Av09 H1

Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 02 Jul 2011 11:25 and updated at 02 Jul 2011 13:43

ATHARVA VEDA

BOOK IX (9)

HYMN I (1)

A glorification of the Asvins whip and a prayer for blessings

[0900101] The Asvins Honey whip was born from heaven and earth, from middle air, and ocean, and from fire and wind.
All living creatures welcome it with joyful hearts, fraught with the store of Amrit it hath gathered up.

[0900102] They call thee earth s great strength in every form, they call thee too the ocean s genial seed.
Whence comes the Honey whip bestowing bounty, there Vital Spirit is, and Amrit treasured.

[0900103] In sundry spots, repeatedly reflecting, men view upon the earth: her course and action; For she, the first born daughter of the Maruts, derives her origin from Wind and Agni.

[0900104] Daughter of Vasus, mother of Adityas, centre of Amrit breath of living creatures.
The Honey whip, gold coloured, dropping fatness, moves as a mighty embryo amid mortals.

[0900105] The deities begat the Whip of Honey: her embryo assumed all forms and fashions.
The mother nourishes that tender infant which at its birth looks on all worlds and beings.

[0900106] Who understandeth well, who hath perceived it, her heart s un injured Soma holding beaker? Let the wise Brahman priest therein be joyful.

[0900107] He understandeth them, he hath perceived them, her breasts that pour a thousand streams, uninjured.
They unreluctantly yield strength and vigour.

[0900108] She who with voice upraised in constant clamour, mighty, life giving, goes unto her function, Bellowing to the heated three libations, suckles with streams of milk, and still is lowing. [p. a357]

[0900109] On whom, well fed, the Waters wait in worship, and steers and self refulgent bulls attend her.
For thee, for one like thee down pour the Waters, and cause desire and strength to rain upon thee.

[0900110] The thunder is thy voice, O Lord of Creatures: a Bull, thou castest on the earth thy vigour.
The Honey whip, the Manus first born daughter, derives her origin from Wind and Agni.

[0900111] As at the morning sacrifice the Asvins twain love Soma well, Even so may both the Asvins lay splendour and strength within my soul.

[0900112] As at the second sacrifice Indra and Agni love him well, Let the pair, Indra Agni, lay splendour and strength within my soul.

[0900113] As at third sacrifice Soma is the Ribhus well beloved one, Even so may they, the Ribhus, store splendour and strength within my soul.

[0900114] Fain would I bring forth sweetness, fain would make it mine.
Bringing milk, Agni! have I come: splendour and strength bestow on me!

[0900115] Grant me, O Agni, splendid strength, and progeny, and length ened life.
May the Gods know me as I am, may Indra with the Rishis know.

[0900116] As honey bees collect and add fresh honey to their honey store, Even so may both the Asvins lay splendour and strength within my soul.

[0900117] As over honey flies besmear this honey which the bees have made, So may both Asvins lay in me splendour and strength and power and might.

[0900118] May all the sweetness that is found in hills and mountains, steeds and kine, And wine that floweth from the cup, may all that sweetness be in me.

[0900119] May both the Asvins, Lords of Light, balm me with honey of the bees, That I may speak among the folk words full of splendour and of strength. [p. a358]

[0900120] The thunder is thy voice, O Lord of Creatures: a Bull, thou castest strength on earth and heaven.
To that all cattle look for their existence: with this she nourishes their force and vigour.

[0900121] The Whip itself is Heaven, Earth is the handle, the point of juncture is the Air s mid region.
The lash is lightning, and the tip is golden.

[0900122] Whoever knows the Whip s seven kinds of honey, becomes himself a man endowed with sweetness.
Brahman and King, the draught ox and the milch cow, barley and rice, and honey is the seventh.

[0900123] Sweet is the man, sweet are his goods and chattels: he who knows this conquers the worlds of sweetness.

[0900124] The thundering of Prajapati in heaven is verily manifest to living creatures.
Therefore I stand from right to left invested, and, O Prajapati, I cry, regard me! The man who hath this knowledge is regarded by living beings and the Lord of Creatures.

[p. a359]

HYMN II (2)

A glorification of Kama as God of desire of all that is good

[0900201] Kama the Bull, slayer of foes, I worship with molten butter, sacrifice, oblation.
Beneath my feet cast down mine adversaries with thy great manly power, when I have praised thee.

[0900202] That which is hateful to mine eye and spirit, that harasses and robs me of enjoyment, The evil dream I loose upon my foemen.
May I rend him when I have lauded Kama.

[0900203] Kama, do thou, a mighty Lord and Ruler, let loose ill dream, misfortune, want of children, Homelessness, Kama! utter destitution, upon the sinner who designs my ruin.

[0900204] Drive them away, drive them afar, O Kama; indigence fall on those who are my foemen! When they have been cast down to deepest darkness, consume their dwellings with thy fire, O Agni.

[0900205] She, Kama! she is called the Cow, thy daughter, she who is named Vak and Viraj by sages.
By her drive thou my foemen to a distance.
May cattle, vital breath, and life forsake them.

