Sukta 28
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (arishta-kṣayaṇa complex)
Devata: Primarily the operative mantra-force (ṛc) and the household’s Śānti/Ūrj; adversary is the omen and attached durita
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like (AV irregular)
Is sukta mein ghar par kisi buri shakun ka attack ho gaya hai. Us buri shakun ko kabootar ki tarah dikhaya gaya hai. Rishi log use chhala aur mantra ke bal se bhagate hain. Phir Agni aur gaye ke charo taraf suraksha chakra banate hain. Aakhir mein Yama aur Mrityu ko shant karte hain. Isse ghar ki sampada bach jati hai aur khatra door ho jata hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अरिष्टक्षयणम्। ऋ॒चा क॒पोतं॑ नुदत प्र॒णोद॒मिषं॒ मद॑न्तः॒ परि॒ गां न॑यामः । सं॒लो॒भय॑न्तो दुरि॒ता प॒दानि॑ हि॒त्वा न॒ ऊर्जं॒ प्र प॑दा॒त् पथि॑ष्ठः
Yeh mantra kabootar ko bhagane ke liye hai. Ek mantra ki taakat se usko aage dhakelo, usko door bhaga do. Phir khana lagake usko khichte hue usko khule maidan mein le jao. Usko itna akarshit karo ki woh bura raaste chhod de. Woh hamare khane se nikal jaye aur acche raaste par chal pade.
Mantra 2
परी॒मे॒३ग्निम॑र्षत॒ परी॒मे गाम॑नेषत । दे॒वेष्व॑क्रत॒ श्रवः॒ क इ॒माँ आ द॑धर्षति
Yeh log Agni ke aas-paas phail gaye. Yeh log gaay ko bhi aas-paas le gaye. Deviyon ke beech unki badai ho gayi. Ab kaun hai jo inpar haath utha sake? Koi himmat nahi kar sakta.
Mantra 3
यः प्र॑थ॒मः प्र॒वत॑मास॒साद॑ ब॒हुभ्यः॒ पन्था॑मनुपस्पशा॒नः । यो॒३स्येशे॑ द्वि॒पदो॒ यश्चतु॑ष्पद॒स्तस्मै॑ य॒माय॒ नमो॑ अस्तु मृ॒त्यवे॑
Woh pehla insaan jo marne ke baad us raaste par gaya, woh sabke liye raasta dhoondh ke laya. Ab woh do paon walo aur chaar paon walo sabka malik hai. Yama aur Mrityu ko hum pranaam karte hain.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Atharvavedic omen-logic, certain birds entering or lingering in the house-space can be read as nimitta (a sign) that durita (misfortune) has ‘caught’ the household. The hymn’s goal is not to harm the bird but to detach and export the attached ill-luck.
It means the misfortune is imagined as having a “trail” (padāni) that can cling to a place. By luring the omen outward and commanding it to depart by the best path, the rite aims to keep the household’s vitality (ūrj) intact while the durita goes away with the omen.
In this ritual grammar, respectful propitiation is a seal that prevents escalation. By acknowledging Yama/Mṛtyu as the ultimate authority over bipeds and quadrupeds, the performer seeks to pacify the fatal edge of the omen and secure postponement or averting of death-loss.
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