Atharva Veda 2.21.2: Kanda 2, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 2
Sukta 21
सूर्य॒ यत् ते॒ हर॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ हर॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
sū́rya yát te háras téna táṃ práti hara yó ’smā́n dvéṣṭi yáṃ vayáṃ dvíṣmaḥ
O Sūrya, with that thy burning glare—therewith bear him back, him who hateth us, whom we ourselves do hate.
सूर्य देव, तुम्हारी गर्मी से माँग है कि दुश्मन को वापिस भगाओ। जो हमसे बुरा मानता है, जिको हम भी बर्दाश्त नहीं करते, उसको तुम अपनी गर्मी से पीछे धकेलो।
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi attribution for this verse/hymn depends on Anukramaṇī tradition for AVŚ 2.21).
Devata: Sūrya (Sun), as bearer of haras/tejas and agent of retributive return.
Chandas: Likely Anuṣṭubh (to be confirmed against pada count in the received text).
Primary: raudra
Secondary: vira
Sāyaṇa takes haras as Sūrya’s tejas (fiery brilliance) capable of afflicting; the mantra is a pratiharaṇa (turning-back) formula: the sun’s heat is entreated to be transferred ‘in return’ upon the hater. The explicit ‘whom we hate’ is read as a ritually sanctioned identification of the adversary, not mere private passion, establishing the adhikāra for counteraction.
To repel and redirect hostile hatred/evil intent back upon the aggressor by means of Sūrya’s haras (burning force).
Haras aligns with heat/pitta; the charm presumes controlled heat as protective rather than inflammatory.
Somatic boundary assertion; channeling anger into structured action rather than dysregulation.
abhicarika
The hater/enemy.
To repel and return hostility using Sūrya’s fierce glare (haras).
Reversal + expulsion (prati- + har) using deity’s weapon-quality (haras).
Hostile intent, curses, aggressive gaze, and social-spiritual intrusion.
The speaker calls on Sūrya’s haras (burning glare/fierce heat) to ‘bear back’ (prati-har) the hater—returning hostility upon the hostile one.
Haras is the surge of anger/heat; the mantra ritualizes that heat into a controlled, externalized force so it protects rather than consumes the practitioner.
Fierce energy is not inherently destructive; when aligned with order and directed rightly, it becomes protection and justice.
- हरः (haras)
- wrathful protective power; controlled ferocity
- प्रति-हर (prati-har)
- repulsion; pushing back intrusion; energetic eviction
- सूर्य (sūrya)
- authority that sanctions consequence; the ‘law’ of exposure
- द्वेष (dveṣa)
- toxic bond that must be severed
Protective fire at the perimeter: cultivate ‘fierce compassion’—strong boundary without obsession.
Maṇipūra
Short, controlled kapalabhāti-like pulses only if stable; otherwise steady exhale emphasizing ‘prati har’.
A ring of golden-red fire around you; any dark arrow touching it turns back.
Upright, fearless, sharply bounded awareness.
Keep spine tall; chant with firm resolve. Conclude with cooling breath (śītali/slow exhale) to balance haras.
Accentuate sūryá and haráḥ; articulate prati clearly; keep har(a) with a firm ‘h’.
Make the imperative ‘prati har(a)’ the sonic climax; keep the rest even and formulaic.
हरः (haraḥ): light visarga; avoid dropping it entirely., Keep ‘prati’ separate from ‘har’ to preserve reversal sense., Dveṣṭi: crisp ṣṭ.
Commanding, slightly forceful; avoid strain.
Fierce charms are traditionally ‘sealed’ by touching the ground/threshold or making a closing gesture to contain the heat.
21
Active conflict, threats, stalking/harassment, or intense envy directed at the household.
Immediately before leaving home or when sensing intrusion; best in daylight.
Strong sense of protection and repulsion; reduced fear; restored agency.
Not for trivial irritations; if anger becomes consuming, stop and cool down.
पदच्छेद (resolved): सूर्य | यत् | ते | हरः | तेन | तम् | प्रति | हर | यः | अस्मान् | द्वेष्टि | यम् | वयम् | द्विष्मः । 1) यो॒३स्मान् = यः + अस्मान् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अकारादौ ‘अ’ परे विसर्गलोपः; यः अस्मान् → योऽस्मान्; पाठे प्लुत/स्वरचिह्नयुक्त ‘यो॒३’). 2) अन्यत्र स्पष्ट संधि-परिवर्तन नहीं; ‘प्रति’ अव्ययम्, ‘हर’ लोट्-रूपम्।
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