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


p. a223

HYMN L

A charm for the destruction of vermin

1Destroy the rat, the mole, the boring beetle, cut off their heads
   and crush their ribs, O Asvins.
  Bind fast their mouths; let them not eat our barley: so guard,
   ye twain, our growing corn from danger.
2Ho! boring beetle, ho! thou worm, ho! noxious grub and
   grasshopper!
  As a priest leaves the unfinished sacrifice, go hence devouring
   not, injuring not this corn.
3Hearken to me, lord of the female borer, lord of the female
   grub! ye rough-toothed vermin!
  Whate'er ye be, dwelling in woods, and piercing, we crush and
   mangle all those piercing insects.


Next: Hymn 51: A prayer for purification and forgiveness of sins