Kāṇḍa 15

15.1.1 From all the quarters it blows together, resonant with heaven; from thence may Mādhava protect us with sweetness. May Agni the god, hard to cross, undeceivable, guard this sovereign power and protect us.

15.1.2 May the Rathantara protect us with its sāman-chants, all-formed with the Gāyatrī metre. By the twelve-day sacrifice the praise-hymn of the days — may the ocean of speech fill this might.

15.1.3 Fierce the conquest of the quarters, sustainer of life, pure on the bright day of might. With Indra as overlord, may he fill us from thence; may he uphold in me this sovereign power from all sides.

15.1.4 The great kingship, bearing the warrior-power, with grown virility, adorned with the strength of the Triṣṭubh, of fierce heroism — may Indra guard this lustre with praises through the fifteenfold, together with the wind and the ocean.

15.1.5 The eastern quarter, sharing in glory, itself glorious; all the gods, the luminous one on the days of the rainy season — let this sovereign power be hard to cross, its might unconquered, overpowering, one that overpowers.

15.1.6 In the Vairūpa sāman I declare this — may I be able; with the Jagatī metre I make it enter among the clans. All the gods by the seventeenfold — this fierce sovereign power, accompanied by flood-waters.

15.1.7 May the supporting quarter uphold this sovereign power; among those who hope for refuge may the might be as Mitra. May Mitra and Varuṇa, discerning on the autumnal days, grant great shelter to this sovereign power.

15.1.8 In the Vairāja sāman rests my wisdom; the virile force and might gathered through the Anuṣṭubh. May Mitra and Varuṇa protect this sovereign power, Mitra-like, with moist-giving strength, unto overlordship.

15.1.9 The universal sovereign of the quarters, the powerful one whose sāmans are of might — may the season of winter fill us through its extension. May the Bṛhatī and Śakvarī, born from healing, and the ghee-bright one protect this sacrifice of ours.

15.1.10 The heavenly one of good milking, rich in milk for us — may the divine goddess of the quarters, the ghee-bright one, protect us. You are guardian before and behind; O Bṛhaspati, yoke the southward speech.

15.2.1 O mistress of existence in the twenty-one-fold praise, in the wind pervading all — sing out for us. May the direction rich in ghee, O Savitṛ, unto overlordship; the direction rich in milk be our delight.

15.2.2 The upward quarter, the delight of the directions, of the plants — may Savitṛ impel us through the year, through the day. Rich in the Paṅkti of sāmans and metres — may the one who has no born enemy be comfortable to us.

15.2.3 The pillar of heaven, the support of the earth, the mistress of this world, wife of Viṣṇu — may she who quickens, all-pervading, of good oblation, be comfortable to us in the lap of Aditi.

15.2.4 The firm quarter, wife of Viṣṇu, not terrible, mistress of this — she who was thought of through might: may Bṛhaspati, Mātariśvan, and Vāyu, the joining winds, sing out for us.

15.2.5 He who is our father, our begetter, our disposer, who engendered among the existent what truly exists — he, desiring wealth through blessing, has entered into the first covering, into the boon.

15.2.6 Turn toward us, O Earth, together with the sacrifice, together with milk. May Agni, urged onward, the drinker of the final share, descend.

15.2.7 Whatever is bright in thee, O Agni, whatever is pure, whatever is radiant, and whatever is fit for sacrifice — that we bring to the gods.

15.2.8 Refreshment and vigour — I take these hence from the womb of sacrifice, from the abode of the great one. May it enter into our cattle, into our offspring; I cast away languor, debility, and disease.

15.3.1 You are the prolonger of life, you are called the inspired medicine. Therefore, O Añjana, you are for our peace — made into that which brings well-being.

15.3.2 The jaundice that arises again and again, the splitting of limbs, the visalpaka fever — let the añjana drive out entirely your every disease from your limbs to the outside.

15.3.3 The añjana, born from the earth, auspicious, life-giving to man — may it produce what is not ruinous, swift as a chariot, free from sin.

