Atharva-Veda Samhita/Book VII/Hymn 48 (50)

1501504Atharva-Veda SamhitaBook VII, Hymn 48 (50)William Dwight Whitney

48 (50). To Rākā (goddess of the full moon).

[Atharvan.—dvyṛcam. mantroktadevatyam. jāgatam.]

Found also in Pāipp. xx. Further, as RV. ii. 32. 4, 5 and in TS. (iii. 3. 115), MS. (iv. 12. 6), and MB. (i. 5. 3, 4). As to use in Kāuç. and Vāit., see under hymn 47. The second half of verse 2 is further found in the adbhuta chapter of Kāuç. (106. 7) as part of a series of verses there given in full.

Translated: Henry, 17, 74; Griffith, i. 348.


1. Rākā I call with good call, with good praise; let the fortunate one hear us; let her willingly note; let her sew the work with a needle that does not come apart; let her give a hero of hundred-fold value, worthy of praise.

The other texts agree throughout,* and differ from ours only by reading in a suhávām, which Ppp. also has, and the comm. The latter explains Rākā as sampūrṇacandrā pāurṇamāsi. ⌊Our d repeats 47. 1 d.⌋ *⌊But MB. has çatadāyu-mukhyam.⌋


2. The well-adorned favors that are thine, O Rākā, wherewith thou givest good things to thy worshiper,—with them do thou come to us today favoring, granting, O fortunate one, thousand-fold prosperity.

The other texts agree throughout and differ from ours only by reading in d sahasrapoṣám, which is given also by the comm., and by three of SPP's (ten) authorities. The meter is mixed triṣṭubh and jagatī.