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HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
XI, 4. Prâna, life or breath, personified as the
: supreme spirit. 1. Reverence to Prâna, to whom all this (universe) is subject, who has become the lord of the all, on whom the all is supported !
2. Reverence, O Prâna, to thy roaring (wind), reverence, O Prâna, to thy thunder, reverence, O Prâna, to thy lightning, reverence, O Prâna, to thy rain !
3. When Prâna calls aloud to the plants with his thunder, they are fecundated, they conceive, and then are produced abundant (plants).
4. When the season has arrived, and Prâna calls aloud to the plants, then everything rejoices, whatsoever is upon the earth.
5. When Prâna has watered the great earth with rain, then the beasts rejoice; (they think): 'strength, forsooth, we shall now obtain.'
6. When they had been watered by Prâna, the plants spake in concert: 'thou hast, forsooth, prolonged our life, thou hast made us all fragrant.'
7. Reverence be, O Prâna, to thee coming, reverence to thee going; reverence to thee standing, and reverence, too, to thee sitting !
8. Reverence be to thee, O Prâna, when thou breathest in (prânate), reverence when thou breathest out! Reverence be to thee when thou art turned away, reverence to thee when thou art turned hither : to thee, entire, reverence be here!
9. Of thy dear form, O Prâna, of thy very dear form, of the healing power that is thine, give unto us, that we may live!
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