15.3.4 O Prāṇa, protect breath; O breath, be gracious to the living. O Nirṛti, free us from the bonds of dissolution.

15.3.5 You are the womb of the Sindhu, the flower of lightnings. The wind is breath, the sun is sight, the milk of heaven.

15.3.6 O divine Añjana, O Traikakuda, protect me on all sides. Neither the external herbs nor the mountain ones surpass you.

15.3.7 He released the strong middle portion — the destroyer of demons, the disperser of disease. Driving away all diseases, destroying them, the overpowering one expelled them from here.

15.3.8 Much falsehood, O King Varuṇa, has a man spoken. From that, O you of a thousand powers, free us from transgression on every side.

15.3.9 What we have said — "O inviolable waters," "O Varuṇa" — from that, O you of a thousand powers, free us from transgression on every side.

15.3.10 May Mitra and Varuṇa follow after you, O Añjana. Having followed you far, may it grow again for enjoyment.

15.4.1 As one debt is discharged by another debt, carry the sorcery back to the house of its maker. O collyrium, O evil-hearted one of the eye-spell, shatter even the ribs.

15.4.2 Whatever ill-omen of evil dreams rests upon us, upon our cattle, or within our house — let that evil-hearted one who has gone home to his mother release it back to the dear one who sent it.

15.4.3 This mountain-born collyrium, grown mighty with the vigour and vitality of the waters, born from Agni upon Jātavedas — four-hero-bestowing — let it make all the directions and the sub-directions auspicious for you.

15.4.4 The collyrium that bestows four heroes is bound upon you; may all the directions be free from fear for you. Stand firm as the desirable Savitṛ stands; let these peoples bring tribute to you.

15.4.5 Apply one, fashion one amulet, bathe with one, drink one of them. May the four-hero-granting collyrium guard us from the four Nirṛtis, from the bonds of seizure.

15.4.6 May Agni guard him with the means sacred to Agni — for breath and outbreath, for life-span, for radiance, for vital force, for brilliance, for well-being, for good estate. Svāhā.

15.4.7 May Indra guard me with the means sacred to Indra — for breath and outbreath, for life-span, for radiance, for vital force, for brilliance, for well-being, for good estate. Svāhā.

15.4.8 May Soma guard me with the means sacred to Soma — for breath and outbreath, for life-span, for radiance, for vital force, for brilliance, for well-being, for good estate. Svāhā.

15.4.9 May Bhaga guard me with the means sacred to Bhaga — for breath and outbreath, for life-span, for radiance, for vital force, for brilliance, for well-being, for good estate. Svāhā.

15.4.10 May the Maruts guard me with their hosts — for breath and outbreath, for life-span, for radiance, for vital force, for brilliance, for well-being, for good estate. Svāhā.

15.5.1 O Agni, O god, giver of life-span, filling him with old age, ghee-faced and ghee-backed — drinking ghee and the lovely immortal essence of the cow, lead this man to old age as a father leads his son.

15.5.2 Bestow long life upon him, O Jātavedas; firmly place offspring in him, O Tvaṣṭṛ, from on high. Grant him the full swelling of riches, O Savitṛ — may this man of yours live a hundred autumns.

15.5.3 Establish this man in life-span and radiance, O Agni; make his seed dear, O Varuṇa, O King Mitra. Grant him shelter as a mother, O Aditi; may he be vigorous unto old age, O All-Gods.

15.5.4 May Agni further extend your life-span; may Soma further establish your nourishment. May Indra with the Maruts speak on your behalf; may Aditi together with the Ādityas grant you shelter.

15.5.5 The Revatī stars fashioned your pervasion; the Kṛttikās shaped you. The active ones stretched you out; the prayers, the Avāgnāyī constellations, commingled you in weaving.

15.5.6 A thousand threads they set along the borders; eighty threads the women spread in the middle, fearless. O divine women, for the deity Savitṛ as a garment — great indeed was the greatness of these goddesses.

15.5.7 Stand upon this stone; become firm as stone itself. Crush down those who wish harm; overpower those who array their forces against you.

15.5.8 With that by which the gods encompassed the divine Savitṛ — with that same means, O Bṛhaspati, encompass and establish this man for sovereignty.

