Atharva Veda 18.1

o cit sakhāyaṃ sakhyā vavṛtyāṃ tiraḥ puru cid arṇavaṃ jaganvān pitur napātam ādadhīta vedhā adhi kṣami prataraṃ dīdhyānaḥ

⌊Funeral verses.⌋

Unto a friend would I turn with friendship; having gone through much ocean, may the pious one take a grandson of [his] father, considering further onward upon the earth (kṣám).

na te sakhā sakhyaṃ vaṣṭy etat salakṣmā yad viṣurūpā bhavati mahas putrāso asurasya vīrā divo dhartāra urviyā parikhyan

Thy friend wants (vaç) not that friendship of thine, that she of like sign should become of diverse form; the sons of the great Asura, heroes, sustainers of the sky (dív), look widely about.

uśanti ghā te amṛtāsa etad ekasya cit tyajasaṃ martyasya ni te mano manasi dhāyy asme janyuḥ patis tanvam ā viviṣyāḥ

Truly those immortals want that—posterity (? tyajás) of the one mortal; may thy mind be set in our mind; mayest thou enter [as] husband a wife's body.

na yat purā cakṛmā kaddha nūnam ṛtaṃ vadanto anṛtaṃ rapema gandharvo apsv apyā ca yoṣā sā nau nābhiḥ paramaṃ jāmi tan nau

What we (pl.) did not do formerly, why [do that] now? speaking righteousness, should we prate unrighteousness? The Gandharva in the waters and the watery woman (yóṣā)—that is our (du.) union (nā́bhi), that our ⌊du.⌋ highest relation (jāmí).

garbhe nu nau janitā dampatī kar devas tvaṣṭā savitā viśvarūpaḥ nakir asya praminanti vratāni veda nāv asya pṛthivī uta dyauḥ

Verily, the generator made us (du.) in the womb man and spouse—god Tvashṭar, Savitar of all forms; none overthrow (pra-mī) his ordinances (vratá); earth knows us ⌊two⌋ as such, also heaven.

ko adya yuṅkte dhuri gā ṛtasya śimīvato bhāmino durhṛṇāyūn āsanniṣūn hṛtsvaso mayobhūn ya eṣāṃ bhṛtyām ṛṇadhat sa jīvāt

Who yokes to the pole today the kine of righteousness, the diligent, the bright, the slow to wrath (? durhṛṇāyú), that have arrows in the mouth, that shoot at the heart, amiable ones? whoso shall prosper their burden, he shall live.

ko asya veda prathamasyāhnaḥ ka īṃ dadarśa ka iha pravocat bṛhan mitrasya varuṇasya dhāma kad u brava āhano vīcyā nṝn

Who knows of that first day? who saw it? who shall proclaim it here? Great is the ordinance (dhā́man) of Mitra, of Varuṇa; why, O lustful one, wilt thou speak to men with deceit (? vī́ci)?

yamasya mā yamyaṃ kāma āgant samāne yonau sahaśeyyāya jāyeva patye tanvaṃ riricyāṃ vi cid vṛheva rathyeva cakrā

Desire of Yama hath come unto me Yamī, in order to lying together in the same lair (yóni); I would fain yield (ric) my body, as wife to husband; may we whirl off, like two chariot wheels.

na tiṣṭhanti na nimiṣanty ete devānāṃ spaśa iha ye caranti anyena mad āhano yāhi tūyaṃ tena vivṛha rathyeva cakrā

They stand not, they wink not, those spies of the gods who go about here; with another than me, O lustful one, go quickly; with him whirl off like two chariot wheels.

rātrībhir asmā ahabhir daśasyet sūryasya cakṣur muhur unmimīyāt divā pṛthivyā mithunā sabandhū yamīr yamasya vivṛhād ajāmi

By nights, by days one may pay reverence (daçasy) to him; the sun's eye may open (? ún mimīyāt) for a moment; with heaven, with earth paired, of near connection;—Yamī must bear the unbrotherly (ájāmi) [conduct] of Yama.

