Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 42; trans. Maurice Bloomfield)

Hymns of the Atharva-Veda

translated by

Maurice Bloomfield

Sacred Books of the East, Vol. 42

[1897]

This, the 42nd volume of the the Sacred Books of the East, is an anthology of representative hymns from the Arthrva-veda, the fourth Veda. This selection is grouped thematically, so the hymns are not in numeric order.

This etext, which was one of the early additions to sacred-texts.com, was originally prepared in July 2000; for a variety of reasons I had to leave out most of the introduction and all of the footnotes. All of the body text of this book is in the etext, however. This etext was revised in November 2004; changes included a number of typographic corrections, and breaking the etext down into chapters. The original, one-file version of this etext (without the corrections) is still online here (348,392 bytes).

Excerpt from the Introduction

I. Charms to Cure Diseases and Possession by Demons of Disease (Bhaishagykni)

V, 22. Charm against takman (fever) and related diseases.

VI, 20. Charm against takman (fever)

I, 25. Charm against takman (fever)

VII, 116. Charm against takman (fever)

V, 4. Prayer to the kushtha-plant to destroy takman (fever)

XIX, 39. Prayer to the kushtha-plant to destroy takman (fever), and other ailments

I, 12. Prayer to lightning, conceived as the cause of fever, headache, and cough

I, 22. Charm against jaundice and related diseases

VI, 14. Charm against the disease balâsa

VI, 105. Charm against cough

I, 2. Charm against excessive discharges from the body

II, 3. Charm against excessive discharges from the body, undertaken with spring-water

VI, 44. Charm against excessive discharges from the body

I, 3. Charm against constipation and retention of urine

VI, 90. Charm against internal pain (colic), due to the missiles of Rudra

I, 10. Charm against dropsy

VII, 83. Charm against dropsy

VI, 24. Dropsy, heart-disease, and kindred maladies cured by flowing water

VI, 80. An oblation to the sun, conceived as one of the two heavenly dogs, as a cure for paralysis

II, 8. Charm against kshetriya, hereditary disease

II, 10. Charm against kshetriya, hereditary disease

III, 7. Charm against kshetriya, hereditary disease

I, 23. Leprosy cured by a dark plant

I, 24. Leprosy cured by a dark plant

VI, 83. Charm for curing scrofulous sores called apakit

VII, 76. A. Charm for curing scrofulous sores called apakit

VII, 74. A. Charm for curing scrofulous sores called apakit

I, 25. Charm against scrofulous sores upon neck and shoulders

VI, 57. Urine (gâlâsha) as a cure for scrofulous sores

IV, 12. Charm with the plant arundhatî (lâkshâ) for the cure of fractures

V, 5. Charm with the plant silâki (lâkshâ, arundhatî) for the cure of wounds

VI, 109. The pepper-corn as a cure for wounds

I, 17. Charm to stop the flow of blood

II, 31. Charm against worms

II. 32. Charm against worms in cattle

V, 23. Charm against worms in children

IV, 6. Charm against poison

IV, 7. Charm against poison

VI, 100. Ants as an antidote against poison

VI, 13 Charm against snake-poison

VI, 12. Charm against snake-poison

VII, 56. Charm against the poison of serpents, scorpions, and insects

VI, 16. Charm against ophthalmia

VI, 21. Charm to promote the growth of hair

VI, 136. Charm with the plant nitatni to promote the growth of hair

VI, 137. Charm to promote the growth of hair

IV, 4. Charm to promote virility

VI, 111. Charm against mania

IV, 37. Charm with the plant agasringi to drive out Rakshas, Apsaras and Gandharvas

II, 9. Possession by demons of disease, cured by an amulet of ten kinds of wood

IV, 6. Charm against demons (pisâka) conceived as the cause of disease

II, 25. Charm with the plant prisniparnî against the demon of disease, called kanva

VI, 32. Charm for driving away demons (Rakshas and Pisâkas)

II, 4. Charm with an amulet derived from the gangida tree, against diseases and demons

XIX, 34, Charm with an amulet derived from the gafigpida-tree, aoainst diseases and demons

XIX, 35. Charm with an amulet derived from the gangida-tree, against diseases and demons

