May protection stand guard, for here is the god, the lord of plants, who wards off harm. Whatever disease has entered this place, the gods themselves have driven it away. If, upon waking, you are troubled by an evil dream, or if an animal crosses your path in an ill-omened manner, or if the cry of a bird brings a sense of foreboding—let this precious jewel of protection shield you from all such omens. Let the Varana amulet guard you from enmity, from destruction, from sorcery, and from fear. May it shield you from the mighty blow of death itself, who is most powerful among all. Whatever wrongs my mother, my father, my brothers, or I myself have done—may this divine Lord of plants protect us from the consequences of those deeds. As for those who are hostile to me, let them, together with their kin, be troubled by the Varana and sink into the unsound dust, descending into the lowest darkness. I remain unharmed, guided by those who are unharmed, long-lived and whole among all people. May this Varana jewel protect me on every side. This Varana, king and divine Lord of plants, rests upon my chest. May he drive away my enemies, just as Indra drove away the Dasyus and Asuras. I wear this Varana for a hundred autumns, seeking long life; may it grant me dominion and power, cattle and strength. As the wind, with its force, shatters trees and forest-lords, so may you, Varana, break my rivals, whether born before or after me—protect me. As wind and fire burn down trees and forest-lords, so may you, Varana, burn my rivals, those born before and after—protect me. As trees, struck by the wind, are felled and laid low, so may you, Varana, lay low and subdue my rivals—protect me. Cut off, O Varana, those who, from before fate or before life, seek to harm him among cattle or desire his kingdom. As the sun shines forth, as this radiance is set within him, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As there is fame in the moon, in the sun, and among men, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As there is fame on earth, as in this kindled fire, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As there is fame in a maiden, as in a well-equipped chariot, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As there is fame at the Soma-pressing, at the honey-offering, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As there is fame in the Agnihotra and in the Vaṣaṭ-call, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As there is fame in the sacrificer and in this sacrifice set up, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As there is fame in Prajapati and in this supreme lord, so may the Varana jewel grant me fame and prosperity; may it not deprive me of brilliance, but unite me with glory. As among the gods is immortality, as among them is truth established, so may the jewel of protection grant me fame and prosperity; may it endow me with brilliance and unite me with renown. Now, consider the chariots: the first belongs to Indra, the second to the gods, the third to Varuṇa. The lowest chariot is that of the serpents, while the stationary one belongs to Aradatha. Darbha grass is the flame; the tree, the covering; the horse’s hair, another covering; the rough one, yet another; and the chariot’s own binding holds all together. Strike down the white-footed one, both the former and the latter; let the poison of the serpents, fierce as a thunderbolt, leap up and be destroyed, becoming as harmless as wood. The noiseless one, sinking and rising, speaks again; let the serpent’s poison, fierce as a bolt, leap up and be destroyed, rendered lifeless as wood. The Paidva strikes the black one, the white, and the grey; Paidva splits the head of the chariot’s yoke, destroying the venomous. Paidva, go forth—you are the first, and we follow after you. May you scatter the serpents from the path we tread. This Paidva was born for this purpose, and this is his domain. These are the footprints of the horse, the destroyer of serpents and possessor of strength. What is bound does not break apart; what is unbound does not come together. In this field dwell two serpents, female and male, both venomous. Here are the venomous serpents, both near and far away. With a club, I strike the scorpion, the serpent, and the one who comes with a staff. This is the remedy for the evil serpent, whether native or foreign. Indra has made the serpent powerless for me, and Paidva has rendered it harmless. We honor Paidva, steadfast and firm in his abode, while these venomous destroyers sit shining behind. Their life-force and poison are lost, slain by Indra, the wielder of the bolt; Indra has struck, and so have we. Slain are the venomous, the long-living; crushed are the destroyers. Strike the black one with the ladle, the white one with darbha grass. The Kirāta maiden, along with her companions, digs the remedy with golden spades on the mountain slopes. The young healer has come, the spotted one, unconquered; he paralyzes both native and foreign serpents, and both kinds of scorpions. Indra made the serpent powerless for me, as did Mitra and Varuṇa, and both the Wind and Parjanya. Indra made powerless the serpent and the destroyer—the native, the venomous, the black one, and the ten-fanged one. Indra struck down the first great begetter; among those who thirsted, who among them had the essence, who was without the sap? He seized their heads together, like a cluster of berries; having crossed to the middle of the river, he expelled the poison of the serpent. Thus, with the power of amulets, with the might of the gods, with the remedies of the earth, protection and healing are invoked, driving away all harm, enmity, and venom, and bestowing long life, prosperity, and renown.