ā ghā tā gacchān uttarā yugāni yatra jāmayaḥ kṛṇavann ajāmi upa barbṛhi vṛṣabhāya bāhum anyam icchasva subhage patiṃ mat

Verily there shall come those later ages (yugá) in which next of kin (jāmí) shall do what is unkinly ⌊ájāmi⌋. Put thine arm underneath a hero (vṛṣabhá); seek, O fortunate one, another husband than me.

kiṃ bhrātāsad yad anāthaṃ bhavāti kim u svasā yan nirṛtir nigacchāt kāmamūtā bahv etad rapāmi tanvā me tanvaṃ saṃ pipṛgdhi

What should brother be when there is no protector? or what sister, when destruction impends (ni-gam)? Impelled by desire, I prate thus much; mingle thou thy body with my body.

na te nāthaṃ yamy atrāham asmi na te tanūṃ tanvā sam papṛcyām anyena mat pramudaḥ kalpayasva na te bhrātā subhage vaṣṭy etat

I am not thy protector here, O Yamī; I may not mingle my body with thy body; with another than me do thou prepare enjoyments; thy brother wants not that, O fortunate one.

na vā u te tanūṃ tanvā saṃ papṛcyāṃ pāpam āhur yaḥ svasāraṃ nigacchāt asaṃyad etan manaso hṛdo me bhrātā svasuḥ śayane yacchayīya

Verily, I may not mingle my body with thy body; they call him wicked (pāpá) who should approach his sister. That is not consonant (? asaṁyát) with my mind [and] heart, that I, a brother, should lie in a sister's bed (çáyana).

bato batāsi yama naiva te mano hṛdayaṃ cāvidāma anyā kila tvāṃ kakṣyeva yuktaṃ pariṣvajātai libujeva vṛkṣam

A weakling (? batá), alas, art thou, O Yama; we have not found mind and heart thine; verily, another woman shall embrace thee, as a girth a harnessed [horse], as a twining plant (líbujā) a tree.

anyam ū ṣu yamy anya u tvāṃ pariṣvajātai libujeva vṛkṣam tasya vā tvaṃ mana icchā sa vā tavādhā kṛṇuṣva saṃvidaṃ subhadrām

Another man, truly, O Yamī, another man shall embrace thee, as a twining plant a tree; either do thou seek his mind or he thine; then make for thyself very excellent concord (samvíd).

trīṇi chandāṃsi kavayo vi yetire pururūpaṃ darśataṃ viśvacakṣaṇam āpo vātā oṣadhayas tāny ekasmin bhuvana ārpitāni

Three meters the poets extended (? vi-yat)—the many-formed one, the admirable, the all-beholding; waters, winds, herbs—these are set (ā́rpita) in one being (bhúvana).

vṛṣā vṛṣṇe duduhe dohasā divaḥ payāṃsi yahvo aditer adābhyaḥ viśvaṃ sa veda varuṇo yathā dhiyā sa yajñiyo yajati yajñiyāṁ ṛtūn

The bull yieldeth (duh) milks for the bull with the milking of the sky (dív), he the unharmable son (? yahvá) of Aditi; everything knoweth he, like Varuṇa, by thought (dhī́); he, sharing the sacrifice (yajñíya), sacrificeth to the seasons that share the sacrifice.

rapad gandharvīr apyā ca yoṣaṇā nadasya nāde pari pātu no manaḥ iṣṭasya madhye aditir ni dhātu no bhrātā no jyeṣṭhaḥ prathamo vi vocati

Prateth the Gandharvī and watery woman; in the noise of the noisy one (nadá) let [her] protect our mind; let Aditi set us in the midst of what is desired (? iṣṭá); our oldest brother shall first speak out.

so cit nu bhadrā kṣumatī yaśasvaty uṣā uvāsa manave svarvatī yad īm uśantam uśatām anu kratum agniṃ hotāraṃ vidathāya jījanan

