Atharva Veda Anuvaka 4
Kanda 31 Suktas11 Mantras

Anuvaka 4

本章は、yakṣma(消耗病・肺癆)とpāpman(悪性の不浄・汚染する邪穢)を医療的(Bhaiṣajya)に祓い、samāyus(完全な寿命)を回復させるための呪的エクソシズムを主題とする。要点は、儀礼的な「分離」(viyojana)によって病を患者から切り離すこと、患者を全体性・活力・損なわれない生命へ再び結び直すこと、pāpmanという悪性不浄の浄化を病因治療として行うこと、そして消耗病の再発を防ぐための防護を強めることである。実際には、消耗・慢性的衰弱・再発性の病の徴候がある者に用い、生命力と健全さの回復を目指す。

Kinds of charm

Bhaishajya (healing): 1

Suktas in Anuvaka 4

Deities of Anuvaka 4

  • Agni

    Healer

    In 1 hymn

  • AyusĀyus (Samāyus / Full Lifespan)

    Restorer

    In 1 hymn

  • YakshmaYakṣma (personified disease)

    Destroyer

    In 1 hymn

  • PapmanPāpman (malign impurity)

    Destroyer

    In 1 hymn

Inside Anuvaka 4

The theme

Bhaiṣajya exorcism of yakṣma and pāpman to restore samāyus (complete lifespan)

Threads through it

  • Ritual ‘separation’ (viyojana) of disease from the patient
  • Re-linking the patient with wholeness, vitality, and unimpaired life
  • Purification from malign impurity (pāpman) as a medical cause
  • Protective reinforcement against relapse of wasting illness

Who it serves

Used when a person shows signs of wasting/consumption, chronic debility, or recurring illness—aimed at removing the affliction and securing full life and strength.

What it heals

  • Yakṣma (wasting disease/consumption) and chronic debilitySukta 3.31
  • Pāpman (malign impurity) understood as a contaminating cause of illness and misfortuneSukta 3.31
  • Threat to lifespan (shortening of āyus), fear of decline and relapseSukta 3.31

Frequently Asked Questions

Its central aim is Bhaiṣajya healing: the repeated ritual ‘separation’ of the patient from yakṣma (wasting disease) and pāpman (malign impurity), and the restoration of samāyus—an unimpaired, complete lifespan.

Sukta 3.31 is the defining hymn here, focused on driving off yakṣma and pāpman while reuniting the patient with full life (samāyus).

It is primarily mantra-based: the therapeutic action is framed as verbal-ritual expulsion of disease and impurity and verbal restoration of lifespan and vitality.

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