Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 78 (83)
78 (83). To Agni: in favor of some one.
[Atharvan.—dvyṛcam. āgneyam. 1. paroṣṇih; 2. triṣṭubh.]
Found also in Pāipp. xx. Used in Kāuç. (32. 3) with 29 and other hymns of this book, in a remedial rite: see under 29. Also vs. 2 by itself (2. 41), with x. 6. 35, as substitute for xii. 1. 19-21, with laying on of fuel, in the parvan sacrifices; and in the ājyatantra (137. 30), with other verses, with strewing (of barhis); its second pāda is further found as first part of a verse given in full in 3. 1. In Vāit. (4. 11) it accompanies, with other verses, the untying of the sacrificer's wife in the parvan sacrifice.
Translated: Henry, 31, 99; Griffith, i. 366.
1. I loosen off thy strap, off thy harness, off thy halter; be thou just here, unfailing, O Agni.
TS. (i. 6.43) and MS. (i. 4. 1) have a verse corresponding to the first part of this and the second half of the next following verse: the first half reads thus: ví te muñcāmi raçanā́ (MS. -nāṁ) ví raçmī́n ví yóktrā yā́ni paricártanāni (MS. yóktrāṇi par-). ⌊Cf. MGS. i. 11. 23, and p. 155.⌋ Ppp. combines ajasre ’dhi in c. The comm. gives a double explanation, regarding the verse as addressed either to Agni or to one vexed with disease; and he adds at the end that the sacrificer's wife may also be regarded as addressed. The commentary to TS. views the sticks of paridhi as intended by the harness etc.
2. Thee, O Agni, maintaining dominions for this man, I harness (yuj) with the incantation of the gods; shine thou unto us here excellent property; mayest thou proclaim this man as oblation-giver among the deities.
The second half-verse is given quite differently by TS. and MS. (as above): thus, dhattā́d asmā́su (MS. asmábhyaṁ) dráviṇaṁ yác ca (MS. dráviṇe ’há) bhadrám prá ṇo (MS. mā) brūtād bhāgadhā́n (MS. -dā́ṁ) devátāsu. Ppp. makes a and b change places. The pada-text analyzes in c dráviṇā: ihá, but probably the original value was -viṇam, and this the translation assumes.