পৃষ্ঠা:Kamaratna Tantra.djvu/১৯

6. THE WAYS OF COLLCTING A EBBS. The medicine ought to be prepared while uttering the prescribed incantations, otherwise it is as fruitless as a lump of wood. The herbs are most potent when they are collected from solitary or sacred places or forests, while those growing on anthills, in the vicinity of a well, on gateways, at the foot of a tree, beside a temple, or in cremation ground, will not be efficacious ever if they are sanctified by incantations. Again the bark, the root, and the leaves of plants, submerged in Water, burnt by fire, and eaten by insects or worms, or having roots in the air, will also produce no effect. To collect medicinal plants a man should fast over night, and in the following morning, after offering salu- tations to Mahadeva, should approach the plant with due respect and utter the mantra (No. 1)—“Ye betal, pishasa, rakshas, and creeping animals that live in the plant, go away at the command of Shiva. Then the plant | should be saluted by uttering the mat70 (No. 2) Oh mother, thou hast thy birth in the nectar, and thou increasest strength and vitality. Let me drive away the sins and diseases. After this the plant should be dug with a flawless weapon while uttering the mant70 (No. 3) I dig thee with the same sacred hand with which Brahma, Bhrigu, Indra and Varuna dug you. After this prayer, mantra (No. 4) should be recited— Oh mother, what is my fault? May the divine life depart from this plant, so that I may be saved from the sin of uprooting and cutting it. Go thou to heaven doing good to me. After this prayer, the medicinal plant should be dugon & Sunday in. Pashya lunar mansion and in the Rabi Yoga while uttering the eight-lettered mantra (No. 5). The plant should then be cut after reciting the six-lettered mantra, (No. 6).