Atharva Veda 5.12 · Vedas – Griffith · Verses Across
Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 5.12
An Apri or propitiatory hymn
GriffithEnglish
Thou in the house of man this day enkindled worshippest Gods as God, O Jātavedas. Observant, bright as Mitra, bring them hither. Thou art a sapient and foreknowing envoy.
Tanùnapāt, fair-tongued! with sweet meath balming the baths and ways of Order, make them pleasant. Bear to the Gods our sacrifice, exalting with holy thoughts our hymns of praise and worship.
Invoked, deserving prayer and adoration, O Agni, come accor dant with the Vasus. Thou art, O youthful Lord, the Gods' Invoker, so, best of sacri- ficers, bring them quickly.
By rule the Sacred Grass is scattered eastward, a robe to clothe this earth when dawns are breaking. Widely it spreads around and far extended, fair for the Gods and bringing peace and freedom,
Let the expansive Doors be widely opened, like wives who deck their beauty for their husbands. Lofty, celestial, all-impelling Portals, admit the Gods and give them easy entrance!
Pouring sweet dews let holy Night and Morning, each close to each, be seated at their station,— Lofty, celestial Dames with gold to deck them, assuming all their fair and radiant beauty.
Come the first two celestial sweet-voiced Hotars, arranging sacrifice for man to worship, As singers who inspire us in assemblies, showing the eastern light with their direction!
Let Bhārati come quickly to our worship and Ilā showing like a human being. So let Sarasvati and both her fellows, deft Goddesses, on this fair grass be seated.
Hotar more skilled in sacrifice, bring hither with speed to-day God Tvashar, thou who knowest, Even him who formed these two, the Earth and Heaven, the Parents, with their forms, and every creature.
Bring thou to our oblations which thou balmest the companies of Gods in ordered season. Agni, Vanaspati, the Immolator sweeten our offered gifts with meath and butter!
Agni as soon as he was born made ready the sacrifice and was the Gods' preceder. May the Gods eat our offering consecrated according to this true Priest's voice and guidance.