[0900206] By Kama s might, King Varuna s and Indra s, by Vishnu s strength, and Savitar s instigation, I chase my foes with sacrifice to Agni, as a deft steersman drives his boat through waters.

[0900207] May Kama, mighty one, my potent warder, give me full free dom from mine adversaries.
May all the Deities be my protection, all Gods come nigh to this mine invocation.

[0900208] Accepting this oblation rich with fatness, be joyful here, ye Gods whose chief is Kama, Giving me freedom from mine adversaries.

[0900209] Ye, Indra, Agni, Kama! come together and cast mine adver saries down beneath me.
When they have sunk into the deepest darkness, O Agni, with thy fire consume their dwellings. [p. a360]

[0900210] Slay those who are mine enemies, O Kama: headlong to depth of blinding darkness hurl them.
Reft be they all of manly strength and vigour! Let them not have a single day s existence.

[0900211] Kama hath slain those who were mine opponents, and given me ample room to grow and prosper.
Let the four regions bow them down before me, and let the six expanses bring me fatness.

[0900212] Let them drift downward like a boat torn from the rope that held it fast.
There is no turning back for those whom our keen arrows have repelled.

[0900213] Agni averts, Indra averts, and Soma: may the averting Gods avert this foeman.

[0900214] To be avoided by his friends, detested, repelled, with few men round him, let him wander.
Yea, on the earth descend the lightning flashes: may the strong God destroy your adversaries.

[0900215] This potent lightning nourishes things shaken, and things un shaken yet, and all the thunders.
May the Sun, rising with his wealth and splendour, drive in victorious might my foemen downward.

[0900216] Thy firm and triply barred protection, Kama! thy spell, made weapon proof extended armour With that drive thou my foemen to a distance.
May cattle, vital breath, and life forsake them.

[0900217] Far from the world wherein we live, O Kama, drive thou my foemen with that selfsame weapon Wherewith the Gods repelled the fiends, and Indra cast down the Dasyus into deepest darkness.

[0900218] As Gods repelled the Asuras, and Indra down to the lowest darkness drove the demons, So, Kama, from this world, to distant places, drive thou the men who are mine adversaries.

[0900219] First before all sprang Kama into being.
Gods, Fathers, mortal men have never matched him.
Stronger than these art thou, and great for ever.
Kama, to thee, to thee I offer worship.

[0900220] Wide as the space which heaven and earth encompass, far as the flow of waters, far as Agni, [p. a361] Stronger than these art thou, and great for ever.
Kama, to thee, to thee I offer worship.

[0900221] Vast as the quarters of the sky and regions that lie between them spread in all directions, vast as celestial tracts and views of heaven, Stronger than these art thou, and great for ever.
Kama, to thee, to thee I offer worship.

[0900222] Many as are the bees, and bats, and reptiles, and female serpents of the trees, and beetles, Stronger art thou than these, and great for ever.
Kama, to thee, to thee I offer worship.

[0900223] Stronger art thou than aught that stands or twinkles, stronger art thou than ocean, Kama! Manyu! Stronger than these art thou, and great for ever.
Kama, to thee, to thee I offer worship.

[0900224] Not even Vata is the peer of Kama, not Agni, Chandramas the Moon, nor Surya.
Stronger than these art thou, and great for ever.
Kama, to thee, to thee I offer worship.

[0900225] Thy lovely and auspicious forms, O Kama, whereby the thing thou wilt becometh real, With these come thou and make thy home among us, and make malignant thoughts inhabit elsewhere.

[p. a362]

HYMN III (3)

On the consecration of a newly built house

[0900301] We loose the ties and fastenings of the house that holds all precious things, The bands of pillars and of stays, the ties of beams that form the roof.

[0900302] All wealthy House! each knot and band, each cord that is attached to thee I with my spell untie, as erst Brihaspati disclosed the cave.

[0900303] He drew them close, he pressed them fast, he made thy knotted.
bands secure: With Indra s help we loose them as a skilful Slaughterer severs joints.

[0900304] We loose the bands of thy bamboos, of bolts, of fastening, of thatch, We loose the ties of thy side posts, O House that holdest all we prize.

[0900305] We loosen here the ties and bands of straw in bundles, and of clamps, Of all that compasses and binds the Lady Genius of the Home.

[0900306] We loose the loops which men have bound within thee, loops to tie and hold.
Be gracious, when erected, to our bodies, Lady of the Home.

[0900307] Store house of Soma, Agni s hall, the ladies bower, the resi dence, The seat of Gods art thou, O Goddess House. [p. a363]

[0900308] We with our incantation loose the net that hath a thousand.
eyes.
The diadem, securely tied and laid upon the central beam.

[0900309] The man who takes thee as his own, and he who was thy builder,.
House! Both these, O Lady of the Home, shall live to long extended years.

[0900310] There let her come to meet this man.
Firm, strongly fastened,.
and prepared Art thou whose several limbs and joints we part and loosen one by one.

[0900311] He who collected timber for the work and built thee up, O House, Made thee for coming progeny, Prajapati, the Lord Supreme.

