Atharva Veda · 74 of 724

HYMN VII

A charm with an amulet of buck horn to drive away hereditary disease 1. The fleet-foot Roebuck wears upon his head a healing remedy.   Innate disease he drives away to all directions with his horn. 2. With his four feet the vigorous Buck hath bounded in pursuit of    thee.   Unbind the chronic sickness, Horn! deeply inwoven in the heart. 3. That which shines younder, like a roof resting on four walls,    down on us,—   Therewith from out thy body we drive all the chronic malady, 4. May those twin stars, auspicious, named Releasers, up in yonder    sky.   Loose of the chronic malady the uppermost and lowest bond. 5. Water, indeed, hath power to heal, Water drives malady away.   May water—for it healeth all—free thee from permanent disease. 6. Hath some prepared decoction brought inveterate disease on    thee,   I know the balm that healeth it: we drive the malady away. 7. What time the starlight disappears, what time the gleams of   Dawn depart,   May evil fortune pass from us, the chronic sickness disappear.