Sukta 97

Mantra 1

या ओषधीः पूर्वा जाता देवेभ्यस्त्रियुगं पुरा । मनै नु बभ्रूणामहं शतं धामानि सप्त च ॥

O plants, born first, ancient before the gods through the triple age, I now call to mind your brown-hued powers: a hundred and seven are your stations—your settled forms of healing presence.

Mantra 2

शतं वो अम्ब धामानि सहस्रमुत वो रुहः । अधा शतक्रत्वो यूयमिमं मे अगदं कृत ॥

A hundred are your stations, O Mothers, and a thousand your growths. Then, O you of a hundred powers, make for me this remedy—let it become my means of wholeness.

Mantra 3

ओषधीः प्रति मोदध्वं पुष्पवतीः प्रसूवरीः । अश्वा इव सजित्वरीर्वीरुधः पारयिष्ण्वः ॥

O plants, rejoice toward me—flowering, bringing forth good begettings. Like victorious horses in the contest, O climbing growths, carry us across: lead the being beyond the crossings of disorder into safe wholeness.

Mantra 4

ओषधीरिति मातरस्तद्वो देवीरुप ब्रुवे । सनेयमश्वं गां वास आत्मानं तव पूरुष ॥

O Mothers, the healing powers, thus I speak to you, O goddesses, drawing near: may I win the steed and the ray-cow, and the robe of being—yes, the very self for you, O Purusha (the indwelling Person).

Mantra 5

अश्वत्थे वो निषदनं पर्णे वो वसतिष्कृता । गोभाज इत्किलासथ यत्सनवथ पूरुषम् ॥

In the aśvattha is your seat, in the leaf your dwelling is made. You are indeed sharers of the rays, when you win and recover the Purusha (the true Person) within.

Mantra 6

यत्रौषधीः समग्मत राजानः समिताविव । विप्रः स उच्यते भिषग्रक्षोहामीवचातनः ॥

Where the healing powers come together like kings in council, that illumined knower is called the healer—slayer of the dark forces, the one who drives out affliction.

Mantra 7

अश्वावतीं सोमावतीमूर्जयन्तीमुदोजसम् । आवित्सि सर्वा ओषधीरस्मा अरिष्टतातये ॥

Find for him all the healing powers—those rich in force, rich in Soma-delight, increasing the sap of energy and lifting up the strength—so that he may arrive at an unbroken wholeness.

Mantra 8

उच्छुष्मा ओषधीनां गावो गोष्ठादिवेरते । धनं सनिष्यन्तीनामात्मानं तव पूरुष ॥

The might of the healing powers rises up like cows surging forth from the stall; they seek to win the true wealth—yes, the very self—for you, O Purusha within.

Mantra 9

इष्कृतिर्नाम वो माताथो यूयं स्थ निष्कृतीः । सीराः पतत्रिणीः स्थन यदामयति निष्कृथ ॥

‘Iṣkṛti’ is said to be your Mother; and you are the ‘Niskṛtis’, the powers of release. Be swift and winged in your going: when something brings affliction, draw it out and cast it away.

Mantra 10

अति विश्वाः परिष्ठा स्तेन इव व्रजमक्रमुः । ओषधीः प्राचुच्यवुर्यत्किं च तन्वो रपः ॥

Across all the enclosing bounds, like a thief crossing into the pen, the healing powers press forward; whatever stain or hurt is in the body, they shake it loose and drive it out.

Mantra 11

यदिमा वाजयन्नहमोषधीर्हस्त आदधे । आत्मा यक्ष्मस्य नश्यति पुरा जीवगृभो यथा ॥

When, seeking plenitude of force, I take these healing powers into my hand, the very self of wasting sickness perishes—like a living thing seized and held fast.

Mantra 12

यस्यौषधीः प्रसर्पथाङ्गमङ्गं परुष्परुः । ततो यक्ष्मं वि बाधध्व उग्रो मध्यमशीरिव ॥

For whom the healing powers creep and spread through limb by limb, joint by joint—then drive away the yakṣma, violently, like a fierce wedge splitting the middle.

Mantra 13

साकं यक्ष्म प्र पत चाषेण किकिदीविना । साकं वातस्य ध्राज्या साकं नश्य निहाकया ॥

O yakṣma, fly away together with the chattering omen, together with the rushing blast of the wind; together vanish into the ‘nihākā’—into the negating void where you can no longer return.

Mantra 14

अन्या वो अन्यामवत्वन्यान्यस्या उपावत । ताः सर्वाः संविदाना इदं मे प्रावता वचः ॥

May each healing power support the other; may one aid the other in mutual approach. Let all of them, united in one understanding, forward and fulfil this word of mine—this will of prayer.

Mantra 15

याः फलिनीर्या अफला अपुष्पा याश्च पुष्पिणीः । बृहस्पतिप्रसूतास्ता नो मुञ्चन्त्वंहसः ॥

Whether bearing fruit, or fruitless, whether without flower or rich with blossom—whatever the healing powers are, born from the impulsion of Bṛhaspati, let them release us from the constriction of wrong and suffering.

Mantra 16

मुञ्चन्तु मा शपथ्यादथो वरुण्यादुत । अथो यमस्य पड्बीशात्सर्वस्माद्देवकिल्बिषात् ॥

Let them release me from the binding of the oath’s error, and from the Varuṇic fetter, and also from Yama’s noose; from every godward fault and breach of the law of the powers—may I be set free.

Mantra 17

अवपतन्तीरवदन्दिव ओषधयस्परि । यं जीवमश्नवामहै न स रिष्याति पूरुषः ॥

Falling down from heaven, the healing powers spread all around. Whom we reach and take into the living current, that person is not harmed—he does not fall into injury.

Mantra 18

या ओषधीः सोमराज्ञीर्बह्वीः शतविचक्षणाः । तासां त्वमस्युत्तमारं कामाय शं हृदे ॥

Among the many healing powers, queens under Soma, with a hundred modes of seeing, you are the most excellent—fully sufficient for the soul’s desire, a peace and gladness for the heart.

Mantra 19

या ओषधीः सोमराज्ञीर्विष्ठिताः पृथिवीमनु । बृहस्पतिप्रसूता अस्यै सं दत्त वीर्यम् ॥

You healing powers, queens under Soma, spread out across the Earth—impelled by Bṛhaspati—gathered together, give to this one your force of victory and effective energy.

Mantra 20

मा वो रिषत्खनिता यस्मै चाहं खनामि वः । द्विपच्चतुष्पदस्माकं सर्वमस्त्वनातुरम् ॥

May the digger not harm you—nor the one for whom I dig you up. Let all that is ours, the two-footed and the four-footed, be free from disorder and affliction.

Mantra 21

याश्चेदमुपशृण्वन्ति याश्च दूरं परागताः । सर्वाः संगत्य वीरुधोऽस्यै सं दत्त वीर्यम् ॥

Those that hear this invocation nearby and those that are far away—let all the growing powers assemble together and give to this one the gathered force of efficacy.

Mantra 22

ओषधयः सं वदन्ते सोमेन सह राज्ञा । यस्मै कृणोति ब्राह्मणस्तं राजन्पारयामसि ॥

The healing powers speak together with Soma the King. For whom the knower of the Word fashions the working, that one, O King, we carry across—beyond the peril into wholeness.

Mantra 23

त्वमुत्तमास्योषधे तव वृक्षा उपस्तयः । उपस्तिरस्तु सोऽस्माकं यो अस्माँ अभिदासति ॥

You are the most excellent, O healing power; your trees are supports and coverings. Let that support be ours—against whoever assails and seeks to injure us.