Sukta 22
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (late book formulae; specific ṛṣi not securely assigned for these svāhā-items in many indices)
Devata: Recipient-class designated by the dative (here: ‘the lesser’ as a graded set); svāhā as ritual vehicle
Chandas: Not metrical in the strict sense; a short yajus-like offering formula
Mantras
Mantra 1
आङ्गिरसानामाद्यैः पञ्चानुवाकैः स्वाहा
Svāhā, with the first five anuvākas of the Aṅgirases.
Mantra 2
षष्ठाय स्वाहा
Svāhā to the Sixth.
Mantra 3
सप्तमाष्टमाभ्यां स्वाहा
Svāhā to the Seventh and the Eighth together.
Mantra 4
नीलनखेभ्यः स्वाहा
Svāhā to the Blue-nailed (beings).
Mantra 5
हरितेभ्यः स्वाहा
Svāhā to the Green (beings).
Mantra 6
क्षुद्रेभ्यः स्वाहा
Oblation—Svāhā—to the lesser (set).
Mantra 7
पर्यायिकेभ्यः स्वाहा
Oblation—Svāhā—to the successive (set).
Mantra 8
प्रथमेभ्यः शङ्खेभ्यः स्वाहा
Oblation—Svāhā—to the first conches.
Mantra 9
द्वितीयेभ्यः शङ्खेभ्यः स्वाहा
Oblation—Svāhā—to the second conches.
Mantra 10
तृतीयेभ्यः शङ्खेभ्यः स्वाहा
Oblation—Svāhā—to the third conches.
Mantra 11
उपोत्तमेभ्यः स्वाहा
Svāhā unto those that are nigh unto the Highest.
Mantra 12
उत्तमेभ्यः स्वाहा
Svāhā unto the Highest.
Mantra 13
उत्तरेभ्यः स्वाहा
Svāhā unto the Higher Ones.
Mantra 14
ऋषिभ्यः स्वाहा
Svāhā unto the Ṛṣis.
Mantra 15
शिखिभ्यः स्वाहा
Svāhā unto the Crested Ones.
Mantra 16
गणेभ्यः स्वाहा
To the Companies (of divine hosts)—svāhā!
Mantra 17
महागणेभ्यः स्वाहा
To the Great Companies—svāhā!
Mantra 18
सर्वेभ्योऽङ्गिरोभ्यो विदगणेभ्यः स्वाहा
To all the Aṅgirases, to the Companies of the Knowing—svāhā!
Mantra 19
पृथक्सहस्राभ्यां स्वाहा
Apart, to the Two Thousands—svāhā!
Mantra 20
ब्रह्मणे स्वाहा
To Brahman (the sacred power)—svāhā!
Mantra 21
ब्रह्मज्येष्ठा संभृता विर्याऽणि ब्रह्माग्रे ज्येष्ठं दिवमा ततान । भूतानां ब्रह्मा प्रथमोत जज्ञे तेनार्हति ब्रह्मणा स्पर्धितुं कः
Brahman is the eldest: gathered are the potencies. Brahman, in the beginning, as the most excellent, stretched forth the heaven. Of beings Brahmā was born first indeed: who, by that Brahman, is worthy to contend with Brahman?
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an offering-litany that directs oblations to multiple recipient-groups in a ranked order, so the rite works cleanly and no offering is ‘sent’ to the wrong target.
Svāhā functions as the ritual dispatch-word for an āhuti: it marks the oblation as properly offered and carried to the recipient named in the dative.
It establishes a hierarchy: brahman (sacred power/speech and its personification) is declared eldest and unrivalable, which ritually supports authority, success, and freedom from contest or obstruction.