Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 31 (32)

31 (32). To Indra: for aid.

[Bhṛgvan̄giras.—āindram. bkuriktriṣṭubh.]

Like the preceding, not found in Pāipp. Used by Kāuç. (48. 37), with hymns 34 and 108, and with vii. 59 ⌊or vi. 37. 3 (but see note to vii. 59)⌋, in a witchcraft ceremony against enemies, while laying on the fire fuel from a tree struck by lightning.

Translated: Henry, 12, 66; Griffith, i. 342.

1. O Indra, with abundant best possible aids, O generous hero, quicken us today; whoever hates us, may he fall downward; and whom we hate, him let breath quit.

The verse is RV. iii. 53. 21, which has for sole variant yācchreṣṭhā́bhis ⌊which the meter alone would suggest as an emendation⌋ (p. yāt॰çre-) in b. The combination sás padīṣṭa is prescribed by Prāt. ii. 58. The comm. treats yāvat and çreṣṭhābhis as independent words.