Hymns of the Atharva-Veda — SBE Vol. 42 (Clarendon Press, 1897) — second scan
The text is shown on its own: no facing layer is held for this issue.
The translator’s English as printed. The original-language text is not held; names are romanised as the translator printed them.
s a co-dweller this place !
54. In many ways heaven assumes within itself a different form, according to circumstances. It (the heaven) has laid aside its black form, purifying itself to a bright (form) ; the red form do I sacrifice for thee into the fire.
55. Thee here we hand over to the eastern direction, to Agni as sovereign lord, to the black serpent as guardian, to Aditya as bowman : do ye guard it for us, until we arrive ! To the goal here he shall lead us, to old age ; old age shall hand us over to death : then shall we be united with the cooked (porridge) !
56. Thee here we hand over to the southern direction, to Indra as sovereign lord, to the serpent that is striped across as guardian, to Yama as bowman : do ye guard it for us, until we arrive ! To the goal here, &c.
IX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS. 1 93
57. Thee here we hand over to the western direction, to Varu^a as sovereign lord, to the przdakuserpent as guardian, to food as bowman : do ye guard it for us, until we arrive. To the goal here, &c.
58. Thee here we hand over to the northern direction, to Soma as sovereign lord, to the sva^aserpent as guardian, to the lightning as bowman : do ye guard it for us, until we arrive. To the goal here, &c.
59. Thee here we hand over to the direction of the nadir, to Vishnu as sovereign lord, to the serpent with black-spotted neck as guardian, to the plants as bowmen : do ye guard it for us, until we arrive. To the goal here, &c.
60. Thee here we hand over to the direction of the zenith, to Brzhaspati as sovereign lord, to the light-coloured serpent as guardian, to the rain as bowman : do ye guard it for us, until we arrive. To the goal here, &c.
IX, 3. Removal of a house that has been presented to a priest as sacrificial reward.
1. The fastenings of the buttresses, the supports, and also of the connecting beams of the house, that abounds in treasures, do we loosen.
2. O (house) rich in all treasures ! the fetter which has been bound about thee, and the knot which has been fastened upon thee, that with my charm do I undo, as Brzhaspati (undid) Vala.
3. (The builder) has drawn thee together, pressed thee together, placed firm knots upon thee. Skilfully, as the priest who butchers (the sacrificial animal), do we with Indra's aid disjoint thy limbs.
[42] o
p. 194
4. From thy beams, thy bolts, thy frame, and thy thatch ; from thy sides, (O house) abounding in treasures, do we loosen the fastenings.
5.
tchers (the sacrificial animal), do we with Indra's aid disjoint thy limbs.
[42] o
p. 194
4. From thy beams, thy bolts, thy frame, and thy thatch ; from thy sides, (O house) abounding in treasures, do we loosen the fastenings.
5. The fastenings of the dove-tailed (joints), of the reed (-covering), of the frame-work, do we loosen here from the ' mistress of dwelling/
6. The ropes which they have tied within thee for comfort, these do we loosen from thee ; be thou propitious to our persons, O mistress of dwelling, after thou hast (again) been erected !
7. A receptacle for Soma, a house for Agni, a seat for the mistresses (of the house), a seat (for the priests), a seat for tlie gods art thou, O goddess house !
8. Thy covering of wicker-work, with thousand eyes, stretched out upon thy crown, fastened down and laid on, do we loosen with (this) charm.
9. He who receives thee as a gift, O house,
and he by whom thou hast been built, both these,
O mistress of dwelling, shall live attaining old age !
10. Return to him in the other world, firmly bound, ornamented, (thou house), which we loosen limb by limb, and joint by joint !
11. He who built thee, O house, brought together (thy) timbers, he, a Pra^apati on high, did construct thee, O house, for his progeny (pra^*ayai).
12. We render obeisance to him (the builder); obeisance to the giver, the lord of the house ; obeisance to Agni who serves (the sacrifice) ; and obeisance to thy (attendant) man !
13. Reverence to the cattle and the horses, and to that which is born in the house ! Thou that hast produced, art rich in offspring, thy fetters do we loosen.
14. Thou dost shelter Agni within, (and) theIX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS. 1 95 domestics together with the cattle. Thou that hast produced, art rich in offspring, thy fetters do we loosen.
15. The expanse which is between heaven and earth, with that do I receive as a gift this house of thine ; the middle region wrhich is stretched out from the sky, that do I make into a receptacle for treasures ; with that do I receive the house for this one.
16. Full of nurture, full of milk, fixed upon the earth, erected, holding food for all, O house, do thou not injure them that receive thee as a gift !
17. Enveloped in grass, clothed in reeds, like night does the house lodge the cattle ; erected thou dost stand upon the earth, like a she-elephant, firm of foot.
18. The part of thee that was covered with mats unfolding do I loosen.
receive thee as a gift !
17. Enveloped in grass, clothed in reeds, like night does the house lodge the cattle ; erected thou dost stand upon the earth, like a she-elephant, firm of foot.
18. The part of thee that was covered with mats unfolding do I loosen. Thee that hast been enfolded by Varu/za may Mitra uncover in the morning !
19. The house built with pious word, built by seers, erected — may Indra and Agni, the two immortals, protect the house, the seat of Soma !
20. Chest is crowded upon chest, basket upon basket; there mortal man is begotten from whom all things spring.
21. In the house which is built with two facades, four facades, six facades ; in the house with eight facades, with ten facades, in the ' mistress of dwelling/ Agni rests as if in the womb.
22. Turning towards thee that art turned towards me, O house, I come to thee that injurest me not. For Agni and the waters, the first door to divine order, are within.
o 2
I96 HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
23. These waters, free from disease, destructive of disease, do I bring here. The chambers do I enter in upon in company with the immortal Agni (fire).
24. Do thou not fasten a fetter upon us ; though a heavy load, become thou light ! As a bride do we carry thee, O house, wherever we please.
25. From the easterly direction of the house reverence (be) to greatness, hail to the gods who are to be addressed with hail !
26. From the southerly direction of the house, &c. !
27. From the westerly direction of the house, &c. !
28. From the northerly direction of the house, &c. !
29. From the firm direction (nadir) of the house, &c. !
30. From the upright direction (zenith) of the house, &c. !
31. From every direction of the house reverence (be) to greatness, hail to the gods who are to be addressed with hail !
VI, 71. Brahmanical prayer at the receipt of gifts.
1. The varied food which I consume in many places, my gold, my horses, and, too, my cows, goats, and sheep : everything whatsoever that I have received as a gift — may Agni, the priest, render that an auspicious offering !
2. The gift that has come to me by sacrifice, or without sacrifice, bestowed by the Fathers, granted by men, through which my heart, as it were, lights up with joy — may Agni, the priest, render that an auspicious offering!
3. The food that I, O gods, improperly consume,
IX. PRAYERS AND IMPRECATIONS FOR BRAHMANS.
No commentary for this page under the selected tracks.
There is commentary on page 1.