Part 1 of 2
BOOK XIX
HYMN I
An accompaniment to the offering of a Mixt Oblation
1Let the streams flow together, let the winds and birds assembled
come.
Strengthen this sacrifice of mine, ye singers. I offer up a duly
mixt oblation.
2O Burnt Oblations, aid, and ye, Blent Offerings, this my
sacrifice.
Strengthen this sacrifice of mine, ye singers. I offer up a duly
mixt oblation.
3Each several form, each several force I seize, and compass round
this man.
May the Four Quarters strengthen this my sacrifice. I offer up a
duly mixt oblation.
HYMN II
A hymn to all waters
1Blest be the Streams from hills of snow, sweet be spring Waters
unto thee.
Sweet be swift-running Waters, sweet to thee be Water of the
Rains. p. 212
2Sweet unto thee be Waters of the waste and Waters of the pool.
Sweet be the Waters dug from earth, to thee, and Waters
brought in jars.
3To those who delve without a tool to dig, the wise, the deeply
moved,
To Waters better healers than physicians we address our prayer.
4Bathed in the Waters verily divine, in water of the streams,
Bathed in the Waters verily, O Horses, be ye fleet and strong.
5Blest be the Waters unto thee, suspicious Waters, bringing.
health.
They cure the injured place for thee even as thy comfort craveth
it.
HYMN III
A hymn to Agni for protection and prosperity
1Whithersoe'er, from sky, earth, air's mid-regions from plants ands
herbs, from tall trees, Jātavedas.
Is carried here and there to divers places, even thence come thou
to us with loving-kindness.
2All majesty of thine in floods, in forest, in plants, in cattle, in
the depths of waters
Closely uniting all thy forms, O Agni, come unto us wealth-giv-
ing, undecaying.
3Thy majesty among the Gods in Svarga, thy body which hath
past into the Fathers.
Thy plenty far-diffused mid human beings, even with this, O
Agni, give us riches.
4To him the wise, the famous, swift to listen, with words and
verses I come nigh for bounty.
May we be safe from threatening danger. Soften by sacrifice the-
wrath of Gods, O Agni.
HYMN IV
A prayer, accompanying sacrifice, for the attainment of a wish
1The first oblation that Atharvan oared, earliest sacrifice paid by
Jātavedas, p. 213
Even this I, foremost, with repeated worship, now offer unto
thee. May Agni carry the sacrificer's present. Hail to Agni!
2In front I set Intention, blessed Goddess. Mother of thought,
may she be prompt to hear us.
Mine, and mine only, be the hope I fashion! May I gain this
that hath possessed my spirit.
3With Purpose, O Prajāpati, with Purpose come thou near to us.
Bestow on us a share of luck, and so be swift to hear our call.
4Prajāpati Angirasa with favour regard this word and this my
settled purpose!
May he, whence Gods and Deities had being Kāma attend us
with his gentle guidance.
HYMN V
A prayer for riches
4King of the living world and men is Indra, of all in varied form
that earth containeth.
Thence to the worshipper he giveth riches: may he enrich even
us when we have praised him.
HYMN VI
The purusha-Sūkta, on the mystical Sacrifice of Purusha
1Purusha hath a thousand arms, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet.
On every side pervading earth he fills a space ten fingers wide.
2He with three quarters rose to heaven here reappeared a fourth
of him.
Thence he strode forth on every side to all that eats not and that
eats.
3So mighty is his grandeur, yea, greater than this is Purusha.
All creatures are one-fourth of him, three-fourths what dieth
not in heaven. p. 214
4Purusha is in truth this All, what hath been and what yet shall;
be
Lord, too, of immortality—and what hath grown with some-
what else.
5When they divided Purusha how many portions did they make?
What was his mouth? what were his arms? what are the names
of thighs and feet?
6The Brāhman was his mouth, of both his arms was the Rājanya
made.
His waist became the Vaisya, from his feet the Sūdra was
produced.
