{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/av/av09001.htm","path":"hin/av/av09001.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av09001.htm","text":"Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895]\n1The Asvins' Honey-whip was born from heaven and earth, from\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0middle air, and ocean, and from fire and wind.\n \u00a0\u00a0All living creatures welcome it with joyful hearts, fraught with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the store of Amrit it hath gathered up.\n 2They call thee earth's great strength in every form, they call\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee too the ocean's genial seed.\n \u00a0\u00a0Whence comes the Honey-whip bestowing bounty, there Vital\n \u00a0\u00a0Spirit is, and Amrit treasured.\n 3In sundry spots, repeatedly reflecting, men view upon the earth:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0her course and action;\n \u00a0\u00a0For she, the first-born daughter of the Maruts, derives her\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0origin from Wind and Agni.\n 4Daughter of Vasus, mother of \u0100dityas, centre of Amrit breath\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of living creatures.\n \u00a0\u00a0The Honey-whip, gold-coloured, dropping fatness, moves as a\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mighty embryo 'mid mortals.\n 5The deities begat the Whip of Honey: her embryo assumed all\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0forms and fashions.\n \u00a0\u00a0The mother nourishes that tender infant which at its birth\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0looks on all worlds and beings.\n 6Who understandeth well, who hath perceived it, her heart's un-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0injured Soma-holding beaker?\n \u00a0\u00a0Let the wise Br\u0101hman priest therein be joyful.\n 7He understandeth them, he hath perceived them, her breasts\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0that pour a thousand streams, uninjured.\n \u00a0\u00a0They unreluctantly yield strength and vigour.\n 8She who with voice upraised in constant clamour, mighty, life-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0giving, goes unto her function,\n \u00a0\u00a0Bellowing to the heated three libations, suckles with streams of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0milk, and still is lowing. p. a357\n 9On whom, well-fed, the Waters wait in worship, and steers and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0self-refulgent bulls attend her.\n \u00a0\u00a0For thee, for one like thee down pour the Waters, and cause\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0desire and strength to rain upon thee.\n 10The thunder is thy voice, O Lord of Creatures: a Bull, thou\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0castest on the earth thy vigour.\n \u00a0\u00a0The Honey-whip, the Manus' first-born daughter, derives her\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0origin from Wind and Agni.\n 11As at the morning sacrifice the Asvins twain love Soma well,\n \u00a0\u00a0Even so may both the Asvins lay splendour and strength within\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0my soul.\n 12As at the second sacrifice Indra and Agni love him well,\n \u00a0\u00a0Let the pair, Indra Agni, lay splendour and strength within my\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0soul.\n 13As at third sacrifice Soma is the Ribhus' well-beloved one,\n \u00a0\u00a0Even so may they, the Ribhus, store splendour and strength\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0within my soul.\n 14Fain would I bring forth sweetness, fain would make it mine.\n \u00a0\u00a0Bringing milk, Agni! have I come: splendour and strength\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bestow on me!\n 15Grant me, O Agni, splendid strength, and progeny, and length-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ened life.\n \u00a0\u00a0May the Gods know me as I am, may Indra with the Rishis\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0know.\n 16As honey-bees collect and add fresh honey to their honey store,\n \u00a0\u00a0Even so may both the Asvins lay splendour and strength within\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0my soul.\n 17As over honey flies besmear this honey which the bees have\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0made,\n \u00a0\u00a0So may both Asvins lay in me splendour and strength and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0power and might.\n 18May all the sweetness that is found in hills and mountains,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0steeds and kine,\n \u00a0\u00a0And wine that floweth from the cup,\u2014may all that sweetness\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0be in me.\n 19May both the Asvins, Lords of Light, balm me with honey of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the bees,\n \u00a0\u00a0That I may speak among the folk words full of splendour and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of strength. p. a358\n 20The thunder is thy voice, O Lord of Creatures: a Bull, thou\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0castest strength on earth and heaven.\n \u00a0\u00a0To that all cattle look for their existence: with this she nourishes\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0their force and vigour.\n 21The Whip itself is Heaven, Earth is the handle, the point of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0juncture is the Air's mid-region.\n \u00a0\u00a0The lash is lightning, and the tip is golden.\n 22Whoever knows the Whip's seven kinds of honey, becomes\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0himself a man endowed with sweetness.\n \u00a0\u00a0Br\u0101hman and King, the draught-ox and the milch-cow, barley\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and rice, and honey is the seventh.\n 23Sweet is the man, sweet are his goods and chattels: he who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0knows this conquers the worlds of sweetness.\n 24The thundering of Praj\u0101pati in heaven is verily manifest to living\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0creatures.\n \u00a0\u00a0Therefore I stand from right to left invested, and, O Praj\u0101pati,\n \u00a0\u00a0I cry, regard me!\n \u00a0\u00a0The man who hath this knowledge is regarded by living beings\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and the Lord of Creatures.","title":"Atharva Veda: Book 9: Hymn 1: A glorification of the Asvins' whip and a prayer for blessings","type":"page"}