[0900312] Homage to him! We worship too the giver and the Mansion s lord: Homage to Agni! to the man who serves at holy rites for thee.

[0900313] Homage to kine and steeds! to all that shall be born within the house We loose the bonds that fasten thee, mother of multitudes to come!

[0900314] Agni thou shelterest within, and people with domestic beasts.
We loose the bonds that fasten thee, mother of multitudes to come!

[0900315] All space that lies between the earth and heaven, therewith I take this house for thy possession, And all that measures out the air s mid region I make a hollow to contain thy treasures.
Therewith I take the house for his possession.

[0900316] Rich in prosperity, rich in milk, founded and built upon the earth, Injure not thy receivers, House who holdest food of every sort!

[0900317] Grass covered, clad with straw, the house, like Night, gives rest to man and beast.
Thou standest, built upon the earth, like a she elephant, borne on feet.

[0900318] I loosen and remove from thee thy covering formed by mats of reed.
What Varuna hath firmly closed Mitra shall ope at early morn. [p. a364]

[0900319] May Indra, Agni, deathless Gods, protect the house where Soma dwells, House that was founded with the prayer, built and erected by the wise.

[0900320] Nest upon nest hath been imposed, compartment on compart ment laid: There man shall propagate his kind, and there shall everything born.

[0900321] Within the house constructed with two side posts, or with four, or six.
Built with eight side posts, or with ten, lies Agni like a babe unborn.

[0900322] Turned to thee, House! I come to thee, innocent, turned to welcome me: For Fire and Water are within, the first chief door of sacrifice.

[0900323] Water that kills Consumption, free from all Consumption, here I bring.
With Agni, the immortal one, I enter and possess the house.

[0900324] Lay thou no cord or noose on us: a weighty burthen, still be light! Withersoever be our will, O House, we bear thee like a bride.

[0900325] Now from the east side of the house to the Great Power be homage paid! Hail to the Gods whose due is Hail!

[0900326] Now from the south side of the house, etc.

[0900327] Now from the west side of the house, etc.

[0900328] Now from the north side of the house, etc.

[0900329] So from the mansion s every side to the Great Power be homage paid! Hail to the Gods whose due is Hail!

[p. a365]

HYMN IV (4)

A glorification of the typical sacrificial bull

[0900401] The Bull, fierce, thousandfold, filled full of vigour, bearing within his flanks all forms and natures, Brihaspati s Steer, hath stretched the thread, bestowing bliss on the worshipper, the liberal giver.

[0900402] He who at first became the Waters model, a match for everyone, like Earth the Goddess; The husband of the cows, the young calves father, may be secure us thousandfold abundance.

[0900403] Masculine, pregnant, stedfast.
full of vigour, the Bull sustains a trunk of goodly treasure.
May Agni Jatavedas bear him offered, on pathways traversed by the Gods, to Indra. [p. a366]

[0900404] The husband of the cows, the young calves father, father is he of mighty water eddies.
Calf, after birth, new milk drawn hot, and biestings, curds, butter, that is his best genial humour.

[0900405] He is the Gods allotted share and bundle, essence of waters, and of plants, and butter.
Sakra elected him, the draught of Soma.
What was his body was a lofty mountain.

[0900400] 6.
A beaker filled with Soma juice thou bearest.
framer of forms, begetter of the cattle.
Kindly to us be these thy wombs here present, and stay for us, O Axe, those that are yonder.

[0900407] He bears oblation, and his seed is butter.
Thousand fold plenty; sacrifice they call him.
May he, the Bull, wearing the shape of Indra, come unto us, O Gods, bestowed, with blessing.

[0900408] Both arms of Varuna, and Indra s vigour, the Maruts hump is he, the Asvins shoulders.
They who are sages, bards endowed with wisdom, call him Brihaspati compact and heightened.

[0900409] Thou, vigorous, reachest to the tribes of heaven.
Thee they call Indra, thee they call Sarasvan.
Turned to one aim, that Brahman gives a thousand who offers up the Bull as his oblation.

[0900410] Brihaspati, Savitar gave thee vital vigour: thy breath was brought from Tvashtar and from Vayu.
In thought I offer thee in air s mid region.
Thy sacrificial grass be Earth and Heaven!

[0900411] Let the priest joyfully extol the limbs and members of the Bull Who moved and roared among the kine as Indra moves among the Gods.

[0900412] The sides must be Anumati s, and both rib pieces Bhaga s share, Of the knee bones hath Mitra said, Both these are mine, and only mine.

[0900413] The Adityas claim the hinder parts, the loins must be Brihaspati s.
Vata, the God, receives the tail: he stirs the plants and herbs therewith, [0900414] To Surya they assigned the skin, to Sinivali inward parts. [p. a367] The Slaughterer hath the feet, they said, when they distributed the Bull.

[0900415] They made a jest of kindred s curse: a jar of Soma juice was set, What time the deities, convened, assigned the Bull s divided parts.

[0900416] They gave the hooves to tortoises, to Sarama scraps of the feet: His undigested food they gave to worms and things that creep and crawl.