7The Moon was gendered from his mind, and from his eye the
Sun had birth.
Indra and Agni from his mouth were born and Vāyu from his
breath.
8Forth from his navel come mid-air; the sky was fashioned from
his head.
Earth from his feet, and from his ear the regions. Thus they
formed the worlds.
9In the beginning rose Virāj: Purusha from Virāj was born.
As soon as he was born he spread westward and eastward o'er
the earth.
10When Gods performed the sacrifice with Purusha as their
offering.
Spring was the butter, summer was the fuel, autumn was the
gift.
11That sacrifice, first-born Purusha, they hallowed with the sprink-
led Rains.
The Deities, the Sādhyas, all the Vasus sacrificed with him.
12From it were horses born, from it all creatures with two rows of
teeth.
From it were generated kine, from it were goats and sheep
produced.
13From that great general sacrifice Richas and Sāma hymns were
born;
Therefrom the metres were produced: the Yajus had its birth
from it.
14From that great general sacrifice the dripping fat was gathered up:
It formed the creatures fleet as wind, and animals both wild and
tame. p. 215
15Seven fencing-logs had he, thrice seven layers of fuel were
prepared.
When, offering sacrifice, the Gods bound as their victim Purusha.
16Forth from head of the high God seven-and-seventy bright
beams.
Sprang into being, of the King Soma produced from Purusha.
HYMN VII
A Prayer to the Lunar Mansions and other Powers for protection and prosperity
1The brilliant lights shining in heaven together, which through
the world glide on with rapid motion.
And Days, and Firmament with songs I worship, seeking the
Twenty-eight-fold for its favour.
2Krittikās, Rohinī be swift to hear me! Let Mrigasiras bless me,
help me Ārdrā!
Punarvasu and Sūnritā, fair Pushya, the Sun, Asleshās, Maghā
lead me onward!
3My bliss be Svāti and benignant Chitrā, my right First Phalgunis p. 217
and present Hasta.
Rādhas, Visākhas, gracious Anurādhā, Jyeshthā and happy-
starred uninjured Mūla.
4Food shall be earlier Ashādhas grant me; let those that follow
bring me strength and vigour;
With virtuous merit Abhijit endow me! Sravana and Sravishthās
make me prosper.
5Satabhishak afford me ample freedom, and both the Proshtha-
padas guard me safely.
Revati and the Asvayujas bring me luck, and the Bharanis
abundant riches!
Hymn 8: A hymn to the Sun and various heavenly bodies for protection and prosperity
1Benign to me be all those Lunar Mansions to which the Moon
as he moves on doth honour.
All that are in the sky, the air, the waters, on earth, on moun-
tains, in the heavenly regions.
2Propitious, mighty, let the eight-and-twenty together deal me
out my share of profit.
Profit and wealth be mine, and wealth and profit! To Day and
Night be adoration rendered!
3Fair be my sunset, fair my morn and evening and day with.
lucky chase and happy omens;
With blessing and success, immortal Agni, go to the mortal and.
return rejoicing.
4Excitement and invoking cry, ill-omened sneezing and reproof,
All sounds of empty pitchers send into the distance, Savitar!
5May we escape an evil sneeze, enjoy the sneeze of happy luck,
And may our nostrils smelling what is pleasant pour forth
fragrant scent.
6These flames of Brāhmanaspati borne to all quarters in the-
wind,
Turn them all hither, Indra, and make them most gracious unto,
me.
HYMN IX
A prayer for general protection and prosperity
1Gentle be heaven, gentle be earth, gentle this spacious,
atmosphere.
Gentle be waters as they flow, gentle to us be plants and herbs!
2Gentle be signs of coming change, and that which is and is not.
done!
Gentle be past and future, yea, let all be gracious unto us.
3Quickened by Prayer, this Goddess Vāk who standeth in the
highest place,
By whom the awful spell was made, even through her to us be
peace!
