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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at


p. a111

HYMN VII

A charm to make a poisonous plant innocuous

1So may this water guard us on the bank of Varanāvati.
 Therein hath Amrit been infused: with that I ward thy poison
  off.
2Weak is the poison of the East, weak is the poison of the North,
 So too this poison of the South counts as a cake of curds and
  meal.
3When he hath made of thee a cake, broad, steaming, swelling up
  with fat,
 And even in hunger eaten thee, then gripe him not, thou hideous
  one!
4Intoxicater! like a shaft we make thy spirit fly away, Like a pot
  boiling on the fire, we with our word remove thee hence.
5We set around thee with the spell as 'twere a gathered arma-
  ment.
 Stay quiet like a rooted tree. Dug up with mattocks, gripe not
  thou.
6For coverings men have bartered thee, for skins of deer and
  woven cloths.
 Thou art a thing of sale, O Plant. Dug up with mattocks, gripe
  not thou!
7None have attained to those of old, those who wrought holy acts
  for you.
 Let them not harm our heroes here. Therefore I set before you
  this.


Next: Hymn 8: A benediction at the consecration of a King