Atharva Veda 18.4: A funeral hymn, composed partly of verses from the Rigveda

Rise to your mother, flames of Jātavedas! I send you up by paths which Fathers traverse.
With headlong speed the Oblation bearer bore our gifts: toil ye, and place the offerer where the righteous dwell.

The Seasons, Deities, form and order Worship, butter, cake, ladles, sacrificial weapons.
Tread thou God-travelled paths whereby the righteous, payers of sacrifices, go to Svarga.

Carefully look on Sacrifice's pathway whereon the Angirases, the righteous, travel.
By those same pathways go thou up to Svarga where the Ādityas take their fill of sweetness, There make thy home in the third vault of heaven,

Three eagles in the region's roar are standing high on heaven's ridge in their appointed station.
The worlds of Svarga shall, filled full of Amrit, yield food and power to him who sacrificeth.

Upabhrit stablished air, Juhū the heaven, Dhruva supported earth securely founded.
As meed, the Svarga worlds, o'erspread with fatness shall yield the sacrificer all his wishes.

Dhruvā, ascend thou earth the all sustainer: go thou, O Upa-bhrit, to air's mid-region.
Juhu, go skyward with the sacrificer; go, and with Sruva be thy calf beside thee drain all the swelling unreluctant quarters.

They ford the mighty rivers by the pathway which they who sacrifice, the righteous, travel.
There they gave room unto the sacrificer when they made regions and existing creatures.

The Angirases' pathway is the eastern Agni, the Ādityas' path-way is the Gārhapatya: The southward Agni is the way of Southerns.
To Agni's greatness whom the prayer divideth go powerful, un-scathed with all thy members.

Eastward let east fire happily consume thee, and westward happily the Gārhapatya.
Burn southern fire, thine armour and protection: from air's-mid-region from the north and centre, on all sides, Agni, guard thou him from horror.

Do ye, with your most kindly forms, O Agni, waft, turned to rapid steeds whose ribs bear burthens, The sacrificer to the world of Svarga where with the Gods they banquet and are joyful.

Happily from the rear burn this man, Agni, happily from before, above, and under.
One, triply parted, Jātavedas, place him happily in the world that holds the righteous.

Happily lit, let fires, each Jātavedas, seize on Prajāpati's appoint-ed victim.
Let them not cast it down while here they cook it.

Sacrifice, duly offered, comes preparing the sacrificer for the.
world of Svarga, Let all the fires, each Jatavedas, welcome Prajāpati's completely offered victim.
Let them not cast it down while here they cook it.

Fain to fly up from the sky's ridge to heaven, the worshipper hath mounted visible Agni.
Lucid from out the mist to him, the pious, gleams the God-travelled path that leads to Svarga.

On thy right hand let Indra be thy Brāhman, Brihaspati Adh-varyu Agni Hotar.
This ordered sacrifice goes offered thither whither presented gifts have gone aforetime.

Enriched with cake and milk here let the Charu rest.
World-makers, makers of the path we worship you of the Gods who here partake oblations.

Enriched with cake and curds, etc. (as in stanza 16).

Enriched with cake and drops, etc.

Enriched with cake and butter, etc.

Enriched with cake and flesh, etc.

Enriched with cake and food, etc.

Enriched with cake and mead, etc.

Enriched with cake and juice, etc.

Here, mixt with cake and water rest the Charu!
World-makers, makers of the path, we worship those Gods of you who here partake oblations.

Let these which Gods have held for thee, these beakers covered o'er with cake, Be full of sacred food for thee, distilling fatness, rich in mead.

Grains which for thee I scatter, mixt with Sesamum, as holy food.
May they for thee be excellent and potent. King Yama look on, them as thine with favour!

More immortality!

On all the earth, to heaven, the drop descended, on this place and on that which was before it.
I offer up, throughout the seven oblations, the drop which still to one same place is moving.