4Or, made more keen by Prayer, this mind that standeth in the
highest place,
Whereby the awful spell was made, even through this be peace
to us!
5These five sense-organs with the mind as sixth, sharpened by
Prayer, abiding in my heart,
By which the awful spell was made, even by these be peace to
us.
6Favour us Mitra, Varuna, and Vishnu, and Prajāpati! Gracious•
to us be Indra and Brihaspati and Aryaman.
7Favour us Mitra, Varuna, Vivasvān, and the Finisher,
Portents on earth and in the air, and planets wandering in
heaven!
8Gracious to us be trembling earth, gracious the flaming meteor
stroke!
Gracious be kine who yield red milk, gracious be earth when
sinking down!
9Gracious be meteor-stricken constellation, gracious to us be
magic spells and witchcraft!
Gracious to us be buried charms, and gracious the meteors and
the portents of the region!
10Kind be the Powers who seize the Moon, with Rāhu be Ādityas
kind!
Favour us Death and Cornet, and Rudras with penetrating.
might!
11Rudras and Vasus favour us, Ādityas, Agnis favour us!
Favour us mighty Rishis, Gods, Goddesses, and Brihaspati!
12Brahma, Dhātar, Prajāpati, Worlds, Vedas, Agnis, Rishis Seven. p. 220
All these have blessed my happy way. May Indra be my
guardian, may Brahmā protect and shelter me.
13May all the Gods protect me, may the Gods united shield me
well.
May all alleviations in the world which the Seven Rishis know.
Be kind and gracious unto me. Bliss and security be mine!
14Earth alleviation, air alleviation, heaven alleviation, waters
alleviation, plants alleviation, trees alleviation, all Gods my al-
leviation, collective Gods my alleviation, alleviation by allevia-
tions. By these alleviations, these universal alleviations, I allay
all that is terrific here, all that is cruel, all that is wicked. This
hath been calmed, this is now auspicious.
Let all be favourable to us.
HYMN X
A prayer for the same
1Befriend us with their aids Indra and Agni, Indra and Varuna
who receive oblations!
Indra and Soma give health, wealth and comfort, Indra and
Pūshan be our strength in battle!
2Auspicious friends to us be Bhaga. Sansa, auspicious be Pur-
andhi and all Riches,
The blessing of the true and well-conducted and Aryaman in
many forms apparent.
3Kind unto us be Maker and Sustainer and the far-reaching
One with godlike nature.
Auspicious unto us be Earth and Heaven, the Mountain and the
Gods' fair invocations. p. 221
4Favour us Agni with his face of splendour, and Varuna and'
Mitra and the Asvins.
Favour us noble actions of the pious; impetuous Vāta blow on,
us with favour!
5Early invoked may Heaven and Earth be friendly, and Air's
mid-region good for us to look on.
To us may herbs and forest trees be gracious, gracious the Lord
victorious of the region.
6Be the God Indra with the Vasus friendly, and with Ādityas
Varuna who blesseth.
Kind with the Rudras be the healer Rudra, and with the Dames
here Tvashtar kindly hear us.
7Kind unto us be Soma and Devotions, kind be the sacrifice and
Stones for pressing.
Kind be the fixing of the Sacred Pillars, kind be the tender
Grass, and kind the Altar.
8May the far-seeing Sun rise up to bless us: be the four quarters-
of the heaven auspicious.
Auspicious be the firmly-seated Mountains, auspicious be the
Rivers and the Waters.
9May Aditi through holy works be gracious, and may the Maruts,_
loud in song, be friendly.
May Vishnu give felicity, and, Pūshan, and Air that cherisheth.
our lives, and Vāyu.
10Prosper us Savitar, the God who rescues, and let the radiant.
Mornings be propitious.
Propitious to our children be Pārjanya, kind to us be the field's
benign Protector!
HYMN XI
A continuation of Hymn 10
1May the great Lords of Truth protect and aid us: blest to us be
our horses and our cattle.
