Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda

Atharva Veda 5.30

A charm to restore life and health

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From thy vicinity I call, from near, from far, from night at hand. Stay here: depart not: follow not the Fathers of the olden time. I bind thy vital spirit fast.

If any man, a stranger or akin, hath cast a spell on thee, I with my voice to thee declare thy freedom and release therefrom.

If in thy folly thou hast lied or cursed a woman or a man, I with my voice declare to thee thy freedom and release therefrom.

If thou art lying there because of mother's or of father's sin, I with my voice declare to thee thy freedom and release therefrom.

Accept the healing medicine, the balm thy mother and thy sire, Thy sister and thy brother bring. I make thee live through lengthened years.

O man, stay here among us; stay with all thy spirit: follow not Yama's two messengers. Approach the castles where the living dwell.

Come back as thou art called to come, knowing the outlet of the path, And the Approach and its ascent, the way of every living man.

Be not alarmed: thou wilt not die. I give thee lengthened years of life. Forth from thy members have I charmed Decline that caused the fever there.

Gone is the pain that racked thee, gone thy fever, gone thy heart's disease. Consumption, conquered by my voice, hath, like a hawk, fled far away.

Two sages, Sense and Vigilance, the sleepless and the watchful one, These, the protectors of thy life, shall be awake both day and night.

This Agni must be waited on. Here let the Sun mount up for thee. Rise from deep death and come away, yea, from black darkness rise thou up!

Homage be paid to Yama, to Mrityu, and to the Fathers, and to those who guide us! I honour first, for this man's preservation, that Agni who well knoweth how to save him.

Let breath and mind return to him, let sight and vigour come again Let all his body be restored and firmly stand upon its feet.

Provide this man with breath and sight, O Agni, and with his body and his strength unite him. Thou knowest Amrit: let him not go hence, nor dwell in house of clay.

Let not thine inward breathing fail, let not thine outward breath be lost. Let Sūrya who is Lord Supreme raise thee from death with beams of light.

Tied, tremulously moving, here the tongue is speaking in the mouth. With thee I charmed Decline away and Fever's hundred agonies.

This living world, unconquered of the Gods, is most beloved of all. To whatsoever death thou wast destined when thou wast born,. O man, This death and we call after thee. Die not before decrepit age!