Atharva Veda 5.18.3: Kanda 5, Anuvaka 2, Sukta 18, Mantra 3
Sukta 18
आवि॑ष्टिता॒घवि॑षा पृदा॒कूरि॑व॒ चर्म॑णा । सा ब्रा॑ह्म॒णस्य॑ राजन्य तृ॒ष्टैषा गौर॑ना॒द्या
ā́-viṣṭitā́ghá-viṣā pṛdākú̄r iva cármaṇā | sā́ brā́hmaṇásya rājanya tṛṣṭáiṣā́ gáur anā́dyā ||
Enwrapped with evil poison, as with a leopard’s hide for covering—this cow, O Rajanya, is thirsting: this is the Brahmin’s cow, not to be eaten.
देखो राजन्य, यह गाय ज़हर जैसी बुरी चीज़ से ढाकी है, जैसे कोई चीता की खाल ओढ़े हो। यह प्यासी है। यह ब्राह्मण की गाय है, इसका गोश्त खाना मना है।
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often attributed broadly to Atharvan/Angiras circles for brahma-tejas hymns)
Devata: Brahman (sacral power) / protective force of the Brahmin’s property (implicit)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; AV social-apotropaic verses commonly in anuṣṭubh)
Primary: bhayankara
Secondary: raudra
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