[0900417] That Bull, the husband of the kine, pierces the demons with his horns, Banishes famine with his eye, and hears good tidings with his ears.

[0900418] With hundred sacrifices he worships: the fires consume him not: All Gods promote the Brahmana who offers the Bull in sacrifice.

[0900419] He who hath given away the Bull to Brahmans frees and cheers his soul.
In his own cattle pen he sees the growth and increase of his cows.

[0900420] Let there be cattle, let there be bodily strength and progeny: All this may the Gods kindly grant to him who gives away the Bull.

[0900421] Indra here verily hath rejoiced: let him bestow conspicuous wealth.
May he draw forth at will from yonder side of heaven a deft cow, good to milk, whose calf is never wanting.

[0900422] With close connexion mingle with the cows in this our cattle pen: Mingle, the Bull s prolific flow, and, Indra! thine heroic strength!

[0900423] Here we restore this Bull, your youthful leader: sporting with him, go, wander at your pleasure.
Never, wealthy ones! may he be reft of offspring; and do ye favour us with growth of riches.

[p. a368]

HYMN V (5)

A glorification of a sacrificial goat

[0900501] Seize him and bring him hither.
Let him travel.
foreknowing, to the regions of the pious.
Crossing in many a place the mighty darkness, let the Goat mount to the third heaven above us.

[0900502] I bring thee hither as a share for Indra; prince, at this sacrifice,.
for him who worships.
Grasp firmly from behind all those who hate us: so let the sacri ficer s men be sinless.

[0900503] Wash from his feet all trace of evil doing: foreknowing, with cleansed hooves let him go upward.
Gazing on many a spot, crossing the darkness, let the Goat mount to the third heaven above us.

[0900504] Cut up this skin with the grey knife, Dissector! dividing joint from joint, and mangle nothing Do him no injury: limb by limb arrange him, and send him up to the third cope of heaven.

[0900505] With verse upon the fire I set the caldron: pour in the water; lay him down within it! [p. a369] Encompass him with fire, ye Immolators.
Cooked, let him reach the world where dwell the righteous.

[0900506] Hence come thou forth, vexed by no pain or torment.
Mount to the third heaven from the heated vessel.
As fire out of the fire hast thou arisen.
Conquer and win this lucid world of splendour.

[0900507] The Goat is Agni: light they call him, saying that living man must give him to the Brahman.
Given in this world by a devout believer, the Goat dispels and drives afar the darkness.

[0900508] Let the Panchaudana Goat, about to visit the three lights, pass away in five divisions.
Go midst the pious who have paid their worship, and parted, dwell on the third cope of heaven.

[0900509] Rise to that world, O Goat, where dwell the righteous: pass, like a Sarabha veiled, all difficult places.
The Goat Panchaudana, given to a Brahman, shall with all ful ness satisfy the giver.

[0900510] The Goat Panchaudana, given to a Brahman, sets the bestower on the pitch of heaven, In the third vault, third sky, third ridge.
One only Cow omni form art thou, that yields all wishes.

[0900511] That is the third light that is yours, ye Fathers.
He gives the Goat Panchaudana to the Brahman.
Given in this world by the devout believer, the Goat dispels and drives afar the darkness.

[0900512] Seeking the world of good men who have worshipped, he gives the Goat Panchaudana to the Brahman.
Win thou this world as thy complete possession.
Auspicious unto us be he, accepted!

[0900513] Truly the Goat sprang from the glow of Agni, inspired as sage with all a sage s power.
Sacrifice, filled, filled full, offered with Vashat this let the Gods arrange.
at proper seasons.

[0900514] Home woven raiment let him give, and gold as guerdon to the priests.
So he obtains completely all celestial and terrestrial worlds.

[0900515] Near to thee, Goat! approach these streams of Soma, divine, distilling meath, bedecked with butter! [p. a370] Stay thou the earth and sky and fix them firmly up on the seven rayed pitch and height of heaven.

[0900516] Unborn art thou, O Goat: to heaven thou goest.
Though thee Angirases knew that radiant region.
So may I know that holy world.

[0900517] Convey our sacrifice to heaven, that it may reach the Gods, with that Whereby thou, Agni, bearest wealth in thousands, and all pre cious things.

[0900518] The Goat Panchaudana, when cooked, transporteth, repelling Nirriti, to the world of Svarga.
By him may we win worlds which Surya brightens.

[0900519] The droppings of the Odanas attending the Goat which I have lodged with priest or people May all this know us in the world of virtue, O Agni, at the meeting of the pathways.

[0900520] This Unborn cleft apart in the beginning: his breast became the earth, his back was heaven.
His middle was the air, his sides the regions; the hollows of his belly formed both oceans.

[0900521] His eyes were Truth and Right.
The whole together was Truth: Viraj his head and Faith his breathing.
This Goat Panchaudana was indeed a sacrifice unlimited.

[0900522] A boundless sacrifice he performs, he wins himself a boundless world: Who gives the Goat Panchaudana illumined with a priestly fee.

[0900523] Let him not break the victim s bones, let him not suck the marrow out.
Let the man, taking him entire, here, even here deposit him.

