20-24 septembrie 2009 - Biblioteca Metropolitana Bucuresti

472 SHRIKANT S. BAHULKARbenevolent practices are aimed at the well being of the individual and thecommunity and the malevolent ones are sorcery practices. The Veda thuspossesses a double nature and the magic tool can be used with a good as wellas a bad motivation. Among these practices are the remedies for variousdiseases and bad health conditions caused by external elements such assorcery, curse and possession by demons. The remedies are also prescribedfor removing the effects of snake's poison, as the snake-bite was a commonphenomenon and a fearful experience leading the patient to a sudden andtragic death. There are in all four hymns in the Atharvaveda Śaunakaaimed at the removal of the poison of a snake (AVŚ 5.13; 6.12; 7.88; 10.4).They are employed in the rites concerned, in the major ritual text of thatVeda, namely, the Kauśika-sūtra (KauśS 29. 1; 29.28; 29.6; 32.20). Allthose hymns but the last one (AVŚ 10.4= Atharvaveda Paippalāda (AVP)16.15-17), mentioned above, have been employed in the rites prescribed inone and the same section; while the last one accompanies a special rite asa remedy for the same purpose. This special treatment denotes the uniquecharacteristic of the hymn that is a subject of discussion in the presentpaper. The hymn has 26 verses, some of which refer to the horse of Pedu(paidva), supposed to be the slayer of serpents. A distinct characteristic ofthis hymn is that it has more than ten names for snakes, besides the genericahi-. Here I reproduce BLOOMFIELD's translation of the verses in praiseof Paidva:"The young darbha-grass burns (the serpents?), the tail of the horse,the tail of the shaggy one, the seat of the wagon (burns the serpents).(AVŚ 10.4.2)Strike down, O white (horse), with thy fore-foot and thy hind-foot!As timber floating in water, the poison of the serpents, the fierce fluid,is devoid of strength. (AVŚ 10.4.3)The horse of Pedu slays the kasarṇīla, the horse of Pedu slays thewhite (serpent), and also the black. The horse of Pedu cleaves the headof the ratharvī, the adder. (AVŚ 10.4.5)O horse of Pedu, go thou first: we come after thee! Thou shalt castout the serpents from the road upon which we come! (AVŚ 10.4.6)Here the horse of Pedu was born; from here is his departures. Hereare the tracks of the serpent-killing, powerful steed! (AVŚ 10.4.7)Here is the remedy for both the aghāśva and svaja! Indra (and)Pedu's horse have put to naught the evil-planning (aghāyantam) serpent.(AVŚ 10.4.10)The horse of Pedu do we remember, the strong, with strong footing:behind lie, staring forth, these adders. (AVŚ 10.4.11)"