Kāṇḍa 7

7.1.1 The eagle found you out; the boar dug you up with his snout. O herb that harms the harmer — you who would harm us — burn back the maker of the sorcery.

7.1.2 Burn back the sorcerers, burn back the maker of the sorcery. And whoever seeks to harm us — him, too, do you strike down, O herb.

7.1.3 O Agni, crusher of armies, overpower the armies. We carry the sorcery back to the sorcerer by means of this counter-charm.

7.1.4 Straight as an arrow may it fly. Heaven and Earth — let them press it out. May the sorcery, thus fashioned, pierce its maker as an arrow pierces a beast.

7.1.5 Let evil befall the evil-doer; let curses befall the curser. We send them back, forward and straight — let them find the one who fashioned them.

7.1.6 "He who has sorcery done to him" — this is the single verse.

7.1.7 Seizing the sorcery by the hand, carry it back again to the sorcerer. We place it full in his presence, that it may slay the sorcery's maker.

7.1.8 Go to him as a son to his father; cling and bite as a serpent coiled around its prey. Come unwinding like a thread, O sorcery fashioned — strike the sorcery's maker.

7.1.9 As a doe leaps up into the water, as a female deer leaps forth — so may the sorcery find its maker.

7.1.10 Measuring around like the hide of a spotted deer, encircling the skin — fasten the sorcery back around the necks of those with evil hearts who performed it.

7.1.11 Whether you, O sorcery, were fashioned by gods or were born of men — we send you back with this counter-formula directed against the source.

7.1.12 Whether a woman or a man performed the sorcery for the sake of harm — we lead it back to that one, as a mare-tether leads a horse.

7.2.1 Heaven and Earth have been invoked for me; the divine Sarasvatī has been invoked. Both Indra and Agni have been invoked for me — may they crush this worm.

7.2.2 O Indra, O Lord of Wealth, slay the worm of this boy. Slain are all adversaries by this utterance of mine.

7.2.3 The one that creeps around the eyes, the one that creeps around the nostrils, the one that goes into the middle of the teeth — that worm we crush.

7.2.4 Two of unlike form, two of like form, two black ones, two reddish ones; the tawny one and the tawny-eared one; vultures and crows — these are slain.

7.2.5 The worms that have white armpits, those that are black with white arms, and whatever they are of all various forms — those worms we crush.

7.2.6 The worm that is two-headed and four-eyed, the speckled one, the white one — I shatter its ribs and I cut off its head.

7.2.7 That sun has risen, visible to all, the slayer of the unseen. Striking those that are seen and those unseen, crushing all worms altogether.

7.2.8 The yevāṣas, the kaṣkaṣas, the dhrūkṣṇas, the śipavitnus — let the worm that is seen be slain, and let the worm that is unseen be slain as well.

7.2.9 Slain is the yevāṣa, slain the śipavit, slain likewise the gaṅgaṇi. Slain are all adversaries by my fierce utterance.

7.2.10 Of all worms, male and female alike — I split the head with a stone, I burn the mouth with fire.

7.3.1 With your sharp flames, O Agni, with your bright blazing light, O god — carry away the raw-flesh eater; make him settle his mouth elsewhere.

7.3.2 With your blazing light and your flame, O Agni, burn out the evil-doer. Let the two of us forge a friendship, and may the raw-flesh eater be at peace — elsewhere.

7.3.3 We lead forth the raw-flesh eater, we lead forth the carrion eater from the houses. Those gods called the grain-eaters, O Agni — may they not harm you.

7.3.4 The raw-flesh eater and the carrion eater and the grain-eater — both kinds together — those who have made offspring their share, them we lead forth from here.

7.3.5 Those who take pleasure in raw things, who have not stooped to the cooked — let all of them gather together and go hence, the evil-doers, to another place.

7.3.6 He who is sinful, a doer of evil deeds, he whose success is made of transgression — may the gods worthy of sacrifice lead them back whence they have come.

7.3.7 Wash away the dust, wash away the impurity; cleanse the filth belonging to the elephant. May Dhātṛ lead us with good fortune; may he protect our offspring.

