Atharvaveda 8.1

To the ender Death [be] homage. Let thy breaths, expirations, rest here. Let this man be here with his life (ásu), in the portion of the sun, in the world of the immortal.

Up hath Bhaga taken him, up Soma rich in shoots ⌊hath taken⌋ him, up the heavenly Maruts ⌊have taken⌋ him, up have Indra-and-Agni, for his welfare.

Here [be] thy life, here breath, here life-time, here thy mind; we bear thee up from the fetters of perdition with divine speech.

. Step up from here, O man, fall not down, loosening down the fetter (páḍbīça) of death; be not severed from this world, from the sight (saṁdṛ́ç) of fire, of the sun.

Let the wind, Mātariçvan, be cleansing for thee; for thee let the waters rain immortal things; may the sun burn weal for thy body; let death compassionate thee; do not thou perish.

Up-going [be] thine, O man, not down-going; length of life (jīvā́tu), ability, I make for thee; for do thou ascend this immortal easy-running chariot, then shalt thou in advanced age (? jírvi) speak to the council (vidátha).

Let not thy mind go thither; let it not be lost (tiró-bhū); do not neglect (pra-mad) the living, go not after the Fathers; let all the gods defend thee here.

Do not regard (ā-dhī) the departed, who lead [one] to the distance; ascend out of darkness, come to light; we take hold on thy hands.

Let not the dark and the brindled one, sent forth, [seize] thee, that are Yama's dogs, road-defenders; come thou hitherward; do not hesitate; stand not there with mind averted.

Do not follow that road; that is a frightful one—the one thou hast not gone before, that I speak of; to that darkness, O man, do not go forth; [there is] fear in the distance, safety for thee hitherward.

Let the fires that are within the waters defend thee; let that defend thee which human beings kindle; let Vāiçvānara, Jātavedas defend [thee]; let not [the fire] of heaven consume thee along with the lightning.

Let not the flesh-eating [fire] plot against thee; move far from the destroying (sáṁkasuka) one; let heaven defend, let earth defend thee; let both sun and moon defend thee; let the atmosphere defend from the gods' missile.

Let both the knower and the attender defend thee; let both the sleepless one and the unslumbering one defend thee; let both the guardian and the wakeful one protect thee.

Let these defend thee; let these guard thee; to these [be] homage! to these hail!

Let Vāyu, Indra, Dhātar, the preserving Savitar, assign thee unto converse with the living; let not breath, strength, leave thee; we call after thy life.

Let not the jaw-snapping (?) grinder (jambhá), let not the darkness find thee, let not the tongue-wrencher (?); how shouldst thou be one that perisheth? up let the Ādityas, the Vasus bear thee, up let Indra-and-Agni, for thy welfare.

Up hath heaven, up hath earth, up hath Prajāpati caught thee; up out of death have the herbs, with Soma for their king, made thee pass.

Be this man just here, O gods; let him not go yonder from hence; him by what is of thousand-fold might do we make pass up out of death.

I have made thee pass up out of death; let the vigor-givers blow together; let not the women of disheveled locks, let not the evil-wailers, wail for thee.

I have taken, I have found thee; thou hast come back renewed; whole-limbed one! I have found thy whole sight, and thy whole life-time.

It hath shone out for thee; it hath become light; darkness hath departed from thee; away from thee we set down death [and] perdition, away the yákṣma.