Read, reflect, pray
Prayer for Recovery from Illness: Excerpt (1921)
祈病平癒祝詞(抄)
The verified petition portion of a historical model prayer, asking for benefit from medical treatment and nursing. The opening invocation and description of illness are not included.
English meaning and source text
English meaning
About this English rendering
This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.
An independent rendering of the displayed historical model. Recovery, protection and long life are expressed as prayers, not as guaranteed effects of treatment or ritual.
Now we have resolved to look up to your far-reaching kindness and offer our prayer. We present ritual offerings, washed rice, pure sake and foods before you. Please regard with compassion and hear this petition.
May misfortunes be set right through Kamunaobi and Ōnaobi. Bestow your revered sacred power upon the medicines administered by the physicians, so that treatment and nursing may bring benefit.
As spring snow melts in sunlight and autumn mist clears in the wind, may the illness be cleared away and recovery come swiftly. May your abundant grace sustain a life as enduring as firm rock. With reverence, I offer this prayer.
Source text and reading aid
Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.
How to use the Roman letters
Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.
You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.
治療と看護の実りを祈る
恐けれど今は大神等の広き厚き大御恵を仰ぎ奉り、祈願奉る外無しと思ひ定めて、大御前に礼代の幣帛献り、洗米、清酒、種々の味物を机代に供へ置きて乞祈奉る状を阿波礼と見備し聞食して。
kashikokeredo imaha ookamitachino hiroki atsuki oomimegumiwo aogi matsuri, koinegimatsuru hokanashito omohi sadamete, oomimaeni iyashirono miteguratatematsuri, araiyone, kiyokimiki, kusagusano tametsumonowo tsukueshironi sonahe okite koinegimatsuru samawo awareto misonawashi kikoshimeshite.
八十禍津日の禍事をば、神直毘、大直毘に直し給ひて、医師等が用ひ飲しむる種々の薬の上に高く尊き稜威の神霊を幸ひ給ひ、医薬の験有らしめ給ひ、看護の効有らしめ給ひ。
yasomagatsuhino magakotowoba, kamunaobi, oonaobini naoshi tamahite, kusushiraga mochihi nomashimuru kusagusano kusurino ueni takaku toutoki miitsuno mitamawo sakiwahi tamahi, iyakuno shirushiarashime tamahi, kangono shirushiarashime tamahi.
春の沫雪の照日に消行く事の如く、秋の真霧の吹風に晴行く事の如く、洗米の阿良波に、清酒の速けく直し給ひ癒し給ひ、広き厚き恩頼を蒙らしめ給ひ、堅磐に常磐に息内長く、世の長人と在らしめ給へと、畏み畏みも乞祈奉らくと白す。
haruno awayukino teruhini keyuku kotono gotoku, akino magirino fukukazeni hareyuku kotono gotoku, araiyoneno arawani, kiyokimikino sumiyakeku naoshi tamahi iyashi tamahi, hiroki atsuki mitamanofuyuwo koumurashime tamahi, kakiwani tokiwani inochinagaku, yono nagahitoto arashime tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo koinegimatsurakuto mousu.
Connected kami and buddhas
These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.
Sources and edition (1)
English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.