{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/av/av18001.htm","path":"hin/av/av18001.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av18001.htm","text":"Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895]\n1Fain would I win my friend to kindly friendship. So may the\n \u00a0\u00a0Sage, come through the air's wide ocean,\n \u00a0\u00a0Remembering the earth and days to follow, obtain a son the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0issue of his father.\n 2Thy friend loves not the friendship which considers her who is\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0near in kindred as a stranger.\n \u00a0\u00a0Sons of the mighty Asura, the heroes, supporters of the heaven,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0see far around them.\n 3Yea, this the Immortals seek of thee with longing, a scion of the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0only man existing.\n \u00a0\u00a0Then let thy soul and mine be knit together. Embrace thy con-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sort as her loving husband.\n 4Shall we do now what we ne'er did aforetime? we who spoke\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0righteously now talk impurely?\n \u00a0\u00a0Gandharva in the floods, the Dame of Waters\u2014such is our\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bond, such our most lofty kinship.\n 5Even in the womb God Tvashtar, vivifier, shaping all forms,\n \u00a0\u00a0Creator, made us consorts.\n \u00a0\u00a0Ne'er are his holy statutes violated: that we are his the heaven\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and earth acknowledge.\n 6Who yokes to-day unto the pole of Order the strong and passio-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nate steers of checkless spirit,\n \u00a0\u00a0With shaft-armed mouths, heart-piercing, joy-bestowing? Long\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0shall he live who duly pays them service.\n 7Who knows that earliest day whereof thou speakest, Who hath\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0beheld it? Who can here declare it?\n \u00a0\u00a0Great is the law of Varuna and Mitra. What, wanton, wilt thou\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0say to men to tempt them?\n 8Yami am possessed by love of Yama, that I may rest on the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0same couch beside him.\n \u00a0\u00a0I as a wife would yield me to my husband. Like car-wheels let\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0us speed to meet each other. p. 175\n 9They stand not still, they never close their eyelids, those senti-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0nels of Gods who wander round us.\n \u00a0\u00a0Not me\u2014go quickly, wanton, with another, and hasten like a\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0chariot-wheel to meet him.\n 10May S\u016brya's eye with days and nights endow him, and ever may\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0his light spread out before him.\n \u00a0\u00a0In heaven and earth the kindred pair commingle. On Yami be\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the unbrotherly act of Yama.\n 11Sure there will come succeeding times when brothers and sisters\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0will do acts unmeet for kinsfolk.\n \u00a0\u00a0Not me, O fair one\u2014seek another husband, and make thine arm\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0a pillow for thy consort.\n 12Is he a brother when no help is left her? Is she a sister when\n \u00a0\u00a0Destruction cometh?\n \u00a0\u00a0Forced by my love these many words I utter. Come near, and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hold me in thy close embraces,\n 13I am no help for thee, no refuge, Yami, I will not clasp and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0press thee to my bosom.\n \u00a0\u00a0This is abhorrent to my mind and spirit\u2014a brother on the couch\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0beside a sister.\n 14I will not fold mine arms about thy body: they call it sin when\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0one comes near a sister.\n \u00a0\u00a0Not me\u2014prepare thy pleasure with another. Thy brother seeks\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0not this from thee, O fair one.\n 15Alas; thou art indeed a weakling Yama. We find in thee no trace\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0o f heart or spirit.\n \u00a0\u00a0As round a tree the woodbine clings, another will cling about\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee girt as with a girdle.\n 16Embrace another, Yami. Let some other, even as the woodbine\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0rings a tree, enfold thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Win thou his heart and let him win thy fancy; so make with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0him a bond of blest alliance.\n 17Three hymns the Sages have disposed in order, the many-formed,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the fair, the all-beholding.\n \u00a0\u00a0These in one single world are placed and settled\u2014the growing\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0plants, the breezes, and the waters.\n 18The Bull hath yielded for the Bull the milk of heaven: inviolable\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0is the Son of Aditi.\n \u00a0\u00a0According to his wisdom Varuna knoweth all: he halloweth, the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0holy, times for sacrifice. p. 176\n 19Gandharvi spake. May she, the Lady of the Flood amid the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0river's roaring leave my heart untouched.\n \u00a0\u00a0May Aditi accomplish all that we desire, and may our eldest\n \u00a0\u00a0Brother tell us this as chief.\n 20Yea, even this blessed Morning, rich in store of food, splendid,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0with heavenly lustre, hath shone out for man,\n \u00a0\u00a0Since they as was the wish of yearning Gods, brought forth that\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0yearning Agni for the assembly as the Priest.