Atharva Veda · 100 of 724

HYMN III

A Charm against tigers, wolves, thieves and other noxious creatures  

1. Three have gone hence and passed away, the man, the tiger,    and the wolf.   Down, verily, the rivers flow, down-goeth the celestial Tree,.    down let our foemen bend and bow. 2. On distant pathway go the wolf, on pathway most remote the    thief!   On a far road speed forth the rope with teeth, and the malicious    man! 3. We crush and rend to pieces both thine eyes, O Tiger, and thy    jaws and all the twenty claws we break. 4. We break and rend the tiger first of creatures that are armed.    with teeth;   The robber then, and then the snake, the sorcerer, and then the    wolf. 5. The thief who cometh near to-day departeth bruised and crush-    ed to bits.   By nearest way let him be gone. Let Indra slay him with his    bolt. 6. Let the beast’s teeth be broken off, shivered and shattered be    his ribs!   Slack be thy bowstring: downward go the wild beast that    pursues the hare! 7. Open not what thou hast compressed, close not what thou hast    not compressed.   Indra’s and Soma’s child, thou art Atharvan’s tiger-crushing    charm.