Atharva Veda · 73 of 724

HYMN VI

Address to an amulet which is to secure the defeat of the wearer’s enemies 1. Masculine springs from masculine, Asvattha grows from Kha-    dira,   May it destroy mine enemies, who hate me and whom I detest. 2. Crush down my foes, Asvattha! Rend, O Burster, those who    storm and rage,   With Indra, slayer of the fiends, with Mitra and with Varuna. 3. As thou hast rent and torn apart, Asvattha! in the mighty sea,   So rend asundar all those men who hate me and whom I detest. 4. Thou who like some victorious bull displayest thy surpassing    might,   With thee, with thee, Asvattha! we would overcome our    enemies. 5. Nirriti bind them with the bonds of Death which never may be    loosed.   Mine enemies, Asvattha! those who hate me and whom I    detest. 6. As thou, Asvastha!, mountest on the trees and overthrowest    them,   So do thou break my foeman’s head asunder and o’erpower    him. 7. Let them drift downward like a boat torn from the rope that    fastened it.   There is no turning back for those whom He who Cleaves hath    driven away. 8. With mental power I drive them forth, drive them with intellect    and charm.   We banish and expel them with the branch of an Asvattha tree.