Atharva Veda 18.1 · Vedas – Griffith · Verses Across
Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 18.1An accompaniment to funeral ceremonies and sacrificial offerings to ancestral spirits
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Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 18.1
An accompaniment to funeral ceremonies and sacrificial offerings to ancestral spirits
GriffithEnglish
Fain would I win my friend to kindly friendship. So may the Sage, come through the air's wide ocean, Remembering the earth and days to follow, obtain a son the issue of his father.
Thy friend loves not the friendship which considers her who is near in kindred as a stranger. Sons of the mighty Asura, the heroes, supporters of the heaven, see far around them.
Yea, this the Immortals seek of thee with longing, a scion of the only man existing. Then let thy soul and mine be knit together. Embrace thy consort as her loving husband.
Shall we do now what we ne'er did aforetime? we who spoke righteously now talk impurely? Gandharva in the floods, the Dame of Waters—such is our bond, such our most lofty kinship.
Even in the womb God Tvashtar, vivifier, shaping all forms, Creator, made us consorts. Ne'er are his holy statutes violated: that we are his the heaven and earth acknowledge.
Who yokes to-day unto the pole of Order the strong and passionate steers of checkless spirit, With shaft-armed mouths, heart-piercing, joy-bestowing? Long shall he live who duly pays them service.
Who knows that earliest day whereof thou speakest, Who hath beheld it? Who can here declare it? Great is the law of Varuna and Mitra. What, wanton, wilt thou say to men to tempt them?
Yami am possessed by love of Yama, that I may rest on the same couch beside him. I as a wife would yield me to my husband. Like car-wheels let us speed to meet each other.
They stand not still, they never close their eyelids, those sentinels of Gods who wander round us. Not me—go quickly, wanton, with another, and hasten like a chariot-wheel to meet him.
May Sūrya's eye with days and nights endow him, and ever may his light spread out before him. In heaven and earth the kindred pair commingle. On Yami be the unbrotherly act of Yama.
Sure there will come succeeding times when brothers and sisters will do acts unmeet for kinsfolk. Not me, O fair one—seek another husband, and make thine arm a pillow for thy consort.
Is he a brother when no help is left her? Is she a sister when Destruction cometh? Forced by my love these many words I utter. Come near, and hold me in thy close embraces,
I am no help for thee, no refuge, Yami, I will not clasp and press thee to my bosom. This is abhorrent to my mind and spirit—a brother on the couch beside a sister.
I will not fold mine arms about thy body: they call it sin when one comes near a sister. Not me—prepare thy pleasure with another. Thy brother seeks not this from thee, O fair one.
Alas; thou art indeed a weakling Yama. We find in thee no trace o f heart or spirit. As round a tree the woodbine clings, another will cling about thee girt as with a girdle.
Embrace another, Yami. Let some other, even as the woodbine rings a tree, enfold thee. Win thou his heart and let him win thy fancy; so make with him a bond of blest alliance.
Three hymns the Sages have disposed in order, the many-formed, the fair, the all-beholding. These in one single world are placed and settled—the growing plants, the breezes, and the waters.
The Bull hath yielded for the Bull the milk of heaven: inviolable is the Son of Aditi. According to his wisdom Varuna knoweth all: he halloweth, the holy, times for sacrifice.
Gandharvi spake. May she, the Lady of the Flood amid the river's roaring leave my heart untouched. May Aditi accomplish all that we desire, and may our eldest Brother tell us this as chief.
Yea, even this blessed Morning, rich in store of food, splendid, with heavenly lustre, hath shone out for man, Since they as was the wish of yearning Gods, brought forth that yearning Agni for the assembly as the Priest.
And the fleet Falcon brought for sacrifice from afar this flowing. drop most excellent and passing wise, Then when the Aryan tribes chose as invoking Priest Agni the wonder-worker, and the hymn rose up.
Still art thou kind to him who feeds thee as with grass, and. skilled in sacrifice offers thee holy gifts. When thou having received the sage's strengthening food with lauds, after long toil comest with many more.
Urge thou thy Parents, as a lover, to delight: the lovely One desires and craves it from his heart. As Priest he calls aloud, as Warrior shows his skill, as Asura tries his strength, and with the hymn is stirred.
Far famed is he, the mortal man, O Agni thou Son of strength, who hath obtained thy favour. He, gathering power, borne onward by his horses, makes his, days lovely in his might and splendour.
Hear us, O Agni, in the great assembly: harness thy rapid car,. the car of Amrit. Bring Heaven and Earth, the Deities' Parents, hither: stay with us here, nor from the Gods be absent.
When, holy Agni, the divine assembly, the holy synod mid the Gods, is gathered, And when thou, godlike One, dealest forth treasures vouchsafe us too our portion of the riches.
Agni hath looked upon the van of Mornings, and on the days. the earliest Jātavedas. After the Dawns, after their rays of brightness, Sūrya hath entered into earth and heaven.
Agni hath looked against the van of Mornings, against the days- the earliest Jātavedas; In many a place against the beams of Sūrya, against the heavens and earth hath he extended.
Heaven and Earth, first by everlasting Order, speakers of truth, are near enough to hear us, When the God, urging men to worship, sitteth as Priest, assuming all his vital vigour.