Those who observe men look on wealth as Vāyu with countless.
streams, and as light-finding Arka; Those drain out Guerdon sprung from seven mothers, who satis-fy and evermore give presents.

They for their weal drain out the cask, the beaker four-holed,.
the milch-cow Idā full of sweetness, Injure not, Agni, in the loftiest heaven Aditi heightening strength among the people.

On thee doth Savitar the God bestow this vesture for thy wear.
Clothe thee herein, and find meet robe in Yama's realm to cover thee.

The grains of corn have now become a cow, the Sesamum her calf.
He in the realm of Yama lives on her the inexhaustible.

Let these become thy milch-kine, man! supplying all thy heart's desires.
There, speckled, white, like-hued and various-coloured, with calves of Sesamum let them stand beside thee.

Let the green grains become thy white, and speckled, The dusky corns become thy ruddy milch-kine.
Let those with calves of Sesamum for ever yield strength to him and never flinch from milking.

I offer in Vaisvānara this oblation, thousandfold spring that pours a hundred steamlets.
This with a swelling flow supports the Father, supports grand-fathers and their sires before them.

Beside the spring with hundred, thousand currents, expanding on the summit of the water, Exhaustless, yielding strength, never reluctant, the Fathers with their sacred food are seated.

This pile of wood, collected, heaped together, regard it, O ye, kinsmen, and come near it.
To immortality this mortal goeth: prepare a home for him, all ye his kindred.

Be here, even here, acquiring wealth, here be thou thoughts here be thou strength.
Be stronger here in manly power, life-giver, never beaten back.

Giving the son and grandson satisfaction, let these the present Waters full of sweetness, Pouring forth food and Amrit for the Fathers, refresh both these and those, the Goddess Waters.

Waters, send Agni forward to the Fathers: let them accept the sacrifice I offer.
May they who follow Vigour that abideth there send us down wealth with full store of heroes.

Lover of butter, deathless, him, Oblation-bearer, they inflame.
He knoweth well the treasured stores gone to the Fathers, far away.

The mingled draught, the mess of rice, the flesh which I present to thee, May these be full of food for thee, distilling fatness, rich in sweets.

Grains which for thee I scatter, mixt with Sesamum as sacred food, May these for thee be excellent and potent. King Yama look on, them, as thine, with favour.

This is the ancient, this the recent pathway, by which thy sires of olden time departed.
They who first travelled it, and they who followed, convey thee to the world where dwell the righteous.

The pious call Sarasvati: they worship Sarasvati while sacrifice proceedeth.
The righteous doers of good deeds invoke her: Sarasvati send bliss to him who giveth!

Approaching on the south our solemn worship, the Fathers call-Sarasvati to hear them.
Sit on this holy grass and be ye joyful: give thou us strengthen-ing food that brings no sickness.

Sarasvati, who tamest with them, joying in hymns and food, O Goddess, with the Fathers, Here give the Sacrificer growth of riches, a portion, worth a thousand, of refreshment.

As Prithivī rests on earth, so do I seat thee. May the God Dhātar lengthen our existence.
For you may he who parts in turn find treasures, but let the Dead among the Fathers.

Depart ye two: wipe ye away whatever omens of evil fortune here have told you.
Go from this man, both Steers, to him who wills it: ye are my joys here by the giver's Fathers.

From a good quarter have we gained this guerdon, gift of this man, strength giving, plenteous milker.
Bringing in youth old age unto the living, may she bear these together to the Fathers.

I bring this clipped grass hither for the Fathers: grass living,.
higher, for the Gods I scatter.
Mount this, O man, as victim: let the Fathers recognize thee: when thou hast travelled yonder.

Set on this grass thou hast become a victim. Fathers shall know thee yonder when they meet thee.
Gather thy body, limb by limb, together: I by the power of prayer arrange thy members.

The royal Parna is the caldrons' cover: strength have we gained, force, power, and might, and vigour.
Bestowing length of life upon the living, for long existence through a hundred autumns.

