Atharva Veda · 47 of 724

HYMN XII

A prayer for vengeance on a malicious rival worshipper 1. The spacious Firmament, and Earth and Heaven, the Field’s   Queen, and the wonderful Wide-Strider,   Yea, the broad middle air which Vāta guardeth, may these now    burn with heat while I am burning. 2. Listen to this, ye Gods who merit worship. Hymns here are sung    for me by Bharadvāja.   Bound in the noose may he be doomed to trouble whoever mars    this that our mind hath purposed. 3. Hear this my call, O Indra, Soma-drinker, as with a burning    heart I oft invoke thee.   I smite, as ’twere a tree felled with a hatchet, the man who    marreth this my plan and purpose. 4. Together with thrice-eighty Sāma-singers, Angirases, and Vasus,    and Ādityas,   May the felicity of the Fathers guard us. I seize that man with    fire that Gods have kindled. 5. O Heaven and Earth, regard me with your favour, and, all ye   Gods, stand on my side and help me.   Angirases, Fathers worthy of the Soma! woe fall on him who,    caused the hateful outrage! 6. Whoever either scorns us, O ye Maruts, or blames devotion    which we now are paying.   Let his own wicked deeds be fires to burn him. May Heaven    consume the man who hates devotion. 7. Thy sevenfold vital breath, thine eight marrows I rend away    with prayer.   With Agni as thine envoy, go, prepared, to Yama’s dwelling    place. 8. In Jātavedas kindled flame I set the place assigned to thee.   Let fire consume thy body, and thy voice go to the general    breath.