Religion
Atharva Veda 1.12: A prayer to Lightning, against fever, headache, and cough
Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith (1895–96) · From The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda (1895–96)
Born from the womb, brought forth from wind and from the cloud, the first red bull comes onward thundering with the rain.
Our bodies may he spare who, cleaving, goes straight on; he who, a single force, divides himself in three.
Bending to thee who clingest to each limb with heat, fain would we worship thee with offered sacrifice, Worship with sacrifice the bends and curves of thee who with a vigorous grasp hast seized on this one's limbs.
Do thou release this man from headache, free him from cough which has entered into all his limbs and joints.
May he, the child of cloud, the offspring of the wind, the whizzing lighting, strike the mountains and the trees.
Well be it with my upper frame, well be it with my lower parts.
With my four limbs let it be well. Let all my body be in health.
Cite this poem
MLA
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 1.12: A prayer to Lightning, against fever, headache, and cough.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/11/.
Chicago
Veda, The Rishis of the Atharva. “Atharva Veda 1.12: A prayer to Lightning, against fever, headache, and cough.” Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/atharvaveda-rishis/11/.
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