Kind be the pious, skilful-handed Ribhus, kind be the Fathers
at our invocations
2Kind to us be the Gods and Visve Devas, Sarasvati with Holy
Thoughts be gracious.
Friendly be they, the Liberal Ones, who seek us, yea, those who
dwell in-heaven, on earth, in waters.
3May Aja-Ekapād the God be gracious, gracious the Dragon of
the Deep, and Ocean.
Gracious be he, the swelling Child of Waters, gracious be Prisni
who hath Gods to guard her.
4So may the Rudras, Vasus, and Ādityas accept the new hymn we
now are making.
May all the Holy Ones of earth and heaven, and the Cow's off-
spring hear our invocation.
5Priests of the Gods, worthy of sacrifices, immortal, knowing
Law, whom man must worship.
May these to-day give us broad paths to travel. Preserve us
evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
HYMN XII
A prayer to Ushas or Dawn for wealth and long life
1Dawn drives away her sister's gloom, and through her excellence
makes her retrace her path.
Through her may we gain God-appointed treasure, and with
brave sons be glad through hundred winters.
HYMN XIII
A prayer for aid and victory in battle
1These the two sturdy, manly arms of Indra, these that are won-
drous, mighty, and successful
First, when the need hath come will I employ them by which
the heaven of Asuras was conquered.
2Swift, like a dread bull sharpening his weapons, rapidly striking,
stirring up the people,
Loud shouting, vigilant, the one sole Hero, Indra subdued a
hundred hosts together.
3With him loud-roaring, ever watchful, victor bold, hard to over-
throw, whom none may vanquish,
Indra the strong whose hand bears arrows, conquer, ye heroes
now, now vanquish in the combat.
4He rules with those who carry shafts and quivers, Indra who
with his hand brings hosts together,
Foe-conquering, strong of arm, the Soma-drinker,
with mighty bow, shooting with well-laid arrows.
5Conspicuous by thy strength, firm, foremost fighter, mighty and
fierce, victorious, all-subduing,
O'ercoming might, excelling men and heroes, mount the kine-
winning conquering car, O Indra.
6Troop-vanquisher, kine-winner, armed with thunder, who quells
an army and with might destroys it,
Follow him, comrades! quit yourselves like heroes, and like this
Indra show your zeal and courage.
7Piercing the cow-stalls with surpassing vigour, Indra the pitiless
hero, wild with anger, p. 224
Victor in fight, unshaken and resistless,—may he protect our
armies in our battles.
8Brihaspati, fly with thy chariot hither, slayer of demons, driving.
off our foemen.
Be thou protector of our bodies, crushing our enemies, destroy-
ing those who hate us.
9Indra guide these! Brihaspati, the Guerdon, and Soma, and the
Sacrifice precede them!
And let the banded Maruts march in forefront of heavenly hosts
that conquer and demolish.
10Ours be the potent host of mighty Indra, King Varuna, and
Maruts and Ādityas.
Uplifted is the shout of Gods who conquer, high-minded God
who cause the world to tremble.
11May Indra aid us when our flags are gathered: victorious be th
arrows of our army.
May our brave men of war prevail in battle. Ye Gods, protect u
in the shouts of onset.
HYMN XIV
A hymn after victory
1I have attained this goodliest place to rest in. Both Heaven and,
Earth have shown me grace and favour.
Without a foe for me be all the regions! We hate thee not. May
we have peace and safety.
HYMN XV
A prayer for peace and security
1Indra, give us security from that whereof we are afraid.
Help us, O Maghavan, let thy succour grant us this: drive foes
and enemies afar.
2We call on Indra, on the liberal giver: we will be prosperous in
men and cattle.
Let not the hosts of cruel fiends approach us. Drive of the
Druhs to every side, O Indra.
3Best, making household wealth increase. Indra our saviour, kills
the foe.
May he from outmost point be our potector, and from the
centre and from west and eastward.
4Lead us to ample room. O thou who knowest, to happiness
security, and sunlight.