\n 21And the fleet Falcon brought for sacrifice from afar this flowing.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0drop most excellent and passing wise,\n \u00a0\u00a0Then when the Aryan tribes chose as invoking Priest Agni the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wonder-worker, and the hymn rose up.\n 22Still art thou kind to him who feeds thee as with grass, and.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0skilled in sacrifice offers thee holy gifts.\n \u00a0\u00a0When thou having received the sage's strengthening food with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0lauds, after long toil comest with many more.\n 23Urge thou thy Parents, as a lover, to delight: the lovely One\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0desires and craves it from his heart.\n \u00a0\u00a0As Priest he calls aloud, as Warrior shows his skill, as Asura tries\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0his strength, and with the hymn is stirred.\n 24Far famed is he, the mortal man, O Agni thou Son of strength,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0who hath obtained thy favour.\n \u00a0\u00a0He, gathering power, borne onward by his horses, makes his,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0days lovely in his might and splendour.\n 25Hear us, O Agni, in the great assembly: harness thy rapid car,.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the car of Amrit.\n \u00a0\u00a0Bring Heaven and Earth, the Deities' Parents, hither: stay with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0us here, nor from the Gods be absent.\n 26When, holy Agni, the divine assembly, the holy synod mid the\n \u00a0\u00a0Gods, is gathered,\n \u00a0\u00a0And when thou, godlike One, dealest forth treasures vouchsafe\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0us too our portion of the riches.\n 27Agni hath looked upon the van of Mornings, and on the days.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the earliest J\u0101tavedas.\n \u00a0\u00a0After the Dawns, after their rays of brightness, S\u016brya hath enter-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ed into earth and heaven.\n 28Agni hath looked against the van of Mornings, against the days-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the earliest J\u0101tavedas;\n \u00a0\u00a0In many a place against the beams of S\u016brya, against the heavens\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and earth hath he extended. p. 177\n 29Heaven and Earth, first by everlasting Order, speakers of truth,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0are near enough to hear us,\n \u00a0\u00a0When the God, urging men to worship, sitteth as Priest, assum-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ing all his vital vigour.\n 30As God comprising Gods by Law eternal, bear, as the chief who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0knoweth, our oblation,\n \u00a0\u00a0Smoke-bannered with the fuel, radiant, joyous, better to praise\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and worship, Priest for ever.\n 31I praise your work .that ye may make me prosper: hear, Heaven\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and Earth, twain worlds that drop with fatness!\n \u00a0\u00a0While days and Gods go to the world of spirits, have let the\n \u00a0\u00a0Parents with sweet mead refresh us.\n 32When the Cow's nectar wins the God completely, men here\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0below are heaven's and earth's sustainers\n \u00a0\u00a0All the Gods come to this thy heavenly Yajus which from the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0motley Pair milked oil and water\n 33Hath the King seized us? How have we offended against his\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0holy Ordinance? Who knoweth?\n \u00a0\u00a0For even Mitra mid the Gods is angry. There are both song and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wealth for those who come not.\n 34'Tis hard to understand the Immortal's nature, where she who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0is akin becomes a stranger.\n \u00a0\u00a0Guard ceaselessly, great Agni, him who ponders Yama's name\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0easy to be comprehended.\n 35They in the synod where the Gods rejoice them, where they are\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0seated in Vivasvan's dwelling,\n \u00a0\u00a0Have given the Moon his beams, the Sun his splendour: the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0two unweariedly maintain their brightness.\n 36The counsel which the Gods meet to consider, their secret plan,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of that we have no knowledge.\n \u00a0\u00a0There let God Savitar, Aditi, and Mitra proclaim to Varuna that\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0we are sinless.\n 37Companions, let us learn a prayer to Indra whom the thunder\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0arms,\n \u00a0\u00a0To glorify your bold and most heroic Friend.\n 38For thou by slaying Vritra art the Vritra-slayer, famed for\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0might.\n \u00a0\u00a0Thou, Hero, in rich gifts surpassest wealthy chiefs.\n 39O'er the broad land thou goest like a Stega: here on vast earth\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0let breezes blow upon us, p. 178\n \u00a0\u00a0Here hath our dear Friend Varuna, united, like Agni in the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wood, shot forth his splendour.\n 40Sing praise to him the chariot-borne, the famous, Sovran of men,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the dread and strong destroyer.\n \u00a0\u00a0O Rudra, praised be gracious to the singer; let thy darts spare\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0us and smite down another.