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The Fourth Veda is known as Atharvaveda. Although some of the
hymns of the
Atharvaveda are as old as the Rigveda, originally it was
not considered as a Veda at all. It was only much later, some time
before the rise of Buddhism and Jainism, the concept of four Vedas
became popular and the Atharvaveda was officially recognized as the
fourth Veda. Most of the hymns of the Atharvaveda are magical chants and
spells intended to control sickness, diseases. snake bites, bad dreams
and evil spirits or to attract success, happiness and prosperity,
suggestive of the growing influence of magical ritualism in post
Rigvedic India and the popularity of other religious traditions that
indulged in it. The Atharvan priests, who recited the verses of the
Atharvaveda and performed rituals based on them, were in demand in
the royal courts of ancient India because of the psychological
comfort and protection they seemed to offer through their knowledge. The Atharvaveda contains about 730 hymns of which
few are derived from the Rigveda. Some of the Upanishads appended to the
Atharvaveda are Mundaka, Prasna and Mandukya Upanishads. Following is
an English translation of the entire Veda by Ralph T.H. Griffith
[1895-96]. Please report any spelling mistakes or inconsistencies by contacting
us. If you want to make any comments about these hymns please
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Atharvaveda by Book
Atharvaveda by Hymns
(Some of these hymns may take time
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please be patient)
Atharvaveda Book -01
Hymn 1: A prayer to Vāchaspati
for divine illumination and help.
Hymn 2: A charm against dysentery
Hymn 3: A charm against constipation and
suppression of urine
Hymn 4: To the waters, for the prosperity
of cattle
Hymn 5: To the waters, for strength and
power
Hymn 6: To the waters, for health and
wealth
Hymn 7: To Indra and Agni, for the
detection and destruction of evil spirits
Hymn 8: To Indra, Brihaspati, Soma and
Agni, for the destruction of sorcerers
Hymn 9: Benediction on a King at his
inauguration
Hymn 10: Absolution of a sinner after
intercession with Varuna
Hymn 11: A charm to be used at
child-birth
Hymn 12: A prayer to Lightning, against
fever, headache, and cough
Hymn 13: A prayer to Lightning, for
happiness
Hymn 14: A woman's incantation against a
rival
Hymn 15: A prayer for the prosperity of
an institutor of sacrifice
Hymn 16: A prayer and charm against
demons
Hymn 17: A charm to be used at
venesection
Hymn 18: A charm to avert evil spirits of
misfortune and to secure prosperity
Hymn 19: A prayer for protection from
arrows and for the punishment of enemies
Hymn 20: A prayer to Soma, the Maruts,
Mitra, and Varuna, for protection
Hymn 21: A prayer to Indra for protection
Hymn 22: A charm against jaundice
Hymn 23: A charm against leprosy
Hymn 24: A charm against leprosy
Hymn 25: A prayer to fever, as a charm
against his attacks
Hymn 26: A charm to obtain invisibility
Hymn 27: A prayer for protection,
guidance, and prosperity
Hymn 28: A prayer to Agni for the
destruction of evil spirits
Hymn 29: A charm to secure the supremacy
of a dethroned King
Hymn 30: A benediction on a King at his
consecration
Hymn 31: A prayer for protection and
general prosperity
Hymn 32: In praise of Heaven and Earth
Hymn 33: To the Waters, for health and
happiness
Hymn 34: A young man's love-charm
Hymn 35: A charm to ensure long life and
glory to the wearer of an amulet
Atharvaveda Book -02
Hymn 1: Glorification of the prime cause of all things
Hymn 2: A charm to ensure success in gambling
Hymn 3: A water-cure charm
Hymn 4: A charm to ensure health and prosperity by wearing an amulet
Hymn 5: Invitation to, and praise of Indra
Hymn 6: A prayer to Agni for protection
Hymn 7: A counter-charm against imprecation and malignity
Hymn 8: A charm against hereditary disease (kshetriya)
Hymn 9: A charm to cure dangerous disease
Hymn 10: Absolution and benediction
Hymn 11: Counter-charm, with an amulet, against an enemy's spell
Hymn 12: A prayer for vengeance on a malicious rival worshipper
Hymn 13: A youth's Investiture ceremony (godānam)
Hymn 14: A charm to banish vermin and noxious creatures
Hymn 15: A prayer for general protection
Hymn 16: A charm against fear
Hymn 17: A prayer to an amulet for health and strength
Hymn 18: A charm against enemies, goblins, and other evil creatures
Hymn 19: A prayer to Agni for aid against an enemy
Hymn 24: A charm against the magic arts of fiends
Hymn 25: A charm against fiends who cause abortion
Hymn 26: A benediction on homeward coming cattle
Hymn 27: A charm against an opponent in debate
Hymn 28: A prayer for a boy's long and happy life
Hymn 29: A benediction on a sick man
Hymn 30: A man's love-charm
Hymn 31: A charm against all sorts of worms
Hymn 32: A charm against worms or bots in cows
Hymn 33
Hymn 34: A prayer accompanying an animal sacrifice
Hymn 35: Expiation for an imperfectly performed sacrifice
Hymn 36: A charm to secure a husband for a marriageable girl Atharvaveda
Book -03
Hymn 1: A prayer or charm for the defeat and destruction
of enemies in battle
Hymn 2: A rifaccimento or recension of I
Hymn 3: A charm for the restoration of an expelled king
Hymn 4: A benediction at the election of a king
Hymn 5: A King's address to an amulet which is to strengthen
his authority
Hymn 6: Address to an amulet which is to secure the defeat of
the wearer's enemies
Hymn 7: A charm with an amulet of buck horn to drive away
hereditary disease
Hymn 8: A charm to secure the submission, love, and fidelity
of kinsmen
Hymn 9: A charm against rheumatism (vishkondha)
Hymn 10: A new year prayer
Hymn 11: A charm for the recovery of a dangerously sick man
Hymn 12: A benediction on a newly built house
Hymn 13: A benediction on a newly cut water channel
Hymn 14: A benediction on a cattle pen
Hymn 15: A merchant's prayer for success in his business
Hymn 16: A Rishi's morning prayer
Hymn 17: A farmer's song and prayer to speed the plough
Hymn 18: A jealous wife's incantation against a rival
Hymn 19: A glorification of the office of a king's household
priest
Hymn 20: A prayer for riches and general prosperity
Hymn 21: In honour of fire in all shapes, to appease Agni of
the funeral pile and to quench the flames of cremation
Hymn 22: The taming and training of an elephant for a king to
ride on
Hymn 23: A charm to remove a woman's sterility, and to assure
the birth of boys
Hymn 24: A song of harvest
Hymn 25: A man's love-charm
Hymn 26: A charm to win the favour of all serpents
Hymn 27: A charm consigning an enemy to the serpents for
punishment
Hymn 28: A charm to change the ill-omened birth of twin
calves into a blessing
Hymn 29: On the means to obtain immunity from taxation in the
next world
Hymn 30: A prayer or charm to secure love and concord in a
family
Hymn 31: A charm for the recovery of one dangerously ill
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