Book 5: Hymn 4: A charm against fever and other ailments

1Thou who wast born on mountains, thou most mighty of all plants that grow. Thou Banisher of Fever, come, Kushtha! make Fever pass away. 2Brought from the Snowy Mountain, born on the high hill where eagles breed, Men seek to buy thee when they hear: for Fever's Banisher they know. 3In the third heaven above us stands the Asvattha tree, the seat of Gods. There the Gods sought the Kushtha Plant, embodiment of end- less life. 4There moved through heaven a golden ship, a ship with cordage wrought of Gold. There the Gods won the Kushtha Plant, the blossom of eternal life. p. a159 5They sailed on pathways paved with gold, the oars they piled were wrought of gold: All golden were the ships wherein they carried Kushtha down to earth. 6O Kushtha, bring thou hitherward this man of mine, restore his health, Yes, free him from disease for me. 7Thou art descended from thee Gods, Soma's benignant friend art thou, Befriend my breath and vital air be gracious unto this mine eye. 8Sprung, northward, from the Snowy Hill thou art conveyed to eastern men. There they deal out among themselves Kushtha's most noble qualities. 9Most excellent, indeed, art thou, Kushtha! most noble is thy sire. Make all Consumption pass away and render Fever powerless. 10Malady that affects the head, eye-weakness, bodily defect— All this let Kushtha heal and cure: aye, godlike is the vigorous power.