Sukta 8
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (as typical for early AV apotropaic hymns; exact r̥ṣi per anukramaṇī should be confirmed for 1.8)
Devata: Bṛhaspati; Agni–Soma (as joint executors of the destructive act)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; to be verified against pada-count in the Saunaka metrical listing)
Is mantra mein jadugarni aur badha dalne wale logon ka samna kiya jaata hai. Yeh log chhup ke nuksan karte hain, toh unka hamla wapas unpar kar diya jaata hai. Brihaspati ki shakti se inhein bandha jaata hai ki bhaag na sakein. Agni aur Soma mil ke chhupi hui bimari aur dushman ko pakadte hain. Jaise nadi foam ko bahakar le jaati hai, waise hi yeh khatra door ho jaata hai. Yeh ek tarah ka dushman ko usi ke hathiyar se marne ka mantra hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
यातुधाननाशनम्। इ॒दं ह॒विर्या॑तु॒धाना॑न् न॒दी फेन॑मि॒वा व॑हत्। य इ॒दं स्त्री पुमा॒नक॑रि॒ह स स्तु॑वतां॒ जनः॑
Yeh havan jaadu karne walon ko le jaata hai, jaise nadi jhaag ko bahak le jaati hai. Jo isse aurat ko mard bana deta hai, woh logon mein sabse bada tareef wala hai.
Mantra 2
अ॒यं स्तु॑वा॒न आग॑मदि॒मं स्म॒ प्रति॑ हर्यत । बृह॑स्पते॒ वशे॑ ल॒ब्ध्वाग्नी॑षोमा॒ वि वि॑ध्यतम्
Yeh aadmi gaate-gaate yahan aa gaya hai. Isko pakad lo, ispe control kar lo. Brihaspati, isko apne vash mein kar lo. Agni aur Soma, isko maar daalo, isko khatam kar do.
Mantra 3
या॒तु॒धान॑स्य सोमप ज॒हि प्र॒जां नय॑स्व च । नि स्तु॑वा॒नस्य॑ पातय॒ पर॒मक्ष्यु॒ताव॑रम्
Hey Soma peene wale, us jaadu karne wale ko maar daal. Logon ko uske phande se nikaal le. Jo tareef kar raha hai usey gira de. Usey bahut door phenk de, aise jaise woh hilne ka naam nahi le.
Mantra 4
यत्रै॑षामग्ने॒ जनि॑मानि॒ वेत्थ॒ गुहा॑ स॒ताम॒त्त्रिणां॑ जातवेदः । तांस्त्वं ब्रह्म॑णा वावृधा॒नो ज॒ह्येऽषां शत॒तर्ह॑मग्ने
Agni, tum jaante ho woh kahan chhup ke baithe hain. Unka asli chehra tumhein pata hai. Tum apni shakti se unko maar daal. Ek ko maarne se sau ka kaam ban jayega.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to repel and neutralize hostile forces—demons like yātudhānas/“devourers,” or human witchcraft—by reversing the attack and commanding divine destruction.
Bṛhaspati provides brahmanic control (bringing the threat under ‘vaśa’), while Agni–Soma execute the destructive act—piercing, splitting, and burning away the hostile agency.
At minimum, it can be recited with focused intent; traditionally it is paired with a small havis offering into fire. Optional symbolic aids (darbha or a pointed twig) mirror the hymn’s ‘binding’ and ‘piercing’ language.
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