2. To Rudra, especially as Bhava and Çarva.
Found also in Pāipp. xvi.—*⌊Verses 9 and 28 are triṣṭubh, the remaining 29 being exceptions!⌋
⌊The pratīka coincides with that of xi. 6. 9, bhavāçarvā́v idám brūmaḥ, and that of iv. 28, bhávāçarvāu manvé vām: see introduction to the latter. The only quotation in Vāit. is at 29. 10, where the hymn accompanies an offering to Rudra: and it is accordingly reckoned to the rāudra gaṇa (note to Kāuç. 50. 13). Verse 31 is reckoned to the abhaya gaṇa (note to Kāuç. 16. 8). Further citations in Kāuç. are as follows: the hymn is used (129. 3) with an oblation in deprecating an evil omen; Dārīla understands it as meant at 28. 8 (see introd. to iv. 28); Keçava and the comm. hold that it is to be used with a dozen other hymns in a rite (50. 13-14) for safety on a business journey; Keçava (not the comm.) takes it to be intended with v. 6 at 51. 7 in a rite for the safety of the cattle.—According to Caland's interpretation of yuktayos at 50. 17, it is to be used (with vi. 128) in the rite there prescribed for keeping snakes etc. from house and field; but perhaps iii. 26 and 27 are rather intended (see my introduction to iii. 26).⌋
Translated: Muir, iv. 334; Ludwig, p. 549; Henry, 103, 139; Griffith, ii. 57; Bloomfield, 155, 618.—Cf. also Bergaigne-Henry, Manuel, p. 157; and von Schroeder, Tübinger Kaṭha-hss., p. 14-15, where the text corresponding to our verses 1-9 and 13 and 16 is given.
1. O Bhava-and-Çarva, be gracious; do not go against [us]; ye lords of beings, lords of cattle, homage to you! [the arrow] that is fitted, that is drawn, do not let fly; do not harm our bipeds nor quadrupeds.
The comm. first explains mā́ in a as if it were mā, object of abhí yātam, and then, alternatively, in its proper sense. ⌊For ā́yata, see note to vi. 65. 1.⌋
2. Make ye not bodies for the dog, the jackal, for the buzzards
(? alíklava), the vultures, and them that are black [and] greedy (aviṣyú); let thy flies, lord of cattle, let thy birds not find themselves at food.
'Bodies' (çarīra) must be taken here in the sense of 'dead bodies.' The accent of kártam is, though rather strange, not indefensible, as in the former of two parallel clauses; the comm. reads instead kartum. Atíklava is found only here and in 9. 9, and is rendered purely conjecturally; the comm. reads instead aviklabebhyas, and Ppp. ariklavebhyas. All the pada-mss. separate mā́vidanta at the end into mā́: avidanta; SPP., in his pada-text, makes, with the comm., the necessary emendation to vid-. The construction and sense of d are obscure and doubtful; Ppp. has a wholly different reading: viçase mā viçyantu.
3. Unto thy noise (? kránda), [thy] breath, and what pangs (? rópi) are thine, O Bhava—homage we pay to thee that art thousand-eyed, O Rudra, immortal one.
