A hymn of Praise and prayer to Night

Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at sacred-texts.com

p. 251

HYMN XLIX

A hymn of Praise and prayer to Night

1Friend of the home, the strong and youthful maiden, Night, dear
   to Savitar the God, and Bhaga,
  All-compassing, all-glorious, prompt to listen, hath with her
   greatness filled the earth and heaven.
2Over all depths hath she gone up, and mounted, most mighty
  One, the sky's exalted summit.
  Over me now the loving Night is spreading with her auspicious.
  Godlike ways like Mitra.
3Excellent, high-born, blissful, meet for worship, Night, thou hast
   come: stay here with friendly spirit.
  Guard us, the food for men that we have gotten, and all pro-
   sperity that comes of cattle.
4With eager haste hath Night assumed the vigour of leopard,.
   tiger, or of tawny lion,
  The horse's neighing and the wild-man's bellow, Thou takest
   many a form when thou appearest.
5Kind through the Night be absence of the sunshine: Mother of
  Frost, may she be swift to hear us.
  Take notice of the hymn, thou highly favoured, wherewith I
   worship thee in all the regions.
6Even as a King, O splendid Night, thou takest pleasure in our
   hymn.
  May we through Mornings as they flush have all our good men,
   round us, and become possessors of all wealth.
7Yes, Rāmyā is the name thou hast assumed. The men who fain.
   would spoil.
  My wealth do thou annoy, O Night, that not one robber may
   appear, none may a second time appear.
8Thou like a well-wrought cup, O Night, art lovely: thou, a.
   young maid, art formed in perfect beauty.
  Thou lovingly, for me with eyes to se: them, hast bound on thee
   heaven's stars as thine adornment. p. 252
9Whatever robber comes to-day, mischievous mortal enemy.
  Let Night go forth, encounter him, and smite away his neck and
   head;
10His feet that he may walk no more, his hands that he may do
   no harm.
  The robber who comes hitherward goes crushed and mutilated
   hence,
  Goes hence, goes far away from us, goes hence and bears no
   spoil away.