Atharva Veda

The Hymns of the Atharvaveda

Translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith

HYMN XXXIV

A young man's love-charm

1 From honey sprang this Plant to life; with honey now we dig thee up.
Make us as sweet as honey, for from honey hast thou been produced.

2 My tongue hath honey at the tip, and sweetest honey at the root
Thou yieldest to my wish and will, and shalt be mine and only mine.

3 My coming in is honey-sweet and honey-sweet, my going forth:
My voice and words are sweet: I fain would be like honey in my look.

4 Sweeter am I than honey, yet more full of sweets than licorice:
So mayst thou love me as a branch full of all sweets, and only me.

5 Around thee have I girt a zone of sugar-cane to banish hate.
That thou mayst be in love with me, my darling never to depart.