Sutra 40

Devanagari script

रक्षोभये रक्षोघ्नान्यथर्ववेदविदो मायायोगविदो वा कर्माणि कुर्युः ॥ कZ_०४.३.४० ॥

Transliteration

rakṣobhaye rakṣoghnāny atharvavedavido māyāyogavido vā karmāṇi kuryuḥ

Translation

In fear of demons/hostile spirits, Atharvavedic experts—or experts in māyā and yogic techniques—should perform rites intended to destroy such threats.

Word by Word

• रक्षः-भये: in the fear caused by demons/evil spirits (supernatural danger)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस्/भय
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; रक्षस्-शब्दः षष्ठी-एकवचनम् + भय-शब्दः सप्तमी-एकवचनम् (समासे: ‘रक्षसां भये’ = रक्षोभये)

• रक्षः-घ्नानि: demon-destroying/protective (rites)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: हन् (घ्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्; ‘रक्षः’ (उपपदम्) + ‘घ्न’ (हन्-धातोः कृत्, ‘slayer’) → ‘रक्षोघ्न’ = राक्षस-नाशक; अत्र ‘कर्माणि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण

• अथर्ववेद-विदः: knowers of the Atharvaveda
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: विद् (ज्ञाने)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; अथर्ववेदस्य विदः = अथर्ववेदविदः

• माया-योग-विदः: knowers of magical arts and practical devices/techniques
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: विद् (ज्ञाने)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनम्; ‘माया’ + ‘योग’ (उपाय/प्रयोग) + ‘विद’ = माया-योगयोः विदः (मायाप्रयोग-विदः)

• वा: or
• Type: Particle
• Root: वा
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम्

• कर्माणि: rites/operations (protective acts)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन्
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्

• कुर्युः: should perform
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (करणे)
• Form: लिङ् (विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्

Entities Mentioned

• Atharvaveda experts
• māyā-yoga experts
• rakṣas (perceived threats)

More Details

FAQs

How can ‘rakṣas’ be read in administrative terms?

As a category of socially real threats—panic, rumors, perceived hauntings—where the state uses culturally credible specialists to prevent disorder and restore confidence.