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424
Once more in Kaus. 46, 6 he who has a request to make, recites sts. 5-10 along with VII, 57, in order that his request shall not be refused. The hymn has been translated by Ludwig, Der Rigveda, III, 305; Grill 2, pp. 39, 145 ff.
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
Stanza 2.
a, b. purodhatsé, lit. 'dost make thy agent or purohita;' púrusha, 'servant, minister;' parirâpín, 'suggesting, prompting, advising;' cf. XII, 4, 51.
Stanza 5.
The sraddha is 'faith, religious zeal,' that makes the sacrificer liberal to the priests. Cf. Dârila to Kaus. 46, 6. It is the same sraddha which entered Nakiketas, Kath. Up. I, 2 ff., to such an extent that he desired to be given himself as sacrificial reward to his priests. This zeal is naturally bestowed by the brown soma, i.e. in the course of solemn sacrifice, and through the inspiration that comes from the hymns (Vâk Sarasvatî), sung while drinking the soma. The previous translations seem to me to miss the point wholly : Ludwig, 'den (anteil, den) ich verlange... den soll heute Sraddhâ finden.' But yám refers to the person supplicated, not to favours asked. Grill, 'wen ich angehe mit dem spruch der werd heut inne mein vertraun, und nehm den braunen soma hin.' Cf. also Zimmer, p. 272.
Stanza 6.
d. The Pet. Lex. suggests for this single occurrence of práti hary the meaning 'verschmähen, zurückweisen,' though the word ordinarily means 'delight in, long for.' The passage seems to contain the euphemistic insinuation that Arâti when sufficiently cajoled is favourable to generosity. Or, those who desire to be generous must curry favour with Arâti; otherwise she frustrates their intentions. Cf. I, 8, 2.
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Stanza 8.
Arâti is here connected with nightmare. Her appearance as a naked woman recalls the German 'alp,' or 'mahre'
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