She now, the excellent, rich in food, full of glory—the dawn hath shone for man (mánu), full of light (svàr-); since they have generated for the council [as] hótṛ Agni, the eager one, after the will (krátu) of the eager ones.

adha tyaṃ drapsaṃ vibhvaṃ vicakṣaṇaṃ vir ābharad iṣiraḥ śyeno adhvare yadī viśo vṛṇate dasmam āryā agniṃ hotāram adha dhīr ajāyata

Then that mighty (vibhū́) conspicuous drop did the bird, the lively falcon, bring at the sacrifice; if the Aryan tribes (víç) choose the wondrous one, Agni, [as] hótṛ, then prayer (dhī́) was born.

sadāsi raṇvo yavaseva puṣyate hotrābhir agne manuṣaḥ svadhvaraḥ viprasya vā yac chaśamāna ukthyo vājaṃ sasavāṁ upayāsi bhūribhiḥ

Ever art thou pleasant (raṇvá), as pastures to him that enjoys (puṣ) them, being, O Agni, well sacrificed to with the offerings of man (mánus); or when, active, praiseworthy, having won the strength (vā́ja) of the inspired one (vípra), thou approachest with very many.

ud īraya pitarā jāra ā bhagam iyakṣati haryato hṛtta iṣyati vivakti vahniḥ svapasyate makhas taviṣyate asuro vepate matī

Send thou up the (two) fathers, [as] a lover, unto enjoyment (bhága). The welcome one (haryatá) desires to sacrifice; he sends from the heart; the bearer (váhni) speaks out; the merry one (? makhá) does a good work; the Asura shows might (taviṣy); he trembles with purpose (? matī́).

yas te agne sumatiṃ marto akhyat sahasaḥ sūno ati sa pra śṛṇve iṣaṃ dadhāno vahamāno aśvair ā sa dyumāṁ amavān bhūṣati dyūn

Whatever mortal hath seen thy favor, O Agni, son of power, he is renowned exceedingly; acquiring (dhā) food (íṣ), borne by horses, he, lightful, vigorous, passes (? ā-bhūṣ) the days (dív).

śrudhī no agne sadane sadhasthe yukṣvā ratham amṛtasya dravitnum ā no vaha rodasī devaputre mākir devānām apa bhūr iha syāḥ

Hear us, O Agni, in thy seat, thy station; harness the speedy chariot of the immortal (amṛ́ta); bring to us the two firmaments (ródasī), parents of the gods; be thou of the gods never (mā́kis) away; mayest thou be here.

yad agna eṣā samitir bhavāti devī deveṣu yajatā yajatra ratnā ca yad vibhajāsi svadhāvo bhāgaṃ no atra vasumantaṃ vītāt

That, O Agni, this meeting may take place (bhū), divine, among the gods, worshipful, thou reverend one, and that thou mayest share out treasures, O self-ruling one, do thou enjoy here our portion filled with good things.

anv agnir uṣasām agram akhyad anv ahāni prathamo jātavedāḥ anu sūrya uṣaso anu raśmīn dyāvāpṛthivī ā viveśa

Agni hath looked after the apex of the dawns, after the days, [he] first, Jātavedas; a sun, after the dawns, after the rays; after heaven-and-earth he entered.

praty agnir uṣasām agram akhyat praty ahāni prathamo jātavedāḥ prati sūryasya purudhā ca raśmīn prati dyāvāpṛthivī ā tatāna

Agni hath looked forth to meet the apex of the dawns, to meet the days, [he] first, Jātavedas, and to meet the rays of the sun in many places; to meet heaven-and-earth he stretched out.

dyāvā ha kṣāmā prathame ṛtenābhiśrāve bhavataḥ satyavācā devo yan martān yajathāya kṛṇvant sīdaddhotā pratyaṅ svam asuṃ yan

Heaven and earth, first by right, truth-speaking, are within hearing, when the god, making mortals to sacrifice, sits as hótṛ, going to meet his own being (ásu).

