Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/327

157 sense the second time, but the third time simply prāṇinām. The introduction of "death" in the second half-verse suggests the interpretation (R.) that the deceased predecessor of the prince now to be consecrated is besought to give his sanction to the ceremony from the world of the departed (bhūtá). The comm. regards death as brought in in the character of dharmarāja, as he who requites good and evil deeds. TB. (in ii. 7. 15$1$) is the only other text that has this verse, reading in a carati práviṣṭaḥ (for páya ā́ dadhāti) and in c mṛtyāú: the variants are of a character to make us distrust the value of the matter as admitting any consistent interpretation. Ppp. reads in c sa te for tásya.

2. Go forward unto [it]; do not long (? ven) away, a stern (ugrá) corrector (cettár), rival-slayer; approach (ā-sthā), O increaser of friends; may the gods bless (adhi-brū) thee.

3. Him approaching all waited upon (pari-bhūṣ); clothing himself in fortune, he goes about (car), having own brightness; great is that name of the virile (vṛ́ṣan) Asura; having all forms, he approached immortal things.

4. A tiger, upon the tiger's [skin], do thou stride out unto the great quarters; let all the people (víças) want thee, the waters of heaven, rich in milk.

5. The waters of heaven that revel with milk, in the atmosphere or also on the earth—with the splendor of all those waters do I pour upon (abhi-sic) thee.