{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/av/av18004.htm","path":"hin/av/av18004.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av18004.htm","text":"Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895]\n1Rise to your mother, flames of J\u0101tavedas! I send you up by\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0paths which Fathers traverse.\n \u00a0\u00a0With headlong speed the Oblation bearer bore our gifts: toil ye,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and place the offerer where the righteous dwell.\n 2The Seasons, Deities, form and order Worship, butter, cake,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ladles, sacrificial weapons.\n \u00a0\u00a0Tread thou God-travelled paths whereby the righteous, payers\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of sacrifices, go to Svarga.\n 3Carefully look on Sacrifice's pathway whereon the Angirases,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the righteous, travel.\n \u00a0\u00a0By those same pathways go thou up to Svarga where the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u0100dityas take their fill of sweetness, There make thy home in\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the third vault of heaven,\n 4Three eagles in the region's roar are standing high on heaven's\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ridge in their appointed station.\n \u00a0\u00a0The worlds of Svarga shall, filled full of Amrit, yield food and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0power to him who sacrificeth. p. 202\n 5Upabhrit stablished air, Juh\u016b the heaven, Dhruva supported\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0earth securely founded.\n \u00a0\u00a0As meed, the Svarga worlds, o'erspread with fatness shall yield\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the sacrificer all his wishes.\n 6Dhruv\u0101, ascend thou earth the all sustainer: go thou, O Upa-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bhrit, to air's mid-region.\n \u00a0\u00a0Juhu, go skyward with the sacrificer; go, and with Sruva be thy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0calf beside thee drain all the swelling unreluctant quarters.\n 7They ford the mighty rivers by the pathway which they who\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sacrifice, the righteous, travel.\n \u00a0\u00a0There they gave room unto the sacrificer when they made regions\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and existing creatures.\n 8The Angirases' pathway is the eastern Agni, the \u0100dityas' path-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0way is the G\u0101rhapatya:\n \u00a0\u00a0The southward Agni is the way of Southerns.\n \u00a0\u00a0To Agni's greatness whom the prayer divideth go powerful, un-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0scathed with all thy members.\n 9Eastward let east fire happily consume thee, and westward\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0happily the G\u0101rhapatya.\n \u00a0\u00a0Burn southern fire, thine armour and protection: from air's-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mid-region from the north and centre, on all sides, Agni,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0guard thou him from horror.\n 10Do ye, with your most kindly forms, O Agni, waft, turned to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0rapid steeds whose ribs bear burthens,\n \u00a0\u00a0The sacrificer to the world of Svarga where with the Gods they\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0banquet and are joyful.\n 11Happily from the rear burn this man, Agni, happily from before,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0above, and under.\n \u00a0\u00a0One, triply parted, J\u0101tavedas, place him happily in the world\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0that holds the righteous.\n 12Happily lit, let fires, each J\u0101tavedas, seize on Praj\u0101pati's appoint-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ed victim.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let them not cast it down while here they cook it.\n 13Sacrifice, duly offered, comes preparing the sacrificer for the.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0world of Svarga,\n \u00a0\u00a0Let all the fires, each Jatavedas, welcome Praj\u0101pati's completely\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0offered victim.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let them not cast it down while here they cook it.\n 14Fain to fly up from the sky's ridge to heaven, the worshipper\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hath mounted visible Agni. p. 203\n \u00a0\u00a0Lucid from out the mist to him, the pious, gleams the God-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0travelled path that leads to Svarga.\n 15On thy right hand let Indra be thy Br\u0101hman, Brihaspati Adh-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0varyu Agni Hotar.\n \u00a0\u00a0This ordered sacrifice goes offered thither whither presented\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0gifts have gone aforetime.\n 16Enriched with cake and milk here let the Charu rest.\n \u00a0\u00a0World-makers, makers of the path we worship you of the Gods\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0who here partake oblations.\n 17Enriched with cake and curds, etc. (as in stanza 16).\n 18Enriched with cake and drops, etc.\n 19Enriched with cake and butter, etc.\n 20Enriched with cake and flesh, etc.\n 21Enriched with cake and food, etc.\n 22Enriched with cake and mead, etc.\n 23Enriched with cake and juice, etc.\n 24Here, mixt with cake and water rest the Charu!\n \u00a0\u00a0World-makers, makers of the path, we worship those Gods of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0you who here partake oblations.\n 25Let these which Gods have held for thee, these beakers covered\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0o'er with cake,\n \u00a0\u00a0Be full of sacred food for thee, distilling fatness, rich in mead.\n 26Grains which for thee I scatter, mixt with Sesamum, as holy\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0food.\n \u00a0\u00a0May they for thee be excellent and potent. King Yama look on,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0them as thine with favour!\n 27More immortality!\n 28On all the earth, to heaven, the drop descended, on this place\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and on that which was before it.\n \u00a0\u00a0I offer up, throughout the seven oblations, the drop which still\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to one same place is moving.