Page:Atharva-Veda samhita.djvu/590

vii. 50- in Kāuç. (41. 13) with iv. 38 and vii. 109, in a rite for good luck in gambling; the dice, steeped (vāsita) in a liquid ⌊dadhi-madhu⌋, are cast on a place that has been smoothened for the purpose. *⌊The mss. seem to have kitava-dvaṁdhana-kāmas. Bloomfield suggests -bandhana-; Dr. Ryder, -dvaṁdva-dhana-; but, considering the relation of bādh with badh, W's -bādhana- seems best in accord with badhyāsam of 1 d.⌋

Translated: Ludwig, p. 455; Zimmer, p. 285 (5 verses); Grill, 71, 180; Henry, 18, 75; Griffith, i. 349; Bloomfield, 150, 548.—Muir, v. 429, may be consulted.—Whitney seems to have intended to rewrite the matter concerning this hymn.

1. As the thunderbolt always strikes the tree irresistibly, so may I today smite ⌊badh, vadh⌋ the gamblers irresistibly with the dice.

2. Of the quick, of the slow, of the people that cannot avoid it (?), let the fortune come together from all sides, my winnings in hand.

3. I praise Agni, who owns good things, with acts of homage; here, attached, may he divide (vi-ci) our winnings; I am borne forward as it were by booty-winning chariots; forward to the right may I further the praise of the Maruts.

4. May we, with thee as ally, conquer the troop (? vṛt) do thou help upward our side in every conflict; for us, O Indra, make thou wide space, easy-going; do thou break up the virilities of our foes, O bounteous one.

5. I have won of thee what is scored together (?); I have won also the check (?); as a wolf might shake a sheep, so I shake thy winnings.