7.3.8 I make of Heaven and Earth my armor; may we be in the impulsion of Savitṛ. May Earth, our mother, with good fortune, and Heaven protect us from distress.

7.3.9 Whatever evil things belonging to the Asuras have approached us on those days — may the milk of the gods and these divine waters cleanse me.

7.3.10 I come to your grace, O father of the Maruts; keep us not away from the sight of the Sun. May the hero prevail for us in the contests of steeds; may we propagate, O Rudra, with offspring.

7.3.11 He who slays the unborn, he who is within the womb, he who slays the man already born or yet to be born — may I prosper against him today with oblation; may he grant us offspring that lives to old age.

7.4.1 Indra's two arms — sturdy, bull-powerful, these two wondrous bulls that carry across — I shall yoke them first when the time of yoking arrives, those two by which the heavenly light of the asuras was won.

7.4.2 Swift, being whetted, terrible as a bull, crusher of crushers, shaker of the peoples — the Saṃkrandana, unwinking, sole hero: may Indra conquer a hundred armies together.

7.4.3 With the Saṃkrandana, with the unwinking, with the victorious, with the irresistible, with the hard-to-dislodge, with the bold — conquer through Indra; hold firm together, O men of battle, through the rain-bull who holds the arrow in hand.

7.4.4 He, the subduer, with arrow-wielders, with quiver-bearers, Indra who enters battle joined with his troop — victor in close combat, soma-drinker, bold-armed, bow-upraised: may he shoot with fitted arrows.

7.4.5 Distinguished by strength, ancient, foremost warrior, enduring, prize-winning, bearing-down, fierce — hero-against-hero, who overwhelms fighters, victor through might — mount the chariot for conquest, O Indra, the cow-finder.

7.4.6 Exult after this fierce hero; O battle-men, rally together after Indra — the village-conquerer, cattle-conquerer, bolt-armed, conquering in his onrush, crushing with might.

7.4.7 Plunging into the cattle-herds with force, taking them away unstopped, the fierce, hundred-thoughted Indra — hard to dislodge, battle-overwhelming, irresistible — may he protect our army, driving them forward in combat.

7.4.8 O Bṛhaspati, wheel around with your chariot, repelling demons and foes — breaking enemies, crushing adversaries: be our protector of bodies.

7.4.9 Indra is their leader, Bṛhaspati the sacrificial fee, let the sacrifice go before, let Soma advance first — may the Maruts march in the midst of the divine armies that overwhelm, that are victorious.

7.4.10 Of Indra the bull, of Varuṇa the king, of the Ādityans, of the fierce host of the Maruts — of the great-minded, the world-shaking — the battle-roar of the gods has risen to victory.

7.4.11 Indra is ours at the clashing of banners; may our arrows be victorious; may our heroes be uppermost; may the gods protect us at our callings.

7.5.1 From Vaiśvānara there shone forth, newborn, the golden amulet. Bṛhaspati brought it, Kaśyapa brought it, for power indeed.

7.5.2 Bṛhaspati fashioned that amulet as Vaiśvānara's might. The Seven Seers, increasers of life, have bestowed you for strength.

7.5.3 All the gods and the Seven Seers have together bestowed your virile power. You were born as a golden amulet from Agni Vaiśvānara.

7.5.4 The aśvattha tree was born first, the dearest body of Agni — by the creative power of Vaiśvānara this amulet was made the neutralizer of kṛtyā.

7.5.5 I know you as kṛtyā-neutralizer; I carry you as kṛtyā-neutralizer; I make you the kṛtyā-neutralizer, the kṛtyā-neutralizer that sustains life.

7.5.6 The winged one, the feathered, the powerful kṛtyā-neutralizer, the rival-slayer — the broadly extended, all-healing, fierce, suddenly-striking amulet.

7.5.7 The winged one is for your strength; the broadly extended one for your healing. May the golden amulet, newborn, drive away the demons.

7.5.8 The divine amulet, rival-slayer, demon-killer, disease-chaser — of golden womb, full of rays: the might brought by Kaśyapa.

