened mouth nor open that which now is closed.

[0605602] Be worship paid unto the black, worship to that with stripes across! To the brown viper reverence, reverence to the demon brood!

[0605603] I close together fangs with fang, I close together jaws with jaw.
I close together tongue with tongue, I close together mouth with mouth.

HYMN LVII (57)

A charm for a wound or bruise

[0605701] This is a medicine indeed, Rudra s own medicine is this, Wherewith he warns the arrow off one shafted, with a hundred tips.

[0605702] Besprinkle it with anodyne, bedew it with relieving balm: Strong, soothing is the medicine: bless us therewith that we may live.

[0605703] Let it be health and joy to us.
Let nothing vex or injure us.
Down with the wound! Let all to us be balm, the whole be medicine.

[p. a227]

HYMN LVIII (58)

A priest s prayer for power and glory

[0605801] May Indra Maghavan give me name and glory.
May Heaven and Earth, this couple, make me famous.
May Savitar the deity make me honoured.
Here may the man who gives the guerdon love me.

[0605802] Indra from Heaven and Earth receiveth glory among the plants the Waters have their glory; Even so may we be glorious amid all the Universal Gods.

[0605803] Indra and Agni were renowned, famous was Soma at his birth; So too am I illustrious, most glorious of all that is.