Kanda 20
Kuntapa & Liturgical Hymns
Yeh Kanda 20 hai, jo zyadatar Rigveda se li gayi hain. Isme Indra ki stutiyan hain jo Soma yagya ke liye banayi gayi hain. Yahan Indra ko Soma ke saath bulaya jata hai jeet ke liye. Brihaspati bhi Indra ke saath aate hain rakhwali ke liye. Log yeh padhte hain yagya mein taaki Indra shakti de. Isme vaja, gayen aur naam kamane ki baat hai. Ashvins bhi end mein aate hain jaldi madad ke liye. Yeh mantra ek tarah ka hathiyar hai dushman ko harane ke liye. Isliye yeh Soma yagya ka important hissa hai.
Kinds of hymn
Anuvakas in Kanda 20
15 anuvakas (sections) to explore.
Anuvaka 1
Is mantra mein Som yagya ke liye devtaon ko bulaya ja raha hai. Indra ko Soma peene ke liye aamantrit kiya ja raha hai. Sab devta apne apne sthan par sahi tarike se aayein, yeh prayas hai. Indra ki taakat se vighna door hote hain aur yagya safal hota hai. Surya ke ugne se buri cheezein khatam hoti hain aur accha maahaul banta hai. Sahi tareeke se yagya karne se dhan aur safalta milti hai.
Anuvaka 2
Is mantra mein Indra ko bulaya ja raha hai ki woh jeet dilaye aur raksha kare. Brihaspati bhi saath hai pandit ke roop mein, jo asuraan ko hartaal karke suraksha karta hai. Yeh mantra dushmanon ke kile todne ke liye hai, jaise Indra ne Vala ko toda tha. Soma peene se Indra ki taakat badhti hai, aur woh shakti yahan bhi maangi ja rahi hai. Isse yudhh mein jeet milti hai, dushman haarte hain, aur maal-dukhan milta hai. Apne ghar aur parivar ke liye suraksha chhatri banane ka kaam hai yeh. Purane jeet ki yaad dilake Indra ko phir se taiyaar karne ka tareeka hai. Kanva gotra wale log isse apne liye istemal karte the jab unhe madad chahiye hoti thi.
Anuvaka 3
Is mantra mein Indra ko Soma yagya ke liye bulaya ja raha hai. Purohit kehte hain ki Indra jaldi aake Soma peeyen aur hamein ashirwad den. Indra Soma peene se khush hokar vijay aur dhan deta hai. Yeh mantra raja aur yoddha ke liye bhi hai jo dushman par jeet chahte hain. Indra se gaay, ghoda, khazana aur apne logon ki bhi maang ki gayi hai. Haris naam ke ghode aur vajra ki shakti se Indra tezi se aate hain. Subah ke Soma kriya ko sahi tarike se karna zaruri bataya gaya hai. Bade yagya mein safalta aur dhan ki kami na ho, is liye yeh path kiya jata hai.
Anuvaka 4
Is mantra mein Indra ko bulaya ja raha hai taaki jeet mile aur raksha ho. Soma pe Indra ko takat milti hai aur woh dushmano ki badi tod deta hai. Yeh mantra rasta ke rukawaton ko hatata hai aur dushman ko peeche kar deta hai. Indra ki madad se ladai mein dar nahi lagta aur safalata milti hai. Aasman aur dharti gawah bante hain jab Indra aage badhta hai. Pitaron ke liye bhi agni mein offering di jati hai taaki parampara chalti rahe. Ghar aur parivar ki suraksha ke liye yeh mantra kaam aata hai.
Anuvaka 5
Is mantra mein Indra ko bulaya ja raha hai. Stuti ke through dushmano ko todne ki baat hai. Vraj shakti aur dhan prapt karne ka prayas hai. Dushman aur raste ke rukawatein door hoti hain. Raja ki praja mein izzat badhti hai. Khatra bhara safar mein suraksha milti hai. Andhera hat kar sahi raasta dikhta hai. Soma ki puja mein Indra ko hazir bulaya jata hai.
Anuvaka 6
Is mantra mein Indra ki tarif ki gayi hai jo Soma pee ke khush ho rahe hain. Log Indra se bol rahe hain ki woh dushmano par jeet dilaye aur paisa daulat de. Indra ko purandara bhi kehte hain kyunki woh qilay tod sakta hain. Yeh mantra tab padhte hain jab koi competition mein jeetna chahta hai ya dushman se bachna hai. Gaay bakri aur dhan ki suraksha ke liye bhi Indra ko yaad karte hain. Log mil ke Indra ki stuti karte hain taaki unka kaam sidh ho aur koi takleef na aaye.
