Book 4: Hymn 36: A charm against fiends, human enemies, and other pests

1Endowed with true strength, let the Bull, Agni Vaisvānara, burn them up. Him who would pain and injure us, him who would treat us as a foe. p. a146 2Him who, unharmed, would injure us, and him who, harmed, would do us harm, I lay between the doubled fangs of Agni, of Vaisvānara. 3Those who, what time the moon is dark, hunt with loud cry and answering shout, Flesh-eaters, others who would harm,—all these I overcome with might. 4I conquer the Pisāchas with my power, and take their wealth away. All who would injure us I slay. Let mine intention have success. 5With Gods who flee with him, and match their rapid motion with the Sun, I with those animals who dwell in rivers and on hills am found. 6I trouble the Pisāchas as the tiger plagues men rich in kine. They, even as dogs when they have seen a lion, find no hiding- place. 7Naught with Pisāchas can I do, with thieves, with roamers of the wood. Pisāchas flee and vanish from each village as I enter it. 8Into whatever village this mine awful power penetrates, Thence the Pisāchas flee away, and plot no further mischief there. 9Those who enrage me with their prate, as flies torment an elephant, I deem unhappy creatures, like small insects troublesome to man. 10Destruction seize upon the man, as with a cord they hold a horse, The fool who is enraged with me! He is not rescued from the noose.