Atharva Veda · 536 of 724

HYMN XXVII

A benedictory hymn 1. Let the Bull guard thee with the kine, the Stallien with the fleet-    foot steeds. p. 233   Let Vāyu keep thee safe with prayer, and Indra with his mighty    power. 2. Let Soma guard thee with the plants, Sūrya protect thee with    the stars;   With breath let Wind protect thee, and the Moon, foe-slayer,    with the months. 3. Three are the earths, they say, and three the heavens, three are    the atmospheres, and four the oceans.   Threefold the hymn of praise, threefold the Waters. Let these    with triple song and triplets guard thee. 4. Three vaults of heaven, and three seas, three bright, three    stationary ones,   Three Mātarisvans, and three suns, protectors, I arrange for    thee. 5. Increasing thee with butter I, Agni! with fatness sprinkle thee.   Let not magicians harm the life of Agni or of Moon or Sun. 6 Let not magicians mar your heat, your vital or diffusive breath.   Brilliant and all-possessing Gods, run ye your course with God-    like power. 7. Fire they endow with vital breath, Wind is compact, with vital    breath:   With vital breath the Gods produced the Sun whose face turn    every way. 8. Live with the Life-Creators' life. Die not, live on to lengthened    age.   Live with the breath of men with souls. Submit not to the power    of Death. 9. The secret treasure of the Gods which Indra, by pathways    travelled by the Gods, discovered,   That gold the Waters with the triplets guarded. May they keep    thee with threebold hymn and triplets. 10. With friendly thoughts the Deities, three-and thirty, and three    great Powers preserved it in the Waters.   He made heroic powers with the gold that lies upon this Moon. 11. O ye eleven Gods who are in heaven, accept this sacrifice. 12. O ye eleven Gods who are in air, accept this sacrifice. 13. O ye eleven Gods who are on earth, accept this sacrifice. 1415 repeated from XIX. 16. 1, 2.