[0900524] This, even this is his true form: the man uniteth him therewith.
Food, greatness, strength he bringeth him who giveth the Goat Panchaudana illumed with guerdon.

[0900525] The five gold pieces, and the five new garments, and the five milch kine yield him all his wishes.
Who gives the Goat Panchaudana illumined with a priestly fee.

[0900526] The five gold pieces, area light to light him, robes become armour to defend his body; He winneth Svarga as his home who giveth the Goat Panchaudana illumed with bountry. [p. a371]

[0900527] When she who hath been wedded finds a second husband after ward, The twain shall not be parted if they give the Goat Panchaudana.

[0900528] One world with the re wedded wife becomes the second hus band s home.
Who gives the Goat Panchaudana illumined with the priestly fee.

[0900529] They who have given a cow who drops a calf each season, or an ox, A coverlet, a robe, or gold, go to the loftiest sphere of heaven.

[0900530] Himself, the father and the son, the grandson, and the father s sire, Mother, wife, her who bore his babes, all the beloved ones I call.

[0900531] The man who knows the season named the Scorching the Goat Panchaudana is this scorching season He lives himself, he verily burns up his hated rival s fame, Who gives the Goat Panchaudana illumined with the priestly fee.

[0900532] The man who knows the season called the Working takes to himself the active fame, his hated rival s active fame.
The Goat Panchaudana is this Working season.
He lives himself, etc.

[0900533] The man who knows the season called the Meeting takes to him self the gathering fame, his hated rival s gathering fame.
The Goat Panchaudana is this Meeting season.

[0900534] The man who knows the called the Swelling takes to himself the swelling fame, his hated rival s swelling fame.
The Goat Panchaudana is this Swelling season.
He lives himself, etc.

[0900535] The man who knows the season called the Rising takes to him self the rising fame, his hated rival s rising fame.
The Goat Panchaudana in this Rising season.

[0900536] The man who knows the season called Surpassing takes to him self the conquering fame, his hated rival s conquering fame.
The Goat Panchaudana is this Conquering season.
He lives himself, he verily burns up his hated rival s fame Who gives the Goat Panchaudana illumined with a priestly fee.

[0900537] He cooks the Goat and the five boiled rice messes.
May the uni ted Quarters, all accordant, and intermediate points, accept him from thee. [p. a372]

[0900538] May these preserve him for thee.
Here I offer t o these the molten butter as oblation.

[p. a373]

HYMN VI (6)

A glorification of hospitable reception of guests

[0900601] Whoso will know Prayer with immediate knowledge, whose mem bers are the stuff, whose spine the verses:

[0900602] Whose hairs are psalms, whose heart is called the Yajus, whose coverlet is verily oblation

[0900603] Verily when a host looks at his guests he looks at the place of sacrifice to the Gods.

[0900604] When he salutes them reverently he undergoes preparation for a religious ceremony: when he calls for water, he solemnly brings sacrificial water.

[0900605] The water that is solemnly brought at a sacrifice is this same water.

[0900606] The libation which they bring; the sacrificial victim dedicated to Agni and Soma which is tied to the post, that, verily, is this man.

[0900607] When they arrange dwelling rooms they arrange the sacred chamber and the shed for housing the Soma cars.

[0900608] What they spread upon the floor is just Sacrificial Grass.

[0900609] With the couch that the men bring, he wins for himself the world of Svarga.

[0900610] The pillow coverings that they bring are the green sticks that surround the sacrificial altar.

[0900611] The ointment that they bring for injunction is just clarified liquid butter.

[0900612] The food they bring before the general distribution represents the two sacrificial cakes of rice meal. [p. a374]

[0900613] When they call the man who prepares food they summon the preparer of oblation.

[0900614] The grains of rice and barley that are selected are just filaments of the Soma plant.

[0900615] The pestle and mortar are really the stones of the Soma press.

[0900616] The winnowing basket is the filter, the chaff the Soma dregs, the water, the pressing gear.

[0900617] Spoon, ladle, fork, stirring prong are the wooden Soma tubs; the earthen cooking pots are the mortar shaped Soma vessels; this earth is just the black antelope s skin.

[0900618] Or the host acts in this way to a Yajamana s Brahman: when he looks at the furniture and utensils he says, More here t yet more here.

[0900619] When he says, Bring out more, he lengthens his life thereby.

[0900620] He brings oblations: he makes the men sit down.

[0900621] As the guest of the seated company he himself offers up sacrifice.

[0900622] With ladle, with hand, in life, at the sacrificial post, with cry of Ladle! with exclamation of Vashat!

[0900623] Now these guests, as priests beloved or not beloved, bring one to the world of Svarga.

[0900624] He who hath this knowledge should not eat hating, should not eat the food of one who hates him, nor of one who is doubt ful, nor of one who is undecided.

[0900625] This man whose food they eat hath all his wickedness blotted out.

[0900626] All that man s sin whose food they do not eat remains unblot ted out.

[0900627] The man who supplies food hath always pressing stones adjusted, a wet Soma filter, well prepared religious rites, and mental power to complete the arranged sacrifice.

