Sukta 41
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often treated as anonymous/collective in AV ancillary rites)
Devata: Manas–Cetas–Dhī–Ākūti etc. (personified faculties); implicitly Āyus (Life) as the goal
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (4 pādas of 8 syllables; Atharvanic anuṣṭubh style)
Dieser kurze atharvanische Hymnus ist ein Langlebigkeitszauber, der die inneren Werkzeuge des Lebens — Geist, Gewahrsein, Intention und die Sinne — festigt, damit die Wahrnehmung nicht versagt und die Lebenskraft nicht zerstreut wird. Er harmonisiert den Prāṇa‑Komplex (prāṇa, apāna, vyāna) und ruft Sarasvatīs tragende Rede an; sodann bittet er die göttlichen ṛṣis als «Leibwächter» (tanūpāḥ), beim Sterblichen zu bleiben und die Lebensspanne zu verlängern.
Mantras
Mantra 1
दीर्घायुःप्राप्तिः। मन॑से॒ चेत॑से धि॒य आकू॑तय उ॒त चित्त॑ये । म॒त्यै श्रु॒ताय॒ चक्ष॑से वि॒धेम॑ ह॒विषा॑ व॒यम्
Dem Geist (manas), dem Bewusstsein (cetas), dem heiligen Denken (dhī), den Vorsätzen (ākūti) und der festen Sammlung (citti); dem Verstehen (mati), dem Hören (śruti), dem Sehen (cakṣus) — wollen wir Verehrung darbringen mit Opfergabe (havis), wir selbst.
Mantra 2
अ॒पा॒नाय॑ व्या॒नाय॑ प्रा॒णाय॒ भूरि॑धायसे । सर॑स्वत्या उरु॒व्यचे॑ वि॒धेम॑ ह॒विषा॑ व॒यम्
Dem Apāna (Abwärtsatem), dem Vyāna (durchdringender Atem), dem Prāṇa (Lebensatem), dem reichen Spender; Sarasvatī mit weittragender Rede (uruvyacā) — wollen wir Verehrung darbringen mit Opfergabe (havis), wir selbst.
Mantra 3
मा नो॑ हासिषु॒र्ऋष॑यो॒ दैव्या॒ ये त॑नू॒पा ये न॑स्त॒न्वऽस्तनू॒जाः । अम॑र्त्या॒ मर्त्यां॑ अ॒भि नः॑ सचध्व॒मायु॑र्धत्त प्रत॒रं जी॒वसे॑ नः
Mögen uns die göttlichen Ṛṣis nicht verlassen — die Hüter des Leibes, die leibgeborenen Beschützer unserer Person. Ihr Unsterblichen, schließt euch uns Sterblichen an; verleiht uns Lebenszeit, länger bemessen, damit wir leben.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to seek long life by stabilizing mental faculties (mind, attention, understanding) and harmonizing the vital breaths (prāṇa, apāna, vyāna), along with protective support from divine guardians.
In Atharvanic ritual language, key functions of life are treated as personified powers; honoring them with oblation is a way to ‘secure’ their steady presence so they do not weaken or wander.
No special herb is required by the hymn itself; the basic medium is havis (ghee/food offering). The main emphasis is correct recitation with calm breath and a clear intention for āyus (extended life).
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