Sukta 16
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi not securely determinable from the single mantra alone in isolation).
Devata: Prāṇa and Apāna (vital breaths) as deified life-agents; apotropaic opposition to Mṛtyu.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (short protective formula; exact metrical classification is fluid for such svāhā-closures).
Dieser kurze atharvanische Zauberspruch ist eine knappe Lebensschutz‑(āyusya) Formel, die die Lebenshauche — Prāṇa und Apāna — gegen das Nahen von Mṛtyu (Tod) festigt. Durch mit svāhā besiegelte Anrufungen der Lebenswinde und der kosmischen Wächter (Sūryas Auge, Agni Vaiśvānara mit den Allgöttern) errichtet er einen schützenden Umkreis, der vorzeitigem oder gewaltsamem Tod wehren und dem Lebenden Standfestigkeit zurückgeben soll.
Mantras
Mantra 1
सुरक्षा प्राणा॑पानौ मृ॒त्योर्मा॑ पातं॒ स्वाहा॑
Guter Schutz! O Prāṇa und Apāna, vor dem Tod beschützt mich. Svāhā!
Mantra 2
द्यावा॑पृथिवी॒ उप॑श्रुत्या मा पातं॒ स्वाहा॑
Himmel und Erde, durch euer aufmerksames Hören beschützt mich: svāhā.
Mantra 3
सूर्य॒ चक्षु॑षा मा पाहि॒ स्वाहा॑
O Sūrya, mit deinem Auge beschütze mich — svāhā.
Mantra 4
अग्ने॑ वैश्वानर॒ विश्वै॑र्मा दे॒वैः पा॑हि॒ स्वाहा॑
O Agni Vaiśvānara, mit allen Göttern beschütze mich — svāhā.
Mantra 5
विश्वं॑भर॒ विश्वे॑न मा॒ भर॑सा पाहि॒ स्वाहा॑
O Alltragender, mit deiner allumfassenden Macht, durch deine tragende Kraft beschütze mich — svāhā.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a life-protecting (āyusya) healing charm that asks Prāṇa and Apāna to guard the person from Death (Mṛtyu), then seals protection through Sūrya and Agni with svāhā.
A fire offering with ghee can be done if available, but in Atharvanic protective use, svāhā can also function as a verbal seal (mānasa-homa) when recited with focused intent.
It is used when someone is ill, weakened, fearful of danger, or facing ominous circumstances—especially where the aim is to stabilize vitality and avert premature or violent death.
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