15.5.9 Encompass this Indra and establish him for long life and great sovereignty — so that you may lead him to old age; long may he remain wakeful in sovereignty.

15.5.10 Encompass this Soma and establish him for long life and great hearing — so that you may lead him to old age; long may he remain wakeful in hearing.

15.6.1 Invest him, invest him with radiance; make death come only at old age, extend his life-span long. Bṛhaspati gave forth this garment to be put on by King Soma.

15.6.2 Go well to old age; put on the garment; be one who overcomes the curse of the young cows. Live a hundred autumns, brilliant in radiance; clothe yourself in the full swelling of riches.

15.6.3 Put on this garment all around for well-being; become one who protects against the curse of the sowers. Live a hundred autumns in fullness; lovely and living, may you distribute riches abundantly.

15.6.4 At every yoking we invoke the most fervent Indra; at every contest, as friends, we call him for aid.

15.6.5 Golden-hued, unaging, rich in heroes, dying only at old age — enter into your offspring thus. So has Agni declared; so too has Soma declared; so Bṛhaspati, Savitṛ, and Indra.

15.6.6 With this uppermost thread, the new garment fit for tying — preceding in course, manifold in form and ornament, with auspicious aspect, coeval in aging, rich in heroes — with this may the gods extend his life-span.

15.6.7 He whose skirt the Brāhmaṇas take hold of — loosening the waistband, extending his life-span — may the gods delight in that man's invocation of the gods; may well-being attend him always.

15.6.8 Take up a different garment; clothe yourself in it — I cut away this caul that clings to you. May the seers clothe you for old age; may Sūrya and Bhaga extend your life-span.

15.6.9 Him whose first garment I remove — may all the gods protect you, that one. May many brothers, well-grown, growing in prosperity, be born after you, O well-born one.

15.6.10 Unsmit, be unsmit; firm, unite with firmness. Crush down those who wish harm; overpower those who array their forces against you.

15.7.1 Mitra is the overseer of the earth. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.2 Varuṇa is the overseer of the waters. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.3 Vāyu is the overseer of the atmosphere. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.4 Sūrya is the overseer of the sky. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.5 Candramā is the overseer of the lunar mansions. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.6 Vasu is the overseer of the years. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.7 Saṃvatsara is the overseer of the seasons. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.8 Agni is the overseer of the forest lords. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.9 Indra is the overseer of actions. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.7.10 Savitā is the overseer of impulses and procreations. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.1 Viṣṇu is the overseer of the mountains. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.2 Tvaṣṭā is the overseer of forms. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.3 Rudra is the overseer of cattle. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.4 Soma is the overseer of the milky substances. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.5 Parjanya is the overseer of the plants. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.6 Samudra is the overseer of the rivers. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.7 Hiṃkāra is the overseer of the Sāmans. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.8 Sarasvatī is the overseer of speech. May she protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.9 Pūṣan is the overseer of the paths. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.8.10 Gāyatrī is the overseer of the metres. May she protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.9.1 Bṛhaspati is the overseer of the gods. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.9.2 Prajāpati is the overseer of creatures. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.9.3 Yama is the overseer of the ancestors. May he protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this bodily invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.9.4 The fathers — the most distant, the nearer, then the grandfather — may they all protect me in this sacred utterance, in this rite, in this priestly office, in this divine invocation, in this intention, in this blessing. Svāhā.

15.9.5 O gods of the gods — gods, super-gods among gods — pass beyond! The first among the second, the second among the third.

15.9.6 Three times eleven, the all-gods, the universal fires — great and mighty ones, do not seize me. May I be capable of this which I now perform. Svāhā.

15.10.1 His countenance becomes like that of a thunder-cloud when, clad in armour, he goes into the lap of battle. With body unpierced, conquer thou; may the greatness of the armour carry thee through.

15.10.2 With the bow let us win cattle; with the bow let us win contests; with the bow let us win fierce battles. May the bow turn the enemy's desire away; with the bow let us conquer all armies.