Strong, Indra, are the arms of thee the mighty: may we betake
us to their lofty shelter.
5May air's mid-region give us peace and safety, safety may both
these, Heaven and Earth, afford us.
Security be ours from west, from eastward, from north and
south may we be free from danger.
6Safety be ours from friend and from the unfriendly, safety from
what we know and what we know not.
Safety be ours by night and in the day-time! friendly to me be
all my hopes and wishes!
HYMN XVI
A prayer for security from danger
1Peace hath been given us from the east, and from the west
security.
Savitar guard me from the south, and from the north the Lord
of Might.
2May the Ādityas from the sky protect me, Agni from the
earth. p. 226
May Indra-Agni guard me from the eastward, on all sides may
the Asvins give me shelter.
May Jātavedas guard, sidelong, our cattle.
Our shield on all sides be the World-Creators!
HYMN XVII
A prayer for protection from dangers in all directions
1Agni from eastward guard me with the Vasus! To him I go, in
him I rest: this fort I seek for refuge.
May he protect me, may he be my guardian. I give my soul—All
hail! into his keeping.
2Vāyu with Air protect me from this region. To him I go, etc.
3May Soma from the south, with Rudras, guard me. To him, etc.
4Varuna with Ādityas guard me from this region! To him etc.
5Sūrya with Earth and Heaven from the western region guard me
well. To him, etc.
6May Waters joined with Plants protect me from this region. To
them I go, in them I rest: this fort I seek for refuge.
May they protect me, may they be my guardians. I give my
soul—All hail! —into their keeping.
7May Visvakarman with the Seven Rishis be my protector from
the northern region. To him, etc.
8May Indra, Marut-girt, protect me from this region. To him,
etc.
9Prajāpati, of generative power, with the Pratishlhā save me from
the nadir! To him, etc.
10Brihaspati, joined by the Visvedevas, protect me from the region
of the zenith! To him, I go, in him I rest; this fort I seek
for refuge.
May he protect me, may he be my guardian. I give my soul—
All hail!—into his keeping.
HYMN XVIII
A prayer for security and peace on all sides
1Let those who vex me from the eastern region, sinners, praise
Agni followed by the Vasus.
2Let those who vex me from this quarter, sinners, praise Vāyu
compassed by the Air's mid region.
3Let those who vex me from the southern quarter, sinners, sing
praise to Soma with the Rudras.
4Let those who vex me from this quarter, sinners, praise Varuna
connected with Ādityas.
5Let those who vex me from the western quarter, sinners, praise
Sūrya linked with Earth and Heaven.
6Let those who vex me from this quarter, sinners give praise to
plants' associates the Waters.
7Let those who from the north side vex me, sinners, praise
Visvakarman with the Seven Rishis.
8Let those who vex me from this quarter, sinners, praise Indra
with the Marut host about him.
9Let those who vex me from the nadir, sinners, extol Prajāpati
of genial power.
10Let those who vex me from the zenith, sinners, extol Brihaspati
with the Visve Devas.
HYMN XIX
A hymn recommending the protection of various Gods
1Mitra arose with Earth. To that fort I lead you: enter it,
occupy it. Let it give you protection and defence.
2Vāyu arose with Air. To that fort, etc.
3Sūrya arose with Heaven. To that fort, etc.
4Chandramās arose with the Constellation. To that fort, etc.
5Sacrifice arose with Priestly Fees. To that fort, etc.
6Ocean arose with the Rivers. To that fort, etc.
7Brahma arose with the Brahmachārīs. To that fort, etc.
8Indra arose with Might. To that fort, etc. p. 228
9The Gods arose with Immortality. To that fort, etc.
10Prajāpati arose with Creatures. To that fort I lead you: enter
it, occupy it give you protection and defence.
HYMN XX
A prayer for protection from death and misfortune
1May Soma, Varuna the King, both Asvins, Yama and Pūshan
guard us well from Mrityu—
Death caused by men, which Indra-Agni, Dhātar, Brihaspati and
Savitar appointed.