7.5.9 They call the Vaiśvānara one a sharpener, born from the womb of Agni together with the Moon — the prosperer of households, the one that carries across, the sustainer of life; you are a fierce kṛtyā-neutralizer, you who smash the valagaha.

7.5.10 Whoever's footprint is impressed upon this dusty earth — cleansing away whatever bodily taint is his, bathe upon his body.

7.5.11 We, deserving of the smiting, carry you at the impulsion of divine Savitṛ — for living, for our great unharmed state.

7.5.12 The cutting-through, the piercing-through, the scorcher of the enemy — this amulet: the enemy-conquering rival-slayer. May it drive away the one who hates.

7.6.1 The pillar of truth upheld the earth; through cosmic order the gods found immortality. With the firm oblation I uphold you — may Heaven and Earth acclaim that.

7.6.2 With those oblations by which Viśvakarman upheld this earth, our mother — with those oblations I uphold you here. May the oblations follow upon cosmic order and truth.

7.6.3 Be established here on the foundation of earth, in the lap of the willing, auspicious mother — undriven-away, rejoicing in greatness: in this dwelling may you be blessed with good offspring.

7.6.4 Blessed with good offspring, rejoicing in greatness, rest above on the summit of the earth. May the gods grant shelter to this house; may the earth fill it with streams.

7.6.5 May we, with unharmed heroes, approach together this house, the best of good things. May her roof-posts be firm; may the house-dwellers be steadfast and heroic.

7.6.6 May Savitṛ, Vāyu, Indra, Bṛhaspati wisely establish this house. May the Maruts sprinkle it with water and ghee; may Bhaga our king establish prosperity.

7.6.7 O wife of the house-master, take pleasure in the oblation, of him whose end is keen and whose middle is copious. May a young child cry out to you, may a boy cry out, may the milk-cows with their perpetual calves cry out.

7.6.8 May your posts be firm, firmly planted in the earth; may your roof-beams be firm, O divine house. Be one with steadfast heroes and no enemies; grant us shelter for two-footed and four-footed.

7.6.9 The divine house is fitted for the householder's fire; clothed in grass, well-pleasing to the world. O wife of the house-master, may the heroes approach you with steadfast limbs, steadfast people, and steadfast dwelling.

7.6.10 O Lord of the Dwelling, recognize us; be one of easy entry and free from sickness. What we pray to you for — take delight in that for us; let the four-footed and two-footed settle here.

7.7.1 Darbha, foremost of plants, was born with a hundred stalks; that one of a thousand powers shall guard us on every side.

7.7.2 Just as Darbha, being born, splits open the skin of the earth, so let that person be split asunder who plots evil against us.

7.7.3 We drive away the disease-carrier, we drive away the sorcery, we drive away the Rakṣas with the ever-flowing stream; we chase off all afflictions and all sorcerous fiends.

7.7.4 There is indeed a low-lying place and a high-lying place; not everything floats freely upon the stream. You, O Darbha, are the corrupter of that one who plots evil against us.

7.7.5 At evening round about, at morning round about, at midday round about — Darbha, whose golden hand strikes down the foe, shall guard us round on every side.

7.7.6 Born on the mountain, you have won the heavenly light together with the tawny Soma. Spare not the workers of evil; let no ignorant person come to harm.

7.7.7 With its root stretched down from heaven and set firm in the earth — Darbha of a thousand powers shall guard us on every side.

7.7.8 Thousand-stalked, mighty, sharp-twigged, withstanding poison — with Darbha we burn away all Rakṣases and all afflictions.

7.7.9 Burned away is the evil dream; burned away are the ill-wishers and all the sorcerous fiends.

7.7.10 Let the sorcerous fiends not afflict you; let not the tawny bird swoop down upon you. Darbha, the sea-born king, shall guard us on every side.

7.8.1 He who speaks an ill word against us, voicelessly muttering an evil utterance — that curse, unable to reach us, shall depart from us on every side.

7.8.2 Whatever a stranger curses upon us, whatever a rival curses, or a mother-in-law, or a father-in-law — we drive away those mighty curses with barley.