15.10.3 Hissing repeatedly, she draws close to the ear, embracing her dear friend. Like a woman she whispers to him stretched upon the bow — this bowstring carries him safe through the assembly of battle.

15.10.4 Moving together like a woman at the assembly, may she nourish him in her lap as a mother nourishes her son. These two bowstrings, quivering and in accord, shall pierce the foes and repel the enemies.

15.10.5 The father of many, his offspring are many; descending into battle he creates wide space. The quiver, its fastenings, and all the armies — bound upon the back, he conquers when sped forth.

15.10.6 Standing in the chariot, the skilled charioteer drives the horses forward wherever he desires. Marvel at the greatness of the reins; the reins hold the mind in check from behind.

15.10.7 Making fierce clamour, the bull-handed warriors, spurring on the horses together with the chariots, destroy the enemies by advancing upon them with their forelegs, crushing the foes without wavering.

15.10.8 "Chariot-bearer" is his oblation-name — there where his weapon is laid and his armour rests. Upon that prosperous chariot may we be seated, all our days gladdening our hearts.

15.10.9 Sweet in assembly are our forefathers, bestowers of vigour, taking refuge in difficulty, mighty and profound; of brilliant host, strong in arrows, irresistible, heroic in battle, broad-ranged, overcoming hordes.

15.10.10 Brahman-knowing forefathers, partakers of Soma — may Heaven and Earth be auspicious and free of distress for us. May Pūṣan, increaser of cosmic order, guard us from evil-going; protect us — let no evil-voiced one have power over us.

15.11.1 May Bṛhaspati guard us from behind and from above, from below, from the one who would do us harm. May Indra guard us from the front and from the midst; may he, the friend, make wide space for his friends.

15.11.2 The eagle's feather she wears; her tooth is the fawn; bound with cowhide sinew she flies forth when sped. Where men surge together and scatter — there may these arrows grant us shelter.

15.11.3 The eagle is her garment; clarified butter her mouth; mind her gold; the arrows are the winged ones. Let them not strike us as they swoop from yonder — sped hence, O Savitṛ, may they conquer.

15.11.4 Like a serpent with its coils it winds about the arm, warding off the bowstring's stroke. The hand-guard, knowing all the ways of movement, a man shall guard a man from death.

15.11.5 They strike the ridge of their backs; they smite upon their haunches. O horse-whip, urge them on; plant the horses firm in the battles.

15.11.6 Vigour gathered from Heaven and Earth, might assembled from the forest trees, the swelling power of the waters — brought round with cowhides: with oblation worship the chariot as Indra's thunderbolt.

15.11.7 Thou art Indra's thunderbolt, the battle-face of the Maruts, the womb of Mitra, the navel of Varuṇa. So, O divine chariot, enjoying this our gift of oblation, receive thou the offered portions.

15.11.8 O Forest Lord, be thou of firm limb; be our friend who carries us forward, possessed of good heroes. Bound with cowhides, O chariot, make thyself firm; may he who mounts thee conquer what is to be conquered.

15.11.9 Cause Earth and Heaven to resound; let the wide-spread world take note of thee, in many places. O war-drum, in unison with Indra and the gods, drive the enemies away — ever farther away.

15.11.10 Roar aloud; lay power and might into us; thunder forth, pressing back misfortunes. Drive away ill-omen, O war-drum, from hence; thou art the fist of Indra — make thyself strong.

15.12.1 May they conquer going forward; may they conquer here in this fearful fray; may the banner-bearing war-drum resound aloud. May our horse-winged men take flight together; O Indra, may our chariot-warriors conquer.

15.12.2 May Indra prepare the footing for the chariot; may those whom Maghavan has mounted be victorious. Like a cowherd he yokes together with cattle; born unhurt, the foremost, he who would conquer.

15.12.3 Like the thunder of Parjanya is the roar of its breath; like that of Indra and Agni its clamour rings out. A warrior of a thousand, winning a hundred, winning ten thousand — O chariot, be gracious here.

15.12.4 The wings of an eagle, the arms of a deer, the fist of Indra, the battle-face of the Maruts — bound with cowhides thou art; make thyself firm.

