Sukta 25
Rishi: Traditionally connected with Vaiṣṇava/Ṛgvedic material; Atharvanic redaction preserves it for protective use (specific r̥ṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī tradition).
Devata: Viṣṇu (with Varuṇa in associative dual sovereignty)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like cadence (borrowed/parallel to Ṛgvedic diction; metrical exactness depends on recension reading)
Ce bref hymne de deux mantras invoque Viṣṇu avec Varuṇa comme les garants jumelés de l’ordre cosmique, qui « fixent solidement les régions » et règnent irrésistiblement par la force et le dharma. Dans l’usage atharvanique, il est apotropaïque : en accordant l’espace rituel et les quartiers du monde à leur souveraineté sans opposition, il stabilise le monde autour du récitant et écarte le désordre, la peur et les forces hostiles.
Mantras
Mantra 1
विष्णुः। ययो॒रोज॑सा स्कभि॒ता रजां॑सि॒ यौ वीर्यौऽर्वी॒रत॑मा॒ शवि॑ष्ठा । यौ पत्ये॑ते॒ अप्र॑तीतौ॒ सहो॑भि॒र्विष्णु॑मग॒न् वरु॑णं पू॒र्वहू॑तिः
Viṣṇu : par la double vigueur desquels les régions sont affermies — ces deux puissances héroïques, les plus viriles, les plus puissantes; qui, sans résistance, règnent par leurs forces — vers Viṣṇu et Varuṇa s’est portée l’antique invocation.
Mantra 2
यस्ये॒दं प्र॒दिशि॒ यद् वि॒रोच॑ते॒ प्र चान॑ति॒ वि च॒ चष्टे॒ शची॑भिः । पु॒रा दे॒वस्य॒ धर्म॑णा॒ सहो॑भि॒र्विष्णु॑मग॒न् वरु॑णं पू॒र्वहू॑तिः
À qui appartient ceci qui resplendit dans les directions, qui s’avance et, largement déployé, contemple par ses puissances; depuis l’ancien temps, selon l’ordonnance du dieu, avec ses forces — vers Viṣṇu et Varuṇa s’est portée l’antique invocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
They function as complementary sovereign powers: Viṣṇu stabilizes and pervades the regions, while Varuṇa represents dharma/ṛta that restrains disorder. Together they secure the quarters and make protection ‘unresisted.’
It is used for rakṣā and śānti—especially to pacify and protect the directions (pradiśaḥ) before a rite, in a new dwelling, or whenever one seeks stability and freedom from hostile influences.
No substances are specified in the text. It can be performed as a pure recitation with mental extension of protection to all quarters; optional simple cleanliness and boundary-setting are customary.
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