Hinduism Index
Book 20 Index
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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at
1This holy hymn sublime and seven-headed, sprung from eternal
Law, our sire discovered.
Ayāsya, friend of all men, hath engendered the fourth hymn as
he sang his laud to Indra.
2Thinking aright, praising eternal Order, the sons of Dyaus the
Asura, those heroes,
Angirases, holding the rank of sages, first honoured sacrifice's
holy statute.
3Girt by his friends who cried with swanlike voices, bursting the
stoney barriers of the prison,
Brihaspati spake in thunder to the cattle, and uttered praise and.
song when he had found them.
4Apart from one, away from two above him, he draye the kine
that stood in bonds of falsehood.
Brihaspati, seeking light amid the darkness, draye forth the
bright cows: three he made apparent.
5When he had cleft the lairs and western castle, he cut off three
from him who held the waters.
Brihaspati discovered, while he thundered like Dyaus, the dawn,.
the sun, the cow, the lightning.
6As with a hand, so with his roaring Indra cleft Vala through,.
the guardian of the cattle.
Seeking the milk-draught with sweat-shining comrades he stole:
the Pani's kine and left him weeping.
7He with bright faithful friends, winners of booty, hath rent the
milker of the cows asunder.
Brihaspati with wild boars strong and mighty sweating with heat
hath gained a rich possession.
8They, longing for the kine, with faithful spirit incited with their
hymns the Lord of cattle.
Brihaspati freed the radiant cows with comrades self-yoked,.
averting shame from one another.
9In our assembly with auspicious praises exalting him who roareth.
like a lion.
May we in every fight where heroes conquer rejoice in strong.
Brihaspati the victor.
10When he had won him strength of every nature and gone to
heaven and its most lofty mansions, p. 337
Men praised Brihaspati the mighty, bringing the light within
their mouths from sundry places.
11Fulfil the prayer that begs for vital vigor: aid in your wonted
manner e'en the humble.
Let all our foes be turned and driven backward. Hear this, O
Heaven and Earth, ye all-producers.
12Indra with mighty strength hath cleft asunder the head of Arbuda
the watery monster,
Slain Ahi, and set free the Seven Rivers. O Heaven and Earth,
with all the Gods, protect us.