15.12.5 He lifts his arms together, stretching them as one; both his flanks he adorns, fearsome in his gleaming. He drives forth the bright mantle with his powers; he casts off the new garments from the mothers.

15.12.6 Fierce are thy rims, fierce are thy tires, fierce are the pins of the great chariot. The tongue-shaft and the bamboo reeds, thy bendings are fierce; Agni is the eye, the forward-runner of the chariot. Grinding down the non-allies, go thou against the foes.

15.12.7 The spokes and the hubs — that is thy strength, O axle; fierce are thy two boxes together with those who sit in them. The leather thongs of the pins, the box-sheaths, the standing place, the fastening, and thy seat — all are firm.

15.12.8 Strength is the stall; one limb is the fawn — stride forth; press on into the great realm. The reins have slain Vṛtra with this one; fierce is he with lordship and progeny.

15.12.9 Mount, O conquering one; with swiftness overcome the rivals; a warrior of a thousand, grinding down, go against the foes. Perform heroic deeds in the span of the back-ridge — thus: welcome this very chariot of his.

15.12.10 May the eight eyes of the seers bow in unison; may the illumined horses run straight. May the pillar-post support thee like a father — as it revolves, hold him in thy lap; may his life-span be extended.

15.12.11 Sewn by the seers, he is fastened in the chariot; born in the mind of the bow, keeper of the bow. These broad-middled ones, fashioned by the seers, are to be cast before the horses for their welfare — may the gods grant thee shelter through them.

15.13.1 We invoke Agni, the lords of the forest, the healing plants, and the creeping herbs; Indra, Bṛhaspati, and Sūrya — may they release us from distress.

15.13.2 We invoke the divine Savitṛ, Dhātṛ, and Pūṣan; Tvaṣṭṛ, the foremost, we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.13.3 We invoke the king Varuṇa, Mitra, Viṣṇu, and also Bhaga; Aṃśa and Vivasvat we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.13.4 We invoke the Gandharvas and the Apsarases, the twin Aśvins, and Brahmaṇaspati; the god whose name is Aryaman — may they release us from distress.

15.13.5 We invoke Vāta, Parjanya, the atmosphere, and the directions; all the quarters too we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.13.6 Day and night we invoke here; both Sūrya and Candramās; all the Ādityas we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.13.7 May Day and Night release me from the curse, and also Dawn; may the celestial Soma release me — he whom they call Candramās.

15.13.8 The five kingdoms of plants, with Soma as their chief, we proclaim — hemp, darbha-grass, barley, and sahas — may they release us from distress.

15.13.9 The seven domestic animals and whatever wild beasts roam the forest; the birds and the winged ones we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.13.10 We invoke here Bhava and Śarva, the fierce one and he who is lord of cattle; the arrows of theirs that we know of — may they release us from distress.

15.14.1 We invoke the sacrifice and the sacrificer, the ṛc-verses, the sāmans as healing powers; the yajus-formulas and the hotṛ-priests we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.14.2 We invoke the seasons and the lords of the seasons, the seasonal plants and the yearly ones; years, full years, and months — may they release us from distress.

15.14.3 We invoke the sky, the lunar mansions, the earth, the yakṣas, and the mountains; the oceans, the rivers, and the streams — may they release us from distress.

15.14.4 The seven seers we invoke here, the divine waters, and Prajāpati; the Fathers with Yama as their chief we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.14.5 All the gods we invoke here, true to their bonds, those who grow great through sacred order; together with all their consorts — may they release us from distress.

15.14.6 The Ādityas, the Rudras, the Vasus, the divine Atharvans among the gods; the Aṅgirases, those of inspired wisdom — may they release us from distress.

15.14.7 Those gods who dwell in heaven, and those who dwell in the atmosphere; those mighty ones who are established upon the earth — may they release us from distress.

15.14.8 These gods — rise up eastward from the south, you mighty ones from the east and from the north; all gods assembling together — may they release us from distress.

15.14.9 We invoke the arāyas, the rākṣasas, the serpents, and the puṇyajanas; the hundred and one deaths we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.14.10 The five divine directions and the twelve divine seasons; those who are the fangs of the year — may they always be benign to us.

