Sukta 37

Mantra 1

कृमिनाशनम्। त्वया पूर्वमथर्वाणो जघ्नू रक्षांस्योषधे । त्वया जघान कश्यपस्त्वया कण्वो अगस्त्यः

Worm-slaying art thou. By thee of old the Atharvans smote the Rākṣasas, O Herb; by thee did Kaśyapa slay, by thee did Kaṇva, Agastya.

Mantra 2

त्वया वयमप्सरसो गन्धर्वांस्चातयामहे । अजशृङ्ग्यज रक्षः सर्वान् गन्धेन नाशय

By thee we drive away the Apsarases and the Gandharvas. O Ajāśṛṅgī, O goat-horned one, destroy thou all the Rākṣasas with thy fragrance.

Mantra 3

नदीं यन्त्वप्सरसोऽपां तारमवश्वसम्। गुल्गुलूः पीला नलद्यौ३क्षगन्धिः प्रमन्दनी। तत् परेताप्सरसः प्रतिबुद्धा अभूतन

To the river let the Apsarases depart—those of the Waters—unto the ferryman, the ill-omened. Guggulu, Pīlā, the fragrance of Naladā and Dyaukṣa, the bewitching Gladdener: thither depart, O Apsarases; detected and brought to wakefulness, be ye (so) become.

Mantra 4

यत्राश्वत्था न्यग्रोधा महावृक्षाः शिखण्डिनः । तत् परेताप्सरसः प्रतिबुद्धा अभूतन

Where stand the Aśvattha and the Nyagrodha, the great trees with crested tops—thither depart, O Apsarases; detected and brought to wakefulness, be ye (so) become.

Mantra 5

यत्र वः प्रेङ्खा हरिता अर्जुना उत यत्राघाताः कर्कर्यः संवदन्ति । तत् परेताप्सरसः प्रतिबुद्धा अभूतन

Where are your green swings amid the Arjuna-trees, and where the struck Karkarīs make concerted sound—thither depart, O Apsarases; detected and brought to wakefulness, be ye (so) become.

Mantra 6

एयमगन्नोषधीनां वीरुधां वीर्याऽवती । अजशृङ्ग्यऽराटकी तीक्ष्णशृङ्गी व्यृऽषतु

Hither hath come the potent one of herbs, of plants, endowed with strength: Ajaśṛṅgī, Arāṭakī, the Sharp-horned—let her drive (the ill) forth and away.

Mantra 7

आनृत्यतः शिखण्डिनो गन्धर्वस्याप्सरापतेः । भिनद्मि मुष्कावपि यामि शेपः

While the crested ones dance about—the Gandharva, lord of Apsarases—I cleave his testicles; yea, I assail his member.

Mantra 8

भीमा इन्द्रस्य हेतयः शतमृष्टीरयस्मयीः । ताभिर्हविरदान् गन्धर्वानवकादान् व्यृऽषतु

Terrible are Indra’s missiles, iron, with a hundred edges: with these let them smite apart the Gandharvas, eaters of the oblation, the Avakāda-eaters.

Mantra 9

भीमा इन्द्रस्य हेतयः शतमृष्टीर्हिरण्ययीः । ताभिर्हविरदान् गन्धर्वानवकादान् व्युऽषतु

Terrible are Indra’s missiles, golden, with a hundred edges: with these let them scorch away the Gandharvas, eaters of the oblation, the Avakāda-eaters.

Mantra 10

अवकादानभिशोचानप्सु ज्योतय मामकान्। पिशाचान्त्सर्वानोषधे प्र मृणीहि सहस्व च

The Avakāda-ones, scorching there in the waters—bring them to light, those that are mine: all the Piśācas, O Herb, crush forth; prevail thou also.

Mantra 11

स्वेवैकः कपिरिवैकः कुमारः सर्वकेशकः । प्रियो दृश इव भूत्वा गन्धर्वः सचते स्त्रियस्तमितो नाशयामसि ब्रह्मणा वीर्याऽवता

As though a kinsman—one; as though an ape—one; a youth, all-haired: becoming as it were pleasing to the sight, the Gandharva cleaveth to women. Him, from the darkness, we cause to perish, with brahman, with potent might.

Mantra 12

जाया इद् वो अप्सरसो गन्धर्वाः पतयो यूयम्। अप धावतामर्त्या मर्त्यान् मा सचध्वम्

Wives indeed are yours, O Apsarases; ye Gandharvas are your husbands. Away, run ye—immortals—(from) mortals: cleave not unto mortals.