Atharva Veda 18.3.55: Kanda 18, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 3, Mantra 55
Sukta 3
यत् ते॑ कृ॒ष्णः श॑कु॒न आ॑तु॒तोद॑ पिपी॒लः स॒र्प उ॒त वा॒ श्वाप॑दः । अ॒ग्निष्टद् वि॒श्वाद॑ग॒दं कृ॑णोतु॒ सोम॑श्च॒ यो ब्रा॑ह्म॒णां आ॑वि॒वेश॑
yát te kṛṣṇáḥ śakúnā́ ā́tutoda pipīláḥ sárpa utá vā́ śvā́padaḥ | agníṣ tád viśvā́d agádaṃ kṛṇotu sómaś ca yó brāhmaṇā́m ā́viveśa ||
Whatsoever black bird hath smitten thee, or ant, or serpent, yea or savage beast—let Agni make that from all sides an antidote; and Soma too, who hath entered into the Brahmans.
अगर कोई काला पक्षी तुम्हे मार दे, या चींटी, या साँप, या कोई जंगली जानवर, अग्नि उसे दवा बना दे हर तरफ से। सोम भी मदद करे, जो ब्राह्मणों में आता है।
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (healer-priest voice)
Devata: Agni and Soma
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like (as transmitted)
Primary: vira
Secondary: bhayankara
Sāyaṇa reads the catalogue (bird/ant/serpent/beast) as an exhaustive net for all venomous or injurious agencies, including ominous śakuna-attack. ‘Agada’ is glossed as viṣa-pratiṣedhaka (poison-countering). Soma is invoked not merely as plant-juice but as brahma-tejas internal to Brahmans (‘āviveśa’), hence uniquely competent to neutralize hidden toxins and evil influences.
To neutralize poison and injury arising from bites, stings, or ominous animal contact, by converting the affliction into ‘agada’ (non-poison).
Poisoning/envenomation; bites/stings; injury with toxic fear-response; also ominous ‘strike’ (śakuna) as psychosomatic trigger.
Transformative reversal: Agni ‘cooks’ poison into non-poison (agada); Soma replenishes and sanctifies internally (entered the Brahmins), reinforcing immunity and recovery.
Agada-tantra (Ayurvedic toxicology) resonates strongly; Agni as digestive/metabolic fire; Soma as ojas-rasāyana symbolism.
First-aid + anti-venom context (symbolic support); managing panic after bites/stings; supportive prayer during treatment.
bhaisajya
Poison/venom and the invading harm-event
Neutralize venom/toxic injury from animals/insects/ominous contact by converting it into ‘agada’ through Agni and Soma.
Enumerative capture of causes + performative reversal (‘make it agada’) + dual-element therapy (heat/cool) via deity invocation.
bites, stings, animal attacks, ill-omens
Whatever ‘black bird’ has struck you, or ant, serpent, or wild beast—may Agni make that into an antidote from every side; and Soma too, who has entered into the Brahmins.
Fear of unseen contamination/venom is met by invoking two complementary forces: Agni (transformative heat) and Soma (cool restorative essence). ‘Black bird’ also covers ominous signs and psychosomatic dread; the mantra converts panic into a controlled purification narrative.
Harm becomes manageable when transformed and integrated: heat that digests (Agni) and coolness that restores (Soma) together convert poison—literal or psychological—into immunity and wisdom.
- कृष्णः शकुनः (kṛṣṇaḥ śakunaḥ)
- ominous strike, sudden misfortune, fear-trigger
- आतुतोद (ātutoda)
- penetration of boundary; invasive harm
- पिपीलः (pipīlaḥ)
- small but potent irritant; cumulative toxins
- सर्प (sarpa)
- venom, hidden danger, sudden crisis
- श्वापद (śvāpad)
- external threat, panic response
- अग्निः (agniḥ)
- metabolic transformation, burning away toxicity
- अगद (agada)
- state of immunity; reversal of harm
- विश्वात् (viśvāt)
- total neutralization; comprehensive protection
- सोमः ... ब्राह्मणाम् आविवेश (somaḥ ... brāhmaṇām āviveśa)
- healing essence internalized by sacred speech/discipline; medicine within mantra-community
Detox and immunity: Agni burns toxicity; Soma cools and restores—balance both in awareness.
manipura
gentle kapalabhati is NOT advised during acute distress; instead use slow nasal breathing with a warm exhale visualization (Agni) followed by cool inhale visualization (Soma).
A warm golden flame at the navel consuming dark ‘venom’; a cool white lunar stream bathing the bloodstream/skin; the bite-site surrounded by a bright ring labeled ‘agada’.
Alert, protective composure.
In non-emergency practice, recite 3–9 times to cultivate steadiness and ‘immunity mindset’. In emergencies, recite softly while prioritizing medical help.
Stronger accent on enumerations (kṛṣṇaḥ śakunaḥ, pipīlaḥ, sarpaḥ, śvāpadah); decisive stress on ‘agniṣ ṭat … agadaṃ kṛṇotu’.
Make the turning-point audible: slight pause after listing threats, then firm entry on ‘agniḥ’.
śakuna (śa-ku-na) with clear ś., pipīlaḥ (pi-pī-laḥ) long ī., agadaṃ (a-ga-daṃ) soft g; final nasal., brāhmaṇāṃ (brāh-ma-ṇāṃ) retroflex ṇ; long āṃ.
Firm, protective, not harsh; urgency without panic.
Traditional Atharvanic pragmatics: recite while touching near (not on) the affected area; accompany with practical measures. The mantra’s ‘viśvāt’ supports circling gesture around the bite-site.
9
Bites/stings (insect, snake, animal), fear after ominous animal contact, suspected minor poisoning exposure (symbolic support).
Immediately after incident while initiating first aid and contacting medical services; also during recovery for reassurance.
Calmer patient, strengthened resolve, traditional antidotal framing; supportive sense of protection.
Seek urgent medical care for snakebite, allergic reactions, deep wounds, or systemic symptoms; do not delay antivenom/ER care. Use safe fire practices if lighting a lamp.
पदच्छेदः (resolved): यत् | ते | कृष्णः | शकुनिः | आतुतोद | पिपीलः | सर्पः | उत | वा | श्वापदः || अग्निः | तत् | विश्वात् | अगदम् | कृणोतु | सोमः | च | यः | ब्राह्मणानाम् | आविवेश । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) शकु॒न आ॑तु॒तोद॑ → शकुनिः + आतुतोद (इः + आ → इआ; पदान्ते विसर्ग/इकार-रूपः पदपाठे ‘शकुनिः’). (2) अ॒ग्निष्टद् → अग्निः + तत् (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: ः + त → ष्ट्). (3) वि॒श्वाद॑ग॒दं → विश्वात् + अगदम् (त् + अ → द् + अ; पदपाठे ‘विश्वात्’). (4) सोम॑श्च → सोमः + च (विसर्गः + च → श्च).
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
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.