As God comprising Gods by Law eternal, bear, as the chief who knoweth, our oblation, Smoke-bannered with the fuel, radiant, joyous, better to praise and worship, Priest for ever.
I praise your work.that ye may make me prosper: hear, Heaven and Earth, twain worlds that drop with fatness! While days and Gods go to the world of spirits, have let the Parents with sweet mead refresh us.
When the Cow's nectar wins the God completely, men here below are heaven's and earth's sustainers All the Gods come to this thy heavenly Yajus which from the motley Pair milked oil and water
Hath the King seized us? How have we offended against his holy Ordinance? Who knoweth? For even Mitra mid the Gods is angry. There are both song and wealth for those who come not.
'Tis hard to understand the Immortal's nature, where she who is akin becomes a stranger. Guard ceaselessly, great Agni, him who ponders Yama's name easy to be comprehended.
They in the synod where the Gods rejoice them, where they are seated in Vivasvan's dwelling, Have given the Moon his beams, the Sun his splendour: the two unweariedly maintain their brightness.
The counsel which the Gods meet to consider, their secret plan, of that we have no knowledge. There let God Savitar, Aditi, and Mitra proclaim to Varuna that we are sinless.
Companions, let us learn a prayer to Indra whom the thunder arms, To glorify your bold and most heroic Friend.
For thou by slaying Vritra art the Vritra-slayer, famed for might. Thou, Hero, in rich gifts surpassest wealthy chiefs.
O'er the broad land thou goest like a Stega: here on vast earth let breezes blow upon us, Here hath our dear Friend Varuna, united, like Agni in the wood, shot forth his splendour.
Sing praise to him the chariot-borne, the famous, Sovran of men, the dread and strong destroyer. O Rudra, praised be gracious to the singer; let thy darts spare us and smite down another.
The pious call Sarasvati, they worship Sarasvati while sacrifice proceedeth. The virtuous call Sarasvati to hear them. Sarasvati send bliss to him who giveth!
Sarasvati is called on by the Fathers who come right forward to our solemn worship. Seated upon this sacred grass rejoice you. Give thou us strengthening food that brings no sickness.
Sarasvati, who comest with the Fathers, joying in hymns, O Goddess, and oblations, Give plenteous wealth to this the sacrificer, a portion, worth a thousand, of refreshment.
May they ascend, the lowest, highest, midmost, the Fathers, who deserve a share of Soma. May they who have attained to life, the Fathers, righteous and gentle, aid us when we call them.
I have attained the gracious-minded Fathers, I have gained son and progeny from Vishnu. They who enjoy pressed juices with oblation, seated on sacred grass, come oftenest hither.
Now be this homage offered to the Fathers, to those who passed of old and those who followed, Those who have rested in the earthly region and those who dwell among the happy races.
Mātali prospers there with Kavyas, Yama with Angiras' sons, Brihaspati with singers. Exalters of the Gods, by Gods exalted, aid us those Fathers in our invocations?
Yes, this is good to taste and full of sweetness, verily it is strong and rich in flavour. No one may conquer Indra in the battle when he hath drunken of the draught we offer.
Honour the King with your oblations, Yama, Vivasvān's son, who gathers men together. Even him who travelled o'er the mighty rivers, who searches out and shows the path to many.
Yama first found for us the road to travel: this pasture never can be taken from us. Men born on earth tread their own paths that lead them whither our ancient Fathers have departed.
Fathers who sit on sacred grass, come, help us: these offsprings have we made for you; accept them. So come to us with most auspicious favour: bestow on us unfailing health and plenty.
Bowing their bended knees and seated southward let all accept this sacrifice with favour. Punish us not for any sin, O fathers which we through human frailty have committed.
Tvashtar prepares the bridal for his daughter: therefore the whole of this our world assembles. But Yama's mother, spouse of great Vivasvān, vanished as she was carried to her dwelling.
Go forth, go forth upon the homeward pathways whither our sires of old have gone before us. Then shalt thou look on both the Kings enjoying their sacred food, God Varuna and Yama.
Go hence, depart ye, fly in all directions. This world for him the Fathers have provided. Yama bestow upon this man a dwelling adorned with days and beams of light and waters.
We set thee down with yearning, and with yearning we enkindle thee, Yearning, bring yearning Fathers nigh to eat the food of sacrifice.
We, splendid men, deposit thee, we, splendid men, enkindle thee. Splendid, bring splendid Fathers nigh to eat the sacrificial food.
Our Fathers are Angirases, Navagvas, Atharvans, Bhrigus, who deserve the Soma. May these, the holy, look on us with favour; may we enjoy their gracious loving-kindness.
Come, Yama, with Angirases, the holy; rejoice thee here with children of Virūpa. Seated on sacred grass at this oblation: I call Vivasvān too, thy father, hither.
Come, seat thee on this bed of grass. O Yama, accordant with Angirases and Fathers. Let texts recited by the sages bring thee. O. King, let this oblation make thee joyful.
He hath gone hence and risen on high mounting heaven's ridges by that path Whereon the sons of Angiras, the conquerors of earth, went up.
