Atharva Veda Sukta 33
Kanda 1Anuvaka 4Sukta 334 Mantras

Sukta 33

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often treated as an Āpaḥ-sūkta; r̥ṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī tradition)

Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters), with Savitar and Agni as embedded powers

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (predominant cadence; as transmitted in Atharvanic form)

AV 1.33 est un Āpaḥ-sūkta qui consacre l’eau comme purificateur vivant et lumineux — « aux teintes d’or » et « nettoyant » — en qui demeurent la force génératrice de Savitar et le tejas caché d’Agni (comme garbha, « embryon »). Récité sur l’eau pour le bain, l’aspersion ou la boisson, il apaise l’impureté et la maladie et fait des eaux des puissances śam et syoṇāḥ : bienfaisantes, douces, bénignes pour le patient et la maisonnée.

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 1.33

Mantras

Mantra 1

आपः। हिर॑ण्यवर्णाः॒ शुच॑यः पाव॒का यासु॑ जा॒तः स॑वि॒ता यास्व॒ग्निः । या अ॒ग्निं गर्भं॑ दधि॒रे सु॒वर्णा॒स्ता न॒ आपः॒ शं स्यो॒ना भ॑वन्तु

Ô Eaux, aux teintes d’or, pures et purifiantes, en qui Savitar est né, en qui est Agni; vous qui avez porté Agni comme un embryon, belles et dorées — que ces Eaux soient pour nous salut, qu’elles soient douces et bienveillantes.

Mantra 2

यासां॒ राजा॒ वरु॑णो॒ याति॒ मध्ये॑ सत्यानृ॒ते अ॑व॒पश्य॒न् जना॑नाम्। या अ॒ग्निं गर्भं॑ दधि॒रे सु॒वर्णा॒स्ता न॒ आपः॒ शं स्यो॒ना भ॑वन्तु

Dans l’espace médian desquelles le roi Varuṇa se meut, regardant les hommes d’en haut, discernant le vrai et le faux; — ces Eaux qui portèrent Agni comme un embryon en elles, ces Eaux d’or — qu’elles nous soient bienveillantes, porteuses de salut.

Mantra 3

यासां॑ दे॒वा दि॒वि कृ॒ण्वन्ति॑ भ॒क्षं या अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे बहु॒धा भव॑न्ति । या अ॒ग्निं गर्भं॑ दधि॒रे सु॒वर्णा॒स्ता न॒ आपः॒ शं स्यो॒ना भ॑वन्तु

Ces Eaux dont les dieux, au ciel, ordonnent la part pour la jouissance; celles qui, dans l’espace intermédiaire, prennent des formes multiples; ces dorées qui ont reçu Agni comme embryon en elles — que ces Eaux soient pour nous bien-être, bienveillantes et bénignes.

Mantra 4

शि॒वेन॑ मा॒ चक्षु॑षा पश्यतापः शि॒वया॑ त॒न्वोप॑ स्पृशत॒ त्वचं॑ मे । घृत॒श्चुतः॒ शुच॑यो॒ याः पा॑व॒कास्ता न॒ आपः॒ शं स्यो॒ना भवन्तु

D’un œil propice, regardez-moi, ô Eaux; d’un corps propice, en vous approchant, touchez ma peau. Vous qui distillez le ghee, pures et purifiantes — que ces Eaux soient pour nous bien-être, qu’elles nous soient bienveillantes.

Frequently Asked Questions

To empower water as a purifying and healing medium—used for sprinkling, washing, or bathing—so it removes impurity and brings welfare (śam) and benign protection.

It expresses that waters are not only cooling and cleansing; they also contain inner tejas (transformative heat). That hidden fire-power helps the water ‘work’ against affliction and restore vitality.

Recite the hymn over a vessel of clean water, then sprinkle the doorway and living space or wash the face and hands with it while intending purification and calm. If someone is unwell, gently sprinkle the head and limbs or use it for a bath.

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