Sukta 29
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (maṇi/rakṣā hymnic complex; specific r̥ṣi not securely determinable from the provided excerpt alone)
Devata: Darbha and Maṇi as personified protective agents; implicitly the apotropaic power (rakṣas-kṣapana)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (command-form refrain; typical AV protective cadence)
Mantras
Mantra 1
दर्भमणिः। निक्ष दर्भ सपत्नान् मे निक्ष मे पृतनायतः । निक्ष मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो निक्ष मे द्विषतो मणे
The Darbha-Amulet. Thrust down, O Darbha, my rivals; thrust down for me the battle-assailants. Thrust down for me all the ill-hearted; thrust down for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 2
तृन्द्धि दर्भ सपत्नान् मे तृन्द्धि मे पृतनायतः । तृन्द्धि मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दतृन्द्धि मे द्विषतो मणे
Hew down, O Darbha, my rivals; hew down for me the battle-onset. Hew down for me all the ill-hearted; hew down for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 3
रुन्द्धि दर्भ सपत्नान् मे रुन्द्धि मे पृतनायतः । रुन्द्धि मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो रुन्द्धि मे द्विषतो मणे
Restrain, O Darbha, my rivals; restrain for me the battle-onset. Restrain for me all the ill-hearted; restrain for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 4
मृण दर्भ सपत्नान् मे मृण मे पृतनायतः । मृण मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो मृण मे द्विषतो मणे
Crush, O Darbha, my rivals; crush for me the battle-onset. Crush for me all the ill-hearted; crush for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 5
मन्थ दर्भ सपत्नान् मे मन्थ मे पृतनायतः । मन्थ मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो मन्थ मे द्विषतो मणे
Churn up, O Darbha, my rivals; churn up for me the battle-onset. Churn up for me all the ill-hearted; churn up for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 6
पिण्ड्ढि दर्भ सपत्नान् मे पिण्ड्ढि मे पृतनायतः । पिण्ड्ढि मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो पिण्ड्ढि मे द्विषतो मणे
Lump together, O Darbha, my rivals; lump together for me the battle-onset. Lump together for me all the ill-hearted; lump together for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 7
ओष दर्भ सपत्नान् मे ओष मे पृतनायतः । ओष मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो ओष मे द्विषतो मणे
Burn thou away, O Darbha, mine adversaries; burn away for me the battle-rushers. Burn away for me all the evil-hearted; burn away for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 8
दह दर्भ सपत्नान् मे दह मे पृतनायतः । दह मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो दह मे द्विषतो मणे
Burn, O Darbha, mine adversaries; burn for me the battle-rushers. Burn for me all the evil-hearted; burn for me the haters, O Amulet.
Mantra 9
जहि दर्भ सपत्नान् मे जहि मे पृतनायतः । जहि मे सर्वान् दुर्हार्दो जहि मे द्विषतो मणे
Smite, O Darbha, mine adversaries; smite for me the battle-rushers. Smite for me all the evil-hearted; smite for me the haters, O Amulet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Darbha is sacred grass treated as a protective force, and Maṇi is a consecrated amulet/jewel. The hymn speaks to them as if they can act—cutting, binding, and striking hostile forces.
Its primary function is protective counter-hostility: it neutralizes threats by disabling opponents (cutting down, binding, smiting). In Atharvanic terms, that defensive aim can use forceful language and actions.
A practitioner would hold or knot darbha while reciting and consecrate a maṇi amulet by touch and repetition, then have the patron wear or carry it—especially before conflict, travel, or when hostility is suspected.