Atharva Veda · 104 of 724

HYMN VII

A charm to make a poisonous plant innocuous 1. So may this water guard us on the bank of Varanāvati.   Therein hath Amrit been infused: with that I ward thy poison    off. 2. Weak is the poison of the East, weak is the poison of the North,   So too this poison of the South counts as a cake of curds and    meal. 3. When he hath made of thee a cake, broad, steaming, swelling up    with fat,   And even in hunger eaten thee, then gripe him not, thou hideous    one! 4. Intoxicater! like a shaft we make thy spirit fly away, Like a pot    boiling on the fire, we with our word remove thee hence. 5. We set around thee with the spell as 'twere a gathered arma-    ment.   Stay quiet like a rooted tree. Dug up with mattocks, gripe not    thou. 6. For coverings men have bartered thee, for skins of deer and    woven cloths.   Thou art a thing of sale, O Plant. Dug up with mattocks, gripe    not thou! 7. None have attained to those of old, those who wrought holy acts    for you.   Let them not harm our heroes here. Therefore I set before you    this.