261 - The use of the hymns of Sāmaveda

Pushkara said: 

1. I have described the use of (the hymns of) Yajur (veda). Ishall (now) describe the use of (the hymns of) Sāma (veda). One will get all the pleasures by repeating the vaishnavi hymns. 

2. One pleases (Lord) Śankara (Śiva) by repeating the chandasi (Såman) hymns well. One will get the grace by repeating the skāndi and paitri hymns.'  

3. (The repetition of the hymn) yata indra bhayamahe¹ is capable of destroying the harmful effects (of incantations). One who has broken the vow of continence will be released (from the fault) by repeating (the hymn) agnistigmena². 

1. SV. 1.274a; 2.671a.

2. Tait. Sam. 4.6.1.5a; SV. 1.512a.

4. (The repetition of the hymn) paritosam cha³ is known to be capable of destroying all sins. One who has sold (a thing) thatshould not be sold,should repeat (the hymn) ghrutavati⁴. 

3. Cf. paritoshinchata SV. 1.512a.

4. SV. 1.378a.

5-6. (The hymn) adyā no deva savitaḥ⁵ is known to be capable of destroying bad dreams. O Rāma! The foremost of Bhrugus! It is laid down that the girdle may be tied with the remnant of the ghee that has been sprinkled with (the hymn) abodhyagniḥ⁶ as laid down, in the case of the women who have a miscarriage.

5. SV. 1.141a.

6. SV, 1.73a; 2.1096a. 

7. Then itshould be tied on the wrist of the child that is born, with (the repetition of the hymn) somam räjänam⁷. This will make the child free from all diseases. 

7. Cf. Vedic Concordance p. 1033b.

8-9. By the use of sarpasama⁸ one will not have the fear of serpents. A brahmin will not have any fear from weapons by tying the satavari (a herb) after making a thousand oblations with (the hymn) mådya toa vadyate⁹. One will get plenty of food by making oblation (with the hymn) dirghatamaso’ruka¹⁰.

8. Could not be traced. 

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10. Could not be traced.

10. One who repeats (the hymn) samamadhyâyanti¹¹ will not die of thirst. One will not get a disease by repeating (the hymn) tvamimā oshadhiḥ¹². 

11. Could not be traced.

12. RV. 1.91.22a. 

11. One will become free from fears by repeating (the hymn) devavrata¹ on the journey. Oblations offered with (the hymn) yadindro munaye tva² increase fortune. 

1. Could not be traced.

2. Could not be traced.

12. O Rama! Collyrium applied to the eyes (with the hymn) bhago na chitra³ will increase fortune. There need be no doubt. 

3. SV.1.449ab.

13-14. The repetition (of the hymn) indreti varga⁴ will also increase fortune. A man who seeks the love of a womanshould make her listen to (the hymn) pari priyā divaḥ kavih⁵. O Rama! There need be no doubt thatshe will love him in return. (The repetition of the hymns) rathantara⁶ and vāmadevya⁷ increases the divine splendour. 

4. Could not be traced.

5. SV. 1.476a; 2.285a.

6. Tait. Sam. 1.8.13.1.

         7. MS. 4.9.11:132.10.

15. A childshould be fed with the powder of vacā soaked in ghee daily with the repetition of (the hymn) indramidgāthino⁸. It will give him good memory. 

8. SV. 1.198a.

16. There is no doubt that one willget progeny after repeating (the hymn) rathantara⁹ and offering oblations. The hymn mayi śriḥ¹⁰ has to be repeated for the increase of fortune. 

9. See 14.1.

10. RV.Kh. 5.87.10d.

17. The repetition of the eight vairūpya¹¹ (hymns) daily confers fortune. One will get all the desires fulfilled by repeating the saptåstaka¹² (hymns).

         11. Cf. Tait. Sam. 4.4.2.2.

12. Could not be traced.

18. One who worships cows daily morning and evening (with the repetition of the hymn) gavyoshuņo¹³ unweariedly will always have cows in his house. 

13.  SV. 1.186a.

19. One who offers a drona (a measure) of barley soaked in ghee into fire (with the repetition of the hymn), vāta avātu bhesajam¹ as laid down will ward off all spells. 

1. SV. 1. 184a; 2.1190a.

20-21a. Oblations of sesamum with (the repetition of the hymn) pra daivo dāso² destroys witchcraft. (Repeating the hymn) abhi tvā pūrva pitaye³ followed by the syllable vashat while offering oblations made with perfumed fuel will yield victory in battle. 

2. SV. 1.51a; 2.867a.

         3. SV. 1.256a; 2.923a.

21b-24. A wise manshould make good figures of elephants, horses and men with flour and represent the chief men of the enemy with oily cakes of flour and cut them into pieces with a knife. Then the knower of the sacred formulasshould offer oblations (with these cakes) soaked in mustard oil with wrath while reciting the hymn abhi två šūranonumaḥ.⁴ The wise man gets victory in battle by this act. The hymns gåruda⁵, våmadevya⁶, rathantara⁷ and bruhadratha⁸ are without any doubt said to destroy all sins.

4. SV. 1.233a; 2.30a.

5. Could not be traced.

6. MS. 4.9.11:132.10.

 7. See p. 706, note 6.

                  8. Tait. Sam. 2.3.10.2.