Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/470

vi. 27- pratīkas in Knauer's Index.⌋ Hymns 27, 28, and 29 are employed together in Kāuç. (46. 7) against birds of ill omen (the comm. to AV. reads patatribhyas for patitebhyas of the edition of Kāuç.).

Translated: Florenz, 282 or 34; Griffith, i. 259; Bloomfield, 166, 474.

1. Seeking what, O gods, the sent dove, messenger of perdition, hath come hither, to it will we sing praises, make removal; weal be [it] to our bipeds, weal to our quadrupeds.

2. Propitious to us be the sent dove, harmless, O gods, the hawk (çakuná) [sent] to our house; for let the inspired (vípra) Agni enjoy our oblation, let the winged missile avoid us.

3. May the winged missile not harm us; it maketh its track on the hearth, in the fire-holder; propitious be it unto our kine and men; let not the dove, O gods, injure us here.

1. With the praise-verse (ṛ́ç) drive ye the dove forth (praṇódam); reveling in food (íṣ) we lead a cow about, breaking up tracks hard to go in; leaving us (our ?) sustenance shall it fly forth, swift-flying.