Atharva Veda · 107 of 724

HYMN X

A charm accompanying investiture with an amulet of shell 1. Child of the wind firmament, sprung from the lightning and the    light,   May this the gold-born Shell that bears the pearl preserve us    from distress. 2. Shell that wast born from out the sea, set at the head of    things that shine!   With thee we slay the Rākshasas and overcome voracious fiends. 3. We stay disease and indigence, and chase Sadānvās with the   Shell.   May the all-healing Shell that bears the pearl preserve us from    distress. 4. Born in the heaven, sprung from the sea, brought to us hither    from the flood.   This gold-born Shell shall be to us an amulet to lengthen life. 5. From ocean sprang the Amulet, from Vritra sprang the Lord of   Day:   May this protect us round about from shaft of God and Asura. 6. Peerless 'mid golden ornaments art thou: from Soma wast thou    born.   Thou gleamest on the quiver, thou art beautiful upon the car:    may it prolong our days of life! 7. Bone of the Good became the pearl's shell-mother endowed with    soul it moveth in the waters.   I bind this on thee for life, strength, and vigour, for long life    lasting through a hundred autumns.   May the pearl's mother keep and guard thee safely!