Atharva Veda · 133 of 724

HYMN XXXVI

A charm against fiends, human enemies, and other pests 1. Endowed with true strength, let the Bull, Agni Vaisvānara, burn    them up.   Him who would pain and injure us, him who would treat us as    a foe. 2. Him who, unharmed, would injure us, and him who, harmed,    would do us harm,   I lay between the doubled fangs of Agni, of Vaisvānara. 3. Those who, what time the moon is dark, hunt with loud cry and    answering shout,   Flesh-eaters, others who would harm,—all these I overcome with    might. 4. I conquer the Pisāchas with my power, and take their wealth    away.   All who would injure us I slay. Let mine intention have success. 5. With Gods who flee with him, and match their rapid motion    with the Sun,   I with those animals who dwell in rivers and on hills am found. 6. I trouble the Pisāchas as the tiger plagues men rich in kine.   They, even as dogs when they have seen a lion, find no hiding-    place. 7. Naught with Pisāchas can I do, with thieves, with roamers of the    wood.   Pisāchas flee and vanish from each village as I enter it. 8. Into whatever village this mine awful power penetrates,   Thence the Pisāchas flee away, and plot no further mischief    there. 9. Those who enrage me with their prate, as flies torment an    elephant,   I deem unhappy creatures, like small insects troublesome to    man. 10. Destruction seize upon the man, as with a cord they hold a    horse,   The fool who is enraged with me! He is not rescued from the    noose.