Mythology & Folklore

Atharva Veda 4.20: A charm for the acquisition of superhuman powers of sight

by The Rishis of the Atharva Veda c. 1200–900 BCE (traditional; uncertain)

Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)

Mythology & Folklore

It sees in front, it sees behind, it sees afar away, it sees The sky, the firmament, and earth: all this, O Goddess, it beholds.

Through thee, O godlike Plant, may I behold all creatures that exist, Three several heavens, three several earths, and these six regions one by one.

The pupil, verily, art thou of that celestial Engle's eye.
On earth hast thou alighted as a weary woman seeks her couch.

The God who hath a thousand eyes give me this Plant in my right hand!
I look on every one therewith, each Sūdra and each Āryan man.

Make manifest the forms of things; hide not their essences from sight.
And, thou who hast a thousand eyes, look the Kimidins in the face.

Make me see Yātudhānas, make thou Yātudhānis visible.
Make me see all Pisāchas With this prayer, O Plant, I hold thee fast.

Thou art the sight of Kasyapa and of the hound who hath four eyes.
Make the Pisācha manifest as Sūrya when he rides at noon.

Kimidin, Yātudhāna from their hiding-places have I dragged.
I look on every one with this, Sūdra and Aryan man alike.

Make that Pisācha visible, the fiend who flies in middle air, The fiend who glides across the sky, and him who deems the earth his help.

MLA

Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 4.20: A charm for the acquisition of superhuman powers of sight.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/113/.

Chicago

Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 4.20: A charm for the acquisition of superhuman powers of sight.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/113/.

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