VI, 85. Exorcism of disease by means of an amulet from the varana-tree

VI, 127. The kîpudru-tree as a panacea

XIX, 38. The healing properties of bdellium

VI, 91. Barley and water as universal remedies

VIII, 7. Hymn to all magic and medicinal plants, used as a universal remedy

VI, 96. Plants as a panacea

II, 32. Charm to secure perfect health

IX, 8. Charm to procure immunity from all diseases

II, 29. Charm for obtaining long life and prosperity by transmission of disease

II. Prayers for Long Life and Health (Âyushyâni)

III, 11. Prayer for health and long life

II, 28. Prayer for long life pronounced over a boy

III, 31. Prayer for health and long life

VII, 53. Prayer for long life

VIII, 1. Prayer for exemption from the dangers of death

VIII, 2. Prayer for exemption from the dangers of death

V. 30. Prayer for exemption from disease and death

IV, 9. Salve (âñgana) as a protector of life and limb

IV, 10. The pearl and its shell as an amulet bestowing long life and prosperity

XIX, 26. Gold as an amulet for long life

III. Imprecations Against Demons, Sorcerers, and Enemies (Âbhikârikâni and Krityâpratiharanâni)

I, 7. Against sorcerers and demons

I, 8. Against sorcerers and demons

I, 16. Charm with lead, against demons and sorcerers

VI, 2. The soma-oblation directed against Demons (rakshas)

II, 14. Charm against a variety of female demons, conceived as hostile to men, cattle, and home

III, 9. Against vishkandha and kâbava (hostile demons)

IV, 20. Charm with a certain plant (sadampushpâ) which exposes demons and enemies

IV, 17. Charm with the apâmârga-plant, against sorcery, demons, and enemies

IV, 18. Charm with the apâmârga-plant, against sorcerers and demons

IV, 19. Mystic power of the apâmârga-plant, against demons and sorcerers

VII, 65. Charm with the apâmârga-plant, against curses, and the consequences of sinful deeds

X, 1. Charm to repel sorceries or spells

V, 31. Charm to repel sorceries or spells

V, 14. Charm to repel sorceries or spells

VIII, 5. Prayer for protection addressed to a talisman made from wood of the sraktya-tree

X, 3. Praise of the virtues of an amulet derived from the varana-tree

X, 6. Praise of the virtues of amulet of khadira-wood in the shape of a ploughshare

IV, 16. Prayer to Varuna for protection against treacherous designs

II, 12. Imprecation against enemies thwarting holy work

VII, 70. Frustration of the sacrifice of an enemy

II, 7. Charm against curses and hostile plots, undertaken with a certain plant

III, 6. The asvattha-tree as a destroyer of enemies

VI, 75. Oblation for the suppression of enemies (nairbâdhyam havih)

VII 37. Curse against one that practises hostile charms

VII, 13. Charm to deprive enemies of their strength

IV. Charms Pertaining to Women (Strikaratâni)

II, 36. Charm to obtain a husband

VI, 60. Charm for obtaining a husband

VI, 82. Charm for obtaining a wife

VI, 78. Blessing for a married couple

VII, 36. Love-charm spoken by a bridal couple

VII, 37. Charm pronounced by the bride over the bridegroom

VI, 81. A bracelet as an amulet to ensure conception

III, 23. Charm for obtaining a son (pumsavanam)

VI, 11. Charm for obtaining a son (pumsavanam)

VII, 35. An incantation to make a woman sterile

VI, 17. Charm to prevent miscarriage

I, 11. Charm for easy parturition

I, 34. Charm with licorice, to secure the love of a woman

II, 30. Charm to secure the love of a woman

VI, 8. Charm to secure the love of a woman

VI, 9. Charm to secure the love of a woman

VI, 102. Charm to secure the love of a woman

III, 25. Charm to arouse the passionate love of a woman

VII, 139. Charm to arouse the passionate love of a woman

VII, 38. Charm to secure the love of a man

VI, 130. Charm to arouse the passionate love of a man

VI, 131. Charm to arouse the passionate love of a man

VI, 132. Charm to arouse the passionate love of a man

IV, 5. Charm at an assignation

VI, 77. Charm to cause the return of a truant woman

VI, 18. Charm to allay jealousy

VII, 45. Charm to allay jealousy

I, 14. A woman's incantation against her rival

III, 18. Charm of a woman against a rival or co-wife

VI, 138. Charm for depriving a man of his virility

I, 18. Charm to remove evil bodily characteristics from a woman

VI, 110. Expiatory charm for a child born under an unlucky star

VI, 140. Expiation for the irregular appearance of the first pair of teeth

V. Charms Pertaining to Royalty (Râgakarmâni)

IV, 8. Prayer at the consecration of a king

III, 3. Charm for the restoration of an exiled king

III, 4. Prayer at the election of a king

III, 5. Praise of an amulet derived from the parna-tree, designed to strengthen royal power

