Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 100 (105)

100 (105). Against bad dreams.

[Yama.—duḥsvapnanāçanadevatyam. ānuṣṭubham.]

Found also in Pāipp. xx. Used by Kāuç. (46. 11) in a rite against bad dreaming, and reckoned (note to 46. 9) to the duḥsvapnanāçana gaṇa.

Translated: Ludwig, p. 498; Henry, 40, 115; Griffith, i. 378.

1. I turn away from evil-dreaming, from bad dreaming, from ill-success (ábhūti); I make bráhman my inner [defense]; [I put] away the pains having the aspect of dreams.

The comm. (also Ppp.) reads svapnāt in b. A corresponding verse is found in KÇS. xxv. 11. 20: for b it has pāpaḥ svapnād abhūtyāi; it reads karave for kṛṇve in c, and, for d, paraḥ svapnamukhā kṛdhi. Ppp. ends with -mukhā suva. Near half of SPP's authorities have párāḥ in d. The comm. explains svapnamukhās by svapnadvārikāḥ. ⌊Griffith says: "I turn away: and lie on my other side"—to prevent the recurrence of nightmare. As to c, cf. i. 19. 4 and v. 8. 6.⌋