15.14.11 We invoke the beings and the lord of beings and him who is master of all beings; all beings in their entirety we invoke — may they release us from distress.

15.15.1 As far as the sky extends, as far as the earth extends, as far as the sun moves around — so far do you, O potent plant, protect all around, O Arundhatī.

15.15.2 The uninjured one digs you up; for the sake of freedom from injury I dig you up. May all of our two-footed and four-footed creatures be without disease.

15.15.3 You are the sister of the gods; you are the companion who moves with the Maruts. Whatever living man you reach, that person shall not suffer harm.

15.15.4 Arundhatī is your name; you are in the third heaven from here. There is the stalk of immortality — by means of that we call to you.

15.15.5 Benign to you be the heart-pleasing waters; benign to you the spring-fed streams. Benign be Vāyu, benign Bṛhaspati; may Sūrya warm you with benevolence.

15.15.6 May Indra and Agni be benign to you; may Night be laid down in benevolence. Benign to you be the plants in the earth; benign too may the healing herbs be to you.

15.15.7 Among many plants I have found you, O potent herb; O Arundhatī, I have brought you hither — "may she bring us safely across" is what they say.

15.15.8 As if striving to reach a living man, may Arundhatī shine forth; this divinely luminous healing goddess cures even him who is afflicted by wind-sickness.

15.15.9 Sprinkle it upon us, do that — he shall indeed be free of disease. As healer of wind-sickness the divine Arundhatī has come.

15.15.10 Fear not — you shall not die; you shall indeed be free of disease. As healer of wind-sickness the divine Arundhatī has come.

15.16.1 The Arundhatī-plants speak together like cows going out to graze. Go to this afflicted one; make him free of ailment, free of ailment.

15.16.2 Do thou, O herb, make this man of mine one who dies only of old age. For thou art Arundhatī, queen of all herbs.

15.16.3 For thou art Trāyamāṇā, life-giving, full of potency. O Arundhatī, I have brought thee hither — 'from this one deliver him,' so I say.

15.16.4 For one pierced by a poisoned weapon, and for the evil and its evil venom — O Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison.

15.16.5 For one bitten by a snake and by that evil — [Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.16.6 For one struck down by a wind-demon and by that evil — [Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.16.7 And by Bhava — [for one struck down by that evil, Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.16.8 And by Śarva — [for one struck down by that evil, Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.16.9 And by Rudra — [for one struck down by that evil, Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.16.10 And for one struck down by Paśupati — [that evil, Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.17.1 And for one struck down by the fierce deity Ugra — [that evil, Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.17.2 And for one struck down by Mahādeva — [that evil, Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.17.3 And for one struck down by Īśāna, and for the evil and its evil venom — O Arundhatī, [thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.17.4 Whatever poison is in the earth, whatever poison is upon the plants — [Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.17.5 Whatever poison brahmins collect from herbs for a woman — [Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.17.6 Whatever sharp, keenly-virulent poison brahmins compound — [Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison].

15.17.7 He who has been struck down by death, by those through whom he is struck, he who has been bitten by sharp-fanged creatures — O Arundhatī, thou art the poison-destroyer of that poison.

15.17.8 Rouse thyself, rise up free of disease! Ascend to the highest realm. Thou dost live by a vessel of water — come hither to the city of the living.

15.18.1 O Apsarases, I split asunder your liver, I split asunder your urinary organ; the Caṇḍāla, the Arjuna, and the Vavṛtra — these of yours I split asunder.

15.18.2 The universal-folk Apsarases, the five-tribal, the great-golden-ornament, the crest-bearing — all those bubble-roaming spirits have been slain by Indra's thunderbolt.

15.18.3 With the base of the mortar, smite the blind-one, the dark-one — drive them away; strike down the calf-drinker.

15.18.4 From afar I saw these ones flying toward me, and from the sky too — those who bewitch the oblations of the gods; Indra smote the Apsarases.

15.18.5 Struck down, away with them from here — like female sorcerers driven from a threshing floor! Go to that man over there; away she goes to the ocean.

