Atharva Veda

The Hymns of the Atharvaveda

Translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith

BOOK I

HYMN XXXI

A prayer for protection and general prosperity

1          Here will we serve with sacrifice the great Controllers of the world,
            The four immortal Warders who protect the regions of the sky.

2          Ye, Guardians of the regions, Gods who keep the quarters of the heavens,
            Rescue and free us from the bonds of Nirriti, from grief and woe!

3          I, free from stiffness, serve thee with oblation, not lame I sacrifice with oil and             fatness.
            Let the strong Warder God, who keeps the regions bring to us hither safety and             well-being.

4          Well be it with our mother and our father, well be it with our cows, and beasts, and             people.
            Ours be all happy fortune, grace, and favour. Long, very long may we behold the             sunlight.

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