devo devān paribhūr ṛtena vahā no havyaṃ prathamaś cikitvān dhūmaketuḥ samidhā bhāṛjīko mandro hotā nityo vācā yajīyān

A god, encompassing the gods with right, carry thou first our offering, understanding [it]; smoke-bannered by the fuel, light-beaming, a pleasant, constant hótṛ, skilled sacrificer with speech.

arcāmi vāṃ vardhāyāpo ghṛtasnū dyāvābhūmī śṛṇutaṃ rodasī me ahā yad devā asunītim āyan madhvā no atra pitarā śiśītām

I praise (arc) your (du.) work unto increase, ye ghee-surfaced ones; O heaven-and-earth, hear me, ye two firmaments (ródasī); when days, O gods, went to the other life (ásunīti), let the two parents (pitárā) sharpen us here with honey.

svāvṛg devasyāmṛtaṃ yadī gor ato jātāso dhārayanta urvī viśve devā anu tat te yajur gur duhe yad enī divyaṃ ghṛtam vāḥ

If the god's immortality (amṛ́ta) is easy to appropriate for the cow, thence those who are born maintain themselves on the broad [earth]; all the gods go after that sacrificial formula of thine, when the hind yields (duh) the ghee, heavenly liquor (vā́r).

kiṃ svin no rājā jagṛhe kad asyāti vrataṃ cakṛmā ko vi veda mitraś ciddhi ṣmā juhurāṇo devāṁ chloko na yātām api vājo asti

Why forsooth hath the king seized (grah) us? what have we done in transgression of (áti) his ordinance (vratá)? who discerns [it]? for even Mitra, swerving the gods, like a song of praise (çlóka), is the might also of them that go.

durmantv atrāmṛtasya nāma salakṣmā yad viṣurūpā bhavāti yamasya yo manavate sumantv agne tam ṛṣva pāhy aprayucchan

Hard to reverence (? durmántu) here is the name of the immortal, that she of like sign should become of diverse form; whoso shall reverence Yama with proper reverence (? sumántu), him, O Agni, exalted one, do thou protect, unremitting.

yasmin devā vidathe mādayante vivasvataḥ sadane dhārayante sūrye jyotir adadhur māsy aktūn pari dyotaniṃ carato ajasrā

In whom the gods revel at the council, maintain themselves in Vivasvant's seat—they placed light in the sun, rays in the moon: the two, unfailing, wait upon (pari-car) the brightness (dyotaní).

yasmin devā manmani saṃcaranty apīcye na vayam asya vidma mitro no atrāditir anāgānt savitā devo varuṇāya vocat

In what secret (apīcyà) devotion (mánman) the gods go about (sam-car)—we know it not; may Mitra, may Aditi, may god Savitar declare us here guiltless to Varuṇa.

sakhāya ā śiṣāmahe brahmendrāya vajriṇe stuṣa ū ṣu nṛtamāya dhṛṣṇave

O companions, we would supplicate (ā-ças) worship (bráhman) for Indra, possessor of the thunderbolt, to praise, indeed, the most manly, the daring.

śavasā hy asi śruto vṛtrahatyena vṛtrahā maghair maghono ati śūra dāśasi

For thou art famed for might (çávas), for Vritra-slaying, a Vritra-slayer; thou out-bestowest the bounteous with thy bounties, O hero.

stego na kṣām aty eṣi pṛthivīṃ mahī no vātā iha vāntu bhūmau mitro no atra varuṇo yujamāno agnir vane na vy asṛṣṭa śokam

Thou goest over the earth as a stegá over the ground; let winds blow here on the great earth (bhū́mi) for us; Mitra for us there (átra), Varuṇa, being joined, hath let loose heat (çóka), as fire does in the forest.

stuhi śrutaṃ gartasadaṃ janānāṃ rājānaṃ bhīmam upahatnum ugram mṛḍā jaritre rudra stavāno anyam asmat te ni vapantu senyam

Praise thou the famed sitter on the hollow of men (jána), the terrible king, formidable assailant (? upahatnú); being praised, O Rudra, be gracious to the singer; let thine army (? sénya) lay low (ni-vap) another than us.

