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Hymns of the Atharva Veda, by Ralph T.H. Griffith, [1895], at sacred-texts.com


HYMN XXXIX

A protective charm

1Let Kushtha from the Hill of Snow come, a divine deliverer.
  Banish thou all Consumption, drive all sorceresses far away.
2Kushtha, three several names hast thou, Naghamāra,
  Naghārisha: let not mishap befall this man,
  For whom I make a charm of thee at eve, at morning, and by
   day.
3Jivalā is thy mother's name, thy father's name is Jivala; let not
   mishap, etc.
4Thou art the best amid the plants, even as the ox is best of
   tame, the tiger of rapacious beasts: let not mishap, etc.
5Born thrice from the Ādityas, thrice from Bhrigus, thrice from
  Angiras' sons, born from the Visve Devas thrice, p. 243
  Healer of every malady, that Kushtha stands by Soma's side.
  Banish thou all Consumption, drive all sorceresses far away.
6In the third heaven above us stands the Asvattha tree, the seat
   of Gods:
  There is embodiment of life that dies not: thence was Kushtha
   born.
7There moved through heaven a golden ship, a ship with cordage
   wrought of gold:
  There is embodiment of life that dies not; thence was Kushtha
   born.
8Where is the Sinking of the Ship, the summit of the Hill of
  Snow,
  There is embodiment of life that dies not: thence was Kustha
   born.
  Healer of every malady, that Kushtha stands by Soma's side.
  Banish thou all Consumption, drive all sorceresses far away.
9Thou whom Ikshvāku's ancestor, whom he who well-loved
  Kushtha, knew,
  Whom Vāyasa and Mātsya knew, hence healer of all ills art
   thou.
10O thou who hast all-reaching might drive away Fever, drive it
   down,
  Head racking Fever, tertian, continual, lasting for a year.


Next: Hymn 40: A prayer for pardon of error in sacrifice, and for wisdom, strength, and life