Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book XV/Paryaya 15
15. Paryāya the fifteenth.
*⌊The Anukr. counts ‘sya as asya in vss. 3, 4, 7, and 8, and thus makes them count as 16, 17, 17, and 17 syllables respectively. The text says simply tisro bhurijas; but vss. 4, 7, and 8 must be meant.⌋
Translated: Aufrecht, Ind. Stud. i. 137; Griffith, ii. 197.
1. Of that Vrātya—
Bp. combines this verse and the following into one, reckoning only eight verses in the hymn. And one ms. (R.) regards every verse* in hymns 15, 16, 17 as beginning with tásya vrā́tyasya ⌊followed by an avasāna-mark, as, in fact, SPP. prints them: see my statement at page 771, end⌋; this, which is opposed to the Anukr., seems also quite uncalled for and wrong. ⌊But, for our vss. 3 and 4 at least, SPP. notes that his procedure is in accord with all his authorities.⌋ *⌊Except 15. 2, which, however, ought properly to form one verse with 15. 1, as it does in fact in Bp.⌋
2. [There are] seven breaths, seven expirations (apāná), seven outbreathings (vyāná).
3. His breath that is first, upward by name, that is this fire.
4. His breath that is second, preferred (? prāúḍha) by name, that is yon sun (ādityá).
The pada-mss. accent, doubtless falsely, pra॰ū́ḍhaḥ (instead of prá॰ūḍhaḥ); Bs. and O.p.m. read próḍh-: see Prāt. iii. 45, note.
5. His breath that is third, inferred (? abhyū̀ḍha) by name, that is yon moon.
Some mss. ⌊of W's and of SPP's also⌋ accent ‘bhyū́ḍho, and Bp. has accordingly abhi॰ū́ḍhaḥ (but D. abhí॰ū-); our text makes the necessary correction to abhyù-; ⌊and so SPP.⌋.
6. His breath that is fourth, mighty (vibhū́) by name, that is this cleansing one (pávamāna).
That is, doubtless, the wind, and not soma.
7. His breath that is fifth, womb (? yóni) by name, that is these waters.
8. His breath that is sixth, dear by name, that is these cattle.
9. His breath that is seventh, unlimited by name, that is these creatures (prajā́).