\n 29Those who observe men look on wealth as V\u0101yu with countless.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0streams, and as light-finding Arka;\n \u00a0\u00a0Those drain out Guerdon sprung from seven mothers, who satis-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0fy and evermore give presents.\n 30They for their weal drain out the cask, the beaker four-holed,.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the milch-cow Id\u0101 full of sweetness,\n \u00a0\u00a0Injure not, Agni, in the loftiest heaven Aditi heightening strength\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0among the people.\n 31On thee doth Savitar the God bestow this vesture for thy wear. p. 204\n \u00a0\u00a0Clothe thee herein, and find meet robe in Yama's realm to cover\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee.\n 32The grains of corn have now become a cow, the Sesamum her\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0calf.\n \u00a0\u00a0He in the realm of Yama lives on her the inexhaustible.\n 33Let these become thy milch-kine, man! supplying all thy heart's\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0desires.\n \u00a0\u00a0There, speckled, white, like-hued and various-coloured, with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0calves of Sesamum let them stand beside thee.\n 34Let the green grains become thy white, and speckled, The dusky\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0corns become thy ruddy milch-kine.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let those with calves of Sesamum for ever yield strength to him\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and never flinch from milking.\n 35I offer in Vaisv\u0101nara this oblation, thousandfold spring that\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0pours a hundred steamlets.\n \u00a0\u00a0This with a swelling flow supports the Father, supports grand-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0fathers and their sires before them.\n 36Beside the spring with hundred, thousand currents, expanding\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0on the summit of the water,\n \u00a0\u00a0Exhaustless, yielding strength, never reluctant, the Fathers with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0their sacred food are seated.\n 37This pile of wood, collected, heaped together, regard it, O ye,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0kinsmen, and come near it.\n \u00a0\u00a0To immortality this mortal goeth: prepare a home for him, all\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ye his kindred.\n 38Be here, even here, acquiring wealth, here be thou thoughts here\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0be thou strength.\n \u00a0\u00a0Be stronger here in manly power, life-giver, never beaten back.\n 39Giving the son and grandson satisfaction, let these the present\n \u00a0\u00a0Waters full of sweetness,\n \u00a0\u00a0Pouring forth food and Amrit for the Fathers, refresh both these\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0and those, the Goddess Waters.\n 4040. Waters, send Agni forward to the Fathers: let them accept the\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sacrifice I offer.\n \u00a0\u00a0May they who follow Vigour that abideth there send us down\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0wealth with full store of heroes.\n 41Lover of butter, deathless, him, Oblation-bearer, they inflame.\n \u00a0\u00a0He knoweth well the treasured stores gone to the Fathers, far\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0away. p. 205\n 42The mingled draught, the mess of rice, the flesh which I present\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to thee,\n \u00a0\u00a0May these be full of food for thee, distilling fatness, rich in\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sweets.\n 43Grains which for thee I scatter, mixt with Sesamum as sacred\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0food,\n \u00a0\u00a0May these for thee be excellent and potent. King Yama look on,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0them, as thine, with favour.\n 44This is the ancient, this the recent pathway, by which thy sires\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of olden time departed.\n \u00a0\u00a0They who first travelled it, and they who followed, convey thee\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to the world where dwell the righteous.\n 45The pious call Sarasvati: they worship Sarasvati while sacrifice\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0proceedeth.\n \u00a0\u00a0The righteous doers of good deeds invoke her: Sarasvati send\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0bliss to him who giveth!\n 46Approaching on the south our solemn worship, the Fathers call-\n \u00a0\u00a0Sarasvati to hear them.\n \u00a0\u00a0Sit on this holy grass and be ye joyful: give thou us strengthen-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ing food that brings no sickness.\n 47Sarasvati, who tamest with them, joying in hymns and food, O\n \u00a0\u00a0Goddess, with the Fathers,\n \u00a0\u00a0Here give the Sacrificer growth of riches, a portion, worth a\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thousand, of refreshment.\n 48As Prithiv\u012b rests on earth, so do I seat thee. May the God Dh\u0101tar\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0lengthen our existence.\n \u00a0\u00a0For you may he who parts in turn find treasures, but let the\n \u00a0\u00a0Dead among the Fathers.\n 49Depart ye two: wipe ye away whatever omens of evil fortune\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0here have told you.\n \u00a0\u00a0Go from this man, both Steers, to him who wills it: ye are my\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0joys here by the giver's Fathers.\n 50From a good quarter have we gained this guerdon, gift of this\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0man, strength giving, plenteous milker.\n \u00a0\u00a0Bringing in youth old age unto the living, may she bear these\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0together to the Fathers.\n 51I bring this clipped grass hither for the Fathers: grass living,.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0higher, for the Gods I scatter.\n \u00a0\u00a0Mount this, O man, as victim: let the Fathers recognize thee:\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0when thou hast travelled yonder. p. 206\n 52Set on this grass thou hast become a victim. Fathers shall know\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee yonder when they meet thee.