Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book XV/Paryaya 4
4. Paryāya the fourth.
[dvyūnā viṅçati. a of 1, 5, 6. dāivī jagatī; a. of 2, 3, 4. pājāpatyā gāyatrī; 1 b, 3 b. ārcy anuṣṭubh; 1 c, 4 c. 2-p. prājāpatyā jagatī; 2 b. prājāpatyā pan̄kti; 2 c. ārcī jagatī; 3 c. bhāumārcī⌊?⌋ triṣṭubh; 4 b. sāmnī triṣṭubh; 5 b. prājāpatyā bṛhatī; 5 c, 6 c. 2-p. ārcī pan̄kti; 6 b. ārcy uṣṇih.]
Translated: Aufrecht, Ind. Stud. i. 131; Griffith, ii. 188.—For a table of the seasons and months, see the Introduction to my translation of the Karpūra-mañjarī (ed. Konow), p. 214.
1. ⌊1.⌋ For him, from the eastern quarter, ⌊2.⌋ they made the two spring months guardians, and bṛhát and rathaṁtará attendants. ⌊3.⌋ The two spring months guard from the eastern quarter, and bṛhát and rathaṁtará attend (anu-sthā), him who knoweth thus.
The subdivisions of verses ⌊see page 772, ¶ 2 above⌋ acknowledged by the Anukr. in this hymn are those marked by the mss. and edition; 1 a has one syllable less than belongs to it by the definition (and so also 1 b, but there is no name* for a division containing 23 syllables). In b is to be read in all the verses ákurvan, with the mss. The Pet Lexx. render anuṣṭhātṛ́ by 'accomplisher,' which does not suit well with anu-sthā in c. *⌊That is, no express name: gāyatrī nicṛt is a description by reference to another metrical unity.⌋
2. ⌊4.⌋ For him, from the southern quarter, ⌊5.⌋ they made the two summer months guardians, and yajñāyajñíya and vāmadevyá attendants. ⌊6.⌋ The two summer months guard from the southern quarter, and yajñājñíya and vāmadevyá attend, him who knoweth thus.
3. ⌊7.⌋ For him, from the western quarter, ⌊8.⌋ they made the two rainy months guardians, and vāirūpá and vāirājá attendants. ⌊9.⌋ The two rainy months guard from the western quarter, and vāirūpá and vāirājá attend, him who knoweth thus.
The Anukr. implies in a pratī́ci-ās. For c, the definition bhāumārcī ⌊so the Berlin ms. and SPP's excerpts in his Critical Notice, p. 224⌋ is elsewhere unknown, and appears to be equivalent to simple ārcī.
4. ⌊10.⌋ For him, from the northern quarter, ⌊11.⌋ they made the two autumn months guardians, and çyāitá and nāudhasá attendants. ⌊12.⌋ The two autumn months guard from the northern quarter, and çyāitá and nāudhasá attend, him who knoweth thus.
Here again (as in 2. 4), the mss. vary between çyāitá and çāitá in b and c, but Bp. this time has çyāi-.
5. ⌊13.⌋ For him, from the fixed quarter, ⌊14.⌋ they made the two winter months guardians, and earth and fire attendants. ⌊15.⌋ The two winter months guard from the fixed quarter, and earth and fire attend, him who knoweth thus.
6. ⌊16.⌋ For him, from the upward quarter, ⌊17.⌋ they made the two cool months guardians, and heaven and Āditya attendants. ⌊18.⌋ The two cool months guard from the upward quarter, and heaven and Āditya attend, him who knoweth thus.