Sukta 164
Sukta 10.164
Traditionally attributed within RV 10.164 to an Atharvaṇic/Āṅgirasa milieu (exact rishi varies by tradition)
Manas-pati (Lord of Mind); with explicit counter-force to Nirṛti
Triṣṭubh (probable; confirm by scan)
RV 10.164 is an apotropaic and expiatory hymn that turns the mind away from Nirṛti (decay, destruction, ill-luck) and reorients awareness toward life, breadth, and auspicious direction. It prays that faults committed in waking or sleep—through fear, curse, or misguided intention—be removed by purifying powers (notably Agni), sealing the rite with a protective transfer of evil intent away from the sacrificer.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अपेहि मनसस्पतेऽप क्राम परश्चर । परो निॠत्या आ चक्ष्व बहुधा जीवतो मनः ॥
Depart, O Lord of the mind; step away and move far beyond. Look away from Destruction (Nirṛti); let the mind of the living behold widely in many directions.
Mantra 2
भद्रं वै वरं वृणते भद्रं युञ्जन्ति दक्षिणम् । भद्रं वैवस्वते चक्षुर्बहुत्रा जीवतो मनः ॥
They choose indeed the gracious good; they yoke the right-hand power to the good. Auspicious is the seeing in the realm of Vivasvat; in many places may the mind of the living find its wide and happy outlook.
Mantra 3
यदाशसा निःशसाभिशसोपारिम जाग्रतो यत्स्वपन्तः । अग्निर्विश्वान्यप दुष्कृतान्यजुष्टान्यारे अस्मद्दधातु ॥
Whatever by hope or hopelessness, by curse or counter-curse, we have approached—whether waking or sleeping—may Agni set far away from us all misdeeds, all that is unaccepted by the gods.
Mantra 4
यदिन्द्र ब्रह्मणस्पतेऽभिद्रोहं चरामसि । प्रचेता न आङ्गिरसो द्विषतां पात्वंहसः ॥
If, O Indra, O Lord of the sacred word, we have moved in hostility or breach, then may the foreknowing Āṅgirasa protect us from the sin and distress that arise from enemies.
Mantra 5
अजैष्माद्यासनाम चाभूमानागसो वयम् । जाग्रत्स्वप्नः संकल्पः पापो यं द्विष्मस्तं स ऋच्छतु यो नो द्वेष्टि तमृच्छतु ॥
We have conquered today; we have attained and become without fault. The evil intention born of waking and of dream—may it go to the one we hate; may it go to the one who hates us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Manas-pati means “Lord of the mind.” In this hymn he is invoked to pull the mind away from destructive, inauspicious fixation (Nirṛti) and to restore clear, life-oriented perception.
It treats both states as sources of impurity or error—bad intentions, fear, or curse-effects can arise in waking or in dreams. The hymn asks that all such faults be purified and driven far away.
Its main intent is protection and expiation for the reciter. The final verse uses a warding formula—sending “evil intention” away from oneself—typical of apotropaic ritual language rather than a general ethic of aggression.