7.8.3 Whatever curses are heaped together, taking effect through speech that is unworthy of its season — you, bearing barley in your two arms, ward those off beforehand.

7.8.4 Straight-haired, tawny Yava, munificent one worthy of our joy — golden-bowed, let him approach and deal with the curses.

7.8.5 When Indra drank you, Śakra the Vāsava slew Vṛtra; he who bears poison like a bull — O Yava, overcome the curses.

7.8.6 Let the curses roam far away, held off from here; let all their tongues that have been uttered become powerless. From the naming of names, from the anger of speech, from the glance of the evil-eyed — we make shelter and armor for you.

7.8.7 Let the curses go backward, shot by that ill-intentioned person — he who would harm us, though we live by our own innocence.

7.8.8 May he guard me round from the curse, from untruth, and from wrong; may Yava guard me round from the declaration of the mighty one — let me not be harmed.

7.8.9 Neither to be brought low by curses nor to be pierced through — I release for you the great armor that is Yava.

7.8.10 As winged birds, as flying creatures, enter back into him — let the curses return to the one who cursed.

7.9.1 Grant to us, O Arāti; do not stand around us; do not guard from us the dakṣiṇā that we are begging. Let Savitṛ and the giver extend to us — we make obeisance to craving and to non-prosperity.

7.9.2 The person whom, O Arāti, you place in front as one who despoils all around — we make obeisance to you on his account; do not confound the acquisition belonging to me.

7.9.3 He whom today we harness with mind and with heart — O Arāti, do not thwart him for us, him who is willing to give, O all-despoiling one.

7.9.4 May the god-wrought acquisition prosper for us by day and by night. We follow after Arāti — obeisance be to Arāti.

7.9.5 And you, naked and roaming as one who brings sleep, you pursue people — O Arāti, thwarting the mind and the intention of a person.

7.9.6 Go far away, O Non-prosperer; we deflect your weapon. Pursue him whom we hate — appear as a maiden, garlanded and wearing golden ornaments.

7.9.7 Obeisance be to you, O Non-prosperer; do not place me in front. I know you, O Arāti — winking, goading, denouncing mortals above other mortals.

7.9.8 Do not thwart our acquisition, do not thwart our speech; let the mighty pair Indra and Agni apportion goods to us. May all who are willing to give today be pleased to resist Arāti.

7.9.9 Going our way, we call upon Savitṛ, Anumati, and Bhaga. May I speak a well-beloved, honeyed speech in the divine invocations of the gods.

7.9.10 That which I beg with the tongue of the mongoose and with lips as its lid — may Śraddhā find that today, given by the tawny Soma.

7.10.1 Let the god Kuṣṭha, the protector, come hither from beyond the Himavat, destroying all fever and all sorcery-born afflictions.

7.10.2 Three are thy names, O Kuṣṭha: Naghamāra, Naghāriṣa, Naghāyus — may no man of this sort come to harm. On behalf of him for whom I proclaim thee, evening and morning, and also by day.

7.10.3 Jīvalā by name is thy mother, Jīvanta by name is thy father, Māriṣā by name is thy sister — [and so may no man perish].

7.10.4 Thou art the highest among plants, as the bull among cattle, as the tiger among beasts of prey — may no man of this sort come to harm, on behalf of him for whom I proclaim thee, evening and morning, and also by day.

7.10.5 Born thrice from the Śāmbu-spirits of the mountains, thrice from the Ādityas, thrice born from the Viśvedevas — that Kuṣṭha, the universal remedy, stands together with Soma, destroying all fever and all sorcery-born afflictions.

7.10.6 The aśvattha tree is the seat of the gods in the third heaven from here; there is the fount of the immortal nectar — from there Kuṣṭha was born. He [is the universal remedy].

7.10.7 A golden boat, bound with golden mooring-ropes, coursed through the sky [bearing Kuṣṭha thence].

7.10.8 Where the boat alights, where is the summit of the Himavat — there is the fount of the immortal nectar; from there Kuṣṭha was born. That Kuṣṭha, the universal remedy, stands together with Soma, destroying all fever and all sorcery-born afflictions.

