third verse; ⌊a like contradiction obtains as between the Anukr. and the comm. in the repeated passage, below, 27. 14, 15 (see the note); here, moreover, as noted above, the mss. of the Anukr. are at variance as to whether the hymn is to be reckoned as of 2 vss. or of 3⌋. The addition of bṛhatīgarbhā to the metrical definition is quite uncalled-for; ⌊doubtless because pāda b scans better as 8 syllables than as 9: no less uncalled-for is the addition of saptapadā, unless, dividing what follows the second avasāna into 3 pādas, we begin the seventh with an enclitic⌋.
⌊I suspect that our text consists of 6 pādas (8 + 8: ll + 11: 11 + 11 = 60, "atiçakvarī"), call them 1 vs. or 2, as you will. Pādas c and e and f have good triṣṭubh cadences; c is good triṣṭubh if we resolve indraagnī; so is e, with W's tiryák cā ’gnī́ r-; the presence of me in f is all that spoils f; and the absence of me after yachatām is all that spoils the cadence of d, if, substituting the grammatical equivalent, we pronounce açvínā ’bhítaḥ at the beginning.⌋
17. For protection: to various gods.
[Atharvan.—daçakam. pratyṛcam mantroktadevatyam. jāgatam: 5, 7, 10. atijagatī; 6. bhurij; 9. 5-p. atiçakvarī.]
⌊Prose.⌋ ⌊Not found in Pāipp.⌋ This hymn and the next are used, the comm. points out, in the same ceremony as 16, with other hymns, as detailed in Pariçiṣṭa 4. 4; both are also prescribed in Par. 19. 1 (see note to Kāuç. 140. 9), in a ceremony against danger from the various quarters. ⌊See introd. to next hymn.⌋ ⌊Note that the vss. of this hymn group themselves in 5 dyads (comm., paryāya-dvayas), one for each cardinal point and a fifth for the 'fixed and upward points'; and that those of h. 18 do likewise and are so grouped by the comm. also.⌋
Translated: Griffith, ii. 276.
1. Let Agni with the Vasus protect me on the east: in him I step, in him I take refuge (çri), to that stronghold I go forward; let him defend me, let him guard me; to him I commit myself: hail!
The comm. first understands and explains krame and çraye as nouns in the locative, qualified by tasmin! then he again makes them verbs, quoting from vs. 6 tāsu krame tāsu çraye, to support this understanding of them; no one less superficial and blundering could possibly suggest the former explanation, against the accent and the sense.
2. Let Vāyu with the atmosphere protect me from that quarter: in him I etc. etc.
3. Let Soma with the Rudras protect me from the southern quarter: in him I etc. etc.
4. Let Varuṇa with the Ādityas protect me from that quarter: in him I etc. etc.
The comm. quotes AÇS. ii. 11. 12 to show that elsewhere also Soma is associated with the Rudras and Varuṇa with the Ādityas.
5. Let the sun with heaven-and-earth protect me from the western quarter: in him I etc. etc.
6. Let the waters with (-mant) the herbs protect me from that quarter: in them I...; let them defend...; to them I etc. etc.
