Kāṇḍa 10

10.1.1 Alas, O mother, O sharpening-stone, O cow with hanging udder — you do not know what you desire; and what is wealth, that you do not consume.

10.1.2 The son who is yours, the spotted-armed one — him do thou render propitious; and also the granddaughter, the daughter's daughter; and do thou thyself become propitious.

10.1.3 O Asāmā, O Kuramā, O sister of the harsh one — O Arāti, O Nirṛti, O Amati, O Snuhitā.

10.1.4 Begone — the evil odor I give back to you; him who does not know you, him strike; eat away his very organ.

10.1.5 Consume his sons and brothers, tear asunder his cattle-stall; and he who is the nay-sayer among the living, and yon whose house lacks oblation — ill-named ones, go thither; depart, all of you, thither.

10.1.6 "Around the abodes" — this is one verse.

10.1.7 Her who roams within, who roams in the granary, and her who prowls about the cattle-stall — and those whom we behold in dreams — them from here we drive away.

10.1.8 She who, the blind one, brays like a she-ass and grunts like a sow — against her roll back the red-hot stone into her mouth.

10.1.9 The young man who should approach a woman reeking of evil odor — cutting off the foul smell from her, then drive her away to the farthest distance.

10.1.10 Those who are auspicious, those who are beneficent — both strength and milk together — may Agni Gārhapatya confine them in our house.

10.1.11 This for you has god Savitā ordained — this god Bṛhaspati; this final resting-place the Viśve Devāḥ have fixed for you.

10.1.12 The god Agni has gone round about, the disperser of Rakṣases and afflictions; checking all enemies, burning the Rakṣases forever.

10.1.13 They have led the cow around; they have circled around the fire; they have established glory among the gods — who shall dare to assail these?

10.2.1 In thee is virile power, in thee is radiant splendor; become thou the lord of sacred order. Be thou superior to thy rivals; thy prosperity is rich in milk.

10.2.2 The Aśvins have established this invocation as yours; your sovereignty is founded in heaven. Be thou long-lived, a slayer of rivals — be thou superior to those who hate thee.

10.2.3 Like a sharp-horned bull, like the ocean with inexhaustible waters — thou art of a thousand powers; thy two arms are lords of cattle.

10.2.4 The rival, the co-adversary, whoever as an enemy would strike thee down — taking away the prosperity of all of them, do thou, O fierce one, hold it wide apart.

10.2.5 Thou art the self-controlled, of true resolve, of true ordinance, the seeker of cattle. Traversing all the paths without loss, strip away the prosperity of thy rivals.

10.2.6 May tribute-offerings converge upon thee; may the prize be lavished upon thee. May Virāj, the divine sovereign, yield milk for thee; may the great peoples desire thee.

10.2.7 May the great sovereignty long for thee; thy brilliance has been placed in thy face. Be thou dear to the gods; in thee may the cattle be established.

10.2.8 In thee is virile power, in thee is splendor, in thee the sacrifice is established. May the gods come to thy invocation; be thou dear to Bṛhaspati.

10.2.9 Agni and Soma, the purifying ones, and the goddess Virāj, rich in milk — may they all tirelessly guard thy sovereignty, free from reproach.

10.2.10 As fire burns up the grass, as a flood breaks a river-bank — seize for thyself the prosperity of the rivals, as one plucks a cocoon from a lotus.

10.3.1 Seize the chariot as a horse does; carry off the man as a lion does; break through the reed-beds as an elephant does — strip away the prosperity of the rivals.

10.3.2 May Kaśyapa raise up for thee the sacred formulation praised by the gods — fully pleasing, without obstacle.

10.3.3 Bring hither this khadira-wood; and bring hither the fire-stick; bring also this palāśa-leaf; bring hither the strength of the draft-ox.

10.3.4 The fire-sticks gathered together by the gods — those Bṛhaspati has given to thee. Place them on the fire that is well kindled, visible to the sun.

10.3.5 By these be thou superior; strip away the prosperity of the rivals; and also take away their milk-yield.

10.3.6 The Ādityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, the seers, and those who are the makers of beings — prosperity and sovereign power and strength the gods have pressed out for thee.

10.3.7 Thou art Vasu, named Indra, long-lived for a hundred autumns. Like Indra among the gods, brilliant with fiery splendor, speak unto the peoples.

10.4.1 May this kingdom spread wide with cattle and horses; may this kingdom spread with food, with vitality, with sap. May the six broad regions bow together before it; O seven-priests, slay the enemies with one accord.

