Sacred Texts  Hinduism  Index 
Book 4 Index
  Previous  Next 

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


p. a147

HYMN XXXVII

A charm against Gandharvas and Apsarases

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!


Next: Hymn 38: A charm for success in gambling