sarasvatīṃ devayanto havante sarasvatīm adhvare tāyamāne sarasvatīṃ sukṛto havante sarasvatī dāśuṣe vāryaṃ dāt

On Sarasvatī do the pious call; on Sarasvatī , while the sacrifice is being extended; on Sarasvatī do the well-doers call: may Sarasvatī give what is desirable to the worshiper (dāçvā́ṅs).

sarasvatīṃ pitaro havante dakṣiṇā yajñam abhinakṣamāṇāḥ āsadyāsmin barhiṣi mādayadhvam anamīvā iṣa ā dhehy asme

On Sarasvatī do the Fathers call, arriving at the sacrifice on the south; sitting on this barhís do ye revel; assign thou to us food (íṣas) free from disease.

sarasvati yā sarathaṃ yayāthokthaiḥ svadhābhir devi pitṛbhir madantī sahasrārgham iḍo atra bhāgaṃ rāyaspoṣaṃ yajamānāya dhehi

O Sarasvatī, that wentest in company (sarátham) with the songs (ukthá), with the svadhā́s, O goddess, reveling with the Fathers, assign thou to the sacrificer here a portion of refreshment (íḍ) of thousandfold value, abundance of wealth.

ud īratām avara ut parāsa un madhyamāḥ pitaraḥ somyāsaḥ asuṃ ya īyur avṛkā ṛtajñās te no 'vantu pitaro haveṣu

Let the lower, let the higher, let the midmost Fathers, the soma-drinking (? somyá), go up; they who went to life (ásu), unharmed (avṛká), right-knowing—let those Fathers aid us at our calls.

āhaṃ pitṝnt suvidatrāṁ avitsi napātaṃ ca vikramaṇaṃ ca viṣṇoḥ barhiṣado ye svadhayā sutasya bhajanta pitvas ta ihāgamiṣṭhāḥ

I have won hither (ā-vid) the beneficent Fathers, both the grandson and the wide-striding of Vishṇu; they who, sitting on the barhís, partake of the pressed drink with svadhā́—they come especially hither.

idaṃ pitṛbhyo namo astv adya ye pūrvāso ye aparāsa īyuḥ ye pārthive rajasy ā niṣaktā ye vā nūnaṃ suvṛjanāsu dikṣu

Be this homage today to the Fathers, who went first, who went after, who are seated in the space (rájas) of earth, or who are now in regions (díç) having good abodes (suvṛjána).

mātalī kavyair yamo aṅgirobhir bṛhaspatir ṛkvabhir vāvṛdhānaḥ yāṃś ca devā vāvṛdhur ye ca devāṃs te no 'vantu pitaro haveṣu

Mātālī with the kavyás, Yama with the An̄girases, Brihaspati increasing with the ṛ́kvans ('praisers'); both they whom the gods increased and who [increased] the gods—let those Fathers aid us at our calls.

svāduṣ kilāyaṃ madhumāṁ utāyaṃ tīvraḥ kilāyaṃ rasavāṁ utāyam uto nv asya papivāṃsam indraṃ na kaścana sahata āhaveṣu

Sweet verily is this [sóma], and full of honey is this; strong (tīvrá) verily is this, and full of sap is this; and no one soever overpowers in conflicts (āhavá) Indra, having now drunk of it.

pareyivāṃsaṃ pravato mahīr iti bahubhyaḥ panthām anupaspaśānam vaivasvataṃ saṃgamanaṃ janānāṃ yamaṃ rājānaṃ haviṣā saparyata

Him that went away to the advances called great, spying out the road for many, Vivasvant's son, gatherer of people, king Yama, honor (sapary) ye with oblation.

yamo no gātuṃ prathamo viveda naiṣā gavyūtir apabhartavā u yatrā naḥ pūrve pitaraḥ paretā enā jajñānāḥ pathyā anu svāḥ

Yama first found for us a track (gātú); that is not a pasture to be borne away; where our former Fathers went forth, there (enā́) [go] those born [of them], along their own roads.

barhiṣadaḥ pitara ūty arvāg imā vo havyā cakṛmā juṣadhvam ta ā gatāvasā śaṃtamenādhā naḥ śaṃ yor arapo dadhāta

Ye barhís-seated Fathers, hitherward with aid! these offerings have we made for you; enjoy [them]! do ye come with most wealful aid; then assign to us weal [and] profit, free from evil.

