Sukta 16
Rishi: Vratya (mythic/cosmic subject; traditional attribution varies in ancillary lists)
Devata: Vratya / Prāṇa-functions (here Apāna) as cosmic principle
Chandas: Prose-like Atharvanic style (not a strict ṛgvedic meter; often treated as mixed/anuṣṭubh-adjacent in later catalogues)
Is mantra mein Vratya ke niche ki saans yaani apan ko dikhaya gaya hai. Isme Amavasya, yagya aur dakshina ko Vratya ke apan ke hisse bataya gaya hai. Yeh batata hai ki insaan ki saans hi yagya aur samay ka asli base hai. Isse Vratya ko bhi vedic system mein jagah mil gayi. Jo log bahar the, woh ab andar aa gaye. Saans hi sab kuch chalati hai, yeh iska seedha matlab hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
तस्य॒ व्रात्य॑स्य ।योऽस्य प्रथ॒मोऽपा॒नः सा पौ॑र्णमा॒सी
Us Vratya ki pehli saans ka naam Pournamasi hai. Yeh poora chaand jaisi hai. Jaise chaand poora chamakta hai, waise hi yeh saans poori hai.
Mantra 2
तस्य॒ व्रात्य॑स्य ।योऽस्य द्वि॒तीयो॑ऽपा॒नः साष्ट॑का
Vratya ki saans ka doosra hissa Ashtaka hai. Yeh ek special din hai jab log puja karte hain. Jaise saans body ka hissa hai, waise hi yeh din bhi important hai.
Mantra 3
तस्य॒ व्रात्य॑स्य ।योऽस्य तृ॒तीयो॑ऽपा॒नः सामा॑वा॒स्या
Vratya ki saans ka teesra hissa amavasya hai. Yeh woh raat hai jab chaand nahi dikhta. Yeh raat bhi bahut important hai, jaise saans zaroori hai.
Mantra 4
तस्य॒ व्रात्य॑स्य । योऽस्य चतु॒र्थोऽपा॒नः सा श्र॒द्धा
Vratya ki saans ka chautha hissa shraddha hai. Shraddha matlab bharosa, vishwas. Jaise bina saans ke body nahi chalti, waise bina shraddha ke kuch nahi hota.
Mantra 5
तस्य॒ व्रात्य॑स्य । योऽस्य पञ्च॒मोऽपा॒नः सा दी॒क्षा
Vratya ki saans ka paanchwan hissa deeksha hai. Deeksha woh hai jab koi guru se seekhne ke liye taiyaar hota hai. Yeh bhi ek tarah ki shuruwat hai, jaise saans ki.
Mantra 6
तस्य॒ व्रात्य॑स्य । योऽस्य ष॒ष्ठोऽपा॒नः स य॒ज्ञः
Us vratya ki baat hai. Uski chhathi saans jo hai, wohi yagya hai. Yagya matlab bada puja ka kaam, woh is saans mein hai.
Mantra 7
तस्य॒ व्रात्य॑स्य । योऽस्य सप्त॒मोऽपा॒नस्ता इ॒मा दक्षि॑णाः
Us Vratya ki baat chal rahi hai. Uska saatwan saans hai jo neeche jaata hai, usse pujari ko dakshina di jaati hai. Yeh saans bhi ek tarah ki den hai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here the Vratya is treated as a cosmic figure, not only a social category. The hymn speaks of the Vratya’s inner breaths (especially apāna) as identical with major ritual and temporal powers.
The sukta uses bandhu logic: inner physiology mirrors outer cosmos. By saying a particular apāna ‘is’ Amāvāsyā or ‘is’ Yajña, it makes liminal time and sacrifice part of a single cosmic-bodily system that can be ritually affirmed.
It means the priestly fee is presented as a necessary, power-bearing element of the rite—cosmically grounded rather than optional. Giving dakṣiṇā becomes a sacral act that completes and legitimates the ritual order.
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