Page:Atharva-Veda samhita volume 2.djvu/18

viii. 1- 9. Let not the dark and the brindled one, sent forth, [seize] thee, that are Yama's dogs, road-defenders; come thou hitherward; do not hesitate; stand not there with mind averted.

10. Do not follow that road; that is a frightful one—the one thou hast not gone before, that I speak of; to that darkness, O man, do not go forth; [there is] fear in the distance, safety for thee hitherward.

11. Let the fires that are within the waters defend thee; let that defend thee which human beings kindle; let Vāiçvānara, Jātavedas defend [thee]; let not [the fire] of heaven consume thee along with the lightning.

12. Let not the flesh-eating [fire] plot against thee; move far from the destroying (sáṁkasuka) one; let heaven defend, let earth defend thee; let both sun and moon defend thee; let the atmosphere defend from the gods' missile.

13. Let both the knower and the attender defend thee; let both the sleepless one and the unslumbering one defend thee; let both the guardian and the wakeful one protect thee.

14. Let these defend thee; let these guard thee; to these [be] homage! to these hail!

15. Let Vāyu, Indra, Dhātar, the preserving Savitar, assign thee unto converse with the living; let not breath, strength, leave thee; we call after thy life.

The pada-text has sam॰úde in a, and the translation follows this (cf. vy॰úṣi from root vas), as being on the whole probably the understanding of the text-makers; if they