IV, 22. Charm to secure the superiority of a king

I, 9. Prayer for earthly and heavenly success

VI, 38. Prayer for lustre and power

VI, 39. Prayer for glory (yasas)

VIII, 8. Battle-charm

I, 19. Battle-charm against arrow-wounds

III, 1. Battle-charm for confusing the enemy

III, 2. Battle-charm for confusing the enemy

VI, 97. Battle-charm of a king upon the eve of battle

VI, 99. Battle-charm of a king on the eve of battle

XI, 9. Prayer to Arbudi and Nyarbudi for help in battle

XI, 10. Prayer to Trishamdhi for help in battle

V, 20. Hymn to the battle-drum

V, 21 Hymn to the battle-drum, the terror of the enemy

VI. Charms to Secure Harmony, Influence in the Assembly, and the Like (Sâmmanasyâni, etc.)

III, 30. Charm to secure harmony

VI, 73. Charm to allay discord

VI, 74. Charm to allay discord

VII, 52. Charm against strife and bloodshed

VI, 64. Charm to allay discord

VI, 42. Charm to appease anger

VI, 43. Charm to appease anger

II, 27. Charm against opponents in debate, undertaken with the pâtâ-plant

VII, 12. Charm to procure influence in the assembly

VI, 94. Charm to bring about submission to one's will

VII. Charms to Secure Prosperity in House, Field, Cattle, Business, Gambling, and Kindred Matters

III, 12. Prayer at the building of a house

VI, 142. Blessing during the sowing of seed

VI, 79. Charm for procuring increase of grain

VI, 50. Exorcism of vermin infesting grain in the field

VII, 11. Charm to protect grain from lightning

II, 26. Charm for the prosperity of cattle

III, 14. Charm for the prosperity of cattle

VI, 59. Prayer to the plant arundhatî for protection to cattle

VI, 70. Charm to secure the attachment of a cow to her calf

III, 28. Formula in expiation of the birth of twin-calves

VI, 92. Charm to endow a horse with swiftness

III, 13. Charm for conducting a river into a new channel

VI, 106. Charm to ward off danger from fire

IV, 3. Shepherd's charm against wild beasts and robbers

III, 15. A merchant's prayer

IV, 38. A. Prayer for success in gambling

VII, 50. Prayer for success at dice

VI, 56. Exorcism of serpents from the premises

X, 4. Charm against serpents, invoking the horse of Pedu that slays serpents

XI, 2. Prayer to Bhava and Sarva for protection from dangers

IV, 28. Prayer to Bhava and Sarva for protection from calamities

VII, 9. Charm for finding lost property

VI, 128. Propitiation of the weather-prophet

XI, 6. Prayer for deliverance from calamity, addressed to the entire pantheon

VIII. Charms In Expiation of Sin and Defilement

VI, 45. Prayer against mental delinquency

VI, 26. Charm to avert evil

VI, 114. Expiatory formula for imperfections in the sacrifice

VI, 115. Expiatory formulas for sins

VI, 112. Expiation for the precedence of a younger brother over an older

VI, 113. Expiation for certain heinous crimes

VI, 120. Prayer for heaven after remission of sins

VI, 27. Charm against pigeons regarded as ominous birds

VI, 29. Charm against ominous pigeons and owls

VII, 64. Expiation when one is defiled by a black bird of omen

VI, 46. Exorcism of evil dreams

VII, 115. Charm for the removal of evil characteristics, and the acquisition of auspicious ones

IX. Prayers and Imprecations in the Interest of the Brahmans

V, 18. Imprecation against the oppressors of Brahmans

V, 19. Imprecation against the oppressors of Brahmans

V, 7. Prayer to appease Arâti, the demon of grudge and avarice

XII, 4. The necessity of giving away sterile cows to the Brahmans

XI, 1. The preparation of the brahmaudana, the porridge given as a fee to the Brahmans

XII, 3. The preparation of the brahmaudana, the porridge given as a fee to the Brahmans

IX, 3. Removal of a house that has been presented to a priest as sacrificial reward

VI, 71. Brahmanical prayer at the receipt of gift

XX, 127. A kuntâpa-hymn

X. Cosmogonic and Theosophic Hymns

XII, 1. Hymn to goddess Earth

XIII, 1. Prayer for sovereign power addressed to the god Rohita and his female Rohinî

XI, 5. Glorification of the sun, or the primeval principle, as a Brahman disciple