Atharva Veda · 417 of 724

HYMN CIX

A prayer for success in gambling 1. My homage to the strong, the brown, the sovran lord among    the dice!   Butter on Kali I bestow: may he be kind to one like me. 2. Bear butter to the Apsarases, O Agni, and to the Dice bear dust    and sand and water.   The Gods delight in both oblations, joying in sacrificial gifts    apportioned duly. 3. The Apsarases take pleasure in the banquet between the Sun and.    the libation-holder.   With butter let them fill my hands, and give me, to be my prey,    the man who plays against me. 4. Evil be mine opponent’s luck! Sprinkle thou butter over us.   Strike, as a tree with lightning flash, mine adversary in the game. 5. The God who found for us this wealth for gambling, to cast the    dice and count the winning number,   May he accept the sacrifice we offer, and with Gandharvas revel    in the banquet. 6. Fellow-inhabitants, such is your title, for Dice with looks of    power support dominion.   As such with offerings may we serve you, Indus! May we have    riches in our own possession. 7. As I invoke the Gods at need, as I have lived in chastity,   May these, when I have grasped the Dice, the brown, be kind to    one like me.