Sukta 23
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (hymn-level attribution varies by anukramaṇī; commonly treated as Atharvanic).
Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters), as empowered agents of tejas and protection.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; confirm against pada-count in the critical edition/anukramaṇī).
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तप॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ तपत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Waters, what burning ardour is yours—with that do ye scorch him back, even him who hateth us, whom we ourselves do hate.
Mantra 2
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ हर॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ हरत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Waters, what taking-away power is yours—therewith bear him back in requital, even him who hateth us, whom we ourselves do hate.
Mantra 3
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ऽर्चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रत्य॑र्चत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Waters, with that radiance which is yours, blaze back upon him—upon the man who hateth us, whom we in turn do hate.
Mantra 4
आपो॒ यद् वः॑ शो॒चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ शोचत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Waters, what burning brilliance is yours—therewith scorch him back in requital, who hateth us, whom we in turn do hate.
Mantra 5
आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तेज॒स्तेन॒ तम॑ते॒जसं॑ कृणुत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
O Waters, what fiery might is yours—therewith make him void of might, who hateth us, whom we in turn do hate.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to counter and reverse hostility—social enmity or sorcery-like harm—by invoking the Waters to send the force back and weaken the aggressor’s efficacy (tejas).
In Atharvanic thought, water is not only cleansing; it can carry an inner heat/radiance (arciṣ/tejas) that acts as an active protective and retaliatory power when ritually addressed.
The core substance is water itself. Many prayogas use only clean water consecrated by recitation and applied by sprinkling for protection and symbolic reversal.
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