10.4.2 May these kings smite the enemies with arrows; may these kings slay others in the assembly of battle. May these kings overcome their armies — I the brahman-priest crush all the hostile forces.

10.4.3 May this kingdom be endowed with wisdom, with heroes, victorious and fierce; may this kingdom be glorious and resounding with wondrous clamour. Let others bring tribute to this kingdom; may I be obedient to the gods with oblation.

10.4.4 Whether there is battle among you, whether there is transgression — whether from a sin against the gods or from an ancestral guilt — whatever makes the milk-kine run dry because of it, on that account I pour oblation to the gods.

10.4.5 Whatever is cruel in your minds and in your speech — whether from a sin against the gods or from an ancestral guilt — sleep that away like a bad dream as waters cast off impurity; then come together rejoicing and of good mind.

10.4.6 Like the rush of waters, shatter the enemies; come together pressing in from every direction. United in a single vow, share out the wealth; may the gods, with your purohita, cause your kingdom to spread.

10.4.7 United is your kingdom, united are your minds; your cattle of every form face together in accord. For you who are thus united I am the brahman-priest; may the gods, united, come to this invocation of mine.

10.4.8 As waters, flowing together toward the ocean, carry prosperity, so, O gods, flowing together, carry prosperity to my kingdom.

10.4.9 Commingled is your kingdom with livestock, with cattle, with horses; commingled with food, with vitality, with sap. By me the brahman-priest, foremost among horses — may you ever be stronger, ever fierce.

10.4.10 Let there be many a young man, a crusher of foes, bold; many a youth resembling the likeness of his fathers. Speaking truth, attending the assembly, embracing friendship — may they reach old age in companionship.

10.4.11 Let the kṣatra and the splendour and the kingdom converge here; let the power of the senses, in accord with the livestock, gather here. Shaking off those who are hostile and those whom we hate, may this kingdom spread wide for all time.

10.4.12 May this kingdom be rich in arrows, rich in heroes, victorious and fierce; may this kingdom be rich in cattle, grown great in brahman power. May this kingdom, with its enemies slain, be victorious.

10.4.13 Overpowering rivals, crushing all — may this kingdom be firm and fierce. Overwhelming the enemy, conquering all assailants — by its onslaught has it vanquished every army.

10.5.1 With the amulet of the udumbara tree, for the wise man who desires prosperity — may Savitṛ grant me the thriving of all the cattle in the cowpen.

10.5.2 He who is our Agni Gārhapatya, who shall be the overlord of the cattle — may the udumbara amulet, that virile talisman, unite me with prosperity.

10.5.3 Rich in dung-fuel, fruit-bearing, the ancestral share and refreshment — in our home, by the radiance of the udumbara, may Dhātṛ bestow prosperity upon me.

10.5.4 Whatever foods and saps belong to the two-footed and the four-footed — I seize the abundance of all those, bearing the udumbara amulet.

10.5.5 I have grasped round about the prosperity of the livestock — of the four-footed, the two-footed, and whatever is grain. May Bṛhaspati and Savitṛ bestow upon me the milk of the cattle and the sap of the herbs.

10.5.6 May I be the overlord of the cattle; may the Lord of Prosperity place prosperity in me. May the udumbara amulet bestow wealth upon me.

10.5.7 Let the udumbara amulet come to me with offspring and with wealth. Quickened by Indra, may the amulet come to me together with vital lustre.

10.5.8 The divine amulet, slayer of rivals, wealth-winning for the winning of wealth — may it bestow the abundance of livestock and food and the thriving of the cattle.

10.5.9 As you, O tree-lord, were born in the beginning together with prosperity, so may Sarasvatī establish for me the thriving of wealth.

10.5.10 May Sarasvatī bring wealth to me, the flourishing of milk and grain; and may Sinīvālī likewise bring it, and this udumbara amulet too.

10.5.11 You are the overlord of amulets, a bull; in you the Lord of Prosperity engendered prosperity. In you are all these prizes and all these riches — O udumbara, you: overpower far from us the demon of niggardliness, the want of wisdom, and hunger.

10.5.12 You are the headman, consecrated to the office of headman — sprinkle me with vital lustre. You are radiance: hold radiance within me supremely. You are wealth: place wealth in me.

10.5.13 You are prosperity — anoint me thoroughly with prosperity; as the guardian of the household, make me the master of the house. O udumbara, you: bestow upon us wealth with all its heroes; I release you for the increase of riches.

