Hymns of the Atharva-Veda/Book 1/Hymn 11

A charm to be used at child-birth

1. Vashat to thee. O Pūshan At this birth let Aryaman the Sage
     perform as Hotar-priest, p. a12
     As one who bears in season let this dame be ready to bring forth
     her child.
2. Four are the regions of the sky, and four the regions of the
     earth:
     The Gods have brought the babe; let them prepare the woman
     for the birth.
3. Puerpera (infatem) detegat: nos uterum aperimus. Lexa teipsam,
     puerpera. Tu, parturiens! emitte eum non carni, non adipi,
     non medullae adhāerntem.
4. Descendat viscosa placenta, cani, comedenda placenta; decidat
     placenta.
5. Diffindo tuum urinae ductum, diffindo vaginam, diffindo inguina.
     Matrem natumque divido, puerum a placenta divido: decidat
     placenta.
6. Sicut ventus, sicut mens, sicut alites volant, sic, decem mensium
     puer, cum placenta descende: descendat placenta.