The Offerings to the Healer

4.5.1

a Homage to Thy wrath, O God the Healer and Avenger,

To Thine arrow homage also;

Homage to Thy bow,

And homage to Thine arms.

b With Thy most kindly arrow,

And kindly bow,

With Thy kindly decree,

Be gentle to us, O Lord.

c That mercy of Thine, O Lord, which is kindly,

Not dread, with auspicious look,

With that mercy, most potent to heal,

O Lord of the mountains, do Thou look on us.

d The arrow which, O Lord of the mountains,

In Thy hand Thou bearest to shoot,

That make Thou kindly, O guardian of mountains;

Harm not the world of men.

e With kindly utterance Thee

We address, O Lord of the mountains,

That all our folk

Be free from sickness and of good cheer.

f The advocate has spoken in advocacy,

The first divine healer,

Confounding all the serpents

And all sorceries.

g The dusky, the ruddy,

The brown, the auspicious,

And the angels who in thousands

Lie around this earth in the quarters,

Their wrath do we deprecate.

h He who creeps away,

Blue-necked and ruddy,

Him the cowherds have seen,

Have seen the bearers of water

And all creatures;

May He, seen, be gentle unto us.

i Homage to the Lord of a thousand eyes, the bountiful,

And to those who are His servants

I have paid my homage to God.

k Unfasten from the two notches

Of Thy bow the bowstring,

And cast Thou down

The arrows in Thy hand.

l Unstringing Thy bow,

Do Thou of a thousand eyes and a hundred quivers,

Destroying the points of Thine arrows,

Be gentle and kindly to us.

m Unstrung is the bow of Him of the braided hair

And arrowless His quiver;

His arrows have departed,

Empty is His quiver.

n O most bountiful One, the missile

That is in Thy hand, Thy bow,

With it on all sides do Thou guard us,

Free from sickness.

o Homage to Thy weapon,

Unstrung, dread;

And homage to Thy two hands,

To Thy bow.

p May the missile from Thy bow

Avoid us on every side,

And do Thou lay far from us

This quiver that is Thine.

4.5.2

a Homage to the golden-armed Leader of hosts, and to the Lord of the quarters homage!

b Homage to the trees with green tresses, to the Lord of cattle homage!

c Homage to the One who is yellowish-red like young grass, to the Radiant, to the Lord of paths homage!

d Homage to the brown One, to the Piercer, to the Lord of food homage!

e Homage to the green-haired, wearer of the cord, to the Lord of prosperity homage!

f Homage to the dart of the Creator of being, to the Lord of the moving world homage!

g Homage to the Healer with bent bow, to the Lord of fields homage!

h Homage to the minstrel, the inviolate, to the Lord of the woods homage!

i Homage to the ruddy One, the Ruler, to the Lord of woods homage!

k Homage to the Minister, the Trader, to the Lord of thickets homage!

l Homage to the Extender of the world, the offspring of the Maker of room, to the Lord of plants homage!

m Homage to the loud-calling, the screaming, to the Lord of footmen homage!

n Homage to the wholly covered, to the running, to the Lord of warriors homage!

4.5.3

a Homage to the strong, the piercing, to the Lord of assailers homage!

b Homage to the Leader, the holder of the quiver, to the Lord of those that are tested homage!

c Homage to the Holder of the quiver, to the Owner of the quiver, to the Lord of those that are tested homage!

d Homage to the Lord of the forests, the glider, the wanderer around, homage!

e Homage to the bolt-armed destroying powers, to the Lord of the fierce homage!

f Homage to the bearers of the sword, the night wanderers, to the Lord of the nights homage!

g Homage to the turbaned wanderer on the mountains, to the Lord of the heights homage!

h Homage to you, bearers of arrows, and to you, bowmen, homage!

i Homage to you that string the bow, and to you that place the arrow, homage!

k Homage to you that bend the bow, and to you that let go the arrow, homage!

l Homage to you that hurl, and to you that pierce, homage!

m Homage to you that are seated, and to you that lie, homage!

n Homage to you that sleep, and to you that wake, homage!

o Homage to you that stand, and to you that run, homage!

p Homage to you assemblies, and to you, lords of assemblies, homage!

q Homage to you horses, and to you, lords of horses, homage!

(All homage, submission and praise are to God alone, who is Lord of all that He has created.)

