Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VI/Hymn 84

84. For release from perdition.

[An̄giras.—caturṛcam. nāirṛtam. 1. bhurig jagatī; 2. 3-p. ārcī bṛhatī; 3, 4. jagatī; 4. bhurik triṣṭubh.]

This hymn is not found in Pāipp. Kāuç. applies it (52. 3), with vi. 63 and 121, in a rite for welfare. The comm. takes no notice of this, but regards the hymn as implied in 31. 21: see under the preceding hymn. In Vāit. (38. 1) it is found used in a healing rite in the puruṣamedha: this also the comm. overlooks.

Translated: Ludwig, p. 444; Griffith, i. 291.

1. Thou in whose terrible mouth I make oblation, in order to the release of these bound ones; people think of thee as "earth"; I know thee completely as "perdition" (nírṛti).

The verse is found also in VS. (xii. 64), TS. (iv. 2. 5³), and MS. (ii. 2. 1). In a, for āsáni ghoré, VS. MS. have ghor̥á āsán, and TS. krūrá āsán; before it, TS. inserts asyā́s, while MS. begins yád adyá te; in b, all (also our comm.) read bandhā́nām, which is better; MS. has after it pramócanāya, and all omit kám; for c, d, VS. MS. yā́ṁ tyā jáno bhū́mir íti pramándate nírṛtiṁ tvā ’hám pári veda viçvátaḥ, while TS. agrees nearly with our text, though having simply jánā vidúr for abhiprámanvate jánāḥ, and at the end viçvátaḥ. The chief result for our text is the demonstration of manvate as probably a corruption of mandate. It was noted at the end of the preceding hymn that the comm. mixes up the end and beginning of the two hymns. The metrical definition of the Anukr. is very poor.

2. O earth (?), be thou rich in oblations; this is thy share which is in us; free these [and] those from sin: hail!

The translation follows Ludwig's suggested emendation of bhū́te at the beginning to bhū́me.

3. So, O perdition, do thou, free from envy, kindly unfasten from us the bond-fetters of iron. Yama verily giveth thee back to me; to that Yama, to death, be homage.

All of this verse except the first pāda is a repetition of 63. 2 b, c, d, above. The comm. explains anehā by anāhantrī. The fourth is the only jagatī pāda.

4. Thou wast bound here to an iron post, bridled with deaths that are a thousand; do thou, in concord with Yama, with the Fathers, make this man ascend to the highest firmament.

This verse is a repetition of 63.3, above.