Rig Veda
yā oṣadhīḥ pūrvā jātā devebhyas triyugam purā manai nu babhrūṇām ahaṃ śataṃ dhāmāni sapta ca
Herbs that sprang up in time of old, three ages earlier than the Gods,- Of these, whose hue is brown, will I declare the hundred powers and seven.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Ye, Mothers, have a hundred homes, yea, and a thousand are your growths. Do ye who have a thousand powers free this my patient from disease.
This verse is not included in this edition.
Be glad and joyful in the Plants, both blossoming and bearing fruit, Plants that will lead us to success like mares who conquer in the race.
oṣadhīr iti mātaras tad vo devīr upa bruve saneyam aśvaṃ gāṃ vāsa ātmānaṃ tava pūruṣa
Plants, by this name I speak to you, Mothers, to you the Goddesses: Steed, cow, and garment may I win, win back thy very self, O man.
This verse is not included in this edition.
The Holy Fig tree is your home, your mansion is the Parna tree: Winners of cattle shall ye be if ye regain for me this man.
yatrauṣadhīḥ samagmata rājānaḥ samitāv iva vipraḥ sa ucyate bhiṣag rakṣohāmīvacātanaḥ
He who hath store of Herbs at hand like Kings amid a crowd of men,- Physician/Vaidya is that Bipra/sage's name, fiend-slayer, chaser of disease.
aśvāvatīṃ somāvatīm ūrjayantīm udojasam āvitsi sarvā oṣadhīr asmā ariṣṭatātaye
Herbs rich in Soma, rich in steeds, in nourishments, in strengthening power,- All these have I provided here, that this man may be whole again.
This verse is not included in this edition.
The healing virtues of the Plants stream forth like cattle from the stall,- Plants that shall win me store of wealth, and save thy vital breath, O man.
iṣkṛtir nāma vo mātātho yūyaṃ stha niṣkṛtīḥ sīrāḥ patatriṇī sthana yad āmayati niṣ kṛtha
Reliever is your mother's name, and hence Restorers are ye called. Rivers are ye with wings that fly: keep far whatever brings disease.
ati viśvāḥ pariṣṭhā stena iva vrajam akramuḥ oṣadhīḥ prācucyavur yat kiṃ ca tanvo rapaḥ
Over all fences have they passed, as steals a thief into the fold. The Plants have driven from the frame whatever malady was there.
This verse is not included in this edition.
When, bringing back the vanished strength, I hold these herbs within my hand, The spirit of disease departs ere he can seize upon the life.
yasyauṣadhīḥ prasarpathāṅgam aṅgam paruṣ paruḥ tato yakṣmaṃ vi bādhadhva ugro madhyamaśīr iva
He through whose frame, O Plants, ye creep member by member, joint by joint,- From him ye drive away disease like some strong arbiter of strife.
sākaṃ yakṣma pra pata cāṣeṇa kikidīvinā sākaṃ vātasya dhrājyā sākaṃ naśya nihākayā
Fly, Spirit of Disease, begone, with the blue jay and kingfisher. Fly with the wind's impetuous speed, vanish together with the storm.
anyā vo anyām avatv anyānyasyā upāvata tāḥ sarvāḥ saṃvidānā idam me prāvatā vacaḥ
Help every one the other, lend assistance each of you to each, All of you be accordant, give furtherance to this speech of mine.
yāḥ phalinīr yā aphalā apuṣpā yāś ca puṣpiṇīḥ bṛhaspatiprasūtās tā no muñcantv aṃhasaḥ
Let fruitful Plants, and fruitless, those that blossom, and the blossomless, Urged onward by Brihaspati, release us from our pain and grief;
muñcantu mā śapathyād atho varuṇyād uta atho yamasya paḍbīśāt sarvasmād devakilbiṣāt
Release me from the curse's plague and woe that comes from Varuna; Free me from Yama's fetter, from sin and offence against the Gods.
avapatantīr avadan diva oṣadhayas pari yaṃ jīvam aśnavāmahai na sa riṣyāti pūruṣaḥ
What time, descending from the sky, the Plants flew earthward, thus they spake: No evil shall befall the man whom while he liveth we pervade,
yā oṣadhīḥ somarājñīr bahvīḥ śatavicakṣaṇāḥ tāsāṃ tvam asy uttamāraṃ kāmāya śaṃ hṛde
Of all the many Plants whose King is, Soma, Plants of hundred forms, Thou art the Plant most excellent, prompt to the wish, sweet to the heart.
yā oṣadhīḥ somarājñīr viṣṭhitāḥ pṛthivīm anu bṛhaspatiprasūtā asyai saṃ datta vīryam
O all ye various Herbs whose King is Soma, that o'erspread the earth, Urged onward by Brihaspati, combine your virtue in this Plant.
mā vo riṣat khanitā yasmai cāhaṃ khanāmi vaḥ dvipac catuṣpad asmākaṃ sarvam astv anāturam
Unharmed be he who digs you up, unharmed the man for whom I dig: And let no malady attack biped or quadruped of ours.
yāś cedam upaśṛṇvanti yāś ca dūram parāgatāḥ sarvāḥ saṃgatya vīrudho 'syai saṃ datta vīryam
All Plants that hear this speech, and those that have departed far away, Come all assembled and confer your healing power upon this Herb.
oṣadhayaḥ saṃ vadante somena saha rājñā yasmai kṛṇoti brāhmaṇas taṃ rājan pārayāmasi
With Soma as their Sovran Lord the Plants hold colloquy and say: O King, we save from death the man whose cure a Brahman undertakes.
tvam uttamāsy oṣadhe tava vṛkṣā upastayaḥ upastir astu so 'smākaṃ yo asmāṁ abhidāsati
Most excellent of all art thou, O Plant thy vassals are the trees. Let him be subject to our power, the man who seeks to injure us.