Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/557

387 this marking the cattle's ears with marks resembling the genitals is a bit of symbolism most interesting to the student of folk-lore.⌋ The 'red' knife is doubtless of copper ⌊so also the comm.⌋. Ppp. reads lakṣmi in c (but lakṣma in vs. 3). MB. (i. 8. 7) has the first half-verse, with kṛtam for kṛdhi.

3. As the gods and Asuras made [it], as human beings also, so, O Açvins, make ye the mark, in order to thousand-fold prosperity.

1. Rise up (ut-çri), become abundant (bahú) with thine own greatness, O barley; ruin (mṛ) all receptacles; let not the bolt from heaven smite thee.

2. Where we appeal unto thee, the divine barley that listens, there (tát) rise up, like the sky; be unexhausted, like the ocean.

3. Unexhausted be thine attendants (? upasád), unexhausted thy heaps; thy bestowers be unexhausted; thy eaters be unexhausted.