838 On the History and Literature of the Veda. [Afj0. 



the curious personifications, by which in the Atharv6da, animals, plants 

 and even diseases are invoked. The passage is taken from K. V. 22, 

 (according to the Paris MS. and No. 682 E. J. H.) 

 Agnis takmanam apabadhatam ita : somo, grava, varuna : putadaksha : l 

 vedir, barhi : samidha : sosuclmna apa dweshasy amuya bhavantu u 1 

 ayan yo visvvan haritan krinoshy I uchchochayann agnir ivabhidunwan ) 

 adha hi, takmann, araso hi bhiiya I adha jnann adharan va parehi || 2 



Oko asya Mujavanta, oko asya Mahavrisha : I 

 Yavaj jatas, takmans, tavan asi Vahlikeshu nyochara : 5* 

 takman, Mujavato, gacha, Vahlikan va parastanin I 

 Sudram icha prabharoyan, tan takman, viva dhanuhi I 7 

 Mahavrishan, Mujavato bandhv addhi paretya ! ** 

 praitani takmane brumo anya-kshetrani va ima || 8 

 Takman bhratra balasena swasra kasikaya saha l 

 Pamna bhratrivyena saha gachamum aranan janan |l 12 

 Gandharibhyo, Mujavabhyo, 'njebhyo, Magadhebhya : | 

 praishyan janam iva sevadhim takmanan paridadmasi || 14 



1 . Agni, drive away from here Takman (may drive him away) Soma, 

 the (sacrificial) stone, Varuna of pure strength, the fire-place, the 

 sacred straw, the burning wood. Be away from here envious men. 



2. Thou who maketh yellow the whole body, who giveth pain like 

 fire when burning upwards, thou, O Takman, nevertheless, lose thy 

 power, pass by, moving downwards or from underneath. 



3. His house are the Mujavat, his house the Mahavrisha ; when- 

 ever thou art born, O Takman, thou goest to the Vahlika. 



7. Goto the Mujavat, Takman, or to the distant Vahlika, desire 

 the Siidra for nourishment. These, Takman, somewhat shake. 



8. Devour the Mahavrishas, the Mujavats, passing over from us ; 

 we leave these or other foreign countries to Takman. 



12. Takman, with thy brother Balasa (dejection) with thy sister 

 Kasika (cough) with thy brother's son Paman (itching) go to that 

 foreign people. 



13. We give Takman as a messenger, as a treasure, to the Gan- 

 dharis, the Mujavats, to the Angas and Magadhas. 



* I am unable to correct tlic g-nykaras after two MSS. No. 6B2 E, J. II. reads Vah- 

 hkesha grvyokara : I the meaning, however, is evident. 