7.10.9 Thee whom the ancient Aikṣvāka knew, thee whom the Kāśya knew, O Kuṣṭha, whom the Śāvasa knew, whom the Mātsya knew — by that [knowledge] thou art the universal remedy.

7.10.10 The headache, the tertian fever, the sadandir, and whatever is the annual fever — drive away downward the takman of every variety, of all-pervading power.

7.11.1 The mountains whose backs are Soma, the waters that lie spread open, the wind, Parjanya, and Agni — they have appeased the flesh-devouring demon.

7.11.2 That which strikes down whatever moves or is still, whatever is about to rise up, whatever creeps, and the ten-month embryo — that we drive away from here.

7.11.3 If the Apsarasas strike, if the Gandharvas of the household strike, the flesh-devourers, the foolish-deity-followers — those we drive away from here.

7.11.4 That which mounts thy thighs, lapping thy blood — the raw-flesh-eating, flesh-devouring enemies — those we drive away from here.

7.11.5 That which causes thy hips to fail, which lies between husband and wife at rest, that which licks within the womb — that we drive away from here.

7.11.6 That which, having bewildered thee with the darkness of sleep, falls upon thee, that which desires to devour thy progeny — that [we drive away from here].

7.11.7 That which, assuming the likeness of thy husband, falls upon thee as a lover — that niggard, that blind wretched sinner — that we drive away from here.

7.11.8 Ha, hai! O crooked one, O bald one, O hidden-eared one, O great-snouted one — with the sharp weapon of Indra we destroy thee.

7.11.9 Homage to Taṇḍa, homage to Kusuma, homage to Pratipāva, homage to Kaḥsvadhaya; homage to thee, O Nirṛti, all-desirable one — may she of all forms nourish this man to old age.

7.11.10 As far as the sky extends, as far as the earth, as far as the sun courses round — for that long, O fierce Gulgulu, guard me on all sides from every quarter.

7.12.1 We address the Pāṭā plant, sole queen, of single vow, dwelling in one place, of single mark — the expeller of rivals — for the sake of victory.

7.12.2 O Pāṭā, sole queen, of single vow, dwelling in one place, of single mark — neither the rival wife born of the mountain nor the one from outside has overcome thee.

7.12.3 I am higher than those above, I rise above those below; may my rival wife sink downward, lower than those who are lowest.

7.12.4 The sun does not wither the skin of the Saindhava flower; with thee, O Pāṭā, who dost not fade, I take the radiance from my rival wife.

7.12.5 Not merely Pāṭā art thou, O Pāṭā — thou art the maker of good fortune; place the boon of Bhaga upon us, O Pāṭā, and moreover make me the chief wife.

7.12.6 Inasmuch as thou, O Pāṭā, dost exalt thyself upon the tree, wave-borne by the wind, standing forward in victory, thy name is indeed Saṃjayā — the all-conquering one.

7.12.7 Speak forth with loud voice to the Pāṭā, whose leaves face upward, the auspicious, the overwhelming, the powerful — the expeller of rivals.

7.12.8 Indra spread out the Pāṭā for the purpose of smiting the Asuras; with her may I overcome my rival wife, as great Indra overcame the Dānavas.

7.12.9 Pāṭā bears a golden goad, hook-tipped; with it I strip away the radiance of my rival wife, so that it may be mine.

7.12.10 I dig up this plant, the most powerful of creeping herbs, by which one represses the rival wife and makes the husband hers alone.

7.13.1 Of those whose howling from afar we hear, moving separately like the wind — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.2 Those who roam in front together with the rays of the sun — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.3 Those who follow the wind through the mid-air below the sky — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.4 Those whose golden swing is fastened in heaven, in the mid-air — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.5 Those who dance along the golden couches in the mid-air — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.6 Those who fly on wind-chariots, supine, striking with their feet — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.7 Those who creep about a tree, with sidelong eyes, chattering and clamorous — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.8 Those who assemble at the crossroads, disheveled, dwelling amid rags — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.9 Those whose golden home is secretly hidden in sandbank pools — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.10 Those who mount upon elevated places like kinswomen with lotus-flowers — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.11 Those who plunge headlong into rivers, clinging together like maidens — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.12 Those who wade into fords, hissing like inviolable cows — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.13 Those who rise up out of the ocean, uttering loud cries, chattering and clamorous — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.13.14 Those who go from person to person desiring many by the myriad — of those dog-companied ones, Indra has cut off the head.