10.5.14 This udumbara amulet, heroic, is bound on for the hero. May it make our acquisition sweet and honeyed, and may it bestow upon us wealth with all its heroes.

10.6.1 May we attain the favour of Bhaga the king, whom human beings invoke in many ways. He who acts in accordance with dharma wins Bhaga as his own — may He make us fortunate among the people.

10.6.2 Awakening to the east, may we behold the divine Dawn shining forth. The bright one facing toward us, bringing Bhaga together with wealth — may Aditi come to us bearing good fortune.

10.6.3 May Bhaga today, at dawn, bestow upon us favour and lead us here along the path of the gods. May auspicious benevolence come toward us; and then may our kindling-fire glow bright with Bhaga.

10.6.4 By Bhaga's impulsion, splendid in lustre, may I speak a speech directed by Sarasvatī, honeyed. May what is given by Bhaga come to me in abundance, so that radiant with lustre I may speak in the assembly.

10.6.5 May Bhaga protect me in cattle; may Bhaga protect me in grain. May Bhaga protect me in dice-play, in women; may Bhaga protect me with vital lustre.

10.6.6 May Bhaga protect me at evening; may Bhaga protect me through the night. May Bhaga come to me in the morning among those who lie down.

10.6.7 May Bhaga protect me at morning; may Bhaga protect me at midday. In the afternoon we wrap Bhaga around us like a garment.

10.6.8 Bhaga surpassing the gods, Bhaga surpassing men — from heaven, from earth, from the atmosphere I choose Bhaga. May He, O Agni, take delight in me; may He protect me with vital lustre.

10.6.9 Choosing Bhaga, they bear the bride to her home; proceeding onward they invoke Bhaga alone. May what is given by Bhaga come to me in abundance — all auspicious being, all benign riches.

10.6.10 With Bhaga we have come together with the gods — He who encompasses all these worlds. He goes about bestowing riches in many ways; may He bestow upon us whatever is most excellent.

10.6.11 Vāyu the Bhaga, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Agni — may the mistress of the field be easily invocable for us. He of the golden eye, the far-seer, the man-surveyor — come to us, accompanied by all.

10.6.12 Arise, O divine Sūrya, together with good fortune; together with the prize-winning strength of the bull, together with the means of protection.

10.6.13 [Colophon:] "With the golden one" — thus the single verse.

10.7.1 May the bull guard thee with cattle; may the stallion guard thee with prizes of victory. May Vāyu guard thee with sacred formulas; may Indra guard thee with powers of might.

10.7.2 May Soma guard thee with healing herbs; may the Sun guard thee with the lunar mansions. May the Moon guard thee with exhilarating draughts; may Vāta, the slayer of Vṛtra, protect thee with vital breath.

10.7.3 Three heavens, three earths, three atmospheres, four oceans — the waters call the threefold hymn-of-praise threefold; may they guard thee, threefold, with their threefold [powers].

10.7.4 Three vault-heavens, three oceans, three radiant [solar orbs], three [vault-dwelling] supporters; three Mātariśvans, three Suns — these guardians I arrange for thee.

10.7.5 With ghee I anoint thee thoroughly, O Agni, increasing thee with clarified butter. May the deceivers not harm the vital breath of Agni, of the Moon, of the Sun.

10.7.6 May deceivers not harm your in-breath, not your out-breath, not [your] vital heat. You brilliant gods, all-knowing ones, protect me with your divine [power].

10.7.7 With vital breath they unite Agni; Vāta is held together by vital breath. With vital breath the gods generated the Sun, who faces all directions.

10.7.8 Live with the life-span of those who have made long life; live long, do not die. Live by the vital breath of those endowed with self; do not come under the sway of Death.

10.7.9 The treasure laid away by the gods, which Indra found by the god-traveled paths — the waters guarded the gold with their threefold [power]; may they guard thee, threefold, with their threefold [powers].

10.7.10 The thirty-three deities, along with three heroic powers, took delight and guarded [them] within the waters. Whatever gold rests upon this Moon — by that may this one accomplish heroic deeds.

10.8.1 You gods who are eleven in heaven — you divine ones, take pleasure in this oblation.

10.8.2 You gods who are eleven in the atmosphere — [take pleasure in this oblation].

10.8.3 You gods who are eleven on the earth — you divine ones, take pleasure in this oblation.

10.8.4 Free of rivals before us; behind us fearlessness has been made. May Savitṛ [guard] me from the south; from the north may Śacī's lord [guard me].

