Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 58 (60)

58 (60). Invitation to Indra and Varuṇa.

[Kāurupathi.—dvyṛcam. mantroktadevatyam. jāgatam: 2. triṣṭubh.]

Found also in Pāipp. xx. The two verses are part of a RV. hymn (vi. 68. 10, 11). They are not used in Kāuç.; but Vāit. (25. 2) introduces them with hymns 51 and 44: see under the latter.

Translated: Henry, 23, 85; Griffith, i. 355.

1. O Indra-and-Varuṇa, soma-drinkers, this pressed soma, intoxicating, drink ye, O ye of firm courses; let your chariot, the sacrifice (? adhvará), for the god-feast, approach toward the stall (svásara), to drink.

RV. reads -vratā, at end of b, adhvarám (which is much better) in c, and yāti in d. Ppp. has ‘dhvaram in c, with ayo for yuvó ⌊p. yuvóḥ⌋ and yāhi in d. The comm. explains adhvaras as hiṅsārahitas, qualifying rathas, and svásaram as = yajamānasya gṛham.

2. O Indra-and-Varuṇa, of the bull soma, most rich in sweet, pour in, ye bulls; here is your beverage (ándhas), poured about; sitting on this barhís, do ye revel.

RV. fills out the meter and sense of c by adding at the end asmé (the Anukr. ignores the deficiency), and Ppp. seems to read idaṁ vām asme pariṣiktam andhā ”sad- etc.; it also has vṛṣetā at end of b. The comm. explains ā vṛṣethām by āçnītam, quoting ÇB. ii. 4. 2. 20 as authority.