Sukta 77
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (commonly assigned by Anukramaṇī to an Atharvan/Angiras line for such apotropaic material).
Devata: Maruts (as troop-protectors and purifiers).
Chandas: Likely Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-type cadence (needs full pada-metrical verification against the Saunaka text).
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। सांत॑पना इ॒दं ह॒विर्मरु॑त॒स्तज्जु॑जुष्टन । अ॒स्माको॒ती रि॑शादसः
Enemy-destroying. This scorching oblation—O Maruts, accept ye that: ye who are our succour, devourers of harm.
Mantra 2
यो नो॒ मर्तो॑ मरुतो दुर्हृणा॒युस्ति॒रश्चि॒त्तानि॑ वसवो॒ जिघां॑सति । द्रु॒हः पाशा॒न् प्रति॑ मुञ्चतां॒ सस्तपि॑ष्ठेन॒ तप॑सा हन्तना॒ तम्
What mortal, O Maruts, of evil will and hidden thought, O Vasus, seeketh to slay us—let the nooses of the treacherous be loosed back upon him; with hottest heat smite ye him down.
Mantra 3
संव॒त्स॒रीणा॑ म॒रुतः॑ स्व॒र्का उ॒रुक्ष॑याः॒ सग॑णा॒ मानु॑षासः । ते अ॒स्मत् पाशा॒न् प्र मु॑ञ्च॒न्त्वेन॑सः सांतप॒ना म॑त्स॒रा मा॑दयि॒ष्णवः॑
The year-returning Maruts, heaven-bright, wide-housed, with their companies, friendly among men—let them from us loosen forth the nooses of offence: the burning ones, the jealous, the maddeningly impetuous.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both a metaphor and a ritual image for binding—sin/pollution (enas), disease-like constraint, or hostile sorcery—something that can be “loosened” by divine power.
It is primarily protective and cleansing (release from enas), but it also contains a reversal element: the enemy’s treacherous binding is sent back to the aggressor rather than accepted by the victim.
With a small havis offering into fire while reciting, plus a symbolic loosening action (untying/relaxing a cord) to enact release, followed by a brief settling or optional water-sprinkling for cleansing.
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