Sukta 5
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Angiras attribution for apas-healing formulae; specific r̥ṣi not stated in the given excerpt)
Devata: Āpaḥ (the Waters), personified as a sovereign healing power
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; short pāda structure consistent with common AV meters)
Dieser kurze atharvavedische Hymnus behandelt die Wasser (Āpaḥ) und die heilkräftige Essenz (rasa) als lebendige, souveräne Heilmächte, die Befleckung reinigen und Ganzheit wiederherstellen. Durch Bitte und rituelle Zuflucht zu geweihtem Wasser (und der damit verbundenen Pflanzenkraft) erbittet der Rezitierende heilende „Arznei“, sicheren Wohnsitz (kṣaya) und zeugendes Wohlergehen für den Haushalt.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अपां भेषजम्। आपो॒ हि ष्ठा म॑यो॒भुव॒स्ता न॑ ऊ॒र्जे द॑धातन । म॒हे रणा॑य॒ चक्ष॑से
Ein Heilmittel sind die Wasser. Denn ihr, o Wasser, seid wahrlich die Spender der Wonne; eben diese gebt uns Kraft — für den großen Kampf — und Sehkraft.
Mantra 2
यो वः॑ शि॒वत॑मो॒ रस॒स्तस्य॑ भाजयते॒ह नः॑ । उ॒श॒तीरि॑व मा॒तरः॑
Welche von euch, o Wasser, den heilsamsten, gütigsten Saft besitzt—davon gewährt uns hier einen Anteil; wie Mütter, freudig verlangend (zu nähren).
Mantra 3
तस्मा॒ अरं॑ गमाम वो॒ यस्य॒ क्षया॑य॒ जिन्व॑थ । आपो॑ ज॒नय॑था च नः
Darum suchen wir euch, o Wasser, in rechter Weise auf—euch, deren Kraft belebt zum sicheren Wohnsitz; und, o Wasser, zeugt auch für uns (unser Heil).
Mantra 4
ईशा॑ना॒ वार्या॑णां॒ क्षय॑न्तीश्चर्षणी॒नाम्। अ॒पो या॑चामि भेष॒जम्
Herrscherin der Wasser, Wohnstatt der Völker — die Wasser flehe ich um Heilmittel an.
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks the Waters to become ‘medicine’—to cleanse impurity and illness, restore vitality, and bring stable well-being to the person and home.
Water is fetched cleanly, the verses are recited over it, and then it is used for sprinkling (purification) and, when appropriate, a small sip as a healing intake.
Rasa is the curative essence—especially associated with plants—understood as the kindly, nourishing potency that the Waters can carry and deliver for healing.
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