\n \u00a0\u00a0Gather thy body, limb by limb, together: I by the power of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0prayer arrange thy members.\n 53The royal Parna is the caldrons' cover: strength have we gained,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0force, power, and might, and vigour.\n \u00a0\u00a0Bestowing length of life upon the living, for long existence\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0through a hundred autumns.\n 54The share of vigour which gave this man being, the stone won\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0lordship over foods that nourish.\n \u00a0\u00a0Hymn this with your oblations, Visv\u0101mitras: may he, may Yama,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0lengthen our existence.\n 55As the Five Races of mankind for Yama set apart a house.\n \u00a0\u00a0Even so I set a house apart that greater numbers may be mine.\n 56Take thou and wear this piece of gold, the gold thy father used\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0to wear.\n \u00a0\u00a0Wipe tenderly the right hand of thy sire who goes away to\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0heaven.\n 57To all, the living and the dead, all that are born, the worshipful.\n \u00a0\u00a0Let the full brook of fatness run, o'erflowing, with stream of\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0mead.\n 58Far-seeing he flows on, the Bull, the Lord of hymns, promoter\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0of the Sun, of Days, of Dawns, of Heaven.\n \u00a0\u00a0Breath of the rivers he hath roared into the jars, and through\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0his wisdom entered into Indra's heart.\n 59Let thy bright smoke envelop thee, spread forth, O Bright One,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0in the sky.\n \u00a0\u00a0For, Purifier, like the Sun thou shinest with thy radiant glow.\n 60Indu is moving forth to Indra's destined place, and slights not\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0as a friend the promise of his friend.\n \u00a0\u00a0Thou, Soma, comest nigh as bridegroom meets the bride, reach-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ing the beaker by a course of hundred paths.\n 61Well have they eaten and rejoiced: their dear ones have they\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0shaken off.\n \u00a0\u00a0Sages, self-luminous, have praised: we who are youngest\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0supplicate.\n 62Come hither, Fathers, who deserve the Soma, by the deep path-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ways which the Fathers travel.\n \u00a0\u00a0Bestow upon us life and store of children, and favour us with\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0increase of our riches. p. 207\n 63Depart, O Fathers, ye who merit Soma, by the deep pathways\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0which the Fathers travel;\n \u00a0\u00a0But in a month, rich in fair sons and heroes, come back into\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0our homes to eat oblation.\n 64If Agni J\u0101tavedas, as he bore you hence to the Fathers' world,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0hath left one single.\n \u00a0\u00a0Limb of your bodies, here do I restore it. Fathers, rejoice in\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0heaven with all your members!\n 65Meet for men's praises, Agni J\u0101tavedas was sent as envoy when\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0the day was closing.\n \u00a0\u00a0Thou gavest to the Fathers with oblation. They ate; eat, God,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0our offered sacrifices.\n 66Here hast thou left thy heart; O man, as sisters leave their little\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0pet. Do thou, O earth, envelop him.\n 67Bright be to thee those worlds where dwell the Fathers! I seat\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee in that sphere which they inhabit.\n 68Thou art the grass whereon our Fathers seat them.\n 69Loosen, O Varuna, the bond that binds us; loosen the bond\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0above, between, and under.\n \u00a0\u00a0Then under thy protection, O \u0100ditya, may we be sinless and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0restored to freedom.\n 70From all those bonds, O Varuna, release us, wherewith a man\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0is bound at length and cross-wise.\n \u00a0\u00a0Then may we live a hundred autumn seasons guarded by thee,\n \u00a0\u00a0O King, by thee protected.\n 71To Agni, bearer of oblation to the Manes, be Hail! and\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0homage!\n 72To Soma connected with the Fathers Hail! and homage!\n 73To the Fathers connected with Soma Hail! and homage!\n 74To Yama connected with the Fathers Hail! and homage!\n 75To thee, O Great-grandfather, and those with thee be this cry of\n \u00a0\u00a0Hail\n 76To thee, Great-grandfather, and to those with thee be this cry of\n \u00a0\u00a0Hail!\n 77To thee, O Fathers, be this cry of Hail!\n 78Hail to the Fathers who inhabit earth!\n 79Hail to the Fathers who inhabit the firmament!\n 80Hail to the Fathers who dwell in heaven!\n 81Hail, Fathers, to your energy! Hail, Fathers, to your sap!\n 82Hail Father; to your wrath! Hail, Fathers, to your ardour! p. 208\n 83Hail, Fathers, to what is awful! Hail to what is terrible in you!'\n 84Hail, Fathers, to all that is propitious! Hail to all that is plea-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0sant in you!\n 85Homage to you Fathers! Hail to you, Fathers!\n 86All Fathers who are here, the Fathers here are you: let then-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0follow you. May ye be the most excellent of these.\n 87All living fathers who are here are we here: let them follow us.\n \u00a0\u00a0May we be the most excellent of these.\n 88Bright Agni, we will kindle thee, rich in thy splendour, fading.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0not.\n \u00a0\u00a0So that this glorious fuel may send forth to heaven its light for\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0thee. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.\n 89Within the waters runs the Moon, the strong-winged Eagle soars.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0in heaven.\n \u00a0\u00a0Ye Lightnings with your golden wheels, men find not your abid-\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0ing-place. Hear this my call, O Heaven and Earth.","title":"Atharva Veda: Book 18: Hymn 4: A funeral hymn, composed p...","type":"page"}