Atharva Veda Sukta 42
Kanda 20Anuvaka 5Sukta 423 Mantras

Sukta 42

Rishi: As in RV source for AV 20: Indra-hymn tradition (ṛṣi per RV Anukramaṇī; commonly attributed within Indra cycles to Vasiṣṭha/Viśvāmitra line depending on the RV locus).

Devata: Indra (with Heaven-and-Earth as attendant cosmic powers)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-type RV meter (as transmitted in AV 20 RV-collection; exact meter depends on RV original).

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 20.42

Mantras

Mantra 1

वाच॑म॒ष्टाप॑दीम॒हं नव॑स्रक्तिमृत॒स्पृश॑म्। इन्द्रा॒त् परि॑ त॒न्वं ममे

मैं बात को अपने आप में समेट लेता हूँ। यह बात आठ पैर वाली है, नौ हार वाली है, और सच्चाई को छूती है। मैं इंद्र से यह बात अपने शरीर के आस-पास नाप लेता हूँ।

Mantra 2

अनु॑ त्वा॒ रोद॑सी उ॒भे क्रक्ष॑माणमकृपेताम्। इन्द्र॒ यद् द॑स्यु॒हाभ॑वः

दोनों दुनिया, पृथ्वी और आसमान, इंद्र के पीछे-पीछे चल रहे हैं। जब इंद्र चिल्ला रहा था, तब वो रुके नहीं। इंद्र दुश्मनों को मारने वाला बन गया।

Mantra 3

उ॒त्तिष्ठ॒न्नोज॑सा स॒ह पी॒त्वी शिप्रे॑ अवेपयः । सोम॑मिन्द्र च॒मू सु॒तम्

इंद्र सोम पी के उठा, उसके पास बहुत ताकत थी। उसने दुश्मनों को काँप दिया। सोम पीने के बाद इंद्र बहुत ज़ोर में आ गया।

Frequently Asked Questions

It is used as a victory-and-protection recitation: to strengthen one’s side with Indra’s ojas and to unsettle opponents through fear and trembling, while sealing the reciter with protective, truth-backed speech.

Their ‘following’ Indra signifies cosmic endorsement—Indra’s action is not merely personal force but a universe-supported movement, making the charm feel inevitable and unrelenting.

The text highlights Soma as Indra’s energizer, but AV-style practice often uses a symbolic substitute (water/milk/ghee) or purely mental offering; the essential instrument here is disciplined vāc (recited speech) and focused intention.

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