ATHARVA-VEDA-SAṀHITĀ
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
WITH A CRITICAL AND EXEGETICAL COMMENTARY.
Book I.
The first book is made up mostly of hymns of 4 verses each, and no other ground of its existence as a book needs to be sought. It contains 30 such hymns, but also one (34) of 5 verses, two (11 and 29) of 6 verses, one (7) of 7, and one (3) of 9. There are conjectural reasons to be given in more than one of these cases for the exceptional length. Hymns of 4 verses are also found in books vi. and vii. (12 in vi., and 11 in vii.), also 9 in xix. The whole book has been translated by Weber, Indische Studien, vol. iv. (1858), pages 393-430.
1. For the retention of sacred learning.
[Atharvan.—vācaspatyam. caturṛcam. ānuṣṭubham: 4. 4-p. virāḍ urobṛhatī.]
The hymn is found also near the beginning of Pāipp. i. MS. (iv. 12. 1 end) has the first two verses. It is called in Kāuç. (7. 8; 139. 10) triṣaptīya, from its second word; but it is further styled (as prescribed in 7. 8) briefly pūrva 'first,' and generally quoted by that name. It is used in the ceremony for "production of wisdom" (medhājanana: 10. 1), and in those for the welfare of a Vedic student (11. 1); further, with various other passages, in that of entrance upon Vedic study (139. 10); and it is also referred to, in an obscure way (probably as representing the whole Veda of which it is the beginning), in a number of other rites with which it has no apparent connection (12. 10; 14. 1; 18. 19; 25. 4; 32. 28); finally (13. 1, note), it is reckoned as belonging to the varcasya gaṇa. And the comm. ⌊p. 5, end⌋ quotes it as used by a pariçiṣṭa (5. 3) in the puṣpabhiṣeka of a king. The Vāit. takes no notice of it.
Translated: Weber, iv. 393; Griffith, i. 1.
1. The thrice seven that go about, bearing all forms—let the lord of speech assign to me today their powers, [their] selves (tanū́).
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