The share of vigour which gave this man being, the stone won lordship over foods that nourish.
Hymn this with your oblations, Visvāmitras: may he, may Yama, lengthen our existence.

As the Five Races of mankind for Yama set apart a house.
Even so I set a house apart that greater numbers may be mine.

Take thou and wear this piece of gold, the gold thy father used to wear.
Wipe tenderly the right hand of thy sire who goes away to heaven.

To all, the living and the dead, all that are born, the worshipful.
Let the full brook of fatness run, o'erflowing, with stream of mead.

Far-seeing he flows on, the Bull, the Lord of hymns, promoter of the Sun, of Days, of Dawns, of Heaven.
Breath of the rivers he hath roared into the jars, and through his wisdom entered into Indra's heart.

Let thy bright smoke envelop thee, spread forth, O Bright One, in the sky.
For, Purifier, like the Sun thou shinest with thy radiant glow.

Indu is moving forth to Indra's destined place, and slights not as a friend the promise of his friend.
Thou, Soma, comest nigh as bridegroom meets the bride, reach-ing the beaker by a course of hundred paths.

Well have they eaten and rejoiced: their dear ones have they shaken off.
Sages, self-luminous, have praised: we who are youngest supplicate.

Come hither, Fathers, who deserve the Soma, by the deep path-ways which the Fathers travel.
Bestow upon us life and store of children, and favour us with increase of our riches.

Depart, O Fathers, ye who merit Soma, by the deep pathways which the Fathers travel; But in a month, rich in fair sons and heroes, come back into our homes to eat oblation.

If Agni Jātavedas, as he bore you hence to the Fathers' world, hath left one single.
Limb of your bodies, here do I restore it. Fathers, rejoice in heaven with all your members!

Meet for men's praises, Agni Jātavedas was sent as envoy when the day was closing.
Thou gavest to the Fathers with oblation. They ate; eat, God, our offered sacrifices.

Here hast thou left thy heart; O man, as sisters leave their little pet. Do thou, O earth, envelop him.

Bright be to thee those worlds where dwell the Fathers! I seat thee in that sphere which they inhabit.

Thou art the grass whereon our Fathers seat them.

Loosen, O Varuna, the bond that binds us; loosen the bond above, between, and under.
Then under thy protection, O Āditya, may we be sinless and restored to freedom.

From all those bonds, O Varuna, release us, wherewith a man is bound at length and cross-wise.
Then may we live a hundred autumn seasons guarded by thee, O King, by thee protected.

To Agni, bearer of oblation to the Manes, be Hail! and homage!

To Soma connected with the Fathers Hail! and homage!

To the Fathers connected with Soma Hail! and homage!

To Yama connected with the Fathers Hail! and homage!

To thee, O Great-grandfather, and those with thee be this cry of Hail

To thee, Great-grandfather, and to those with thee be this cry of Hail!

To thee, O Fathers, be this cry of Hail!

Hail to the Fathers who inhabit earth!

Hail to the Fathers who inhabit the firmament!

Hail to the Fathers who dwell in heaven!

Hail, Fathers, to your energy! Hail, Fathers, to your sap!

Hail Father; to your wrath! Hail, Fathers, to your ardour!

Hail, Fathers, to what is awful! Hail to what is terrible in you!'

Hail, Fathers, to all that is propitious! Hail to all that is plea-sant in you!

Homage to you Fathers! Hail to you, Fathers!

All Fathers who are here, the Fathers here are you: let then-follow you. May ye be the most excellent of these.

All living fathers who are here are we here: let them follow us.
May we be the most excellent of these.

Bright Agni, we will kindle thee, rich in thy splendour, fading.
not.
So that this glorious fuel may send forth to heaven its light for thee. Bring food to those who sing thy praise.

Within the waters runs the Moon, the strong-winged Eagle soars.
in heaven.
Ye Lightnings with your golden wheels, men find not your abid-ing-place. Hear this my call, O Heaven and Earth.