Religion
Atharva Veda 3.12: A benediction on a newly built house
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
Here, even here I fix my firm-set dwelling; flowing with fatness may it stand in safety.
May we approach thee, House! with all our people, uncharmed and goodly men, and dwell within thee,
Even here, O House, stand thou on firm foundation, wealthy in horses, rich in kine and gladness.
Wealthy in nourishment. in milk and fatness, rise up for great felicity and fortune.
A spacious store, O House, art thou, full of clean corn and lofty-roofed.
Let the young calf and little boy approach thee, and milch-kine streaming homeward in the evening.
This House may Savitar and Vāyu stablish, Brihaspati who knows the way, and Indra.
May the moist Maruts sprinkle it with fatness, and may King Bhaga make our corn-land fruitful.
Queen of the home! thou, sheltering, kindly Goddess, wast sta-blished by the Gods in the beginning.
Clad in thy robe of grass be friendly-minded, and give us wealth with goodly men about us.
Thou Pole, in ordered fashion mount the pillar. Strong, shining forth afar, keep off our foemen.
House! let not those who dwell within thee suffer. Live we with all our men, a hundred autumns.
To this the tender boy hath come, to this the calf with all the beasts, To this crock of foaming drink, hither with jars of curdled milk.
Bring hitherward, O dame, the well-filled pitcher, the stream of molten butter blent with nectar.
Bedew these drinkers with a draught of Amrit.
May all our hopes' fulfilment guard this dwelling.
Water that kills Consumption, free from all Consumption, here I bring.
With Agni, the immortal one, I enter and possess the house.
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 3.12: A benediction on a newly built house.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/75/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 3.12: A benediction on a newly built house.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/75/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by The Rishis of the Atharva Veda
- Atharva Veda 3.20: A prayer for riches and general prosperity
- Atharva Veda 6.28: A charm to avert misfortune foreshown by the coming of a dove
- Atharva Veda 6.136: A charm to promote the growth of hair
- Atharva Veda 7.104: A prayer for prosperity
- Atharva Veda 19.46: A charm accompanying investiture with an amulet that ensures safety and victory