\n 41The pious call Sarasvati, they worship Sarasvati while sacrifice\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0proceedeth.\n \u00a0\u00a0The virtuous call Sarasvati to hear them. Sarasvati send bliss to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0him who giveth!\n 42Sarasvati is called on by the Fathers who come right forward to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0our solemn worship.\n \u00a0\u00a0Seated upon this sacred grass rejoice you. Give thou us\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0strengthening food that brings no sickness.\n 43Sarasvati, who comest with the Fathers, joying in hymns, O\n \u00a0\u00a0Goddess, and oblations,\n \u00a0\u00a0Give plenteous wealth to this the sacrificer, a portion, worth a\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thousand, of refreshment.\n 44May they ascend, the lowest, highest, midmost, the Fathers, who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0deserve a share of Soma.\n \u00a0\u00a0May they who have attained to life, the Fathers, righteous and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0gentle, aid us when we call them.\n 45I have attained the gracious-minded Fathers, I have gained son\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and progeny from Vishnu.\n \u00a0\u00a0They who enjoy pressed juices with oblation, seated on sacred\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0grass, come oftenest hither.\n 46Now be this homage offered to the Fathers, to those who passed\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of old and those who followed,\n \u00a0\u00a0Those who have rested in the earthly region and those who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0dwell among the happy races.\n 47M\u0101tali prospers there with Kavyas, Yama with Angiras' sons,\n \u00a0\u00a0Brihaspati with singers.\n \u00a0\u00a0Exalters of the Gods, by Gods exalted, aid us those Fathers in\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0our invocations?\n 48Yes, this is good to taste and full of sweetness, verily it is strong\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and rich in flavour.\n \u00a0\u00a0No one may conquer Indra in the battle when he hath drunken\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of the draught we offer.\n 49Honour the King with your oblations, Yama, Vivasv\u0101n's son, who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0gathers men together. p. 179\n \u00a0\u00a0Even him who travelled o'er the mighty rivers, who searches out\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and shows the path to many.\n 50Yama first found for us the road to travel: this pasture never\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0can be taken from us.\n \u00a0\u00a0Men born on earth tread their own paths that lead them whither\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0our ancient Fathers have departed.\n 51Fathers who sit on sacred grass, come, help us: these offsprings\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0have we made for you; accept them.\n \u00a0\u00a0So come to us with most auspicious favour: bestow on us\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0unfailing health and plenty.\n 52Bowing their bended knees and seated southward let all accept\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0this sacrifice with favour.\n \u00a0\u00a0Punish us not for any sin, O fathers which we through human\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0frailty have committed.\n 53Tvashtar prepares the bridal for his daughter: therefore the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0whole of this our world assembles.\n \u00a0\u00a0But Yama's mother, spouse of great Vivasv\u0101n, vanished as she\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0was carried to her dwelling.\n 54Go forth, go forth upon the homeward pathways whither our\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sires of old have gone before us.\n \u00a0\u00a0Then shalt thou look on both the Kings enjoying their sacred\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0food, God Varuna and Yama.\n 55Go hence, depart ye, fly in all directions. This world for him the\n \u00a0\u00a0Fathers have provided.\n \u00a0\u00a0Yama bestow upon this man a dwelling adorned with days and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0beams of light and waters.\n 56We set thee down with yearning, and with yearning we enkindle\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee,\n \u00a0\u00a0Yearning, bring yearning Fathers nigh to eat the food of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sacrifice.\n 57We, splendid men, deposit thee, we, splendid men, enkindle thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Splendid, bring splendid Fathers nigh to eat the sacrificial food.\n 58Our Fathers are Angirases, Navagvas, Atharvans, Bhrigus, who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0deserve the Soma.\n \u00a0\u00a0May these, the holy, look on us with favour; may we enjoy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0their gracious loving-kindness.\n 59Come, Yama, with Angirases, the holy; rejoice thee here with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0children of Vir\u016bpa.\n \u00a0\u00a0Seated on sacred grass at this oblation: I call Vivasv\u0101n too, thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0father, hither. p. 180\n 60Come, seat thee on this bed of grass. O Yama, accordant with\n \u00a0\u00a0Angirases and Fathers.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let texts recited by the sages bring thee. O. King, let this\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0oblation make thee joyful.\n 61He hath gone hence and risen on high mounting heaven's ridges\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0by that path\n \u00a0\u00a0Whereon the sons of Angiras, the conquerors of earth, went up.","title":"Atharva Veda: Book 18: Hymn 1: An accompaniment to funeral ceremonies and sacrificial offerings to ancestral spirits","type":"page"}