Of Kanda eight to seventeen, a scope we trace,
The Atharva Veda shows its profound grace.
The initial books, from Eight to Twelve we find,
Hold cosmic speculation for the inquiring mind.
On nature's high secrets, and Brahman's great sway,
They ponder on life and the darkness of day.
Then Thirteen to Eighteen move to life's human stream,
With rites of passage and a householder's dream.
The marriage hymns of Kāṇḍa Fourteen unfold,
To bless a new union, a story to be told.
While Kāṇḍa Eighteen deals with the ultimate end,
The funeral chants for the spirits that transcend.
Thus Eighth to Seventeenth, a varied collection appears,
From deep philosophical thought to the passing of years.
They capture the customs and concerns of the age,
A vibrant, complex record on the Vedic page.
