VEDIC HYMNS

Atharvaveda 8.6: A charm to exercise evil spirits who beset women

“Let neither fiend of evil name, Alinsa, Vatsapa, desire

Thy pair of husband-wooers which thy mother cleansed when, thou wast born. (1)

Palala, Anupalala, Sarku, Koka, Malimlucha, Palijaka Vavrivāsas

and

Asresha, Rikshagriva and Pramilin. (2)

Approach not, come not hitherward: creep not thou in-between her thighs.

I set, to guard her, Baja, that which chases him of evil name. (3)

Durnāmā and Sunāmā both are eager to converse with her.

We drive away Arāyas: let Sunāmā seek the women-folk, (4)

The black and hairy Asura, and Stambaja and Tundika,

Arāyas from this girl we drive, from bosom, waist, and parts below. (5)

Sniffer, and Feeler, him who eats raw flesh, and him who licks his lips,

Arāyas with the tails of dogs, the yellow Baja hath destroyed. (6)

Whoever, in thy brother's shape or father's comes to thee in sleep,

Let Baja rout and chase them like eunuchs with woman's head dress on. (7)

Whoever steals to thee asleep or thinks to harm thee when awake,–

These hath it banished, as the Sun travelling round drives shade away. (8)

Whoever causeth her to lose her child or bear untimely fruit,–

Destroy him, O thou Plant, destroy the slippery fiend who lusts for her. (9)

Those who at evening, with the bray of asses, dance around the

house, Kukshilas, and Kusfilas, and Kakubhas, Srimas, Karumas,

These with thine odour, O thou Plant, drive far away to every side. (10)

Kukundhas and Kukūrabhas who dress themselves in hides and skins,

Who dance about like eunuchs, who raise a wild clamour in the

wood, all these we banish far away. (11)

All those who cannot bear the Sun who warms us yonder from the sky,

Arāyas with the smell of goats, malodorous, with bloody mouths,

the Makakas we drive afar. (12)

All those who on their shoulders bear a head of monstrous magnitude,

Who pierce the women's loins with pain, – those demons, Indra drive away! (13)

Those, bearing horns upon their hands, who first of all approach the brides;

Standing in ovens, laughing loud, those who in bushes flash forth

light, all these we banish hence away.