Mythology & Folklore
Atharva Veda 4.37: A charm against Gandharvas and Apsarases
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
With thee, O Plant, in olden time Atharvans smote and slew the fiends.
Kasyapa smote with thee, with thee did Kanava and Agastya smite.
With thee we scare and drive away Gandharvas and Apsarases.
O Ajasringi, chase the fiends. Cause all to vanish with thy smell.
Let the Apsarases, puffed away, go to the river, to the ford,— Guggulū, Pīlā, Naladi, Aukshagandhi, Pramandini.
Ye have become attentive since the Apsarases have past away.
Where great trees are, Asvatthas and Nyagrodhas with their leafy crests, There where your swings are green and bright, and lutes and cymbals sound in tune, 'Ye have become attentive since the Apsarases have past away.
Hither hath come this one, the most effectual of herbs and plants.
Let Ajasringi penetrate, Arā4aki with sharpened horn.
From the Gandharva, dancing near, the lord of the Apsarases, Wearing the tuft of hair, I take all manhood and virility.
With those dread hundred iron spears, the darts of Indra, let it pierce.
The Blyxa-fed Gandharvas, those who bring no sacrificial gift.
With those dread hundred golden spears, the darts of Indra, let it pierce.
The Blyxa-fed Gandharvas, those who bring no sacrificial gift.
O Plant, be thou victorious, crush the Pisāchas, one and all, Blyxa-fed, shining in the floods, illumining the selfish ones.
Youthful, completely decked with hair, one monkey-like, one like a dog,— So the Gandharva, putting on a lovely look, pursues a dame.
Him with an efficacious charm we scare and cause to vanish hence.
Your wives are the Apsarases, and ye, Gandharvas, are their lords.
Run ye, immortal ones, away: forbear to interfere with men!
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 4.37: A charm against Gandharvas and Apsarases.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/129/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 4.37: A charm against Gandharvas and Apsarases.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/129/.
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- Atharva Veda 8.10: A glorification of the mystical abstraction Virāj
- Atharva Veda 19.69: A prayer or charm for long life