and demons. 1. Night is like unto the sun, the (starry) night is similar to day. The truth do I engage for help: the enchantments shall be devoid of force! 2. He, O ye gods, who prepares a spell, and carries it to the house of one that knows not (of it), upon him the spell, returning, shall fasten itself like a suckling calf upon its mother! 3. The person that prepares evil at home, and desires with it to harm another, she is consumed by fire, and many stones fall upon her with a loud crash. 4. Bestow curses, O thou (apâmârga), that hast a thousand homes, upon the (demons) visikha ('crestless'), and vigrîva ('crooked-neck')! Turn back the spell upon him that has performed it, as a beloved maid (is brought) to her lover! 5. With this plant I have put to naught all spells, those that they have put into thy field, thy cattle, and into thy domestics. 6. He that has undertaken them has not been able to accomplish them: he broke his foot, his toe. He performed a lucky act for us, but for himself an injury. 7. The apâmârga-plant shall wipe out (apa mârshtu) 'inherited ills, and curses; yea, it shall wipe out all witches, and all grudging demons (arâyî)! 8. Having wiped out all sorcerers, and all grudging demons, with thee, O apâmârga, we wipe all that (evil) out.AV 4.19 · Atharva Veda · 4
AV 4.19
Atharva Veda · translated by Maurice Bloomfield
Themes in this passage
DesireFamilyLoveNatureTruthSin
Desire in other traditions
The same theme, as Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Islam address it.
From lust comes grief, from lust comes fear; he who is free from lust knows neither grief nor fear.Dhp 16.214 · Dhammapada · Pleasure
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.Philippians 4:17 · Bible · Philippians
If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity. Simplicity without a name Is free from all external aim. With no desire, at rest and still, All things go right as of their will. PART II.Tao Te Ching 37.3 · Tao Te Ching
And He it is Who hath appointed night and day in succession, for him who desireth to remember, or desireth thankfulness.Quran 25:62 · Quran · The Criterion
See what all six traditions say about desire →
Search every tradition at once
Ask a question in your own words and see how six traditions answer it.