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There are
213
hymns in this category. The sages of Atharvaveda did not define
health as mere absence of disease or define a million diseases
with an associated cornucopia of pills and herbs for curing them.
First they asked the question, ‘why live long’, and answered it in
(19.67).
"For a hundred autumns,
may we see,
For a hundred autumns,
may we live,
For a hundred autumns,
may we know,
For a hundred autumns,
may we rise,
For a hundred autumns,
may we progress,
For a hundred autumns,
may we be,
For a hundred autumns,
may we become."
The idea is that
we should ponder over what we are, what state we want to attain,
what we want to know, how we want to live etc.
They also felt
that bliss was all-round us and we only have to become conscious
of it in every encounter.
"May the wind blow us
bliss,
May the Sun shine bliss
on us,
May the days be
blissful to us,
And the night approach
us blissfully,
And blissfully the
dawn. (7.69)"
Heroic attitude
towards life:
The comprehensive well
being of all senses and organs is given in
AV (19.60).
We are called upon to face life bravely. Our life is
often rocky in its nature.
We should not fear
anyone, known or unknown, friend or foe. This topic is discussed
in
AV (12.2)
&
AV (19.15)
ATHARVA VEDA (19.60)
HEALTH OF BODY AND SPIRIT
Rishi: Brahma
May there be voice in my mouth, breath in my nostrils,
sight in my eyes, hearing in my ears;
may my hair not turn grey or my, teeth turn purple;
may I have much strength in my arms. ----------- (1)
May I have power in my thighs, swiftness in my legs,
steadiness in my feet.
May all my limbs be uninjured and my soul remain
unconquered. ----------- (2)
ATHARVA VEDA (12.2.26-28)
THE HEROIC ATTITUDE TO LIFE
Rishi: Bhŗgu
The rocky stream flows on: hold you all together,
quit you like heroes, and cross over, my friends!
Leave here all those that are evil-minded,
let us cross to powers who are undiseased. -----------
(26)
Stand erect, and cross you over, my comrades!
This rocky river flows on before us.
Abandon here all those that are malicious,
let us cross to powers, benign and pleasant. -----------
(27)
Strike the universal strain to achieve lustre!
becoming pure and bright and purifying.
May we, passing beyond difficult paths,
enjoy a hundred winters with all our heroes.-----------
(28)
ATHARVA VEDA (19.15)
FREEDOM FROM FEAR
Rishi: Atharvan
Free us Indra, from the fear of all that we are afraid of.
May, thou, with thy saving power,
turn away the hater and the enemy. ----------- (1)
We
call on Indra, bounteous Giver,
we will be prosperous in men and cattle.
Let not the demon hosts approach us;
turn the hostiles away on all sides.
-----------
(2)
Adorable Indra, our Saviour,
Vŗtra-slayer and promoter of our highest aims,
may he be our Protector from the end,
from the middle, from behind and from in front. ----------- (3)
Lead us to a free world, wise One,
where lie divine lustre, sunlight and security.
Valiant are the arms of thee, the powerful;
we will take to their vast
shelter. -----------
(4)
May the mid-region free us from all fear,
and both Heaven and Earth make us secure;
let there be for us no fear from behind,
no fear from in front, no fear from the north or the
south. ----------- (5)
Let there be no fear from friend, no fear from foe,
no fear from the know, no fear from what lies before us unknown,
let there be no fear for us from night, no fear
from day; let all the quarters be my
friends. -----------
(6)
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