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ATHARVA VEDA

There is no one greater in the three worlds than the GURU, it is he who grantsdivine knowledge & should be worshipped with supreme devotion.

Abiding in the midst of ignorance, but thinking themselves wise & learned, fools

aimlessly go hither & thither, like blind led by the blind.

Taking as a bow the great weapon of the sacred scriptures, one should put upon it

an arrow sharpened by meditation, stretching it with a thought directed to the

essence of that, penetrate that imperishable as the mark.

Just as the luminous day is born from light, so may the radiant singers shine far &

wide! Truly, the poets wisdom enhances the glory of the ordinance decreed by

GOD, the powerful, the ancient.

From all knowledge, yoga practice & meditation, all that relates to the AUM

sound is to be meditated on as the only blissful (SHIVA) indeed, the AUM sound is

SHIVA.

Contemplating HIM, who has neither beginning, middle, nor the end, the one ,the all pervading, who is wisdom & bliss, the formless, the wonderful, whose

consort is UMA , the highest Lord, the ruler, having three eyes & a blue throat, the

peaceful, the silent sage reaches the source of being, the universal witness, on the

other shore of darkness.

He should fulfill, according to the rules ordained, for twelve years the observance

of bramacharya, such as the service of the guru.

Let him approach him properly with mind & senses tranquil & peaceful, then willthis master disclose the essence of the knowledge of Brahman, whereby may he

known the imperishable real, the person.

Let him approach with humility a GURU who is learned in the scriptures &

established in Brahman, to such a seeker, whose mind is tranquil & senses

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controlled, & who has approached him in the proper manner, let the learned

GURU impart the science of Brahman, through which the true, imperishable being

is realized.

The rights of oblation, O lovers of truth, which the sages divined from the sacredverses, were variously expounded in the threefold Veda, perform them with

constant care. This is your path to the world of holy action.

May the forefathers of ancient days protect me in this my prayer, in this my act, in

this my priestly duty, in this my performance, in this my thoughts, in this my

purpose & desire, in this my calling on the GODS ! All Hail.

Having reached the last order of life, one should sit ina solitary place ina relaxed

posture, with pure heart, with head, neck & body straight, controlling all the

swense organs, having bowed with devotion to the master.

To you, O Lord, the priest, beloved of all men, we bring our praise with reverence,

Keep watch over our children & ourselves, we pray, Guard both our lives & our

cattle.

Of one mind & one purpose I make you, following one leader, be like the gods,

ever deathless! Never stop loving.

Have your eating & drinking in common, I bind you together. Assemble for

worship of the Lord, like spokes around a hub.

May this our Lord of cloudy sky, bedewed with liquid drops preserve unequalled

riches in our homes, Lord of the cloudy sky, bestow vigor & strength on our

abodes, let wealth & treasure come to us.

Let this man be again bedewed with this presented sacrifice, & comfort with the

sap of life the bride whom they have brought to him.

Thus steadfast & firm as a horse, we shall offer our praises, Omniscient Lord,

forever, Replete with food & with riches, being close to you always, may we never

suffer reverses.

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Love, children, happiness & wealth will come to answer your hopes. Devoted to

your husbands needs, be girded for immortality.

Unite, O lord, this couple like a pair of lovebirds, May they surrounded by children

be, living both long & happily.

May the lord of the clouds protect our stores, piled high in our homes , May the

lord of the clouds give us vitality in our homes, granting goods & riches.

If we have injured space, the earth or heaven, or if we have offended mother or

father, from that may Agni, fire of the house, absolve us & guide us safely to the

world of goodness.

The subtle self is known by thoughts in which the senses in five different forms

have centered. The whole of mens thoughts is pervaded by the senses, when

thought is purified, the self shines forth.