Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 61 (63)

61 (63). For success of penance.

[Atharvan.—dvyṛcam. āgneyam. ānuṣṭuhham.]

In Pāipp. (xx.) is found only the second half* of vs. 1. The hymn is, according to Kāuç. (10. 22), to be pronounced at āgrahāyaṇa full-moon, in a medhājanana rite (for acquisition of sacred knowledge); also (57. 23), in the ceremony of reception of a Vedic student, in the ⌊agnikārya⌋, next after hymn 33 (both verses are quoted, each by its pratīka); and the schol. (note to 53. 4) introduce both verses in the godāna ceremony. *⌊But R's notes give a variant for 1 b, as below!⌋

Translated: Henry, 24, 87; Griffith, i. 357.

1. In that, O Agni, penance with penance, we perform additional (?) penance, may we be dear to what is heard, long-lived, very wise.

'What is heard' (çrutá), the inspired or revealed word. Nearly all the mss. (all ours save Bp.¹ M.) read priyā́ instead of priyā́ḥ at beginning of c. Ppp. has for b upa prekṣāmahe* vayam. The comm. gives several diverse guesses at the sense of the obscure first half-verse. ⌊The vs. recurs with variants at MGS. i. 1. 18.⌋ *⌊R. suggests that pṛkṣāmahe (root pṛc) may be intended.⌋

2. O Agni, we perform penance, we perform additional penance—we, hearing things heard, long-lived, very wise.

It is questionable whether upa-tapya in both these verses has not a more pregnant meaning ⌊as above: BR., simply, 'Kasteiung leiden'⌋: Henry takes it as equivalent to simple tapya.