Atharva Veda · 166 of 724

HYMN XXIX

A charm for the destruction of malignant goblins 1. Made ready in the east drive forth, take notice of what is hap-    pening here, omniscient Agni!   Thou bringest medicine and healest sickness: through thee may    we win horses, kine, and people. 2. Accordant with all Gods, O Jātavedas Agni, perform this work    as we beseech thee,   That this defence of his may fall, whoever hath caused us pain,    whoever hath consumed us. 3. Unanimous, with all the Gods together, so do this thing O Agni   Jātavedas, that this defence of his may fall and fail him. 4. Pierce both his eyes, pierce thou the heart within him, crush    thou his teeth and cleave his tongue asunder.   Rend thou, most youthful Agni, that Pisācha whoso amid them    all of this hath eaten. 5. Whatever of his body hath been taken, plundered, borne off, or    eaten by Pisāchas,   This, Agni, knowing it, again bring hither! We give back flesh    and spirit to his body. 6. If some Pisācha in my food raw, ready, thoroughly cooked, or,    spotty, hath deceived me,   Let the Pisāchas with their lives and offspring atone for this,    and let this man be healthy. 7. If one hath cheated me in milk or porridge, in food from grain    or plants that need no culture.   Let the Pisāchas, etc. 8. If one, flesh eater, in a draught of water have wronged me lying    in the bed of goblins,   Let the Pisāchas, etc. 9. If one, flesh-eater, in the day or night-time have wronged me    lying in the bed of goblins,   Let the Pisāchas, etc. 10. O Agni Jātavedas, slay the bloody Pisācha, flesh-devourer, mind-    destroyer,   Strong Indra strike him with his bolt of thunder, courageous   Soma cut his head to pieces! 11. Thou, Agni, ever slayest Yātudhānas, the fiends have never con-    quered thee in battles.   Consume thou from the root the flesh-devourers, let none of    them escape thy heavenly weapon 12. Collect, O Jātavedas, what hath been removed and borne away.   Let this man’s members grow, let him swell like the tendril of a    plant. 13. Like as the Soma’s tendril, thus, O Jātavedas let him swell,   Let him live, Agni I Make him fat, free from consumption, full    of sap. 14. Here, Agni, is the fuel, here are logs that crush Pisāchas down.   O Jātavedas, willingly accept them and be pleased therewith. 15. Accept, O Agni, with thy flame the billets of Tārshtāgha wood.   Let the flesh-eater who would take the flesh of this man lose his    form.