Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/415

245 majority have ṛ́çy-, which is undoubtedly the true text, and should be restored in our edition. Three times, in this hymn (vss. 3, 5, 12), the Anukr. insists on regarding iva as dissyllabic, and therefore reckons the verses as bhurij.

4. Lead thou away the witchcraft back to the witchcraft-maker, grasping its hand; set it straight before (samakṣám) him, that it may smite the witchcraft-maker.

5. Be the witchcrafts for the witchcraft-maker, the curse for him that curses; like an easy chariot let the witchcraft roll back to the witchcraft-maker.

6. If woman, or if man, hath made witchcraft in order to evil, it we conduct unto him, like a horse by a horse-halter.

7. If either thou art god-made, or if made by man, thee, being such, do we lead back, with Indra as ally.

8. O Agni, overpowerer of fighters, overpower the fighters; we take the witchcraft back to the witchcraft-maker by a returner.

9. O practiced piercer (?), pierce him; whoever made [it], him do thou smite; we do not sharpen thee up to slay (vadhá) him who has not made [it].

10. Go as a son to a father; like a constrictor trampled on, bite; go, O witchcraft, back to the witchcraft-maker, as it were treading down [thy] bond.

11. Up, like a she-antelope (eṇī́), a she-elephant (? vāraṇī́), with leaping on, like a hind, let the witchcraft go to its maker.