Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VI/Hymn 4

4. To various divinities: for protection.

[Atharvan.—nānādāivatam. 1. pathyābṛhatī; 2. saṁstārapan̄kti; 3. 3-p. virāḍ gāyatrī.]

Found also in Pāipp. xix. Used by Kāuç. (23. 9) in a rite for prosperity in connection with the division of inherited property; and twice (124. 6; 135. 10) in the chapter of portents, when two crowns appear on some one's head and when the house-beam breaks; and it is reckoned to the puṣṭika mantras (note to 19. 1) and to the svastyayana gaṇa ⌊note to 25. 36⌋. For its employment with vi. 1, 3 etc., see under vi. 1; and in Vāit. with vi. 3 etc., see under vi. 3.

Translated: Florenz, 252 or 4; Griffith, i. 246.

1. Tvashṭar [protect] my address (vácas) to the gods, [also] Parjanya, Brahmaṇaspati; with sons, with brothers, let Aditi now protect our hard to surpass [and] saving power.

The verse is found also in SV. (i. 299), which has no for me in a, and, at the end, trā́maṇaṁ vácaḥ, thus rectifying the meter of the last pāda. Ppp. ends with trāmaṇe çavā. The form trā́maṇaṁ seems to be a bastard neut., corresponding to the masc. trā́māṇaṁ ⌊cf. JAOS. x. 522, 530: there seem to be no man-stems used as adjectives in the neuter⌋, and to have been avoided in AV. by the substitution of trā́yamāṇaṁ; of the resulting metrical disturbance the Anukr. takes no notice.

2. Let Aṅça, Bhaga, Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman, Aditi—let the Maruts protect [us]; may the hatred of that injurer pass away; repel the foe from near by.

The accent of pā́ntu (if correct) shows that only marútas is felt to be its subject; but Ppp. reads instead aditiḥ pātv aṅhasaḥ. In c, the comm. has abhihvṛtas. The last pāda is obscure, and at least in part corrupt. The want of accent of yāvayat is wrong, and its form is unmotived; emendation to yāváya or -yan can hardly be avoided. A'ntitam (for which Ppp. gives anthitam) is read by all the mss., and occurs again at viii. 5. 11, so that it must be regarded as the real AV. reading. It is emended in our edition to ánti tám; and the comm. also so understands it (tam eva çatrum antikāt). It is translated as if emended to ántitas; or ántitam might be an anomalous equivalent of antikam. The verse (12 + 8: 12 + 8 = 40) is not properly a saṁstārapan̄kti.

3. Unto knowledge (? dhī́), O Açvins, do ye aid us; make wide for us, O wide-goer, unremitting; O heaven, father, repel whatever misfortune.

The beginning of the verse is probably corrupt, but Ppp. gives no various reading, merely prefixing deva tvaṣṭar (apparently out of 3.3): compare RV. i. 117. 23 b, víçvā dhíyo açvinā prā́vatam me. In c, the great majority of mss., which SPP. follows, have the true accent dyāùṣ (i.e. dí-āus, the word requiring to be pronounced as two syllables: see my Skt. Gram. 314 b); exceptions among our mss. are only Bp. and I. Several of our saṁhitā-mss. have ḥ before pítar (viz. P.M.E.H.). The meter lacks a syllable in a. ⌊Correct the ed. to dyāùṣ.⌋