Atharva Veda · 364 of 724

HYMN LVI

A charm against poisonous bites and stings 1. Whether it came from viper, from black snake or snake with    transverse stripes,   Or Kankaparvan’s bite, this herb hath made the poison power-    less. 2. Honey-born, honey-dropping, rich in honey, honeysweet, this    herb,   Is medicine that heals the wound and kills the gnat that bites    and stings. 3. Whatever bit, or sucked thy blood, we summon thence away    from thee   The ineffectual poison of the little sharply-stinging gnat. 4. Thou here who crookest wicked jaws, thou tortuous, jointless,    limbless thing,   These jaws thou, Brāhmanaspati! shalt bend together like a    reed. 5. This scorpion here that creeps along, low on the ground and    powerless—   I have removed his poison and then utterly demolished him. 6. No strength in thy two arms hast thou, nor in thy head, nor in    thy waist:   Then what is that small thing thou so viciously bearest in thy    tail? 7. The emmets make a meal of thee and peahens tear and mangle    thee:   All ye are crying out, In sooth the scorpion’s poison hath no    strength. 8. Thou creature who inflictest wounds both with thy mouth and    with thy tail,   No poison in thy mouth hast thou: what at thy tail’s root will    there be?