Mythology & Folklore
Atharva Veda 1.19: A prayer for protection from arrows and for the punishment of enemies
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
Let not the piercers find us, nor let those who wound discover us.
O Indra, make the arrows fall, turned, far from us, to every side.
Turned from us let the arrows fall, those shot and those that will be shot.
Shafts of the Gods and shafts of men, strike and transfix mine enemies:
Whoever treateth us as foes, be he our own or strange to us, a kinsman or a foreigner, May Rudra with his arrows pierce and slay these enemies of mine.
The rival and non-rival, he who in his hatred curses us May all the deities injure him! My nearest, closest mail is prayer.
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 1.19: A prayer for protection from arrows and for the punishment of enemies.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/18/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 1.19: A prayer for protection from arrows and for the punishment of enemies.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/18/.
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More by The Rishis of the Atharva Veda
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- Atharva Veda 6.27: A charm to avert misfortune foreshown by the coming of a dove
- Atharva Veda 6.135: A priest's fulmination against an enemy
- Atharva Veda 7.103: The cry of an unemployed priest
- Atharva Veda 19.45: A curative and protective charm