[0900628] The arranged sacrifice of the man who offers food is a sacrifice to Prajapati.

[0900629] The man who offers food follows the steps of Prajapati.

[0900630] The fire of the guests is the Ahavaniya, the fire in the dwelling is the Garhapatya, that whereon they cook food is the South ern Sacrificial Fire.

[0900631] Now that man who eats before the guest eats up the sacrifice and the merit of the house.
[0900632] He devours the milk and the sap: [p. a375]

[0900633] And the vigour and prosperity.

[0900634] And the progeny and the cattle:

[0900635] And the fame and reputation.

[0900636] The man who eats before the guest eats up the glory and the understanding of the house.

[0900637] The man should not eat before the guest who is a Brahman versed in holy lore.

[0900638] When the guest hath eaten he should eat.
This is the rule for the animation of the sacrifice and the preservation of its continuity.

[0900639] Now the sweetest portion, the produce of the cow, milk, or flesh, that verily he should not eat.

[0900640] The man who having this knowledge pours out milk and offers it wins for himself as much thereby as he gains by the perfor mance of a very successful Agnishtoma sacrifice.

[0900641] The man who having this knowledge pours out clarified butter and offers it wins for himself thereby as much as he gains by the performance of a very successful Atiratra sacrifice.

[0900642] He who pours out mead and offers it wins for himself thereby as much as he gains by the performance of a very successful Sattrasadya sacrifice.

[0900643] He who having this knowledge besprinkles flesh and offers it wins for himself thereby as much as he gains by the perfor mance of a very successful Twelve Day sacrifice.

[0900644] The man who having this knowledge pours out water and offers it obtains a resting place for the procreation of living beings and becomes dear to living beings, even the man who having this knowledge pours out water and offers it.

[0900645] For him Dawn murmurs, and Savitar sings the prelude; Brihaspati chants with vigour, and Tvashtar joins in with increase; the VisveDeva take up conclusion.
He who hath this know ledge is the abiding place of welfare, of progeny, and of cattle.

[0900646] For him the rising Sun murmurs, and Early Morning sings the prelude; Noon chants the psalm, Afternoon joins in; the setting Sun takes up the conclusion.
He who hath this know ledge is the abiding place of welfare, of progeny, and of cattle.

[0900647] For him the Rain cloud murmurs when present, sings the pre lude when thundering, joins in when lightening, chants the [p. a376] psalm when raining, and takes up the conclusion when it stays the downpour.
He who hath this knowledge is the abiding place of welfare, of progeny, and of cattle.

[0900648] He looks at the guests, he utters a gentle sound; he speaks, he signs the prelude; he calls for water, he chants the psalm; he offers the residue of the sacrifice, he takes up the conclusion.

[0900649] When he summons the door keeper he gives instruction.

[0900650] He (the door keeper) pronounces the sacrificial formula in his answer to what he hears.

[0900651] When the attendants with vessels in their hands, foremost and hindmost, come in, they are just the priests who manage the Soma cups.

[0900652] Not one of them is incompetent to sacrifice.

[0900653] Or if the host, having offered food to his guest, goes up to the house, he virtually enters the bath of purification.

[0900654] When he distributes food he distributes priestly fees; what he performs he asks as favour.

[0900655] He having been invited on earth, regales, invited in that, which wears all various forms on earth.

[0900656] He, having been invited in air, regales, invited, in that which wears all various forms in air.

[0900657] He having been invited in the sky, regales, invited, in that which wears all various forms in the sky.

[0900658] He, having been invited among the gods, regales, invited in that which wears all various forms among the Gods.

[0900659] He, having been invited in the worlds, regales, invited, in that which wears all various forms in the worlds.

[0900660] He, having been invited hath been invited.

[0900661] He gains this world and the world yonder.

[0900662] He who hath this knowledge wins the luminous spheres.

[p. a377]

HYMN VII (7)

A glorification of the typically bull and cow

[0900701] Prajapati and Parameshthin are the two horns, Indra is the head, Agni the forehead, Yama the joint of the neck.

[0900702] King Soma is the brain, Sky is the upper jaw, Earth is the lower jaw.

[0900703] Lightning is the tongue, the Maruts are the teeth, Revati is the neck, the Krittikas are the shoulders, the Gharma s the shoulder bar.

[0900704] His universe is Vayu, Svarga is his world, Krishpadram is the tendons and Vertebrae. [p. a378]

[0900705] The Syena ceremony is the breast, Air is the region of the belly,.
Brihaspati is the hump, Brihati the breast bone and cartilages of the ribs.

[0900706] The consorts of the Gods are the ribs, the attendants are ribs.

[0900707] Mitra and Varuna are the shoulder blades.
Tvashtar and Arya man the fore arms, Mahadeva is the arms.

[0900708] Indrani is the hinder parts, Vayu the tail, Pavamana the hair.

[0900709] Priestly rank and princely power are the hips, and strength is.
the thigh.

[0900710] Dhatar and Savitar are the two knee bones, the Gandharvas are the legs the Apsarases are bits of the feet, Aditi is the hooves.

