Atharva Veda

The Hymns of the Atharvaveda

Translation by Ralph T.H. Griffith

HYMN XXII

A charm against jaundice

1 As the Sun rises, let thy sore disease and yellowness depart.
We compass and surround thee with the colour of a ruddy ox.

2 With ruddy hues we compass thee that thou mayst live a leng-thened life:
So that this man be free from harm, and cast his yellow tint away.

3 Devatyās that are red of hue, yea, and the ruddy-coloured kine,
Each several form, each several force—with these we compass thee about.

4 To parrots and to starlings we transfer thy sickly yellowness:
Now in the yellow-coloured birds we lay this yellowness of thine.