Atharva Veda · 165 of 724

HYMN XXVIII

A charm to ensure general protection and prosperity 1. For lengthened life, to last through hundred autumns, they    equalize with nine the nine aspirations.   Three in gold, three in silver, three in iron by heat are stablished    in their several places. 2. May Agni, Sun, and Moon, and Earth, and Waters, Sky, Air,    the Quarters and the Points between them,   And Parts of Years accordant with the Seasons by this three-    threaded Amulet preserve me. 3. In three-threaded Charm rest triple fulness! Let Pūshan cover it    with milk and butter.   Here rest abundant store of food and people, may ample store    of cattle rest within it. 4. Enrich this charm, Ādityas, with your treasure; magnify this,    when magnified, O Agni.   Endow it with heroic strength, O Indra: therein be lodged a    triple power of increase. 5. With gold let Earth protect thee, and with iron, accordant, all-    sustaining Agni save thee!   And in accordance with the plants may silver, regarding thee    with favour, grant thee vigour. 6. This gold, born threefold at its first production, grew the one    thing that Agni loved most dearly: it fell away, one part of    injured Soma.   One part they call seed of the sapient Waters. This gold bring    thee long life when triply threaded! 7. Three lives of Jamadagni, thrice the vital force of Kasyapa,   Three sights of immortality, three lives have I prepared for thee. 8. When with the three-stringed charm came three strong eagles,    sharing the Sacred Syllable and mighty,   With immortality they drove off Mrityu, obscuring and conceal-    ing all distresses. 9. The golden guard thee from the sky, the silvern guard thee from    the air,   The iron guard thee from the earth! This man hath reached the    forts of Gods. 10. May these three castles of the Gods keep thee secure on every    side.   Endowed with strength, possessing these, be thou the master of    thy foes, 11. The God who first bound on in the beginning the deities’ im-    mortal golden castle,—   Him I salute with ten extended fingers. Blest be the three-    stringed charm I bind upon thee. 12. Aryaman be thy binder-on, and Pūshan and Brihaspati:   Whatever name the brood of day possess, therewith we fasten    thee. 13. With Seasons and with Lengths of Time, for vigour and exten-    ded life,   With all the splendour of the Sun we fasten thee about the neck. 14. Drawn forth from butter and with meath besprinkled, firm as    the earth, unshakable, triumphant.   Breaking down foes and casting them beneath me, be fastened    on me for exalted fortune!