Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book XVI/Paryaya 5
5. Paryāya the fifth.
⌊Both the Anukramaṇīs reckon the paryāya as of 10 avasānas: that is, they count the anuṣan̄gas (b-c) only in their first and last occurrences, as explained at p. 793, end (cf. pages 628-9, 772).⌋ One or two of the mss. (W.R.) indicate by fragments of b and c given also with verses 2-5 that they regard all the six verses ⌊or gaṇas, rather⌋ as of equal length. ⌊It is true that the summations (see p. 793 and table) number the gaṇas as 2 and call the avasānarcas of the remaining 4 by the name of paryāya-avasānarcas; but it is not apparent why the gaṇas should not be counted as 6, just as those of the second paryāya of xi. 3 are counted as 18 (p. 632, top, p. 628, ¶ 10).—The numbers of the avasānas as given by SPP. in accord with the Anukr. are added by me in ell-brackets.⌋
Translated: Ludwig, p. 468; Griffith, ii. 203.
1. ⌊1.⌋ We know thy place of birth (janítra), O sleep; thou art son of seizure (grā́hi), agent of Yama; ⌊2.⌋ ender art thou, death art thou; ⌊3.⌋ so, O sleep, do we comprehend thee here; do thou, O sleep, protect us from evil-dreaming.
The verses of this hymn are nearly ⌊vs. 6 exactly⌋ identical with vi. 46. 2; and whether they or it are quoted in Kāuç. 46. 9, 13, it is impossible, and wholly unimportant, to determine ⌊cf. introd. to vi. 46⌋.
2. ⌊4.⌋ We know thy place of birth, O sleep; thou art son of perdition, agent etc. etc.
3. ⌊5.⌋ We know thy place of birth, O sleep; thou art son of ill-success (ábhūti), agent etc. etc.
4. ⌊6.⌋ We know thy place of birth, O sleep; thou art son of extermination (nírbhūti), agent etc. etc.
5. ⌊7.⌋ We know thy place of birth, O sleep; thou art son of calamity (párābhūti), agent etc. etc.
6. ⌊8.⌋ We know thy place of birth, O sleep; thou art son of the wives (-jāmí) of the gods, agent of Yama; ⌊9.⌋ ender art thou, death art thou; ⌊10.⌋ so, O sleep, do we comprehend thee here; do thou, O sleep, protect us from evil-dreaming.
This verse agrees ⌊precisely⌋ with vi. 46. 2, and the ⌊words dévānām patnīnāṁ garbha yámasya kara (the readings are not quite certain)⌋ appear in xix. 57. 3; the other verses are therefore most probably varied repetitions of this one.