Anuvaka 7
Is sukta mein Indra ko bulaya ja raha hai jeet ke liye. Log Indra ko som ras ke saath praise karte hain. Indra ko dharti, aasman aur beech ke jagah se bulate hain. Dushman log dar jate hain jab Indra madad karta hai. Som pine se aur sab milkar gaane se achha hota hai. Gai, ghode, ghar sab safe rehte hain. Jo log bura bolte hain ya muqabla karte hain unko harana hai. Yeh mantra ladai, debate ya kisi bhi muqable mein jeetne ke kaam aata hai.
Anuvaka 8
Is mantra mein Indra ki tareef hai aur unse jeet aur sammaan maanga ja raha hai. Yahan soma ke zamaane ki tareef se Indra ko khush karke badha hataane ki baat hai. Ruka hua paisa, gaay-baay aur paani sab aane lagta hai jab Indra saath deta hai. Log tumhari tareef karenge aur tum samajh mein chamkoge. Sahi iraade aur sahi tareeke se power milta hai. Indra jaisa koi nahi, isliye unse maangne se kaam banta hai. Sahi maatra mein tareef karni chahiye, soma use karna chahiye. Aise hi dhan milta hai bina kisi buri baat ke. Yeh mantra tab use hota hai jab koi kaam mein jeet chahiye ya ruka hua paisa aana chahiye. Izzat aur power ke liye Indra ki tareef karni chahiye.
Anuvaka 9
Is mantra mein Indra aur Brihaspati ko bulaya jaata hai. Yeh soma yagya ke liye raksha aur samriddhi maangne ke liye hai. Indra ko gana ke dwara jaldi aane ko kehte hain. Rukawatein tod kar dhan, gaay aur jagah ki maang karte hain. Charo taraf se dushmano se bachao maanga hai. Brihaspati purohit ki tarah duniya ko sambhalte hain. Yeh mantra tab use hota hai jab koi samuh suraksha aur vijay chahta hai.
Anuvaka 10
Yeh mantra Indra ko bulane ke liye hai jab Soma peesa jata hai. Agni ko messenger banaya jata hai jo Indra ko bulata hai. Indra se vijay aur suraksha maangi jati hai. Yeh mantra dushmano se bachne ke liye kaam aata hai. Isme Indra ki taakat aur vajra ki baat hoti hai. Agni andhera bhagata aur rasta banata hai. Log iska use karte hain jab mushkil mein ho aur bhagwan ka saath chahiye ho.
Anuvaka 11
Yeh mantra Indra ko bulata hai, jo dushman ko harane wala maha shakti hai. Som ras aur stuti ke dwara Indra ki taakat ko jagaya jata hai. Agni puja ka marg kholta hai aur raksha karta hai. Manyu yani gussa ko bhi ek shakti ki tarah istemal karte hain dushman ko harane ke liye. Indra ne Vritra naam ke dushman ko mara tha jo raste mein rokawat daal raha tha. Is mantra se prarthak ko bal, himmat aur vijay ki shakti milti hai. Suraj ki tarah andhera door hota hai aur safalta milti hai. Yeh kisi bhi bade competition ya ladayi mein vijay pane ke liye hai.
Anuvaka 12
Is mantra mein Indra ko bulaya ja raha hai ki jaldi aayein. Yajna karne wala kehta hai ki Indra hamari taraf mudho aur fauran aao. Indra Soma pi kar taakat paate hain aur dushman ko harate hain. Yeh stotra bolne se Indra khush hote hain aur ashirwad dete hain. Woh gaay, ghode aur sona jaisi dhan deta hain. Ghar aur gaon dono surakshit rehte hain Indra ki raksha mein. Dushman dab jaate hain aur jeet milti hai. Yeh mantra tab kaam aata hai jab jaldi madad chahiye aur samriddhi chahiye.
Anuvaka 13
Is mantra mein raja ke liye Indra aur dusri shaktiyon ko bulaya jata hai. Indra ki stuti se dushmano ka bhagana aur vijay hasil karna maanga jata hai. Devi aur Vata ke dwara kala jadu aur dushan nazar ko door kiya jata hai. Surya ke dwara din aur raat ka niyam sahi rakha jata hai. Ped aur vanaspati jaisi sthirta se raja ki raksha aur unnati hoti hai. Narashans ke dwara naam aur shakti milti hai. Isse raja ko khana, dhan aur lok mein izzat milta hai. Amulet aur tel laga kar raja ko majboot banaya jata hai.
Anuvaka 14
Is mantra mein raksha aur safalta ke liye devtaon ko bulaya jaata hai. Charon dishaon ko gawah aur chowkidaar bana ke rasta saaf kiya jaata hai. Dhol bajana aur milke bolna se asurik taakein bhag jaati hain. Indra ki taakat se raste ke rukawatein toot jaati hain. Ashwin devta rog door karke jaan laute hain. Subah suraj nikalne se din ka kaam shuru hota hai. Ghar aur sharir ki hifazat ke saath samriddhi aati hai.
