6h. Hymn against a Rival Woman

[Full title: 6. Hymns Related to Love and Jealousy (h): Hymn against a Rival Woman]

In one hymn of the Atharvaveda, incantations against a co-wife are also found. The hymn reads the mantra, imāṃ khanāmyoṣadhiṃ^[1] …, etc., as the first one. This hymn refers to certain herb in order to overcome a co-wife.^[2] Sāyaṇācārya^[3] mentions the herb as Pāṭhā, which is ascertained by the text in another hymn,^[4] but, not in this context. There, the text describes the qualities of the herb in overpowering an enemy.^[5] Here also, the same is called as balavattamā,^[6] i.e. the strongest one in its own field. It is also efficient in driving off a co-wife.^[7] Therefore, to obtain her husband completely for herself, a woman digs the herb Pāṭhā.^[8] As the herb has its leaves, faced to above, hence, it is called uttānaparṇā.^[9] It is also called subhagā,^{[10] [11] 57} i.e. source of good luck; devajūtā,^[12] i.e. obtained by gods and sahasvatī,^[13] i.e. having the power of overcoming.

A woman, following to her hatred toward her rival woman, calls this herb to avert the same fromward her husband and to make her husband wholly for herself.^[14] Due to her strong dislike to the co-wife, she promises even not to utter her name and does not want her to be delighted with her husband.^[15] Contrarily, wants her to be placed at a remote distance.^[16] Thus, she wants to confirm her superiorly and the inferiority for the rival one with the help of the herb Pāṭhā.^[17] She declares herself as an overpowering one, being favoured by the powerful herb, Pāṭhā, and with their joint effort, she vows to subdue her rival woman.^[18]

With this purpose, she puts the herb below the bed of her rival woman and so also above.^[19] Thus, she wants to underbring the mind of her rival one and desires herself to be followed in such a way, as a cow runs after her calf and as the water flows naturally to the down.^[20]

This is how, in this hymn, a woman attempts to assure her mastership over her husband and her superiority amongst her co-wives.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Atharvaveda, 3.18

[2]:

cf., Ibid., 3.18.1

[3]:

imāṃ pāṭhāruyām oṣadhīṃ vīrudhām / Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[4]:

Atharvaveda, 2.27

[5]:

cf., Ibid., 2.27.1-5

[6]:

balavattamām svakāryakaraṇe atiśayena balavatīṃ / Sāyaṇa, Ibid., 3.18.1

[7]:

yayā svatnīṃ bādhate … / Atharvaveda, 3.18.1

[8]:

imām pāṭhāruyām oṣadhīṃ vīrudhām / … khanāmi / yayā ca oṣadhyā patim bhartāraṃ saṃvinṛte samyak asādhāraṇyena labhate tām oṣadhīm / Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[9]:

uttānaparṇe uttānāni ūrdhvamukhāni parṇāni patrāṇi yasyāstādṛśi / Sāyaṇa on Atharvaveda,

[10]:

.18.2

[11]:

subhage saubhāgyahetubhūte / Sāyaṇa on Atharvaveda, 3.18.2

[12]:

devajūte devena indrādinā prāpte / Sāyaṇa on Atharvaveda, 3.18.2

[13]:

sahasvati abhibhavanavati / Sāyaṇa on Atharvaveda, 3.18.2

[14]:

cf., Atharvaveda, 3.18.3

[15]:

cf., Ibid.

[16]:

atiśayitadūradeśameva gamayāmasi gamayāmaḥ prāpayāmaḥ / Sāyaṇa, Ibid.

[17]:

cf., Atharvaveda, 3.18.4-5

[18]:

cf., Ibid., 3.18.5

[19]:

abhi tedhāṃ sahamānāmupa tedhāṃ sahīyasīm / Atharvaveda, 3.18.6

[20]:

māmanu pra te mano vatsaṃ gauriva dhāvatu yathā vāriva dhāvatu / Ibid.