________________
30
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
7. The ants devour thee, pea-hens hack thee to pieces. Yea, every one of you shall declare the poison of the sarkota powerless!
8. Thou (scorpion) that strikest with both, with mouth as well as tail, in thy mouth there is no poison : then what can there be in the receptacle in thy tail ?
VI, 16. Charm against ophthalmia. 1. O abayu, (and even if) thou art not âbayu, strong is thy juice, O âbayu! We eat a gruel, compounded of thee. · 2. Vihalha is thy father's name, Madâvatt thy mother's name. Thou art verily not such, as to have consumed thy own self.
3. O Tauvilika, do be quiet! This howling one has become quiet. O brown one, and brown-eared one, go away! Go out, О âla !
4. Alasâlâ thou art first, silañgalâlâ thou art the next, nilâgalasâlâ (thou art third ?)!
VI, 21. Charm to promote the growth of hair.
1. Of these three earths (our) earth verily is the highest. From the surface of these I have now plucked a remedy. .
2. Thou art the most excellent of remedies, the best of plants, as Soma (the moon) is the lord in the watches of the night, as Varuna (is king) among the gods.
3. O ye wealthy, irresistible (plants), ye do generously bestow benefits. And ye strengthen the hair, and, moreover, promote its increase.
Digitized by Google