History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c89.55

v7.c89.55

The Atharvaveda also has several verses on dreams and on birds like *kapota* (pigeon). The Kauśikasūtra prescribes several verses of the Atharvaveda as śāntis in the case of dreams: 'on seeing a dream a man washes his face with the verses (Atharva VI. 45. 1 and 46. 1), if he sees a very terrible dream he offers into fire a cake of mixed grains¹¹⁶⁶ or in another direction (in his enemy's field); he changes the side on which he sleeps with Atharva VII. 100. 1; on seeing himself eating in a dream he recites the mantra (Atharva VII. 101. 1) and he looks on; with the verse 'vidma te' (Atharva VI. 46. 2) all (dreams) vanish.' Two of these verses may be set out here: 'O dream! we know the place of thy birth, thou art the son of gods' sisters; thou art the helper of Yama, thou art the destroyer; thou art death, O dream! we know thee to be so; O dream! do thou save us from evil dreams'; 'I turn round (and lie on my other side) from evil dreaming, from bad dreaming, from ill-luck; I make *brahman* (vedic prayer) my defence; I put away the sorrows that come through dreams'.¹¹⁶⁷ The Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra prescribes a similar verse for japa when a *dīkṣita* sees a disagreeable dream.¹¹⁶⁸