Sukta 64
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (śānti/prāyaścitta hymn)
Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters) as purifiers and protectors
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; common in AV śānti verses)
Agar kala pakshi koi bura shagun dikh jaye to log dar jate hain. Is mantra mein Waters aur Agni Garhapatya ko bulaya jata hai. Waters se bura dosh dhul jata hai. Agni Garhapatya se guilt jal kar khatam ho jati hai. Isse vyakti dubara pavitra ho jata hai aur samaj mein wapas aa sakta hai. Yeh ek simple prayashchitta upay hai jo shanti deta hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
पापमोचनम्। इ॒दं यत् कृ॒ष्णः श॒कुनि॑रभिनि॒ष्पत॒न्नपी॑पतत्। आपो॑ मा॒ तस्मा॒त् सर्व॑स्माद् दुरि॒तात् पा॒न्त्वंह॑सः
Kala pakshi jab udke mere paas aake baithta hai, woh bura shagun hota hai. Paani mujhe us buraai se bachaye. Paani mujhe har tarah ke paap aur dukh se azaad kare.
Mantra 2
इ॒दं यत् कृ॒ष्णः श॒कुनि॑र॒वामृ॑क्षन्निरृते ते॒ मुखे॑न । अ॒ग्निर्मा॒ तस्मा॒देन॑सो॒ गार्ह॑पत्यः॒ प्र मु॑ञ्चतु
Kala pakshi jab apna munh lagata hai, woh bada paap lagta hai. Ghar ki Agni mujhe us paap se chhutkara dilaye. Ghar ki Agni mujhe poori tarah azaad kare.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used when an inauspicious black bird (śakuni) approaches, alights, or is believed to have defiled a person—an event treated as an omen requiring immediate purification and expiation.
Waters cleanse and protect from ‘evil hap’ (durita) and anguish (aṃhas), while Agni Gārhapatya performs expiation by ‘releasing’ from enas—together expressing complete removal of taint.
No. The hymn’s ritual logic centers on simple, primary purifiers: clean water for sprinkling/ablution and the household fire for expiatory release; optional ghee/kuśa may be used according to custom.
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