Religion
Atharva Veda 6.134: A priest's prayer for power to punish wrong-doers
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
This Thunderbolt shall take its fill of Order, scare life away and overthrow the kingdom.
Tear necks in pieces. rend napes asunder, even as the Lord of Might the neck of Vritra.
Down, down beneath the conquerors, let him not rise, concealed in earth, but lie down-smitten with the bolt.
Seek out the fierce oppressor, yea, strike only the oppressor dead.
Down on the fierce oppressor's head strike at full length, O Thunderbolt!
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 6.134: A priest's prayer for power to punish wrong-doers.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/296/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 6.134: A priest's prayer for power to punish wrong-doers.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/296/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by The Rishis of the Atharva Veda
- Atharva Veda 3.1: A prayer or charm for the defeat and destruction of enemies in battle
- Atharva Veda 6.10: A thanksgiving for life, hearing, and sight
- Atharva Veda 6.118: A prayer for pardon of cheating at play
- Atharva Veda 7.89: A prayer for purification and prosperity
- Atharva Veda 19.31: A charm to ensure general prosperity, accompanying self-investiture with an amulet of Udumbara