4.5.4

a Homage to you that wound, and to you that pierce, homage!

b Homage to you that are in bands, and to you that are destructive, homage!

c Homage to you skilled ones, and to you, lords of the skilled, homage!

d Homage to you hosts, and to you, Lord of hosts, homage!

e Homage to you troops, and to you, Lord of troops, homage!

f Homage to you of misshapen form, and to you of all forms, homage!

g Homage to you that are great, and to you that are small, homage!

h Homage to you that have chariots, and to you that are chariotless, homage!

i Homage to you chariots, and to you, lords of chariots, homage!

k Homage to you hosts, and to you, Lord of hosts, homage!

l Homage to you, doorkeepers, and to you, charioteers, homage!

m Homage to you, carpenters, and to you, makers of chariots, homage!

n Homage to you, potters, and to you, smiths, homage!

o Homage to you, the Punjistas, and to you, the Nisadas, homage!

p Homage to you, makers of arrows, and to you, makers of bows, homage!

q Homage to you, hunters, and to you, dog-leaders, homage!

r Homage to you dogs, and to you, lords of dogs, homage!

4.5.5

a Glory to the Creator of being and to the Healer.

b Glory to the Destroyer of evil and to the Lord of cattle.

c Glory to the Blue-necked and to the White-throated.

d Glory to the Wearer of braids and to Him of shaven hair.

e Glory to Him of a thousand eyes and to Him of a hundred bows.

f Glory to Him who haunts the mountains and to the All-Pervading.

g Glory to the most Bountiful and to the Bearer of the arrow.

h Glory to the short and to the dwarf.

i Glory to the great and to the stronger.

k Glory to Him who has waxed and to the waxing.

l Glory to the Chief and to the First.

m Glory to the Swift and to the Active.

n Glory to the Rapid and to the Hasty.

o Glory to Him of the wave and to the Roaring.

p Glory to Him of the stream and to Him of the island.

4.5.6

a Glory to the Oldest and to the Youngest.

b Glory to the First-born and to the Later-born.

c Glory to the Midmost and to the immature.

d Glory to the Hindmost and to Him in the depth.

e Glory to Sobhya and to Him of the amulet.

f Glory to Him who dwells with the appointed term and to Him at peace.

g Glory to Him of the ploughed field and to Him of the threshing-floor.

h Glory to Him of fame and to Him at His end.

i Glory to Him of the wood and to Him of the thicket.

k Glory to sound and to echo.

l Glory to Him of the swift host and to Him of the swift car.

m Glory to the Hero and to the Destroyer.

n Glory to the armoured and to the corsleted.

o Glory to the mailed and to the cuirassed.

p Glory to the famous and to Him of a famous host.

4.5.7

a Glory to Him of the drum and to Him of the drumstick.

b Glory to the bold and to the cautious.

c Glory to the messenger and to the servant.

d Glory to the quiver-bearer and to the owner of the quiver.

e Glory to Him of the sharp arrow and to Him of the weapon.

f Glory to Him of the good weapon and to Him of the good bow.

g Glory to Him of the stream and to Him of the way.

h Glory to Him of the hole and to Him of the pool.

i Glory to Him of the ditch and to Him of the lake.

k Glory to Him of the stream and to Him of the tank.

l Glory to Him of the cistern and to Him of the well.

m Glory to Him of the rain and to Him not of the rain.

n Glory to Him of the cloud and to Him of the lightning.

o Glory to Him of the cloudy sky and to Him of the heat.

p Glory to Him of the wind and to Him of the storm.

q Glory to Him of the dwelling and to Him who guards the dwelling.

4.5.8

a Glory to the Lord of provision and to the Healer.

b Glory to the dusky One and to the ruddy One.

c Glory to the Giver of weal and to the Lord of cattle.

d Glory to the Dread and to the Terrible.

e Glory to Him who slays in front and to Him who slays at a distance.

f Glory to the Slayer and to the special Slayer.

g Glory to the trees with green tresses.

h Glory to the Deliverer.

i Glory to the Source of health and to the Source of delight.

k Glory to the Maker of health and to the Maker of delight.

l Glory to the Auspicious and to the more Auspicious.

m Glory to Him of the ford and to Him of the bank.

n Glory to Him beyond and to Him on this side.

o Glory to Him who crosses over and to Him who crosses back.

p Glory to Him of the crossing and to Him of the ocean.

q Glory to Him in the tender grass and to Him in foam.

r Glory to Him in the sand and to Him in the stream.

