Sukta 25
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Angiras attribution for Takman hymns; exact r̥ṣi assignment depends on Anukramaṇī).
Devata: Takman (fever) addressed and coerced; also an invoked ‘harita’-linked divine power by epithet.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (with Atharvanic cadence; pāda segmentation as transmitted).
Mantras
Mantra 1
ज्वर-नाशनम्। यदग्निरापो अदहत् प्रविश्य यत्राकृण्वन् धर्मधृतो नमांसि । तत्र त आहुः परमं जनित्रं स नः संविद्वान् परि वृङ्ग्धि तक्मन्
When Fire, entering in, did burn the Waters, where the Upholders of Order wrought their reverences—there, men declare, is thy supremest birthplace: so, knowing it full well, O Fever, strip thyself away from us on every side.
Mantra 2
यद्यर्चिर्यदि वासि शोचिः शकल्येषि यदि वा ते जनित्रम्। ह्रूडुर्नामासि हरितस्य देव स नः संविद्वान् परि वृङ्ग्धि तक्मन्
If thou be flame, if thou be burning heat; if thou goest in broken fits; or if thy birthplace be elsewhere—Hrūḍu by name art thou, O god of the Green One: then, knowing well, pluck him clean away from us, O Takman.
Mantra 3
यदि शोको यदि वाभिशोको यदि वा राज्ञो वरुणस्यासि पुत्रः । ह्रूडुर्नामासि हरितस्य देव स नः संविद्वान् परि वृङ्ग्धि तक्मन्
If thou be Grief, if Over-grief; or if thou be the son of King Varuṇa: Hrūḍu by name art thou, O god of Harita; then, knowing well, avert thyself from us on every side, O Fever.
Mantra 4
नमः शीताय तक्मने नमो रूराय शोचिषे कृणोमि । यो अन्येद्युरुभयद्युरभ्येति तृतीयकाय नमो अस्तु तक्मने
Homage to the cold Takman; homage I render to the burning one, to the flaming heat. Whoso, the alternate-day or the both-day, comes on—homage be to the third-day; homage be to Takman.
Frequently Asked Questions
Takman is fever personified as an afflicting agent—causing burning heat, recurring fits, and weakness—treated as something that can be addressed, named, and driven away.
In Atharvanic healing, knowing and uttering the true/hidden name is a control-technique: it ‘grips’ the affliction verbally so it can be commanded to depart.
Primarily it is a mantra-based healing charm (bhaiṣajya) aimed at expulsion of fever; it can be paired with cooling measures like clean water and supportive febrifuge care, though herbs are not required by the text itself.