7.14.1 Agni is long-lived; long-lived is he together with the forest-trees. May he make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.2 Vāyu is long-lived; long-lived is he together with the mid-air. May he make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.3 Sūrya is long-lived; long-lived is he together with the sky. May he make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.4 Candra is long-lived; long-lived is he together with the asterisms. May he make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.5 Soma is long-lived; long-lived is he together with the plants. May he make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.6 The sacrifice is long-lived; long-lived is it together with the sacrificial fees. May it make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.7 The ocean is long-lived; long-lived is it together with the rivers. May it make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.8 Brahman is replete with long life; long-lived is it together with brahma-students. May it make me replete with long life and make this one long-lived.

7.14.9 Indra is long-lived; long-lived is he together with heroic power. May he make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.10 The gods are long-lived; long-lived are they together with immortality. May they make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.14.11 Prajāpati is long-lived; long-lived is he together with progeny. May he make me long-lived and make this one long-lived.

7.15.1 May the sacrificial gift (dakṣiṇā) protect me from the right; may the dakṣiṇā protect me from the left. May it protect me from behind, from whatever shaft the world may discharge.

7.15.2 O Paśupati, lord of cattle, having given two-footed and four-footed animals, giving the dakṣiṇā that possesses the very self, giving life-breath — breathe on!

7.15.3 The dakṣiṇā that you, with faith, give on behalf of a brahmin — may that carry you across from disease (yakṣman), from the scorching heat of fire, from the grief of divine affliction.

7.15.4 You give this dakṣiṇā; may it not be raw for you. We pluck out for you the sharp diseases, the yakṣman. Knocking down the ear-ache and all hostilities, may all diseases withdraw together.

7.15.5 With food one wins life-breath; with clothing one wards off disease (yakṣman). One who gives gold, a horse, a cow makes of the dakṣiṇā an armor.

7.15.6 A turban given as dakṣiṇā — may it protect you from head-ailment; a garment — from bodily disease; a shining bright gold ornament given as dakṣiṇā — from blindness of the eye, from affliction of the ear, from deafness.

7.15.7 A pillow given as dakṣiṇā — may it protect you from neck-ailments; beads from the flesh-eating yakṣman; an ointment from disease of the limbs; food from internal intestinal disease.

7.15.8 Sandals given as dakṣiṇā — may they protect the ailing foot from disease of the foot from below the sole. A staff given as dakṣiṇā — may it protect you on all sides from the serpent, as you go forth to the south, on the right.

7.15.9 Presenting the dakṣiṇā with good-will, receiving together the dakṣiṇā as food and strength, we turn to the stream of Bhaga for our protection.

7.15.10 Of a thousand limbs, a hundred are the lights of this sacrifice; the dakṣiṇā is its fulfiller, immortal, celestial. May the all-formed dakṣiṇā come to us; we receive her as one who brings no harm.

7.16.1 May Agni with the Vasus guard me from the east. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.2 May Vāyu together with the Atmosphere guard me from that direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.3 May Soma with the Rudras guard me from the southern direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.4 May Varuṇa with the Ādityas guard me from that direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.5 May Sūrya together with Heaven-and-Earth guard me from the western direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.6 May the Waters rich in healing herbs guard me from that direction. Upon them I step forward; upon them I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May they protect me, may they keep me safe; to them I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.7 May Viśvakarmā with the Seven Seers guard me from the northern direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.8 May Indra, attended by the Maruts, guard me from that direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.9 May Prajāpati, endowed with procreative power together with the steadfast ground, guard me from the fixed (nadir) direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.16.10 May Bṛhaspati with all the gods guard me from the upward direction. Upon that I step forward; upon that I rest; into that stronghold I enter. May he protect me, may he keep me safe; to him I surrender myself — svāhā!

