For lengthened life I bind on thee the Darbha grass, the mighty
plant.
Excellent, hard to overthrow, with hundred stems and thousand
blades.
They cut not off his hair, they strike blow upon the breast for'
him.
To whom one gives protection by Darbha that hath uninjured
leaves.
O Plant, thy root is in the sky, and thou art stationed on the
earth:
With thee who hast a thousand stalks we strengthen all the
powers of life.
Through all three skies the plant hath pierced, and the three
regions of the earth;
With thee I split in twain the tongue and words of the bad-
hearted man.
Thou art victorious in thy might I am endowed with conquering
strength:
Possessed of overpowering force we two will quell our enemies.
Subdue our foeman, overcome the men who fain would fight:
with us.
Conquer all evil-hearted ones: make many well-disposed to me.
With Darbha that hath sprung from Gods, stationed in heaven,
full many a time.
With this have I won many men, have won and may I win them
still.
Do thou, O Darbha, make me dear to Brāhman and Rājanya,
dear to Sūdra, and to Arya dear,
Yea, dear to every man we love, to every man with eyes to see.
He who first born fixed earth in her position, he who established
heaven and air's mid-region,
Whom sinner ne'er hath known as his supporter,—this Darbha
be our shelter and protection!
First of all plants it sprang into existence, victorious, hundred-
stemmed, the foe-subduer,
So may this Darbha from all sides protect us: with this may I
subdue our foes in battle.
