Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VI/Hymn 13

13. To the instruments and ministers of death.

[Atharvan (svastyayanakāma).—mārtya[va]m. ānuṣṭubham.]

Found also in Pāipp. xix. The hymn is variously employed by Kāuç.: in a rite for victory (14. 25), with iii. 26, 27; and again (15. 6), similarly, in favor of a Vāiçya; in the preparation of the house-fire (72. 13), with an offering; four times in the chapter of portents: once (104. 3) when Brahmans quarrel; again (105. 1) when images play pranks; yet again (113. 3) when a cow suckles an ox (these three in company with i. 19); once more (123. 1), when animals touch sacred things; and it is further reckoned (note to 25. 36) to the svastyayana gaṇa.

Translated: Florenz, 264 or 16; Griffith, i. 251.

1. Homage to the weapons (vadhá) of the gods; homage to the weapons of kings; likewise the weapons that are of the Vāiçyas—to them of thine, O death, be homage.

Ppp. has viçvānām in c.

2. Homage to thy benediction; homage to thy malediction; homage to thy favor, O death; this homage to thy disfavor.

Ppp. omits the first half-verse, doubtless by accident. The comm. takes the datives in a and b as nomina agentis.

3. Homage to thy sorcerers; homage to thy remedies; homage to thy roots, O death; this homage to the Brāhmans.