Sukta 42
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi ascription varies by Anukramaṇī)
Devata: Soma-Rudra (dual); with Nirṛti and Enas as targeted afflictions
Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable)
AV 7.42 ist ein knappes, zweistrophiges Heil‑ und Reinigungszauberstück, das die gepaarten Mächte Soma und Rudra als göttliche Ärzte anruft. Sie sollen umherstreifendes Unheil (Krankheit/böser Einfluss) vertreiben, Nirṛti (Unheil/Zerstörung) in weite Ferne bannen und die bindende Kraft von enas (begangener Schuld) lösen, die nach Vorstellung am Körper und am Haus haftet. Die Wirksamkeit des Hymnus liegt in seiner Doppelbewegung: Ausstoßung des Missgeschicks und inneres Entbinden der Sünde als spürbare, leibliche Fessel.
Mantras
Mantra 1
पापमोचनम्। सोमा॑रुद्रा॒ वि वृ॑हतं॒ विषू॑ची॒ममी॑ वा॒ या नो॒ गय॑मावि॒वेश॑ । बाधे॑थां दू॒रं निरृ॑तिं परा॒चैः कृ॒तं चि॒देनः॒ प्र मु॑मुक्तम॒स्मत्
Lösung vom Übel. O Soma und Rudra, treibt auseinander das umherirrende Übel—oder die Krankheit—die in unser Leben und Haus eingedrungen ist. Schlagt Nirrti, das Verderben, weit fort, rückwärts; und selbst die begangene Schuld löst von uns ab.
Mantra 2
सोमा॑रुद्रा यु॒वमे॒तान्य॒स्मद् विश्वा॑ त॒नूषु॑ भेष॒जानि॑ धत्तम्। अव॑ स्यतं मु॒ञ्चतं॒ यन्नो॒ अस॑त् त॒नूषु॑ ब॒द्धं कृ॒तमेनो॑ अ॒स्मत्
O Soma und Rudra, ihr beide, legt all diese Heilmittel in unsere Leiber. Treibt hinweg, löst los, was uns war — in unseren Leibern gebunden — die Schuld, die begangene Sünde, von uns.
Frequently Asked Questions
They are invoked as a paired healing power: Soma provides purifying, medicinal essence, while Rudra forcefully drives away affliction and calamity. Together they heal and protect.
Nirṛti is personified ruin or misfortune that must be sent far away. Enas is a fault or guilt that is imagined as something that can cling to a person and even feel ‘bound’ within the body, needing release.
It can be recited for sickness or household misfortune with simple purification acts—sprinkling water, offering a Soma-symbolic drink, and making an ‘untying’ gesture to dramatize the mantra’s request to unbind and remove harm.
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