Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/190

i. 18- understood. He explains goṣedhā (p. go॰sedhā́m) as " going like a cow," and vilīḍha as a lock " on the edge of the forehead, licked as it were the wrong way"—or what is called a "cowlick" ⌊Skt. kākapakṣa.⌋ Both editions give at the beginning ríçyap-, instead of the true reading ṛ́çyap-, which the comm. (with three of SPP's mss.) has; the mss. bungle all the occurrences of this word. In part of our edition the ṁ is broken off from vṛ́ṣadatiṁ.

1. Let not the piercers find us, nor let the penetraters find [us]; far from us make the volleys (çaravyā̀) fly, dispersing, O Indra.

2. Dispersing from us let the shafts fly, those that are hurled and that are to be hurled; ye divine arrows of men (manuṣyà-), pierce my enemies.

3. Whether one of our own or whether a stranger, fellow or outsider, whoso assails (abhi-dās) us—let Rudra with a volley pierce those my enemies.

4. Whatever rival (sapátna), whatever non-rival, and whatever hater shall curse us, him let all the gods damage (dhūrv); incantation (bráhman) is my inner defense.