15.18.6 Let the celestial ones go to the sky; let the lake-dwellers go to the lake; whatever hiding-place belongs to Uluṅgula, to that very place let the Āsurī spirits go.

15.18.7 O Āskandikas, O Viskandikas, dance away in the direction of the far distance — together with the spotted dog.

15.18.8 The spotted one, the golden-giving, the celestial dog who roams everywhere — his name have I seized, for the sake of uninjured wholeness for this man.

15.18.9 Today, O Viraṇī, dance away in the direction of the far distance! I shall crush your dreadful backbones and your vertebrae too with sacred power.

15.18.10 Thirty-one horse-possessing ones, four Guṅguvas as well; ten propitious ones, ten Śṛtās, twenty-five long-haired ones — to these Uluṅgulukā Apsarases I have made obeisance.

15.19.1 Those [Apsarases] who swing upon the swing, clinging like mālavā creepers along the span — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.2 Those who move in the east together with the rays of the Sun — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.3 Those who move from below together with a cart and its canopy — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.4 Those who move from the west together with blind darkness — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.5 Those who move from the north together with rain and lightning — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.6 Those who gaze upward from below, with sidelong eye, of strange deeds — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.7 Those who look down from above, wearing blue [garments] with [their] markings visible — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.8 Those who roam through the atmosphere together with the wind and the storm-blast — [the rest of the verse is not preserved].

15.19.9 Those [who are] the four rivers.

15.20.1 From you, O Rudra, the most beneficent [remedies] are born; for you have become the bounteous one for us, for refreshment and healing. Drive away the disease-afflictions from us, drive away the anguish; chase far from us the diseases that spread in all directions.

15.20.2 You are the foremost of the gods, O Rudra, the most mighty of the mighty, O strong-armed one; rejoicing with a gracious mind you have become [what you are as] the son of Rudra.

15.20.3 Rouse up heroes for us with your medicines; may you, O bounteous lord accompanied by the Maruts, become wide [in your favour] for us. Carry us across to the far shore of distress in well-being; ward off all terrors from us.

15.20.4 You, O bull, are the greatest in sight [and in glory]; to this Rudra, the fierce and bountiful, the lord of heroes, we offer our prayer — that you may be auspicious to us for the biped and auspicious for the quadruped.

15.20.5 Where, O Rudra, is that hand of yours among these — the merciful, the healing, the cooling one — that removes the divine affliction?

15.20.6 Let the wasting disease, let Nirṛti go forth from us; let disease depart like an army put to rout. Away, away — leave behind your ancient haunts!

15.20.7 Worthy [of worship], you bear the strung bow; worthy, [you wear] the gleaming necklace of all forms. Worthy, you rule over all this moving [world]; nothing is far from you, nothing is beyond your reach — be present now; you behold all the earth on every side.

15.20.8 Homage to you, O lightning; homage to you, O thunder; homage to you, O thunderbolt, with which you hurl [destruction] in every direction.

15.20.9 O fierce king among the gods, may our people not be harmed; we destroy the rākṣasas and the disease-afflictions from us with the sacred word.

15.20.10 With the sacred word we destroy here whatever afflicts the limbs; the splinters of disease, and also the festering sores — these we lead away from here.

15.21.1 I lead you both, O Paśupati [and his consort], strengthening [you] with ghee and clarified butter. Him whom we hate and who hates us — his dwelling shall you two destroy.

15.21.2 Speak forth, O Paśupati [pair], on behalf of my biped and quadruped. Where the two who gave birth [have] struck, from there let my mother not be harmed.

15.21.3 The auspicious body that belongs to you two, O Rudra [pair]; the disease-inflicting forms that you two possess; the life-giving bodies that you two have — with those be merciful to us, you two.

15.21.4 The keepers of vows do not transgress their vows, speaking truth, quickening the sacred rites, [attending] the assemblies — he to whom these two worlds, both, are joined in mind and in heart.

15.21.5 He is Prajāpati of creatures; he duly protects and gives rain. He knows the jewel-medicine fetched from among the gods; with that be merciful to us, you two — for the sake of living, not of dying, and for the sake of unimpaired wholeness.

