Sukta 131
Rishi: Traditionally Atharvanic/appendix; specific ṛṣi not securely assignable for this fragmentary unit
Devata: Vanaspati/Vṛkṣa (trees as personified supports)
Chandas: Uncertain (fragmentary pāda; likely from a larger metrical context)
Mantras
Mantra 1
खिलानि । आमिनोनिति भद्यते
In the waste-lands—‘the injurer,’ thus, is broken in pieces.
Mantra 2
तस्य अनु निभञ्जनम्
After him comes the crushing—his utter demolition.
Mantra 3
वरुणो याति वस्वभिः
Varuṇa goes forth with the Vasus at his side.
Mantra 4
शतं वा भारती शवः
A hundredfold, indeed, is Bhāratī’s strength.
Mantra 5
शतमाश्वा हिरण्ययाः । शतं रथ्या हिरण्ययाः । शतं कुथा हिरण्ययाः । शतं निष्का हिरण्ययाः
A hundred golden horses; a hundred golden chariots; a hundred golden coverlets; a hundred golden niṣkas.
Mantra 6
अहल कुश वर्त्तक
O Ahalā—kuśa-grass—(O) quail!
Mantra 7
शफेन इव ओहते
As with a hoof, they thrust (it) away.
Mantra 8
आय वनेनती जनी
Come hither—the victory-winning woman.
Mantra 9
वनिष्ठा नाव गृह्यन्ति
Most winning, like a ship, they take hold (and bear).
Mantra 10
इदं मह्यं मदूरिति
‘This is for me—(it is) Madūra,’ so (he saith).
Mantra 11
ते वृक्षाः सह तिष्ठति
Those trees stand fast together.
Mantra 12
पाक बलिः
Pāka—(this is) the bali-offering.
Mantra 13
शक बलिः
Śaka—(this is) the bali-offering.
Mantra 14
अश्वत्थ खदिरो धवः
The Aśvattha, the Khadira, the Dhava.
Mantra 15
अरदुपरम
Drive it away beyond (afar).
Mantra 16
शयो हत इव
As one laid low, as though smitten.
Mantra 17
व्याप पूरुषः
Pervading is the man.
Mantra 18
अदूहमित्यां पूषकम्
‘I have milked it out,’—yea, the Nourisher.
Mantra 19
अत्यर्धर्च परस्वतः
Beyond the half-verse, from the farther side.
Mantra 20
दौव हस्तिनो दृती
The elephant’s strap, the skin-container.
Frequently Asked Questions
To establish firm protection and steady prosperity by invoking trees as collective supports, while also pushing down obstacles through apotropaic speech.
They symbolize rooted stability and coordinated protection—an ideal model for a household, boundary, or undertaking meant to remain unshaken.
Not strictly. Gold and niṣka are prosperity symbols in the verses, but the core ritual idea can be enacted with a clean wooden support token and simple purification (water).