Sukta 10
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi attribution for AV 5.10 varies by anukramaṇī; commonly treated as Atharvan/Angiras-type protective composition)
Devata: Aśmavarman (personified protective armour); implicitly the protective power resident in the charm
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (Atharvanic protective formula; mixed/prose-like anuṣṭubh in practice)
Mantras
Mantra 1
आत्मरक्षा अश्मवर्म मेऽसि यो मा प्राच्या दिशोऽघायुरभिदासात्। एतत् स ऋच्छात्
A self-guard, a coat of stone art thou for me, against him who from the eastern quarter, evil-lived, would assail me. Let him meet with this.
Mantra 2
अश्मवर्म मेऽसि यो मा दक्षिणाया दिशोऽघायुरभिदासात्। एतत् स ऋच्छात्
Thou art my stone-armour. Whoso from the southern quarter, evil-lived, should assail me—let him encounter this (defence).
Mantra 3
अश्मवर्म मेऽसि यो मा प्रतीच्या दिशोऽघायुरभिदासात्। एतत् स ऋच्छात्
Thou art my stone-armour. Whoso from the western quarter, evil-lived, should assail me—let him encounter this (defence).
Mantra 4
अश्मवर्म मेऽसि यो मोदीच्या दिशोऽघायुरभिदासात्। एतत् स ऋच्छात्
Thou art my stone-armour. Whoso from the northern quarter, evil-lived, should assail me—let him encounter this (defence).
Mantra 5
अश्मवर्म मेऽसि यो मा ध्रुवाया दिशोऽघायुरभिदासात्। एतत् स ऋच्छात्
Thou art my stone-armour. Whoso from the fixed quarter, evil-lived, should assail me—let him encounter this (defence).
Mantra 6
अश्मवर्म मेऽसि यो मोर्ध्वाया दिशोऽघायुरभिदासात्। एतत् स ऋच्छात्
Thou art my stone-armour. Whoso from the upper quarter, evil-lived, should assail me—let him encounter this (defence).
Mantra 7
अश्मवर्म मेऽसि यो मा दिशामन्तर्देशेभ्योऽघायुरभिदासात्। एतत् स ऋच्छात्
Thou art my stone-armour: whoso, evil-lived, from the quarters or the mid-regions, should fall upon me—let him, by this, depart and meet his destined course.
Mantra 8
बृहता मन उप ह्वये मातरिश्वना प्राणापानौ। सूर्याच्चक्षुरन्तरिक्षाच्छ्रोत्रं पृथिव्याः शरीरम्। सरस्वत्या वाचमुप ह्वयामहे मनोयुजा
With the Great One’s might I call the Mind hither; with Mātariśvan I summon in-breath and out-breath. From the Sun (I call) the eye; from the mid-air the hearing; from Earth the body. From Sarasvatī we invoke speech, mind-yoked and obedient.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a personified ‘stone-armour’: a mantra-empowered protective covering, often represented by a stone amulet worn or touched during recitation.
The directions are treated as channels from which danger can approach. Naming and sealing each quarter ritually creates an all-around enclosure so harm is deflected from every side, including from above.
After fear or attack, faculties can feel ‘scattered.’ The verse ritually recalls and re-establishes mind, prāṇa/apāna, sight, hearing, body, and speech from their cosmic sources to restore steadiness and wholeness.