2All that the World's Lord made, all that for creatures Prajāpati
and Mātarisvan fashioned,
All things within the quarters and their spaces, let all these be
my manifold defences.
3That which the Gods bound on them when they battled for their
royal sway.
What Indra made his shield, may that protect us well on every
side,
4My shield is Heaven and Earth, my shield is the bright Day, my
shield the Sun.
The Visva Devas made my shield. Let not misfortune fall on
me.
HYMN XXI
A single line giving the names of the chief Vedic metres
1Gāyatri, Ushnih, Anushtup, Brihatī, Trishtup, Jagatī.
HYMN XXII
A prose hymn of homage to various portions of the Atharva-veda, to the Rishis, and to Brahma
1With the first five chapters of the Angirases, Hail! p. 229
2To the sixth, Hail!
3To the seventh and eight, Hail!
4The black-clawed ones, Hail!
5To the golden-hued ones, Hail!
6To the small ones, Hail!
7To those composed in strophes, Hail!
8To the first shells, Hail!
9To the second shells, Hail!
10To the third shells, Hail!
11To the penultimates, Hail.
12To the last ones, Hail!
13To the latter ones, Hail!
14To the Rishis, Hail!
15To those with hair in tufts, Hail!
16To the Ganas, Hail!
17To the great Ganas, Hail!
18To all the Vidagana Angirases, Hail!
19To those two with separate thousands, Hail!
20To Brahma, Hail!
21Collected manly powers are topped by Brahma. Brahma at first
spread out the loftiest heaven.
Brahma was born first of all things existing. Who then is meet
to be that Brahma's rival?
HYMN XXIII
A prose hymn of homage to various portions of the Atharva-vada classed according to the number of verses which their hymns contain
1Hail to the four-verse strophes of the Atharvanas!
2Hail to the five-versed! p. 230
3Hail to the six-versed!
4Hail to the seven-versed!
5Hail to the eight-versed!
6Hail to the nine-versed!
7Hail to the ten-versed!
8Hail to the eleven-versed!
9Hail to the twelve-versed!
10Hail to the thirteen-versed
11Hail to the fourteen-versed!
12Hail to the fifteen-versed!
13Hail to the sixteen-versed!
14Hail to the seventeen-versed!
15Hail to the eighteen-versed!
16Hail, nineteen!
17Hail, twenty!
18Hail to the Great Section!
19Hail to the triplets!
20Hail to the single-versed hymns!
21Hail to the little ones!
22Hail to the single non-Rich-versed ones!
23Hail to the Rohitas!
24Hail to the two Sūryā hymns!
25Hail to the two Vrātya hymns!
26Hail to the two Prajāpati hymns!
27Hail to the hymn of victory!
28Hail to the hymns for happiness!
29Hail to Brahma!
30Collected manly powers are topped by Brahma. Brahma at first
spread out the loftiest heaven.
Brahma was born first of all things existing. Who then is fit to
be this Brahma's rival?
HYMN XXIV
A benediction on a newly elected King
1Do ye, O Brāhmanaspati, invest for the royal sway this man.
With that wherewith the Deities invested Savitar the God.
2Invest this Indra for long life, invest him for great princely
power,
That I may lead him on to eld, that the man watch his
princedom long.
3Invest this Soma for long life, invest him for great hearing
power.
That I may lead him on to eld, that he may watch o'er hearing
long.
4For us, surround him, cover him with splendour, give him long
life, and death when age removes him.
This garment hath Brihaspati presented to Soma, to the King,
to wrap about him.
5Advance to good old age: endue the mantle. Be thou our
heifers' guard from imprecation.
Live thou a hundred full and plenteous autumns, and wrap thee
in prosperity of riches.
6Thou for weal hast clothed thee in this garment: thou hast
become our cows' sure guard from curses.