Anuvaka 15
Is mantra mein Ashvin dono bhaiyon ko bulaya ja raha hai. Yeh dono devta doctor ki tarah health aur life ka kaam karte hain. Unka sona jaisa rath bahut tezi se aata hai. Yajman ke liye jaldi madad chahiye to yeh mantra use hota hai. Ashvin health, vitality aur success ke liye aashirwad dete hain. Koi ritual ya kaam shuru karte waqt yeh padhte hain taaki rasta aasan ho.
Inside Kanda 20
What sets it apart
- Predominantly borrowed from the Rigveda (especially Indra hymns) and repurposed for Atharvanic Soma-sacrifice liturgy
- Strong Indra–Soma nexus: Indra is repeatedly invoked as Soma-exhilarated victor granting vāja (prize-winning power), cattle-wealth, and śravas (renown)
- Marked royal/communal victory-and-protection orientation (sāti), with ritual success framed as conquest over obstruction
- Frequent pairing of Indra with Bṛhaspati as brahman/priestly guardianship securing rite, community, and prosperity
- Mantra-as-weapon emphasis: praise and stotra-speech portrayed as the operative force that energizes heroic power and breaks opposition
- Ends with an Aśvin-focused paustika note (swift aid and life-supporting prosperity)
Its themes
- Indra–Soma victory liturgy (sāti)Core stutis that invite and exhilarate Indra through Soma, converting praise into conquering power that breaks opposition and grants victory, vāja, and secure dominion for the invoking group.
- Ritual efficacy and ordered Soma-sacrifice performanceHymns tailored to Soma-pressing and offering contexts: ensuring right sequence, successful completion, and the smooth functioning of the rite through properly aimed stotra-speech and divine attendance.
- Protection of community, wealth, and rite (Indra–Bṛhaspati)Bṛhaspati’s brahmanic guardianship joins Indra’s force to protect the sacrifice, ward off obstruction, and stabilize prosperity, cattle-wealth, and social safety.
- Prosperity, cattle-wealth, and renown (vāja, go, śravas)Material and reputational fruits of sacrifice: prize-winning success, cattle and wealth, and public fame—presented as the tangible outcome of effective praise and divine favor.
- Royal/sovereign power and heroic force (indriya, śuṣma, kratu, manyu)A political-theological strand where sovereignty and martial potency are summoned and intensified through Soma and hymn-power, aimed at triumph and stable establishment.
- Paustika swift aid of the AśvinsA closing, life-supporting accent: the Aśvins are invoked for rapid arrival, assistance, and sustaining prosperity, complementing the dominant Indraic sacrificial tone.
Its seers
- Gṛtsamada (Gṛtsamāda)Early Indra-stuti and Soma-related praise-poetry emphasizing victory and the gaining of vāja Notable: AV 20.1 (selected Indra–Soma invitations); AV 20.3 (Indra stutis for Soma-rite success)
- ViśvāmitraIndra-centered victory hymns and forceful stotra-speech used to secure protection and conquest Notable: AV 20.4 (Indra invocation for protection and heroic force); AV 20.11 (summoning indriya/śuṣma/kratu/manyu)
- VasiṣṭhaSoma-pressing liturgy and Indra praise framed as safeguarding order, prosperity, and communal welfare Notable: AV 20.6 (prosperity-and-protection through Soma-exhilarated Indra); AV 20.10 (Indra at Soma-pressing with Agni as messenger)
- AtriIndra hymns oriented to triumph, wealth, and the removal of obstruction through praise Notable: AV 20.5 (victory-through-praise; mantra as operative force); AV 20.7 (Indra-sūkta cycle for sāti)
- BharadvājaIndra–Bṛhaspati protective theology: brahman-power guarding rite and community Notable: AV 20.2 (victory/protection with Bṛhaspati’s guardianship); AV 20.9 (Indra–Bṛhaspati safeguarding of soma-rite and wealth)
- KaṇvaIndra praise for prestige (śravas) and prosperity; public renown as a ritual fruit Notable: AV 20.8 (prestige and prosperity through Soma-era praise); AV 20.13 (royal-ritual efficacy through praise)
- Aśvinau (attributed tradition)Swift aid, healing-adjacent life support, and paustika prosperity in a sacrificial frame Notable: AV 20.15 (Aśvin invocation for swift arrival and prosperity)
Frequently Asked Questions
Because it functions as a Soma-sacrifice liturgical collection, largely borrowing Rigveda Indra–Soma stutis where Indra is the paradigmatic victor who grants vāja, wealth, and protection when praised and exhilarated by Soma.
Bṛhaspati appears as priestly/brahmanic guardianship: his brahman-power protects the rite and community, helping Indra overcome obstruction and stabilize prosperity and safety.
No. While the Atharvaveda often includes bhaisajya and domestic rites, Kāṇḍa 20 is predominantly ‘other’ in character—Rigveda-derived Soma-sacrificial praise focused on victory, protection, and ritual success, with only a minor paustika accent (notably the Aśvins).
Read Atharva Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
