Atharva Veda · 134 of 724

HYMN XXXVII

A charm against Gandharvas and Apsarases 1. With thee, O Plant, in olden time Atharvans smote and slew the    fiends.   Kasyapa smote with thee, with thee did Kanava and Agastya    smite. 2. With thee we scare and drive away Gandharvas and Apsarases.   O Ajasringi, chase the fiends. Cause all to vanish with thy    smell. 3. Let the Apsarases, puffed away, go to the river, to the ford,—   Guggulū, Pīlā, Naladi, Aukshagandhi, Pramandini.   Ye have become attentive since the Apsarases have past away. 4. Where great trees are, Asvatthas and Nyagrodhas with their    leafy crests,   There where your swings are green and bright, and lutes and    cymbals sound in tune,   'Ye have become attentive since the Apsarases have past away. 5. Hither hath come this one, the most effectual of herbs and    plants. 6. Let Ajasringi penetrate, Arā4aki with sharpened horn. 7. From the Gandharva, dancing near, the lord of the Apsarases,   Wearing the tuft of hair, I take all manhood and virility. 8. With those dread hundred iron spears, the darts of Indra, let it    pierce.   The Blyxa-fed Gandharvas, those who bring no sacrificial gift. 9. With those dread hundred golden spears, the darts of Indra, let    it pierce.   The Blyxa-fed Gandharvas, those who bring no sacrificial gift. 10. O Plant, be thou victorious, crush the Pisāchas, one and all,   Blyxa-fed, shining in the floods, illumining the selfish ones. 11. Youthful, completely decked with hair, one monkey-like, one    like a dog,—   So the Gandharva, putting on a lovely look, pursues a dame.   Him with an efficacious charm we scare and cause to vanish    hence. 12. Your wives are the Apsarases, and ye, Gandharvas, are their    lords.   Run ye, immortal ones, away: forbear to interfere with men!