Sukta 17
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī for this hymn; commonly Atharvan/Angiras-type attributions in this register).
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like short formula (mantric prose/short metrical cadence typical of faculty-installation verses)
AVŚ 2.17 is a compact Atharvanic “faculty-installation” hymn that re-seats vital powers in the patient by directly addressing them as personified indriya-forces. Through short svāhā-formulas—especially to Āyus (Life) and Śrotra (Hearing)—it aims to restore sensory capacity, stabilize life-force, and extend protective coverage (paripāṇa) against further impairment.
Kind of charm
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
बलप्राप्तिः। ओजो॒ऽस्योजो॑ मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑ ।१॥ सहो॑ऽसि॒ सहो॑ मे दाः स्वाहा॑
तू ताकत है, मुझे भी ताकत दे। तू हिम्मत है, मुझे भी हिम्मत दे। मैं स्ट्राँग बनो।
Mantra 2
बल॑मसि॒ बलं॑ मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
तू ताकत है, मुझे ताकत दे। यह मंत्र बॉडी की स्ट्रेंथ के लिए है। स्वाहा के साथ यह हवन होता है।
Mantra 3
आयु॑र॒स्यायु॑र्मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
तू ज़िन्दगी है, मुझे ज़िन्दगी दे। यह मंत्र उम्र लंबी करने के लिए है। स्वाहा बोल के यह दुआ पूरा होती है।
Mantra 4
श्रोत्र॑मसि॒ श्रोत्रं॑ मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
तू सुनने की ताकत है। मुझे भी अच्छी तरह सुनने की शक्ति दे। मेरे कान अच्छी तरह काम करें।
Mantra 5
चक्षु॑रसि॒ चक्षु॑र्मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
तू नज़र है, मुझे नज़र दे। यह मंत्र आँखों की शक्ति माँगता है। स्वाहा के साथ यह पूजा पूरा होती है।
Mantra 6
प॒रि॒पाण॑मसि परि॒पाणं॑ मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
तू सबको संभालने वाला हाथ है, मुझे वो हाथ दे। यह मंत्र रक्षा के लिए है। स्वाहा बोल के यह पूजा खत्म होती है।
Inside Sukta 17
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Begins in the Atharvanic ‘installation’ style: the power is identified (“Thou art …”) and immediately requested for the client (“give me …”).
- What it asks
Bestowal and restoration of key faculties—life (āyus) and hearing (śrotra)—as transferable, re-establishable powers.
- Where its power lies
Efficacy is conveyed through performative identification plus svāhā, treating the utterance itself as the act of placing the faculty into the patient.
- How it closes
Concludes by extending protection through paripāṇa—an encircling safeguard that ‘covers’ the person and secures the restored state.
Famous verses
āyur asi āyur me dāḥ svāhā
śrotram asi śrotraṃ me dāḥ svāhā
paripāṇam asi paripāṇaṃ me dāḥ svāhā
Kind of hymn
Bhaisajya (Healing) / Indriya-pratisthā (restoration of faculties)
What it is for
Restoration of hearing and reinforcement of life-force, with an added protective encirclement that guards the recovered faculty and the patient’s overall well-being.
Who it is for
Atharvanic healer/priest (bhaiṣajya practitioner) reciting for a patient with hearing loss, sensory weakness, convalescence, or vulnerability to recurring affliction.
Also used as
- Indriya-pratiṣṭhā (faculty restoration/installation)
- Āyuṣya (longevity)
- Rakṣoghna/Apotropaic (protective sealing)
Powers of the deity
- Restores and stabilizes hearing capacity
- Re-seats sensory and vital faculties after loss/weakness
- Supports longevity and resistance to decline
- Creates a surrounding protective ‘coverage’ (paripāṇa) against harm and relapse
Why the deity is called
To reinstall hearing and allied life-supporting powers in the client, countering deafness/ear-impairment and general diminishment of vitality, while sealing the person within protective containment.
The seer
- Atharvan/Āṅgirasa-type seer (anukramaṇī attribution varies)Atharvan. Bhaiṣajya and indriya-pratiṣṭhā charms: restoring faculties (hearing, vitality), re-establishing life-breath and protective integrity through brief installation-formulas with svāhā.
Other hymns of this seer
- AVŚ 2.16 (adjacent faculty/strength-installation register, tradition-level attribution)
- AVŚ 2.18 (adjacent healing/protective register, tradition-level attribution)
Preparing for the rite
- Seat the patient facing east or north; calm breath and attention.
- Prepare a consecration medium (commonly water or ghee) and/or a small protective band/amulet for tying or touching.
- Establish a simple protective boundary (sprinkling water around the patient or tracing a circle).
The rite
- Recite the short installation-formulas verse by verse, each ending with svāhā, directing the addressed faculty toward the patient.
- On ‘śrotram asi…’ touch or gesture toward the ears (or hold the medium near the ears) to ‘place’ hearing.
- On ‘āyur asi…’ offer/gesture the medium toward the heart or crown to ‘seat’ vitality.
- On ‘paripāṇam asi…’ perform an encircling motion around the patient (or tie the band/amulet) to seal protection.
What it needs
- Consecrated water (for sprinkling/sipping) or ghee (as offering medium)
- Protective thread/band or small amulet (for tying/sealing)
When
As a healing rite during convalescence; especially at dawn or before the day’s main activity, and repeated for several days if impairment persists.
The main substance
Consecrated water (most adaptable medium for sprinkling/sipping and ‘placing’ faculties)
Amulets
- Protective thread/band tied on arm/neck
- Small charm-packet (amulet) kept on the body
How it is prepared
Consecrate water by recitation; sprinkle lightly around and upon the patient, then use touch/gesture at the ears during the śrotra-verse; tie the band/amulet while reciting the paripāṇa-verse.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to restore and stabilize faculties—especially hearing—while also strengthening life-force and adding a protective ‘covering’ to prevent further harm.
This is an Atharvanic installation pattern: the faculty is treated as a divine power that can be identified, invoked, and ‘placed’ into the patient; svāhā seals the act as effective offering/placement.
Not necessarily. The hymn works well with a simple consecration medium like water (for sprinkling/sipping) and, optionally, a protective thread or amulet tied while reciting the closing protective verse.
Ask anything about Sukta 17 of the Atharva Veda
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