Live thou a hundred full and plenteous autumns: then living,
fair thyself, shalt deal forth treasures.
7In every need, in every fray we call, as friends, to succour us,
Indra the mightiest of all.
8Gold-coloured, undecaying, blest with heroes, dwell, dying in
old age, with children round thee.
This is the spoken word of Agni, Soma, Brihaspati and Savitar,
and Indra.
HYMN XXV
A charm to be used when a young ox is first yoked
1I yoke thee with the mind of one unwearied still and first of all.
Be thou a bearer up the hill: run hither bearing up thy load.
HYMN XXVI
A hymn accompanying investiture with an amulet of gold
1Gold that was born from Fire is immortal hath been deposited
with mortal creatures.
He who knows this deserves to own this jewel, and in extreme
old age dies he who wears it.
2The men of ancient time with children round them longed for
this Gold, bright with the Sun's own colour,
This shall endow thee, as it shines, with splendour, and long
shall be the life of him who wears it.
3Long life and splendour let it bring energy and strength to thee.
That thou mayst shine among the folk with all the brightness of
the Gold.
4What Varuna the King knows well, and what the God
Brihaspati,
And Indra, Slayer of the Foe, may that bestow long life on thee,
may that increase thy splendid strength.
HYMN XXVII
A benedictory hymn
1Let the Bull guard thee with the kine, the Stallien with the fleet-
foot steeds. p. 233
Let Vāyu keep thee safe with prayer, and Indra with his mighty
power.
2Let Soma guard thee with the plants, Sūrya protect thee with
the stars;
With breath let Wind protect thee, and the Moon, foe-slayer,
with the months.
3Three are the earths, they say, and three the heavens, three are
the atmospheres, and four the oceans.
Threefold the hymn of praise, threefold the Waters. Let these
with triple song and triplets guard thee.
4Three vaults of heaven, and three seas, three bright, three
stationary ones,
Three Mātarisvans, and three suns, protectors, I arrange for
thee.
5Increasing thee with butter I, Agni! with fatness sprinkle thee.
Let not magicians harm the life of Agni or of Moon or Sun.
6Let not magicians mar your heat, your vital or diffusive breath.
Brilliant and all-possessing Gods, run ye your course with God-
like power.
7Fire they endow with vital breath, Wind is compact, with vital
breath:
With vital breath the Gods produced the Sun whose face turn
every way.
8Live with the Life-Creators' life. Die not, live on to lengthened
age.
Live with the breath of men with souls. Submit not to the power
of Death.
9The secret treasure of the Gods which Indra, by pathways
travelled by the Gods, discovered,
That gold the Waters with the triplets guarded. May they keep
thee with threebold hymn and triplets.
10With friendly thoughts the Deities, three-and thirty, and three
great Powers preserved it in the Waters.
He made heroic powers with the gold that lies upon this Moon.
11O ye eleven Gods who are in heaven, accept this sacrifice.
12O ye eleven Gods who are in air, accept this sacrifice.
13O ye eleven Gods who are on earth, accept this sacrifice.
1415 repeated from XIX. 16. 1, 2.
HYMN XXVIII
A charm for the destruction of enemies
1On thee I bind this Amulet for lengthened life and brilliancy.
The rival-quelling Darbha grass that burns the spirit of a foe.
2Burning the spirit of the foe, vexing the heart of enemies.
Darbha, on every side, like heat, inflame all evil-hearted men.
3O Darbha, burning round like heat, consuming foes, O Amulet,.
Like Indra rending Vala cleave mine adversaries' hearts in twain.
4Cleave through. O Darbha, Amulet, my foes', mine adversaries'.
heart.
Rise thou and batter down their heads like growth that coverethl
the earth.
5Cleave thou my rivals, Darbha, cleave the men who fain would,
fight with me.
Cleave all who wish me evil, cleave the men who hate me,.
Amulet!
6Wound thou, my rivals, Darbha, etc. (as in 5, substituting.
'wound' for cleave.)
