Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 79 (84)
79 (84). To Amāvāsyā (night or goddess of new moon).
[Atharvan.—caturṛcam. amāvāsyādevatākam. trāiṣṭubham: 1. jagatī.]
The first verse is found in Pāipp. xx., the second and third in Pāipp. i. Used by Kāuç. (5. 6) in the parvan sacrifice on the day of new moon; also (59. 19) with hymns 17 etc. (see under 17), for various benefits. It has in Vāit. (1. 16) an office similar to that prescribed by Kāuç. 5. 6.
Translated: Henry, 32, 100; Griffith, i. 367.
1. What portion (bhāgadhéya) the gods made for thee, O Amāvāsyā, dwelling together with might, therewith fill our offering, O thou of all choice things; assign to us, O fortunate one, wealth rich in heroes.
The verse occurs in TS. (iii. 5. 11), with ádadhus for ákṛṇvan in a, and ⌊rectifying the meter⌋ sā́ for ténā in c. Ppp. combines devā ’kṛṇvan in a, and has saṁvadantas in b, and sa imaṁ y- at beginning of c. Saṁ-vas plays upon the equivalent amā-vas, which gives name to the day and its goddess. The verse has no jagatī character. ⌊We had the second half-verse above at 20. 4 c, d.⌋
2. I myself am Amāvāsyā; on me, in me dwell these well-doers; in me came together all, of both classes, the gods and the sādhyás, with Indra as chief (jyéṣṭa).
The Petersburg Lexicon* suggests the plausible emendation of mā́m ā́ to amā́ at beginning of b: if it is not rather ā́ mā vasanti intended as a play on amāvāsyā̀. For the sādhyas, see note to vii. 5. 1. The Anukr. overlooks the irregularity of a. *⌊vi. 832.⌋
3. The night hath come, assembler of good things, causing sustenance, prosperity, [and] good to enter in; we would worship Amāvāsyā with oblation; yielding (duh) sustenance with milk is she come to us.
TS. has (iii. 5. 11) a verse quite accordant with this in general meaning, but too different in detail to be called the same; it reads nivéçanī saṁgámanī vásūnāṁ víçvā rūpā́ṇi vásūny āveçáyantī: sahasrapoṣáṁ subhágā rárāṇā sā́ na ā́ ’gan várcasā saṁvidānā́. Ppp. reads, in b, viçvaṁ for ū́rjam; and, in d, vasānā (for duhānā) and nā ’gaṁ.
The comm., and some of the mss., end the hymn here, carrying over our vs. 4 to the following hymn; our division agrees with the sense, the Anukr., and other of the mss.; and SPP. accepts the same. ⌊The decad ends here: cf. p. 389.⌋
4. O Amāvāsyā, no other than thou, encompassing, gave birth to all these forms; what desiring we make libation to thee, be that ours; may we be lords of wealth.
This is, with alteration of the first word only, a repetition in advance of 80. 3. For the parallels etc., see under that verse.