4.5.9

a Glory to Him in the cleft and to Him in the distance.

b Glory to Him dwelling in the stony and to Him in habitable places.

c Glory to Him of braided hair and to Him of plain hair.

d Glory to Him who dwells in the cowshed and to Him of the house.

e Glory to Him of the bed and to Him of the dwelling.

f Glory to Him of the hole and to Him of the abyss.

g Glory to Him of the lake and to Him of the whirlpool.

h Glory to Him of the dust and to Him of the mist.

i Glory to Him of the dry and to Him of the green.

k Glory to Him of the copse and to Him of the grass.

l Glory to Him in the earth and to Him in the gully.

m Glory to Him of the leaf and to Him of the leaf-fall.

n Glory to Him who growls and to Him who smites away.

o Glory to Him who drags and to Him who repels.

p Glory to Thee, sparkling signs of the angels' Lord.

q Glory to the Destroyed.

r Glory to the Intelligent.

s Glory to the Unconquerable.

t Glory to the Destroyer.

4.5.10

a O Chaser, Lord of the plants of provision,

O Waster, red and blue,

Frighten not nor injure

Any of these people, of these cattle;

Be not one of these injured.

b That auspicious form of Thine, O Lord,

Auspicious and ever healing,

Auspicious and healing mercy of the Healer,

With that show mercy on us for life.

c This prayer we offer up to the impetuous Lord,

With plaited hair, destroyer of men,

That health be for our bipeds and quadrupeds,

And that all in this village be prosperous and free from ill.

d Be merciful to us, O Lord, and give us delight;

With honour let us worship Thee, destroyer of men;

The health and wealth which father Manu won by sacrifice,

May we attain that, O Lord, under Thy guidance.

e Neither our great, nor our small,

Our waxing or what has waxed,

Do Thou slay, nor father nor mother;

Injure not, O Lord, our dear bodies.

f Harm us not in our children, our descendants, our life;

Harm us not in our cattle, in our horses;

Smite not in anger our heroes, O Lord;

With oblations let us serve Thee with honour.

g From afar to Thee, slayer of wrongdoers, and slayer of men,

Destroyer of heroes, be goodwill for us;

Guard us and accord us aid

And grant us protection in abundance.

h Praise the famous youth, mounted on the chariot seat,

Dread and destructive like a fierce wild beast;

Being praised, O Lord, be merciful to the singer;

Let Thy missiles smite down another than us.

i May the missile of the Healer spare us,

May the wrath of the brilliant evil worker pass over us;

Unstring for the generous donors Thy strong bows;

O bounteous One, be merciful to our children and descendants.

k O most bounteous, most auspicious,

Be auspicious and favourably inclined to us;

Placing down Thy weapon on the highest tree,

Clad in Thy skin, come,

And approach us bearing Thy blessing.

l O blood-red scatterer,

Homage to Thee, O adorable One;

May Thy thousand missiles

Smite down another than us.

m A thousandfold in thousands

Are the missiles in Thine arms;

O adorable One, do Thou turn away

The points of those which Thou dost rule.

4.5.11

a The angels who are over the earth

In thousands by thousands,

Their bows we unstring

At a thousand leagues.

b The Bhavas in this great ocean,

The atmosphere,

c The Sarvas of black necks and white throats,

Who wander below on the earth,

d The angels who abide in the sky,

Of black necks and white throats,

e Those of black necks and ruddy,

Grass green, are in the trees,

f The overlords of creatures,

Without top-knot, with braided hair,

g Those that assault men in their food

And in their cups as they drink,

h Those that guard the paths,

Bearing food, warriors,

i Those that resort to fords,

With spears and quivers,

k The angels that so many and yet more

Occupy the quarters, their bows we unstring

At a thousand leagues.

l m n Glory to God, and homage to His servants the angels on the earth, in the atmosphere, in the sky, whose arrows are food, wind, and rain; to God ten eastwards, ten to the south, ten to the west, ten to the north, ten upwards; to Him homage, be He merciful to us; him whom we hate and him who hates us I place in His hands.