Atharva Veda · 439 of 724

HYMN III

On the consecration of a newly built house 1. We loose the ties and fastenings of the house that holds all    precious things,   The bands of pillars and of stays, the ties of beams that form    the roof. 2. All-wealthy House! each knot and band, each cord that is    attached to thee   I with my spell untie, as erst Brihaspati disclosed the cave. 3. He drew them close, he pressed them fast, he made thy knotted.    bands secure:   With Indra’s help we loose them as a skilful Slaughterer severs    joints. 4. We loose the bands of thy bamboos, of bolts, of fastening, of    thatch,   We loose the ties of thy side-posts, O House that holdest all we    prize. 5. We loosen here the ties and bands of straw in bundles, and of    clamps,   Of all that compasses and binds the Lady Genius of the Home. 6. We loose the loops which men have bound within thee, loops    to tie and hold.   Be gracious, when erected, to our bodies, Lady of the Home. 7. Store-house of Soma, Agni’s hall, the ladies’ bower, the resi-    dence,   The seat of Gods art thou, O Goddess House. 8. We with our incantation loose the net that hath a thousand.    eyes.   The diadem, securely tied and laid upon the central beam. 9. The man who takes thee as his own, and he who was thy builder,.   House!   Both these, O Lady of the Home, shall live to long-extended’    years. 10. There let her come to meet this man. Firm, strongly fastened,.    and prepared   Art thou whose several limbs and joints we part and loosen one    by one. 11. He who collected timber for the work and built thee up, O   House,   Made thee for coming progeny, Prajāpati, the Lord Supreme. 12. Homage to him! We worship too the giver and the Mansion’s    lord:   Homage to Agni! to the man who serves at holy rites for thee. 13. Homage to kine and steeds! to all that shall be born within the    house   We loose the bonds that fasten thee, mother of multitudes to    come! 14. Agni thou shelterest within, and people with domestic beasts.   We loose the bonds that fasten thee, mother of multitudes to    come! 15. All space that lies between the earth and heaven, therewith I    take this house for thy possession,   And all that measures out the air’s mid-region I make a hollow    to contain thy treasures. Therewith I take the house for his    possession. 16. Rich in prosperity, rich in milk, founded and built upon the    earth,   Injure not thy receivers, House who holdest food of every sort!’ 17. Grass-covered, clad with straw, the house, like Night, gives rest    to man and beast.   Thou standest, built upon the earth, like a she-elephant, borne    on feet. 18. I loosen and remove from thee thy covering formed by mats of    reed.   What Varuna hath firmly closed Mitra shall ope at early morn. 19. May Indra, Agni, deathless Gods, protect the house where   Soma dwells,   House that was founded with the prayer, built and erected by    the wise. 20. Nest upon nest hath been imposed, compartment on compart-    ment laid:   There man shall propagate his kind, and there shall everything    born. 21. Within the house constructed with two side-posts, or with four,    or six.   Built with eight side-posts, or with ten, lies Agni like a babe    unborn. 22. Turned to thee, House! I come to thee, innocent, turned to    welcome me:   For Fire and Water are within, the first chief door of sacrifice. 23. Water that kills Consumption, free from all Consumption, here   I bring.   With Agni, the immortal one, I enter and possess the house. 24. Lay thou no cord or noose on us: a weighty burthen, still be    light!   Withersoever be our will, O House, we bear thee like a bride. 25. Now from the east side of the house to the Great Power be    homage paid!   Hail to the Gods whose due is Hail! 26. Now from the south side of the house, etc. 27. Now from the west side of the house, etc. 28. Now from the north side of the house, etc. 29. So from the mansion’s every side to the Great Power be homage    paid!   Hail to the Gods whose due is Hail!