________________
16
HYMNS OF THE ATHARVA-VEDA.
7. When the constellations fade away, and when the dawn does fade away, (then) shall he shine away from us every evil and the kshetriya !
.
I, 23. Leprosy cured by a dark plant. 1. Born by night art thou, O plant, dark, black, sable. Do thou, that art rich in colour, stain this leprosy, and the gray spots!
2. The leprosy and the gray spots drive away from here—may thy native colour settle upon theethe white spots cause to fly away!
3. Sable is thy hiding-place, sable thy dwellingplace, sable art thou, O plant: drive away from here the speckled spots !
4. The leprosy which has originated in the bones, and that which has originated in the body and upon the skin, the white mark begotten of corruption, I have destroyed with my charm.
1, 24. Leprosy cured by a dark plant. 1. The eagle (suparna) that was born at first, his gall thou wast, O plant. The Åsurt having conquered this (gall) gave it to the trees for their colour.
2. The Asurt was the first to construct this remedy for leprosy, this destroyer of leprosy. She has destroyed the leprosy, has made the skin of even colour.
3. 'Even-colour' is the name of thy mother; ‘Even-colour' is the name of thy father; thou, O plant, producest even colour: render this (spot) of even colour!
4. The black (plant) that produces even colour has been fetched out of the earth. Do thou now, pray, perfect this, construct anew the colours !
Digitized by
Digitized by Google