10.8.5 May the Ādityas protect me from the sky; may the fires protect me from the earth. May Indra and Agni protect me from the front; may the Aśvins grant me shelter on both sides. May Jātavedas protect me from the oblique [directions]; may those who created beings be my armor on all sides.

10.9.1 Those fires that have entered into the waters — the scalding [fever], the mind-slayer, the excavating [pain], the consuming [fire], the defiler of the self, the defiler of the body — these I now drive away. I expel sin; I expel falsehood.

10.9.2 From [the power of] non-being and of evil being, I expel evil dreaming. May Vasiṣṭha and Arundhatī protect me; may the litter-grass of Prajāpati [and] the hair-locks of Bṛhaspati [guard me].

10.9.3 An undimmed eye; well-hearing ears; my in-breath and out-breath unimpaired. May my heart not forsake old age for me; may I suffer no harm in my midst.

10.9.4 May the waters cleanse me from wrong-doing, from the misdeeds we have committed. May we go forth purified, risen up, with our bodies [restored].

10.9.5 May Vaiśvānara purify us with his rays; may Vāta, the swift one, [purify us] with vital breath and with reverences. May Heaven-and-Earth, abounding in milk, upholding cosmic order, worthy of sacrifice, purify me.

10.9.6 May the Gārhapatya fires purify me; may the bold, god-summoning [fires] purify me. May the Śakvarī verses, borne on Soma's back, the purifying [streams], the swift ones, purify me.

10.9.7 Let him who is the Potṛ [priest] purify me, O god Savitṛ, with the great and loftiest [rites], even as [he purifies] the sky above.

10.9.8 May [Savitṛ] purify me with brahman-pressings; may he purify me with kingly pressings. A hundred purifying [filters] are spread out obliquely — with those may the god Savitṛ purify me.

10.9.9 May a hundred purifiers cleanse me, and a thousand waters at the flowing streams. I am purified as the waters [are pure], bright as Agni, clear-sighted as the Sun.

10.9.10 Those two wide-nostriled, life-drinking, Udumbara-hued messengers of Yama roam among the people — may those two grant back to us, for sight of the Sun, our vital breath here today, [bestowing] the auspicious.

10.10.1 We have reached the gods, we have reached the heavenly realm — we have reached the light, we have reached the light. You are Mahendra, Parameṣṭhin, Sumitrā, Viśvatomukha; may we never be sundered from your sight.

10.10.2 O you of wondrous greatness, rising today, smite down my rivals. Smite them by day with your rays; let Night slay them with darkness — may they go to the lowest darkness.

10.10.3 I turn in accordance with the course of Sūrya, I turn in accordance with the southward course. May I become radiant with the brilliance of Agni; may I become endowed with power through the might of Indra.

10.10.4 With the brilliance of Agni, with the might of Indra, with the splendor of Soma, with the efficacy of all the gods — I now wind round and bind away the luster, the radiance, the vital power, the life-breath, and the lifespan of that man, son of such a woman, from such a family.

10.10.5 (…) may he restrain his lifespan.

10.10.6 With the brilliance of Agni, with the might of Indra, with the splendor of Soma, with the efficacy of all the gods — I now take away and claim for myself the luster, the radiance, the vital power, the life-breath, and the lifespan of that man, son of such a woman, from such a family.

10.10.7 Having bound him in the noose of ill-fortune and entangled him with evil dreams, I place him within the gaping mouth of Death.

10.11.1 He who seeks to slay us — whether one of our own, or a stranger, or a rival kinsman — may Indra and Agni find his vital spots in his shoulders.

10.11.2 He who seeks to slay me when I am lying awake, and he who seeks to slay me when I am asleep — may Indra and Agni cut into his arms at the vital joints.

10.11.3 He who seeks to slay me while I am walking, while I am standing, or while I am sitting — may Indra and Agni discharge evil back upon him.

10.11.4 He who seeks to slay me with his eye, he who seeks to slay me with his mind, and he who seeks to slay me with his speech — may Indra and Agni carry away his sins from this place.

10.11.5 The piśāca, the yātudhāna, the flesh-devouring demon who seeks to slay me — may Indra and Agni pierce his head through.

10.11.6 He who seeks to slay me by means of sacred knowledge, by means of ascetic heat, and he who seeks to slay me by means of sacrifices — may Indra and Agni pierce him through and through in his heart.

10.11.7 He who seeks to slay my sacred power, my ascetic heat, my foremost strength — may Indra and Agni, both wrathful, shoot their envenomed arrows at him.