7.17.1 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from the eastern direction reach Agni together with the Vasus.

7.17.2 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from that direction reach Vāyu together with the Atmosphere.

7.17.3 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from the southern direction reach Soma together with the Rudras.

7.17.4 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from that direction reach Varuṇa together with the Ādityas.

7.17.5 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from the western direction reach Sūrya together with Heaven-and-Earth.

7.17.6 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from that direction reach the Waters rich in healing herbs.

7.17.7 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from the northern direction reach Viśvakarman together with the Seven Seers.

7.17.8 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from that direction reach Indra together with the Maruts.

7.17.9 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from the fixed (nadir) direction reach Prajāpati endowed with procreative power.

7.17.10 May those who are malicious towards you and would assail you from the upward direction reach Bṛhaspati together with all the gods.

7.18.1 With vaikaṅkata wood as kindling, carry the clarified butter to the gods. O Agni, gladden them here; may they all come to my call.

7.18.2 O Indra, come to my call; hear what I am about to do. May these ati-sara charms consecrated to Indra bend their intentions toward me. Through them may we achieve heroic power, O Jātavedas, O master of bodies.

7.18.3 Whatever that impious one over there, O gods, is plotting to do — may Agni not carry his oblation; may the gods not go to his call. Come instead to my call alone.

7.18.4 Run forward, O ati-sara charms, you who are lords of all strength. Cut down that one's life-force, together with Indra as your ally.

7.18.5 Having surged forward, O ati-sara charms, strike him with Indra's might. Crush him as a wolf crushes a sheep. From that point let him not be released alive; bind tight the breath of this one.

7.18.6 Whatever counter-charms (pratisara) that man has made or may yet make — turn them back against himself, O Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, so that he may be crushed, that man.

7.18.7 That brahmin whom those men have installed in front for their own support — him I deliver beneath the foot of Indra for Death; let the flesh-eating one silence him.

7.18.8 If, having gone before, they have fashioned divine strongholds as armor, have fashioned body-guards and all-round protective shields — render all of that powerless.

7.18.9 Here, O Indra, slayer of Vṛtra, pierce him fiercely in his vital spot. Here indeed stand over him, O Śakra; I am your ally. We take hold of you, O Indra; may we be in your good grace.

7.18.10 Just as Indra, having obtained the formal utterance, placed him beneath his foot — so I make that one inferior for all ages to come.

7.19.1 By birth thou art of the Āṅgirasa lineage — so they call thee, O lord of the forest. Do thou, the Pīlu tree, drive off the rākṣasas together with Indra the ally.

7.19.2 Drive away the rākṣasas, drive away those that prowl about; O Pīlu, drive away the piśācas, the flesh-devouring, the ill-omened ones.

7.19.3 She of whom they speak — whose fruit-cluster is bitter, pungent, and hidden away — to that golden-haired one, Arāti, we pay homage.

7.19.4 She who, vast and of great measure, has pervaded all the quarters of space — to that golden-haired one, Arāti, we pay homage.

7.19.5 Whoever licks at thy womb, the devourer of eggs, the corrupter of embryos — may the Pīlu tree smite from here that miserly one who would take thy son.

7.19.6 When thou, O Pīlu of Āṅgirasa lineage, stood ripened, O lord of the forest — then they proclaimed Indra born, mighty Śakra, facing Bṛhaspati.

7.19.7 As thou didst press back the furrow while ripening, O lord of the forest — even so, O Pīlu tree, drive off the rākṣasas together with Indra the ally.

7.19.8 Whatever of a man's own self has been consumed by piśācas — the Pīlu tree restores it again, and he eats of thy berry.

7.19.9 They call thee Pīlu; they call thee the fat one; they also call thee lord of the forest. All thy names are auspicious — with them do thou guard us from distress.

7.19.10 The Pīlu — slayer of rākṣasas, slayer of Vṛtra, crusher of piśācas — born first among trees: thee I bind upon thee for long life.