Atharva Veda: Book 4: Hymn 37: A charm against Gandharvas and Apsarases
Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895]
1With thee, O Plant, in olden time Atharvans smote and slew the
fiends.
Kasyapa smote with thee, with thee did Kanava and Agastya
smite.
2With thee we scare and drive away Gandharvas and Apsarases.
O Ajasringi, chase the fiends. Cause all to vanish with thy
smell.
3Let the Apsarases, puffed away, go to the river, to the ford,—
Guggulū, Pīlā, Naladi, Aukshagandhi, Pramandini.
Ye have become attentive since the Apsarases have past away.
4Where great trees are, Asvatthas and Nyagrodhas with their
leafy crests,
There where your swings are green and bright, and lutes and
cymbals sound in tune,
'Ye have become attentive since the Apsarases have past away.
5Hither hath come this one, the most effectual of herbs and
plants.
6Let Ajasringi penetrate, Arā4aki with sharpened horn.
7From the Gandharva, dancing near, the lord of the Apsarases,
Wearing the tuft of hair, I take all manhood and virility.
8With those dread hundred iron spears, the darts of Indra, let it
pierce.
The Blyxa-fed Gandharvas, those who bring no sacrificial gift.
9With those dread hundred golden spears, the darts of Indra, let
it pierce. p. a148
The Blyxa-fed Gandharvas, those who bring no sacrificial gift.
10O Plant, be thou victorious, crush the Pisāchas, one and all,
Blyxa-fed, shining in the floods, illumining the selfish ones.
11Youthful, completely decked with hair, one monkey-like, one
like a dog,—
So the Gandharva, putting on a lovely look, pursues a dame.
Him with an efficacious charm we scare and cause to vanish
hence.
12Your wives are the Apsarases, and ye, Gandharvas, are their
lords.
Run ye, immortal ones, away: forbear to interfere with men!