Sukta 30
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Angiras rubric; specific r̥ṣi attribution depends on anukramaṇī)
Devata: Viśve Devāḥ; Vasus; Ādityas (collective protective deities)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; confirm by pada-count in critical edition)
Mantras
Mantra 1
दीर्घायुःप्राप्तिः। विश्वे देवा वसवो रक्षतेममुतादित्या जागृत यूयमस्मिन्। मेमं सनाभिरुत वान्यनाभिर्मेमं प्रापत् पौरुषेयो वधो यः
All ye Gods, ye Vasus, guard ye this man; and ye Ādityas, wakeful be ye over him. Let not the slaughter wrought by man overtake him—neither by one of the self-same womb, nor yet by one of alien womb.
Mantra 2
ये वो देवाः पितरो ये च पुत्राः सचेतसो मे शृणुतेदमुक्तम्। सर्वेभ्यो वः परि ददाम्येतं स्वस्त्येऽनं जरसे वहाथ
Ye Gods, ye Fathers, and ye Sons beside, in concord of mind, hear ye this my spoken word. To all of you I give it forth, encompassing: bear ye this weal onward unto old age.
Mantra 3
ये देवा दिवि ष्ठ ये पृथिव्यां ये अन्तरिक्ष ओषधीषु पशुष्वप्स्व१न्तः । ते कृणुत जरसमायुरस्मै शतमन्यान् परि वृणक्तु मृत्यून्
Ye Gods who stand in heaven, ye who are on earth, ye who are in mid-air, within the plants, within the cattle, within the waters,—do ye make for him a life that reaches unto old age; and let it ward away a hundred other deaths.
Mantra 4
येषां प्रयाजा उत वानुयाजा हुतभागा अहुतादश्च देवाः । येषां वः पञ्च प्रदिशो विभक्तास्तान् वो अस्मै सत्रसदः कृणोमि
Whose fore-offerings, yea whose after-offerings, the Gods possess—having their portion in what is offered, and feeding even on what is unoffered; whose five regions are to you distributed: those Gods, O session-seated, I here establish for this man.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to secure long life and safety by invoking the collective gods to prevent human-caused harm—especially violence from relatives or outsiders—and to seal protection in all directions.
No. The hymn functions primarily as a mantra-charm; materials are optional and only relevant if it is embedded in an offering setting (prayāja/anuyāja style oblations).
It ritualizes complete coverage of space: the four directions plus the center. By ‘establishing’ the gods in these regions, the beneficiary is placed inside a guarded enclosure where danger is less able to enter.