Sukta 91
Rishi: Atharvanic healer tradition
Devata: Bhaiṣajya (medicine) / Yakṣman-removal power (functional devatā)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (approx.)
Mantras
Mantra 1
यक्ष्मनाशनम्। इ॒मं यव॑मष्टायो॒गैः ष॑ड्यो॒गेभि॑रचर्कृषुः । तेना॑ ते त॒न्वो॒३रपो॑ ऽपा॒चीन॒मप॑ व्यये
This barley have they compounded with eightfold mixtures, with sixfold mixtures; therewith, from thy body, I drive away the wasting harm, turned backward and sent afar.
Mantra 2
न्य॑१ग्वातो॑ वाति॒ न्यऽक् तपति॑ सूर्यः॑ । नी॒चीन॑म॒घ्न्या दु॑हे॒ न्यऽग् भवतु ते॒ रपः॑
Downward the Wind doth blow; downward the Sun doth burn: downward the inviolable Cow is milked; downward, for thee, let the wasting harm be driven.
Mantra 3
आप॒ इद् वा उ॑ भेष॒जीरापो॑ अमीव॒चात॑नीः । आपो॑ विश्व॑स्य भेष॒जीस्तास्ते॑ कृण्वन्तु भेष॒जम्
The Waters, yea verily, are medicines; the Waters are the dispellers of disease. The Waters are the medicine of all: may those Waters for thee make a remedy.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Atharvavedic healing language, yakṣman is a wasting, lingering affliction (often linked with consumption-like decline). Here it is also called rapas, a harmful wasting influence to be driven away.
Barley is treated as a tangible carrier of bhaiṣajya power: it is compounded in measured mixtures (‘yogas’) and empowered by mantra so it can ‘turn back’ and expel the wasting harm from the patient’s body.
The hymn declares the Waters to be medicines and disease-dispersers for all. Consecrated water is used to purify, soothe, and seal the treatment so the remedy becomes complete and enduring.
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