Sukta 27
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (directional rakṣā hymn; specific ṛṣi not supplied in the input)
Devata: Dik (the Quarter) with Viṣṇu as adhipati; Kalmāṣagrīva as rakṣitṛ; personified iṣavaḥ (missiles)
Chandas: Predominantly Anuṣṭubh-like prose-verse cadence (mixed; requires pada-count verification from full hymn context)
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनिवारणम्। ४ सोमः, स्वजः, अशनिः, ५ विष्णुः, कल्माषग्रीवो वीरुधः, ६ बृहस्पतिः, श्वित्रं, वर्षम्। प्राची दिगग्निरधिपतिरसितो रक्षितादित्याल इषवः । तेभ्यो नमोऽधिपतिभ्यो नमो रक्षितृभ्यो नम इषुभ्यो नम एभ्यो अस्तु । यो३ऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मस्तं वो जम्भे दध्मः
The eastern quarter—Agni is its overlord; Asita its guardian; the Ādityas are its arrows. To them be reverence: reverence to the overlords, reverence to the protectors, reverence to the arrows—reverence be to these. Whoso hateth us, and whom we hate, him we set within your jaws.
Mantra 2
दक्षिणा दिगिन्द्रोऽधिपतिस्तिरश्चिराजी रक्षिता पितर इषवः । तेभ्यो नमोऽधिपतिभ्यो नमो रक्षितृभ्यो नम इषुभ्यो नम एभ्यो अस्तु । यो३ऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मस्तं वो जम्भे दध्मः
The southern quarter—Indra is its overlord; Tiraścīrājī its guardian; the Fathers are its arrows. To them be reverence: reverence to the overlords, reverence to the protectors, reverence to the arrows—reverence be to these. Whoso hateth us, and whom we hate, him we set within your jaws.
Mantra 3
प्रतीची दिग् वरुणोऽधिपतिः पृदाकू रक्षितान्नमिषवः । तेभ्यो नमोऽधिपतिभ्यो नमो रक्षितृभ्यो नम इषुभ्यो नम एभ्यो अस्तु । यो३स्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मस्तं वो जम्भे दध्मः
The western quarter—Varuṇa is its overlord; Pṛdākū its guardian; Food is its arrows. To them be reverence: reverence to the overlords, reverence to the protectors, reverence to the arrows—reverence be to these. Whoso hateth us, and whom we hate, him we set within your jaws.
Mantra 4
उदीची दिक् सोमोऽधिपतिः स्वजो रक्षिताशनिरिषवः । तेभ्यो नमोऽधिपतिभ्यो नमो रक्षितृभ्यो नम इषुभ्यो नम एभ्यो अस्तु । यो३ऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मस्तं वो जम्भे दध्मः
The northern quarter—Soma is its overlord; Svaja its guardian; the Thunderbolt is its arrows. To them be reverence: reverence to the overlords, reverence to the protectors, reverence to the arrows—reverence be to these. Whoso hateth us, and whom we hate, him we set within your jaws.
Mantra 5
ध्रुवा दिग् विष्णुरधिपतिः कल्माषग्रीवो रक्षिता वीरुध इषवः । तेभ्यो नमोऽधिपतिभ्यो नमो रक्षितृभ्यो नम इषुभ्यो नम एभ्यो अस्तु । यो३ऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मस्तं वो जम्भे दध्मः
Steadfast is the Quarter: Viṣṇu is its Over-lord; Kalmāṣagrīva is its Guardian; the Plants are its Arrows. To them be homage—to the Over-lords homage, to the Guardians homage, to the Arrows homage; to these be homage—so be it. Whoso hateth us, and whom we hate, him we commit unto your jaws.
Mantra 6
ऊर्ध्वा दिग् बृहस्पतिरधिपतिः श्वित्रो रक्षिता वर्षमिषवः । तेभ्यो नमोऽधिपतिभ्यो नमो रक्षितृभ्यो नम इषुभ्यो नम एभ्यो अस्तु । यो३स्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मस्तं वो जम्भे दध्मः
Upward is the Quarter: Bṛhaspati is its Over-lord; Śvitra is its Guardian; the Rain is its Arrows. To them be homage—to the Over-lords homage, to the Guardians homage, to the Arrows homage; to these be homage—so be it. Whoso hateth us, and whom we hate, him we commit unto your jaws.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to protect a place by ritually securing the quarters (directions) and pushing hostility outward, so enemies and harmful intent cannot enter the protected space.
In Atharvanic style, the direction’s agencies are personified as weapons: plants can act as protective missiles, the Pitṛs as punitive forces, and the thunderbolt as irresistible repulsion—each guarding its quarter.
It is a ritual transfer formula: the hater or hostile rival is symbolically handed over to the devouring, restraining power of the directional guardians, removing the threat from the performer’s sphere.