ācyā jānu dakṣiṇato niṣadyedaṃ no havir abhi gṛṇantu viśve mā hiṃsiṣṭa pitaraḥ kenacin no yad va āgaḥ puruṣatā karāma

Bending the knee, sitting down on the right, let all assent to (abhi-gṛ) this libation of ours; injure us not, O Fathers, by reason of any offense (ā́gas) which we may do to you through humanity.

tvaṣṭā duhitre vahatuṃ kṛṇoti tenedaṃ viśvaṃ bhuvanaṃ sam eti yamasya mātā paryuhyamānā maho jāyā vivasvato nanāśa

Tvashṭar makes a wedding-car for his daughter; by reason of this, all this creation comes together; the mother of Yama, wife of great Vivasvant, being drawn about, disappeared.

prehi prehi pathibhiḥ pūryāṇair yenā te pūrve pitaraḥ paretāḥ ubhā rājānau svadhayā madantau yamaṃ paśyāsi varuṇaṃ ca devam

Go thou forth, go forth by roads that go to the stronghold (pūryā́ṇa), as (yénā) thy Fathers of old went forth; both kings, reveling with svadhā́, shalt thou see, Yama and god Varuṇa.

apeta vīta vi ca sarpatāto 'smā etaṃ pitaro lokam akran ahobhir adbhir aktubhir vyaktaṃ yamo dadāty avasānam asmai

Go ye away, go asunder, and creep apart from here; for this man the Fathers have made this world; adorned with days, with waters, with rays (aktú), a rest (avasā́na) Yama gives to him.

uśantas tvedhīmahy uśantaḥ sam idhīmahi uśann uśata ā vaha pitṝn haviṣe attave

Eager (uçánt) would we light thee, eager would we kindle; do thou, eager, bring the eager Fathers to eat the oblation.

dyumantas tvedhīmahi dyumantaḥ sam idhīmahi dyumān dyumata ā vaha pitṝn haviṣe attave

Lightful (dyumánt) would we light thee, lightful would we kindle; do thou, lightful, bring the lightful Fathers to eat the oblation.

aṅgiraso naḥ pitaro navagvā atharvāṇo bhṛgavaḥ somyāsaḥ teṣāṃ vayaṃ sumatau yajñiyānām api bhadre saumanase syāma

The An̄girases, our návagva Fathers, the Atharvans, the Bhṛigus, soma-drinkers (somyá)—may we be in the favor of those worshipful ones, likewise in their excellent well-willing.

aṅgirobhir yajñiyair ā gahīha yama vairūpair iha mādayasva vivasvantaṃ huve yaḥ pitā te 'smin barhiṣy ā niṣadya

Come thou hither with the worshipful An̄girases; revel here, O Yama, with the Vāirūpas—I call Vivasvant, who is thy father—sitting down upon this barhís.

imaṃ yama prastaram ā hi rohāṅgirobhiḥ pitṛbhiḥ saṃvidānaḥ ā tvā mantrāḥ kaviśastā vahantv enā rājan haviṣo mādayasva

Ascend thou, O Yama, this cushion (prastará), in concord with the An̄giras Fathers; let the sacred utterances (mántra) made in praise by the poets bring thee; then (enā́), O king, revel thou in the oblation.

ita eta udāruhan divas pṛṣṭhānv āruhan pra bhūrjayo yathā pathā dyām aṅgiraso yayuḥ

These ascended up from here; they ascended the backs of the sky (dív); the An̄girases have gone forth to heaven (dív), like bhūrjís, by the road.