Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/230

ii. 15- 5. As both truth and untruth do not fear etc. etc.

6. As both what is (bhūtá) and what is to be (bhávya) do not fear etc. etc.

1. O breath-and-expiration, protect me from death: hail (svā́hā)!

2. O heaven-and-earth, protect me by listening (úpaçruti): hail!

3. O sun, protect me by sight: hail!

4. O Agni Vāiçvānara, protect me with all the gods: hail!

5. O all-bearing one, protect me with all bearing (bháras): hail!

The sense is obscure; at xii. 1. 6 the epithet 'all-bearing' is, very properly, applied to the earth; but here the word is masculine. The comm. understands Agni to be meant (and this the Ppp. reading favors); but he relies for this solely on BAU. i. 4. 7