Atharva Veda · 150 of 724

HYMN XIII

A charm against snakes 1. Varuna, Sage of heaven, hath given me the gift: with spells of    mighty power I draw thy poison out.   Dug up, not dug, adherent, I have seized it fast: low hath thy    venom sunk like water in the sands. 2. All the non-fluid portion of thy venom, I receive in these.   I take thy middlemost, thy highest, lowest juice: may it be    spent and lest by reason of thy fear. 3. Strong is my cry like thunder with the rainy cloud: with power-    ful incantation let thy strength be stayed.   I, with the men to aid, have seized that juice of his; as light    from out the gloom, let Sūrya rise on high 4. I with this eye destroy thine eye, and with this poison conquer    thine.   Live not, O Snake, but die the death: back go thy venom on    thyself. 5. Listen to me, Black Snakes and hateful creatures, Lurker-in-   Grass, Karait, and Brown, and Spotty,   Approach not near the house my friend inhabits: give warning,    and rest quiet with your poison. 6. Even as the cord that strings the bow, I slacken, as it were, the    cars.   Of the All-conquering serpent’s wrath, of the fierce rage of   Black, and Brown, Taimāta, and Apodaka. 7. And Āligi and Viligi, their father and the mother too,—   What will ye do? Your venomed sap, we know, is utterly    powerless. 8. Daughter of Urugūlā, she-fiend whom the black, skinned mother    bare—   All female serpents poison who crept swiftly near is impotent. 9. Dwelling beside the mountain’s slope, the quick-eared porcupine    exclaimed:   Of all these she-snakes homed in earth the poison is most    powerless. 10. Tābuva or not Tābuva, thou verily art not Tābuva: poison is    killed by Tābuva.   Tastuva or not Tastuva, thou verily art not Tastuva: poison is    killed by Tastuva.