A History of Indian Literature v1.c8.s3.111

v1.c8.s3.111

There exists a rather large class of magic songs, which are intended for the needs of the kings, partly exorcism formulas against enemies and partly benedictions. Every king was compelled, in India, from the earliest times, to have his Purohita or family priest, and this family priest had to be familiar with the magic rites which refer to the life of a king ('rājakarmāṇi,' 'kings' rites') and also with the songs and charms belonging to these rites. The Atharvaveda therefore is closely connected with the warrior caste. Thus we here find the songs which refer to the consecration of a king, when the king is sprinkled with the holy water and steps upon the tiger-skin; we find spells which are intended to ensure for the king mastery over other princes, and power and fame in general, prayers for the king when he girds on his armour, when he ascends his war-chariot, and so on. There is an interesting prayer (Ath. III, 4) at the election of a king, in which the heavenly King Varuṇa appears as the one who chooses the king, the name of the god being brought into etymological connection with the verb *var*, "to choose." A remarkable magic formula is that for the restoration of a banished king, in Ath. III, 3. Among the most beautiful hymns of this class are the battle-chants and magic songs of war, in particular the two songs to the drum, which is to call the fighters to the battle and to victory (Ath. V., 20 and 21). A few verses of V, 20, follow as an example: