Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer for Recovery from Illness: Excerpt (1921)

祈病平癒祝詞(抄)きびょうへいゆのりとしょう

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

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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(ちりょうとかんごのみのりをいのる)

恐(かしこ)けれど今(いま)は大神等(おおかみたち)の広(ひろ)き厚(あつ)き大御恵(おおみめぐみ)を仰(あお)ぎ奉(まつ)り、祈願奉(こいねぎまつ)る外無(ほかな)しと思(おも)ひ定(さだ)めて、大御前(おおみまえ)に礼代(いやしろ)の幣帛献(みてぐらたてまつ)り、洗米(あらいよね)、清酒(きよきみき)、種々(くさぐさ)の味物(ためつもの)を机代(つくえしろ)に供(そな)へ置(お)きて乞祈奉(こいねぎまつ)る状(さま)を阿波礼(あわれ)と見備(みそなわ)し聞食(きこしめ)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(やそまがつひ)の禍事(まがこと)をば、神直毘(かむなおび)、大直毘(おおなおび)に直(なお)し給(たま)ひて、医師等(くすしら)が用(もち)ひ飲(のま)しむる種々(くさぐさ)の薬(くすり)の上(うえ)に高(たか)く尊(とうと)き稜威(みいつ)の神霊(みたま)を幸(さきわ)ひ給(たま)ひ、医薬(いやく)の験有(しるしあ)らしめ給(たま)ひ、看護(かんご)の効有(しるしあ)らしめ給(たま)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(はる)の沫雪(あわゆき)の照日(てるひ)に消行(けゆ)く事(こと)の如(ごと)く、秋(あき)の真霧(まぎり)の吹風(ふくかぜ)に晴行(はれゆ)く事(こと)の如(ごと)く、洗米(あらいよね)の阿良波(あらわ)に、清酒(きよきみき)の速(すみや)けく直(なお)し給(たま)ひ癒(いや)し給(たま)ひ、広(ひろ)き厚(あつ)き恩頼(みたまのふゆ)を蒙(こうむ)らしめ給(たま)ひ、堅磐(かきわ)に常磐(ときわ)に息内長(いのちなが)く、世(よ)の長人(ながひと)と在(あ)らしめ給(たま)へと、畏(かしこ)み畏(かしこ)みも乞祈奉(こいねぎまつ)らくと白(もう)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.

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