10.11.8 He who seeks to destroy my food, my vital sap, my foremost speech — may Indra and Agni hurl the śambaṭkāra curse at him.

10.11.9 He who seeks to destroy my lineage, my offspring, my sight, my hearing — may Indra and Agni find for him the divine weapon among the gods.

10.11.10 He who envies me my cattle, my horses, my men — may Indra and Agni find for him loss and ruin among the gods.

10.12.1 He who seeks to destroy my prosperity free from disease, my wealth, my lifespan — may Indra and Agni hurl the stone of heaven at him.

10.12.2 He who seeks to destroy my house, my assembly hall, my foremost glory — may Indra and Agni spread the sorcery-curse back through his own home.

10.12.3 He who wishes upon me death and ill-fortune by day and by night — may Indra and Agni burn his own self with their flames.

10.12.4 He who seeks to destroy my in-breath, my out-breath, my foremost diffused breath — may Indra and Agni smite his breath with the breath-slayer.

10.12.5 He who has oppressed me through divine beings, through serpents, through lightning, through sacred lore — with Agastya as ally, may Indra and Agni slay him.

10.12.6 Let Agni Vaiśvānara, the bull of true might, burn that one utterly — he who regards me with ill intent and he who, knowing, seeks to harm me.

10.12.7 He who would harm me though I have not harmed him, and he who seeks to harm the one who seeks to harm — I place him between the fangs of Agni Vaiśvānara.

10.12.8 Let Heaven-and-Earth scorch him from every side; let him be flung down upon the heated cauldron. Let him be slain by Nirṛti's noose — he who devises evil against us.

10.12.9 These rivals, of dreadful aspect, hurled back by the counter-blow — may Indra and Agni cut them apart; let not one of them survive.

10.12.10 O counter-blow, strike back, smite back my hateful rivals. Severing their out-breath from their in-breath, cast those who hate me downward.

10.12.11 O Agni, those who seek to slay me, O Agni, those who hate me, O Agni, those who oppress me — smite the one dearest to them.

10.12.12 This one who hated me I have struck down, wrapped in blind darkness. Fall upon this one, O Mṛtyu — let not the great-bellied one be released from you.

10.13.1 Let Dyāvāpṛthivī — Heaven-and-Earth — bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.2 Let the two Winds, the Purifying Breezes, bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.3 Let Indrāgnī — Indra-and-Agni — bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.4 Let Mitrāvaruṇā — Mitra-and-Varuṇa — bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.5 Let Bhavāśarvā — Bhava-and-Śarva — bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.6 Let the two Aśvins bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.7 Let the Maruts bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.8 Let the Pitṛs — the Ancestral Fathers — bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.9 Let Sūrya-and-Candramās — Sun and Moon — bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.13.10 Let Day-and-Night bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.1 Let the Gandharvas and Apsarasas bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.2 Let the Serpents and the Puṇyajanas bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.3 Let the Forest-Trees (Vanaspatayaḥ) bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.4 Let the offspring of forest-trees (Vānaspatyāḥ) bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.5 Let the healing Plants (Oṣadhayaḥ) bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.6 Let the creeping herbs (Vīrudhaḥ) bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.7 O Bṛhaspati, bind yourself together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.8 O Prajāpati, bind yourself together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.9 O Parameṣṭhin, bind yourself together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.14.10 Rise up, ye exalted ones; let all beings bind themselves together, conquering for my kingdom, hurling the missile against enemies.

10.15.1 Agni is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.2 Indra is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.3 Soma is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.4 Varuṇa is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.5 Vāyu is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.6 Tvaṣṭā is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.7 Dhātā is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.8 Savitā is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.9 Sūrya is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.15.10 Candramā — the Moon — is the guardian; may he protect this army. O executor, stand by; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.1 Day is the guardian — let it protect this army. O attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.2 Night is the guardian — let her protect this army. O female attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.3 Indrāṇī is the guardian — let her protect this army. O female attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.4 Varuṇānī is the guardian — let her protect this army. O female attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.5 Sinīvālī is the guardian — let her protect this army. O female attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.6 Samudra is the guardian — let him protect this army. O attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.7 Parjanya is the guardian — let him protect this army. O attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.8 Bṛhaspati is the guardian — let him protect this army. O attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.9 Prajāpati is the guardian — let him protect this army. O attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.10 Parameṣṭhin is the guardian — let him protect this army. O attendant, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.

10.16.11 The All-Gods are the guardians — let them protect this army. O attendants, follow and stand firm; may all heroes be mine.