Atharva Veda · 143 of 724

HYMN VI

A prayer for protection and prosperity 1. Eastward at first the prayer was generated: Vena disclosed bright    flashes from the summit,   Disclosed his deepest nearest revelations, womb of the non-    existent and existent. 2. 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. 3. Sweet-tongued, exhaustless, they have sent their voices down    together in heaven's vault that pours a thousand streams.   His wildly-restless warders never close an eye: in every place    the snarers stand to bind men fast. 4. Speed forward, conquering all foes, to win the spoil,   Thou comest on thy haters with a surging sea. Thy name is   Fragile. The thirteenth month is Indra's home. 5. Through this now hast thou sent thy gifts. All hail!   With sharpened arms and missiles, kind and friendly, be gracious    unto us, Soma and Rudra! 6. Through this hast thou been left in want. All hail!   With sharpened arms and missiles, kind and friendly, be gracious    unto us, Soma and Rudra! 7. Through this hast thou committed faults. All hail!   With sharpened arms and missiles, kind and friendly, be gracious    unto us, Soma and Rudra! 8. Free us from trouble, free us from dishonour, accept our wor-    ship, give us life immortal. 9. O missile of the eye, missile of spirit, thou missile of devotion    and of fervour!   Thou art the weapon shot against the weapon. Let those be    weaponless who sin against us. 10. Make with thy weapon weaponless, O Agni, all wicked men    who deal with us as foemen with eye, with thought, with    spirit, or intention. 11. Thou art the house of Indra. I betake me to thee, I enter thee    with all my cattle,   With all my people and with all my body, with all my soul, with    mine entire possessions. 12. Thou art the guard of Indra. I betake me to thee, etc. 13. Thou art the shield of Indra. I betake me to thee, etc. 14. Indra's protection art thou. I betake me to thee, I enter thee    with all my cattle.   With all my people and with all my body, with all my soul, with    mine entire possessions.