Sukta 23
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (hymn-level attribution varies by anukramaṇī; commonly treated as Atharvanic).
Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters), as empowered agents of tejas and protection.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; confirm against pada-count in the critical edition/anukramaṇī).
AVŚ 2.23 ist ein knappes Gegenzauber‑Lied, das die Wasser (Āpaḥ) als leuchtende, feurige Macht anruft, die Feindseligkeit zurückwenden kann. Durch die Anrufung von arciṣ (Strahlenglanz), haraḥ (wegtragende/raubende Kraft) und tejas (Wirkkraft) der Wasser „kehrt“ der Spruch den Schaden um und entzieht dem Angreifer seine Potenz, während er zugleich den Bereich des Rezitierenden implizit schützt.
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तप॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ तपत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Wasser, welche brennende Glut (tapas) in euch ist — damit versengt ihn zurück, den, der uns hasst, den auch wir hassen.
Mantra 2
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ हर॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ हरत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Wasser, welche fortnehmende, wegtragende Kraft ihr habt — damit tragt als Vergeltung den fort, der uns hasst, den auch wir hassen.
Mantra 3
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ऽर्चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रत्य॑र्चत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Wasser, mit dem Glanz, der euch eigen ist, flammt ihm zurück entgegen — dem Menschen, der uns hasst, den auch wir wiederum hassen.
Mantra 4
आपो॒ यद् वः॑ शो॒चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ शोचत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Wasser, welche brennende Leuchtkraft ihr habt — damit versengt als Vergeltung den, der uns hasst, den auch wir hassen.
Mantra 5
आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तेज॒स्तेन॒ तम॑ते॒जसं॑ कृणुत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Wasser, welche feurige Kraft die eure ist — macht damit den kraftlos, der uns hasst, den auch wir wiederum hassen.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to counter and reverse hostility—social enmity or sorcery-like harm—by invoking the Waters to send the force back and weaken the aggressor’s efficacy (tejas).
In Atharvanic thought, water is not only cleansing; it can carry an inner heat/radiance (arciṣ/tejas) that acts as an active protective and retaliatory power when ritually addressed.
The core substance is water itself. Many prayogas use only clean water consecrated by recitation and applied by sprinkling for protection and symbolic reversal.
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