Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VI/Hymn 10

10. Greeting to divinities etc. of the three spheres.

[Çaṁtāti.—nānādevatyam: 1. āgneyī, 2. vāyavyā, 3. sāuryā. 1. sāmnī triṣṭubh, 2. prājāpatyā bṛhatī, 3. sāmnī bṛhatī.]

This prose hymn is not found in Pāipp. In Kāuç. (9. 3, 5), it is quoted after each çānti gaṇa, to accompany a pouring out of water three times (iti triḥ pratyāsiñcati; the comm. does not notice this use); and again (12. 3), it is prescribed in all rites for success; being further (note to 8. 23) reclconed to the vāstu gaṇa.

Translated: Florenz, 258 or 10; Griffith, i. 249.

1. To earth, to hearing, to the forest-trees—to Agni [their] overlord, hail!

It is not easy to read 22 syllables in the verse.

2. To breath, to the atmosphere, to the birds—to Vāyu [their] overlord, hail!

It is strange that in this verse the sphere is placed after the human faculty.

3. To the sky, to sight, to the asterisms—to Sūrya [their] overlord, hail!

The first anuvāka, of 10 hymns and 30 verses, ends here. The quotation is simply prathama (or -mā): see under the next anuvāka.