{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/av/av08001.htm","path":"hin/av/av08001.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av08001.htm","text":"Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895]\n1Homage to Death the Ender! May thy breathings, inward and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0outward, still remain within thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Here stay this man united with his spirit in the Sun's realm, the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0world of life eternal!\n 2Bhaga hath lifted up this man, and Soma with his filaments,\n \u00a0\u00a0Indra and Agni, and the Gods the Maruts, raised him up to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0health.\n 3Here is thy spirit, here thy breath, here is thy life, here is thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0soul:\n \u00a0\u00a0By a celestial utterance we raise thee from Destruction's bonds.\n 4Up from this place, O man, rise! sink not downward, casting\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0away the bonds of Death that hold thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Be not thou parted from this world, from sight of Agni and the\n \u00a0\u00a0Sun.\n 5Purely for thee breathe Wind and M\u0101tarisvan, and let the\n \u00a0\u00a0Waters rain on thee their nectar.\n \u00a0\u00a0The Sun shall shine with healing on thy body; Death shall have\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mercy on thee: do not leave us!\n 6Upward must be thy way, O man, not downward: with life and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mental vigour I endow thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Ascend this car eternal, lightly rolling; then full of years shalt\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thou address the meeting.\n 7Let not thy soul go thither, nor be lost to us: slight not the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0living, go not where the Fathers are.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let all the Gods retain thee here in safety.\n 8Yearn not for the departed ones, for those who lead men far\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0away.\n \u00a0\u00a0Rise up from darkness into light: come, both thy hands we\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0clasp in ours.\n 9Let not the black dog and the brindled seize thee, two warders\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of the way sent forth by Yama.\n \u00a0\u00a0Come hither; do not hesitate: with mind averted stay not there. p. a323\n 10Forbear to tread this path, for it is awful: that path I speak of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0which thou hast not travelled.\n \u00a0\u00a0Enter it not, O man; this way is darkness: forward is danger,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hitherward is safety.\n 11Thy guardians be the Fires within the Waters, thy guardian be\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the Fire which men enkindle.\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy guardian be Vaisv\u0101nara J\u0101tavedas; let not celestial Fire with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0lightning burn thee.\n 12Let not the Flesh-Consumer plot against thee: depart thou far\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0away from the Destroyer.\n \u00a0\u00a0Be Heaven and Earth and Sun and Moon thy keepers, and from\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the dart of Gods may Air protect thee.\n 13May Vigilance and Watchfulness protect thee, Sleepless and\n \u00a0\u00a0Slumberless keep guard above thee!\n \u00a0\u00a0Let Guardian and let Wakeful be thy warders.\n 14Let these be thy preservers, these thy keepers. All hail to these,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to these be lowly worship!\n 15May saving Savitar, V\u0101yu, Indra, Dh\u0101tar restore thee to com-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0munion with the living.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let not thy vigour or thy breath forsake thee: we recall thy life.\n 16Let not the fiend with snapping jaws, nor darkness find thee:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0tongue, holy grass: how shouldst thou perish?\n \u00a0\u00a0May the \u0100dityas and the Vasus, Indra and Agni raise thee and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to health restore thee.\n 17The Sky hath raised thee, and the Earth, Praj\u0101pati hath raised\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee up.\n \u00a0\u00a0The Plants and Herbs with Soma as their King have rescued\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee from Death.\n 18Here let this man, O Gods, remain: let him not go to yonder\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0world.\n \u00a0\u00a0We rescue him from Mrityu with a charm that hath a thousand\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0powers.\n 19I have delivered thee from Death. Strength-givers smelt and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0fashion thee!\n \u00a0\u00a0Let not she-fiends with wild loose locks, or fearful howlers yell\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0at thee.\n 20I have attained and captured thee: thou hast returned restored\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to youth.\n \u00a0\u00a0Perfect in body: so have I found all thy sight and all thy life. p. a324\n 21Life hath breathed on thee; light hath come: darkness hath past\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0away from thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Far from thee we have buried Death, buried Destruction and:\n \u00a0\u00a0Decline.","title":"Atharva Veda: Book 8: Hymn 1: A charm to recover a dying man","type":"page"}