Atharva Veda · 84 of 724

HYMN XVII

A farmer's song and prayer to speed the plough 1. Wise and devoted to the Gods the skilful men bind plough-ropes    fast,   And lay the yokes on either side. 2. Lay on the yokes and fasten well the traces: formed is the    furrow, sow the seed within it.   Virāj vouchsafe us hearing fraught with plenty!   Let the ripe grain come near and near the sickle. 3. The keen-shared plough that bringeth bliss, furnished with traces    and with stilts,   Shear out for me a cow, a sheep, a rapid drawer of the car, a    blooming woman, plump and strong! 4. May Indra press the furrow down, may Pūshan guard and cherish    her.   May she, well stored with milk yield milk for us through each    succeeding year. 5. Happily let the shares turn up the ploughland, the ploughers    happily follow the oxen.   Pleased with our sacrifice, Suna and Sira! make the plants bring    this man abundant produce. 6. Happily work our steers and men! May the plough furrow    happily,   Happily be the traces bound. Happily ply the driving-goad. 7. Suna and Sira, welcome ye this laud, and with the milk that ye    have made in heaven,   Bedew ye both this earth of ours. 8. Auspicious Sitā, come thou near: we venerate and worship thee.   That thou mayst bless and prosper us and bring us fruits    abundantly. 9. Loved by the Visvedevas and the Maruts, let Sitā be bedewed.    with oil and honey.   Turn thou to us with wealth of milk, O Sitā, in vigorous    strength and pouring streams of fatness.