[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v7.c92.13 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c92.13 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c92.13 - **Language:** English ### [v7.c92.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c92.13) Magic spells are found in plenty in the Atharvaveda and some mystic words or syllables are used even in the Ṛgveda; e. g. the word '\*vaṣaṭ\*' occurs in Ṛg. VII. 99. 7, VII. 100. 7 and other verses and the word \*svāhā\*¹⁶⁶⁷ occurs over a dozen times in the Ṛgveda (e. g. in I. 13. 12, V. 5, 11, VII. 2. 11). A sleep-inducing spell occurs in Ṛg. VII. 55. 5-8,¹⁶⁶⁸ which verses occur also in the Atharvaveda IV. 5. 6, 5, 1, 3 and which spell was probably employed by a \*purohita\* to put to sleep some noble man complaining of sleeplessness at night. Some Western scholars have held that this hymn is a lover's charm for a clandestine meeting with his lady-love. But the whole hymn has hardly any words of love in it and the author is not able to accept that theory as proved. Ṛgveda X. 145 is a hymn to be employed against a co-wife, the first verse of which is 'I dig up this herb, which is a most powerful creeper, by which (a woman) injures her co-wife and by which she secures her husband (to herself alone)' - [Previous: v7.c92.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c92.12) - [Next: v7.c92.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c92.14) - [Up: v7.c92](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c92) ## Cites (2) - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg.1.13.12) — Sanskrit - [Atharvavedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.atharva.4.5.6) — Atharvan & Aṅgiras, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c92.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v7.c92.13) · Pramāṇa