[0900711] Thought is the heart, intelligence is the liver, law the pericar dium.

[0900712] Hunger is the belly, refreshing drink is the rectum, mountains.
are the inward parts.

[0900713] Wrath is the kidneys, anger the testes, offspring the generative organ.

[0900714] The river is the womb, the Lords of the Rain are the breasts,.
the thunder is the udder.

[0900715] The All embracing Aditi() is the hide, the herbs are her hair,.
and the Lunar Mansions her form.

[0900716] The hosts of Gods are her entrails, man are her bowels, and demons her abdomen.

[0900717] Rakshasas are the blood, the Other Folk are the contents of the Stomach.

[0900718] The rain cloud is her fat, her resting place her marrow.

[0900719] Sitting he is Agni, when he hath stood up he is the Asvins.

[0900720] Standing east wards he is Indra, standing southwards, Yama.

[0900721] Standing westwards he is Dhatar, standing northwards Savitar.

[0900722] When he hath got his grass he is King Soma.

[0900723] He is Mitra when he looks about him, and when he hath turned round he is joy.

[0900724] When he is yoking he belongs to the All Gods, when yoked he is Prajapati, when unyoked he is All.

[0900725] This verily is omniform, wearing all forms, bovine formed.

[0900726] Upon him wait omniform beasts, wearing every shape, each one who hath this knowledge.

[p. a379]

HYMN VIII (8)

A charm for the cure of various diseases connected with Consumption

[0900801] Each pain and ache that racks the head, earache, and erysipelas,.
All malady that wrings thy brow we charm away with this our spell.

[0900802] From both thine ears, from parts thereof, thine earache, and the throbbing pain, All malady that wrings thy brow we charm away with this our spell.

[0900803] So that Consumption may depart forth from thine ears and from.
thy mouth, All malady that wrings thy brow we charm away with this our spell.

[0900804] The malady that makes one deaf, the malady that makes one blind, All malady that wrings thy brow we charm away with this our spell.

[0900805] The throbbing pain in all thy limbs that rends thy frame with fever throes, All malady that wrings thy brow we charm away with this our spell.

[0900806] The malady whose awful look makes a man quiver with alarm, Fever whom every Autumn brings we charm away with this our spell. [p. a380]

[0900807] Disease that creeps about the thighs and, after, reaches both the groins, Consumption from thine inward parts we charm away with this our spell.

[0900808] If the disease originates from love, from hatred, from the heart, Forth from the heart and from the limbs we charm the wasting malady.

[0900809] The yellow Jaundice from thy limbs, and Colic from the parts within, And Phthisis from thine inward soul we charm away with this our spell.

[0900810] Let wasting malady turn to dust, become the water of disease.
I have evoked the poison taint of all Consumptions out of thee.

[0900811] Forth from the hollow let it run, and rumbling sounds from thine inside.
I have evoked the poison taint of all Consumptions out of thee.

[0900812] Forth from thy belly and thy lungs, forth from thy navel and thy heart.
I have evoked the poison taint of all Consumptions out of thee.

[0900813] The penetrating stabs of pain which rend asunder crown and head, Let them depart and pass away, free from disease and harming not.

[0900814] The pangs that stab the heart and reach the breast bone and connected parts, Let them depart and pass away, free from disease and harming not.

[0900815] The stabs that penetrate the sides and pierce their way along the ribs, Let them depart and pass away, free from disease and harming not.

[0900816] The penetrating pangs that pierce thy stomach as they shoot across, Let them depart and pass away, free from disease and harming not.

[0900817] The pains that through the bowels creep, disordering the inward parts, Let them depart and pass away, free from disease and harming not. [p. a381]

[0900818] The pains that suck the marrow out, and rend and tear the bones apart, May they speed forth and pass away, free from disease and harming not.

[0900819] Consumptions with their Colic pains which make thy limbs insensible I have evoked the poison taint of all Consumptions out of thee.

[0900820] Of piercing pain, of abscesses, rheumatic ache, ophthalmia I have evoked the poison taint of all Consumptions out of thee.

[0900821] I have dispelled the piercing pains from feet, knees, hips, and hinder parts, And spine, and from the neck and nape the malady that racked the head.

[0900822] Sound are the skull bones of thy head and thy heart s beat is regular.
Thou, Sun, arising with thy beams hast chased away the head s disease, hast stilled the pain that racked the limbs.

[p. a382]

HYMN IX (9)

Enunciation of mystico theological and cosmological doctrine

[0900901] The second brother of this lovely Hotar, hoary with eld, is the voracious Lightning.
The third is he whose back is balmed with butter.
Here have I seen the King with seven male children.

[0900902] The seven make the one wheeled chariot ready: bearing seven names the single Courser draws it.
The wheel, three naved, is sound and undecaying: thereon these worlds of life are all dependent.

[0900903] The seven who on this seven wheeled car are mounted have horses, seven in tale, who draw them onward.
Seven sisters utter songs of praise together, in whom the Cows seven names are held and treasured.

