Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayers Concerning Illness, Chapter 3 — 1869 edition

祈癒病五章・第三章(きゆびょうごしょう・だいさんしょう)(1869年刊本(ねんかんぽん))

A historical prayer inviting Ōnamuchi and Sukunabikona and asking for the recovery of those lying ill. Its references to remedies and ritual practices belong to the historical text.

English meaning and source text

Text size

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.

Before the two great kami, Ōnamuchi and Sukunabikona, we humbly speak.

Illness has recently arisen throughout the surrounding lands, and people grieve deeply for the many who suffer and die. Together they resolve to invite and honor the kami according to ancient custom, seeking your broad compassion for humankind.

On this auspicious day we therefore present ritual gifts and humbly offer these words. Please receive our service peacefully.

From the beginning of the age of the kami, you established remedies and ritual means concerning illness and have helped people ever since. Bestow that sacred power upon those lying ill; heal, comfort and bless them. We humbly speak.

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.

掛(かけ)まくも畏(かしこ)き大那牟遅大神(おほなむちのおほかみ)・少名毘古那大神(すくなびこなのおほかみ)二柱大神(ふたばしらおほかみ)の大前(おほまへ)に、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)さく。

kakemakumo kashikoki ohonamuchinoohokami sukunabikonanoohokami futabashiraohokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.

比日(このごろ)四方八方(よもやも)の里々(さとさと)に病起(やまひおこり)て、人多(ひとさは)に悩(なやみ)て失(うせ)ぬるも不少事(すくなからぬこと)を、人々(ひとびと)甚(いた)く歎愁(なげきうれひ)て、諸共(もろとも)に議基智(はかりごち)て、古(いにしへ)の法(のり)の任(まにま)大神等(おほかみたち)を招奉(をぎまつり)斎奉(いはひまつり)て、蒼生(あをひとぐさ)を哀(あはれみ)給(たま)ふ広(ひろ)き厚(あつ)き恩頼(みたまのふゆ)を乞祈奉(こひのみまつら)むと、

konogoro yomoyamono satosatoni yamahiokorite, hitosahani nayamite usenurumo sukunakaranukotowo, hitobito itaku nagekiurehite, morotomoni hakarigochite, inishiheno norino manima ohokamitachiwo wogimatsuri ihahimatsurite, awohitogusawo aharemi tamafu hiroki atsuki mitamanofuyuwo kohinomimatsuramuto,

為(し)て今日(けふ)の生日(いくひ)の足日(たるひ)に、礼代(ゐやじろ)の幣(みてぐら)を捧持(ささげもち)て、大神(おほかみ)の大前(おほまへ)を恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも称辞竟奉(たたへごとをへまつ)らくと白(まを)す。如此(かく)仕奉事(つかへまつること)を平(たひら)けく安(やすら)けく聞召(きこしめ)して、

shite kefuno ikuhino taruhini, wiyajirono mitegurawo sasagemochite, ohokamino ohomahewo kashikomi kashikomimo tatahegotowohematsurakuto mawosu. kaku tsukahematsurukotowo tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite,

神代(かみよ)の初(はじめ)の時(とき)、大神等(おほかみたち)の諸(もろもろ)の病(やまひ)を治(をさむ)る薬方(くすりののり)とまじなひののりとを定(さだめ)給(たま)ひて、今世(いまのよ)に至迄(いたるまで)青人草(あをひとぐさ)を助(たすけ)給(たま)ひ救(すくひ)給(たま)ふ恩頼(みたまのふゆ)を、神随(かむながら)幸坐(ちはへまし)て、病臥(やみこや)せる諸人等(もろびとら)を直(なほし)給(たま)ひ癒(いやし)給(たま)ひ撫(なで)給(たま)ひ恵(めぐみ)給(たま)へと、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(まを)す。

kamiyono hajimeno toki, ohokamitachino moromorono yamahiwo wosamuru kusurinonoritomajinahinonoritowo sadame tamahite, imanoyoni itarumade awohitogusawo tasuke tamahi sukuhi tamafu mitamanofuyuwo, kamunagara chihahemashite, yamikoyaseru morobitorawo nahoshi tamahi iyashi tamahi nade tamahi megumi tamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosu.

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.

← All prayers and sutras