15.21.6 The virtuous ones sit united together for strength indeed. Whatever vital power belongs to them — it grows; the shining [firmament] shines.

15.21.7 Those two great shining [realms] of yours, in the atmosphere and also in heaven — through those two come to us, [keeping] all our heroes unharmed.

15.21.8 All our heroes, unharmed, have taken their stand in the shining [realm]; may the refreshing wealth in heaven — [that which goes] to those who cast [offerings] and that which is in the waters — come to us.

15.22.1 I call upon Indra and Agni, the foremost pair; I summon the beneficent Maruts; I summon all the gods — may they protect this oblation of mine.

15.22.2 You, O Agni, first won immortality; as a god, you first conquered divinity. Your heart was established in heaven — O Jātaveda, grant us those auspicious waters.

15.22.3 Fire moves within fire, having entered — this one is the son of the seers, the overlord. For him I offer oblation with ghee; let him not cut off his share among the gods.

15.22.4 O Jātaveda — you gods who dwell in heaven, who are on the earth, who are in the wide mid-air, who are within the mountains, the hills, and the waters — keep lightning away.

15.22.5 Make friendship by the directions, O Jātaveda; make friendship by the quarters, O wise guardian. Do not harm our crops with the celestial fire with which the Maruts go forth in rivalry.

15.22.6 Flashing and thundering, you advance like a bull, roaring loudly. Fearsome Parjanya, this is your chariot — may it grant us shelter.

15.22.7 The Maruts who stretch out lightning and thunderbolt from above the flood — may they let them drop harmlessly for the sake of our all-desirable crops.

15.22.8 To those Maruts who brandish lightning and thunderbolt from the mid-air, from the wind, and from heaven — homage be to them, to their might.

15.22.9 May they pass by, well-marshalled, gentle, and most auspicious, along their path. O Indra, do not strike down our barley — with this rite we make you our ally.

15.22.10 Darbha grass, foremost of plants, with a hundred stalks, was born. Dispatched by the gods, this bull has come for our well-being, in accord with the Maruts.

15.23.1 You are the anger of the bull-eyed Asura; thus does Karṇa Kauvidā know you in this manner. Do not overwhelm me for twelve days — I ward it off.

15.23.2 My sword is of sharp iron, well-whetted by Indra and Agni. With it I drive away the troublesome thing: "Let it not go against my crops" — "Let it not strike my grain."

15.23.3 O Maruts, protect us from the small hailstones of heaven. With a branch of the Udumbara tree — with the far-seeing one — we drive away the thunderbolt.

15.23.4 O Maruts, show us favor against the bright hailstones of heaven. With a branch of the Udumbara tree — with the far-seeing one — we drive away the thunderbolt.

15.23.5 Pass from whirlwind to whirlwind, from mountain over mountain. Confined as you are to the hill, shatter trees — not barley.

15.23.6 With a tether, with a binding, with a restraint made of barley-straw I bind you fast. Confined as you are to the ridge, shatter grass — not barley.

15.23.7 Your name is Uśatī; Salindā is your name. Go to another of these — go to the one we hate.

15.23.8 Follow the stream flowing away yonder, follow the current going away yonder, run down following what moves away. From here we drive you away with potent sacred utterance.

15.23.9 Become water, become moisture, become the water of waters. Having become smaller than the smallest, go now into the lowest darkness.

15.23.10 Be gentle, be auspicious, be more auspicious than auspicious. Having become more yielding than foam, approach this grain crop.

15.23.11 Homage to you, O lightning, O thunder. Homage to you, O Agni — we place your missile far off; do not harm our bipeds, do not harm our quadrupeds.

15.23.12 We repel you, O overpowering one, with power; we block you with power. This great Indra-born force, resting in heaven above the earth — step onto the unploughed ground; O Indra, do not strike our barley.

15.23.13 Those waters that rise up from the ocean, those that come from springs, from rivers — may the serpent born of lightning, dwelling within, drive the thunderbolt away from here.