[0900904] Who hath beheld at birth the Primal Being, when She who hath no bone supports the bony? Where is the blood of earth, the life, the spirit? Who may ap proach the man who knows, to ask it?

[0900905] Let him who knoweth presently declare it, this lovely Bird s securely founded station.
Forth from his head the Cows draw milk, and wearing his ves ture with their foot have drunk the water.

[0900906] Unripe in mind, in spirit undiscerning, I ask of these the Gods established places.
High up above the yearling Calf the sages, to form a web, their own seven threads have woven.

[0900907] Here, ignorant, I ask the wise who know it, as one who knows not, for the sake of knowledge, What is That One, who in the Unborn s image hath stablished and fixed firm this world s six regions.

[0900908] The Mother gave the Sire his share of Order.
With thought at first she wedded him in spirit.
She, coyly loth, was filled with dew prolific.
With adoration men approached to praise her.

[0900909] Yoked was the Mother to the boon Cow s car pole; in humid folds of cloud the infant rested.
Then the Calf lowed and looked upon the Mother, the Cow who wears all shapes in three directions.

[0900910] Bearing three mothers and three fathers, single he stood erect: they never made him weary. [p. a383] On yonder heaven s high ridge they speak together in speech not known to all, themselves all knowing.

[0900911] Upon the five spoked wheel revolving ever, whereon all crea tures rest and are dependent, The axle, heavy laden, is not heated: the nave from ancient time remains unheated.

[0900912] They call him in the farther half of heaven the Sire five footed, of twelve forms, wealthy in watery store.
These others, later still, say that he takes his stand upon a seven wheeled car, six spoked, whose sight is clear.

[0900913] Formed with twelve spokes, too strong for age to weaken, this wheel of during Order rolls round heaven.
Herein established, joined in pairs together, seven hundred sons and twenty stand, O Agni.

[0900914] The wheel revolves, unwasting, with its felly: ten draw it, yoked to the far stretching car pole.
Girt by the region moves the eye of Surya, on whom dependent rest all living creatures.

[0900915] They told me these were males, though truly females.
He who hath eyes sees this, the blind discerns not.
The son who is a sage hath comprehended: who knows this rightly is his father s father.

[0900916] Of the co born they call the seventh single born: the six twin, pairs are called the Rishis, sons of Gods.
Their good gifts sought of men are ranged in order due, and, various, form by form, move for their guiding Lord.

[0900917] Beneath the upper realm, above this lower, bearing her Calf at foot, the Cow hath risen.
Whitherward, to what place hath she departed? Where doth she calve? Not in this herd of cattle.

[0900918] Who, that the father of this Calf discerneth beneath the upper realm, above the lower, Showing himself a sage, may here declare him? Whence hath the godlike spirit had its rising?

[0900919] Those that come hitherward they call departing, those that depart they call directed hither.
Whatever ye have made, Indra and Soma! steeds draw, as twere, yoked to the region s car pole.

[0900920] Two Birds with fair wings, knit with bonds of friendship, in the same sheltering tree have found a refuge, [p. a384] One of the twain eats the sweet Fig tree s berry: the other, eat ing not, regardeth only.

[0900921] The tree whereon the fine Birds eat the sweetness, where they all rest and procreate their offspring Upon the top, they say the fruit is luscious: none gaineth it who knoweth not the Father.

[0900922] Where the fine birds hymn ceaselessly their portion of life eter nal, and the sacred synods.
There is the Universe s Guard and Keeper who, wise hath entered into me the simple.

[p. a385]

[p. a386]

Atharva Veda Books:-

Book 1

av01-h1
av01-h10
av01-h20
av01-h30

Book 2

av02-h1
av02-h10
av02-h20
av02-h30

Book 3

av03-h1
av03-h10
av03-h20
av03-h30

Book 4

av04-h1
av04-h10
av04-h20
av04-h30
av04-h40

Book5

av05-h1
av05-h10
av05-h20
av05-h30

Book6

av06-h1
av06-h10
av06-h20
av06-h30
av06-h40
av06-h50
av06-h60
av06-h70
av06-h80
av06-h90
av06-h100
av06-h110
av06-h120
av06-h130
av06-h140

Book 7

av07-h1
av07-h10
av07-h20
av07-h30
av07-h40
av07-h50
av07-h60
av07-h70
av07-h80
av07-h90
av07-h100
av07-h110

Book 8

av08-h1
av08-h10

Book 9

av09-h1
av09-h10

Book 10

av10-h1
av10-h10

Book 11

av11-h1
av11-h10

Book 12

av12-h1

Book 13

av13-h1

Book 14

av14-h1

Book 15

av15-h1
av15-h10

Book 16

av16-h1

Book 17

av17-h1

Book 18

av18-h1

Book 19

av19-h1
av19-h10
av19-h20
av19-h30
av19-h40
av19-h50
av19-h60
av19-h70

Book 20

av20-h1
av20-h10
av20-h20
av20-h30
av20-h40
av20-h50
av20-h60
av20-h70
av20-h80
av20-h90
av20-h100
av20-h110
av20-h120
av20-h130
av20-h140

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