7Tear thou my rivals, Darbha, etc.
8How thou my rivals, Darbha, etc.
9Carve thou my rivals, Darbha, etc.
10Pierce thou my rivals, Darbha, pierce the men who fain would
fight with me.
Pierce those who wish me evil, pierce the men who hate me,
Amulet!
HYMN XXIX
A charm for the destruction of enemies, continued from 28
1Pierce thou my rivals, Darbha, pierce the men who fain would
fight with me.
Pierce all who wish me evil, pierce the men who hate me,.
Amulet!
2Split thou my rivals, Darbha, etc. (as in 1, with 'split' for
'pierce' throughout).
3Check thou, etc.
4Crush thou, etc.
5Shake thou, etc.
6Bruise thou, etc.
7Burn thou, etc.
8Consume, etc.
9Slay thou my rivals. Darbha, slay the men who fain would fight
with me.
Slay all who wish me evil, slay the men who hate me, Amulet.
HYMN XXX
A protective charm accompanying investiture with an amulet of Darbha grass
1Darbha, with that good shield of thine, of hundred guards tilt
death in eld,
Arm thou this man, and with thy might strike thou his adver-
saries down.
2Darbha, thou hast a hundred shields, thou hast a thousand.
manly powers.
All Gods have given thee to him to bear thee till extreme old
age.
3They call thee, ‘Darbha, shield of Gods, they call the Brāhmanas-
pati.
They call thee shield of Indra: thou protectest kingdoms from
attack.
4Darbha, destroyer of the foe, vexing the hearts of enemies,
An Amulet that strengthens rule I make thee, and the body's.
guard.
5What time Parjanya roared to it with lightning flashes in the sea,
Thence came the drop, the golden drop, thence Darbha into
being sprang.
HYMN XXXI
A charm to ensure general prosperity, accompanying self-investiture with an amulet of Udumbara
1Savitar make all cattle grow and prosper in my stable with.
Amulet of Udumbara, helper of him who longs for wealth!
2May he who was our Household Fire, the ruler of our cattle,
strong.
Amulet of Udumbara endow us with prosperity.
3By power of the Udumbara Charm may Dhātar give me plenty,
rich.
In the kine's droppings and in fruit, and, in our dwelling, food,
and drink.
4I win great plenty, while I wear the Amulet of Udumbara.
Of quadrupeds and bipeds, of juices and food of every sort.
5I have obtained abundant wealth of cattle, bipeds and quad-
rupeds, and corn in plenty.
Savitar and Brihaspati vouchsafe me the milk of kine and herbs'
refreshing juices!
6Fain would I be the lord of herds of cattle: may he who rules
o'er riches send me riches!
May the Udumbara Amulet vouchsafe possessions unto me.
7To me with wealth and children come the Amulet of Udumbara.
With splendour come the Amulet hastened by Indra on its way!
8Divine, foe-quelling Amulet, wealth-winner for the gain of
wealth—
May it give store of beasts and food and cause our kine to
multiply.
9As thou, O Forest Tree, wast born with increase when thy life
began,
So let Sarasvati bestow abundant growth of wealth on me.
10Sarasvati vouchsafe me wealth, household prosperity, and corn!
Let Sinivāli bring them, and this Amulet of Udumbara.
11The Lord of amulets art thou, most mighty: in thee wealth's
ruler hath engendered riches,
These gains are lodged in thee, and all great treasures. Amulet,
conquer thou: far from us banish malignity and indigence,
and hunger. p. 237
12Vigour art thou, in me do thou plant vigour: riches art thou, so
do thou grant me riches.
Plenty art thou, so prosper me with plenty: House-holder, hear"
a householder's petition.
13Amulet of Udumbara, enrich us: vouchsafe us wealth with all
good men about us. I bind thee on for increase of possessions.
14For hero is this hero bound, Amulet of Udumbara.
So may he make our offering sweetly-savoured, and grant us
wealth with all good men about us.