Sukta 23
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (hymn-level attribution varies by anukramaṇī; commonly treated as Atharvanic).
Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters), as empowered agents of tejas and protection.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; confirm against pada-count in the critical edition/anukramaṇī).
Is mantra mein pani ko bulaya ja raha hai. Pani mein ek chupa tej hota hai jo dushman ko rok sakta hai. Jo koi bura karta hai uska kaam ulta ho jata hai. Is mantra se dushman ki taakat kam ho jati hai. Jo vyakti yeh padhta hai uski suraksha ho jati hai. Pani ki shakti se bura nazar wapas jata hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तप॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ तपत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
Yeh mantra dushman ko khatam karne ke liye hai. Paani, tumme jo garmi hai, usse us aadmi ko jala do jo humse nafrat karta hai. Hum bhi usse nafrat karte hain, toh usko wapas bhejo.
Mantra 2
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ हर॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ हरत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
He paani, tumhari jo le jaane ki taakat hai, usse us aadmi ko wapas le jao. Woh humse dushmani karta hai, hum bhi usse dushmani karte hain. Uski buri chaal wapas uspe phans jaye.
Mantra 3
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ऽर्चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रत्य॑र्चत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
He paani, tumhari jo chamak hai, usse us aadmi ko wapas chamak ke dikhao. Woh humse dushmani rakhta hai, hum bhi usse dushmani rakhte hain. Uski buri nazar wapas uspe pad jaye.
Mantra 4
आपो॒ यद् वः॑ शो॒चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ शोचत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
He paani, tumhari jo aag hai, usse us aadmi ko jala ke dikhao. Woh humse nafrat karta hai, hum bhi usse nafrat karte hain. Uski buri harkat wapas uspe lag jaye.
Mantra 5
आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तेज॒स्तेन॒ तम॑ते॒जसं॑ कृणुत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
Paani se yeh prayer hai. Paani, tumme jo taqat hai, usse us aadmi ko kamzor kar do jo humse nafrat karta hai. Hum bhi usse nafrat karte hain, toh uski taqat khatam kar do.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to counter and reverse hostility—social enmity or sorcery-like harm—by invoking the Waters to send the force back and weaken the aggressor’s efficacy (tejas).
In Atharvanic thought, water is not only cleansing; it can carry an inner heat/radiance (arciṣ/tejas) that acts as an active protective and retaliatory power when ritually addressed.
The core substance is water itself. Many prayogas use only clean water consecrated by recitation and applied by sprinkling for protection and symbolic reversal.
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