Sukta 2
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Indra-protective usage; r̥ṣi attribution edition-dependent)
Devata: Indra (with Soma as enabling offering)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like (requires metrical verification)
Ce bref hymne rakṣoghna est un charme d’« ātma-gopana » (auto-protection) qui assure la sauvegarde personnelle en attirant d’urgence Indra par le pressurage du Soma et une parole de louange efficace. À mesure que le Soma entre et fortifie Indra, l’hymne prie le porteur du vajra de fendre les forces hostiles et de détruire les afflictions de type rākṣasī, établissant une sécurité victorieuse pour le récitant.
Mantras
Mantra 1
आत्मगोपनम्। इन्द्रा॑य॒ सोम॑मृत्विजः सु॒नोता च॑ धावत । स्तो॒तुर्यो वचः॑ शृ॒णव॒द्धवं॑ च मे
Qui se garde lui-même. Pour Indra, pressez le Soma, ô officiants (ṛtvij), et hâtez-vous; qu’il entende la parole du louangeur, et mon appel aussi.
Mantra 2
आ यं वि॒शन्तीन्द॑वो॒ वयो॒ न वृ॒क्षमन्ध॑सः । विर॑प्शि॒न् विमृधो॑ जहि रक्ष॒स्विनीः॑
Celui en qui entrent les gouttes de Soma — comme des oiseaux dans un arbre —, (celui) du breuvage pressé : ô toi aux larges mains, frappe et disloque les puissances hostiles ; tue les démones, les Rākṣasī.
Mantra 3
सु॒नोता॑ सोम॒पाव्ने॑ सोम॒मिन्द्रा॑य व॒ज्रिणे॑ । युवा॒ जेतेशा॑नः॒ स पु॑रुष्टु॒तः
Pressez le Soma, ô purificateur du Soma ; pressez le Soma pour Indra, porteur du Vajra. Jeune, victorieux, souverain est-il, lui le très-loué.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used for self-protection (ātmagopana): to call Indra through Soma and to drive away hostile forces and rakṣas-like afflictions.
Traditionally Soma is the enabling offering, but many Atharvanic settings allow a consecrated substitute drink; the key is the intention of ‘pressing/purifying’ and the focused recitation.
In Atharvavedic idiom this can denote specific classes of harmful, obstructive influences—personified as rākṣasī-like agents—whom Indra is commanded to destroy for the reciter’s safety.
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