Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VI/Hymn 7

7. For blessings.

[Atharvan.—sāumyam: 3. vāiçvadevī. gāyatram; 1. nicṛt.]

Found also in Pāipp. xix. The hymn appears in Kāuç. (46. 4) as a help in removing obstacles to sacrifice, or an expiation for sacrificing for an improper person; and it is reckoned (note to 25. 36) to the svastyayana gaṇa; for its use by 50. 13, see under vi. 1.

Translated: Florenz, 256 or 8; Griffith, i. 248.

1. By what road, O Soma, Aditi or friends go, not hostile, by that do thou come to us with aid.

The comm. understands mitrās 'friends' to mean "Aditi's twelve sons, Mitra etc."; i.e. as the equivalent of ādityā́s, which is not impossible. ⌊The description as nicṛt belongs rather to 8. 1.⌋

2. By what, O Soma, overpowering one, thou shalt make the Asuras subject to us, by that do ye bless us.

Ppp. has, for a, yebhis soma sahantya, and, for c, tenā no ‘vitā ⌊that is, avitā́⌋ bhuvaḥ, thus relieving the embarrassing change of number ⌊in the verb⌋ from a, b to c; emendation to vocatāt in our c would accomplish the same result.

3. By what, O gods, ye did repel (vṛ) the mights of the Asuras, by that do ye yield refuge unto us.

Ppp. begins with yāni, and has correspondingly tebhis for tena in c. This facilitates the rendering of avṛṇīdhvam by its natural meaning 'did choose'; there is no other known example of a nā-form from vṛ 'repel.' The comm. renders it tataḥ pṛthakkṛtya yūyaṁ sambhaktavantaḥ. ⌊Ppp. has for c tebhir na adhi vocata.⌋