Sukta 6
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often anonymous/Angiras-type in AV 6); specific r̥ṣi not stated in the provided excerpt.
Devata: Brahmaṇaspati (Bṛhaspati) as lord of brahman and subduer of hostile intent.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; AV 6 commonly uses anuṣṭubh in such compact charms).
AV 6.6 ist ein knappes Gegenfeindseligkeits‑Beschwörungsstück, das die göttliche Sprachmacht gegen Feinde, Verleumder und verdeckte Angreifer richtet, die sich gegen den Yajamāna erheben. Es ruft Brahmaṇaspati, den Herrn des brahman, an, feindliche Absicht zu „unterwerfen“, und Somās strafende Kraft, böswillige Rede zu zerschmettern und die Stärke des Angreifers zu verzehren, um rituelle Sicherheit und sozialen Schutz zu gewährleisten.
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। यो॒३स्मा॑न् ब्र॑ह्मणस्प॒तेऽदे॑वो अभि॒मन्य॑ते । सर्वं॒ तं र॑न्धयासि मे॒ यज॑मानाय सुन्व॒ते॑
Vernichtung der Feinde. Wer, o Brahmanaspati, gottlos, gegen uns grollt — den unterwirf mir ganz, dem Opferherrn, der Soma auspresst.
Mantra 2
यो नः॑ सोम सुशं॒सिनो॑ दुः॒शंस॑ आ॒दिदे॑शति । वज्रे॑णास्य॒ मुखे॑ जहि॒ स संपि॑ष्टो॒ अपा॑यति
O Soma! Wer uns, die wir guten Ruhmes würdig sind, als übler Verleumder schmäht, den schlage mit dem Vajra in den Mund; völlig zermalmt soll er dahinschwinden.
Mantra 3
यो नः॑ सोमाभि॒दास॑ति॒ सना॑भि॒र्यश्च॒ निष्ट्यः॑ । अप॒ तस्य॒ बलं॑ तिर म॒हीव॒ द्यौर्व॑ध॒त्मना॑
O Soma! Wer uns mit seinen Genossen angreift und wer als lauernder, verborgener Feind auftritt — nimm ihm die Kraft hinweg durch deine tötende Macht, wie der Himmel die mächtige Erde niederhält.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to protect a sacrificer or community by subduing hostile people, silencing slander/denunciation, and weakening both open and hidden attackers.
Brahmaṇaspati represents the binding authority of brahman (ritual speech) to bring enemies under control, while Soma represents consecrated power that punishes malicious speech and drains an aggressor’s strength.
The verses do not require substances; practitioners may optionally use a symbolic ‘vajra’ object (like a stone/pestle) to enact the ‘crushing’ imagery, especially in a Soma-rite setting.
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