Sukta 10
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Angiras lineages for maṇi-hymns)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (4 pādas, with Atharvanic cadence)
AV 4.10 is a maṇi-hymn that enthrones the śaṅkha (conch) as a living, personified remedy—Kṛśana—fit to be worn and empowered as an amulet. Through ocean-birth imagery, golden/Soma-derived radiance, and explicit rakṣas-smiting claims, the hymn drives out disease, mental derangement, and persistent misfortune while securing safe passage and long life.
Kind of charm
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
शङ्खमणिः। वाता॑ज्जा॒तो अ॒न्तरि॑क्षाद् वि॒द्युतो॒ ज्योति॑ष॒स्परि । स नो॑ हिरण्य॒जाः श॒ङ्खः कृश॑नः पा॒त्वंह॑सः
यह शंख है, एक मणि है। यह हवा से पैदा हुआ, आसमान से आया। बिजली से निकला, रोशनी की दुनिया से आया। यह सोना जैसा शंख है, इसका नाम कृशन है। यह हमें दुख और तकलीफ से बचाये।
Mantra 2
यो अ॑ग्र॒तो रो॑च॒नानां॑ समु॒द्रादधि॑ जज्ञि॒षे। श॒ङ्खेन॑ ह॒त्वा रक्षां॑स्य॒त्त्रिणो॒ वि ष॑हामहे
यह शंख भगवान का है जो समुंदर से निकला था। यह सबसे ऊपर चमकता है। शंख की आवाज़ सुन के राक्षस भाग जाते हैं। इसकी आवाज़ से हम उन पर जीत पाते हैं।
Mantra 3
श॒ङ्खेनामी॑वा॒मम॑तिं श॒ङ्खेनो॒त सदान्वाः॑ । श॒ङ्खो नो॑ वि॒श्वभे॑षजः॒ कृश॑नः पा॒त्वंह॑सः
शंख बजाके हम बीमारी भगाते हैं। शंख से ही मूर्खता और बुरी चीज़ें भी भागती हैं। यह शंख सब इलाज कर सकता है। यह हमारे पास रहे और तकलीफ से बचाये।
Mantra 4
दि॒वि जा॒तः स॑मुद्र॒जः सि॑न्धु॒तस्पर्याभृ॑तः । स नो॑ हिरण्य॒जाः श॒ङ्ख आ॑युष्प्र॒तर॑णो म॒णिः
यह शंख आसमान में पैदा हुआ। समुंदर से निकला, नदियों के पानी से यहाँ आया। यह शंख सोना जैसा है और हमारी जान बचाता है। यह हमारे पास रहे।
Mantra 5
स॒मु॒द्राज्जा॒तो म॒णिर्वृ॒त्राज्जा॒तो दि॑वाक॒रः । सो अ॒स्मान्त्स॒र्वतः॑ पातु हे॒त्या दे॑वासु॒रेभ्यः॑
यह मणि समुंदर से निकली है। सूरज भी वही से आया है। यह मणि हमें हर तरफ से बचाये। देवता और असुर कोई भी हमला करें, यह हमें सेफ रखे।
Mantra 6
हिर॑ण्याना॒मेको॑ऽसि॒ सोमा॒त् त्वमधि॑ जज्ञिषे । रथे॒ त्वम॑सि दर्श॒त॑ इ॑षु॒धौ रो॑च॒नस्त्वं प्र ण॒ आयूं॑षि तारिषत्
सोने की चीज़ों में यह सबसे बड़ा है। सोम रस से बना है यह। रथों में चमकता है, धनुष के कुबेर में भी चमकता है। यह हमारी जान को सेफ करके ले जाता है।
Mantra 7
दे॒वाना॒मस्थि॒ कृश॑नं बभूव॒ तदा॑त्म॒न्वच्च॑रत्य॒प्स्व॑१न्तः । तत् ते॑ बध्ना॒म्यायु॑षे॒ वर्च॑से॒ बला॑य दीर्घायु॒त्वाय॑ श॒तशा॑रदाय कार्श॒नस्त्वा॒भि र॑क्षतु
क्रिशन देवतों की हड्डी बन गया। वो पानी के अंदर रहता है, जान के साथ। मैं उसे तुम्हारे लिए बाँध रहा हूँ, ज़िन्दगी के लिए, चमक के लिए, ताकत के लिए। तुम्हारी उम्र लंबी हो, सौ साल तक। यह क्रिशन तुम्हे चारों तरफ से बचाए।
Inside Sukta 10
How it unfolds
- How it opens
The hymn opens by presenting the śaṅkha as ocean-born and foremost among shining powers, establishing its cosmic pedigree and right to command hostile forces.
- What it asks
That the conch-amulet drive away disease, mental derangement, and clinging evils, while protecting the bearer from distress and hostile beings.
- Where its power lies
It is proclaimed as viśvabheṣaja (‘universal medicine’), Soma-born and golden-luminous, effective on chariot and in quiver—i.e., in movement, danger, and conflict.
- How it closes
The rite seals with the petition that the maṇi ‘carry our lives across’ (āyūṃṣi tāriṣat), turning protection into longevity and safe passage.
Famous verses
śaṅkho no viśvabheṣajaḥ
pra ṇa āyūṃṣi tāriṣat
Kind of hymn
Bhaisajya (Healing) / Rakṣoghna (Apotropaic)
What it is for
To consecrate and deploy a śaṅkha-maṇi (Kṛśana) that removes disease and mental affliction, breaks persistent ill-luck, defeats rakṣas, and secures longevity and safe transit.
Who it is for
Householders, healers (bhaiṣajika), Atharvanic ritualists, travelers/warriors seeking protection, and families safeguarding a patient or vulnerable person (children, the sick, those under ‘evil influence’).
Also used as
- Rakṣoghna
- Paustika
- Maṇi (amulet) liturgy
The deity
Under the epithet Kṛśana it functions as a wearable, chargeable safeguard that repels malign beings and restores wholeness of body and mind.
Powers of the deity
- Expels amīvā (disease) and durmati/amatí (mental confusion, folly)
- Drives away sadānvāḥ (ever-clinging/persistent evils and misfortunes)
- Smites rakṣas and attriṇaḥ (predatory/demonic forces)
- Bestows āyus (long life) and safe passage across dangers
- Radiant protection (golden, shining), effective in travel and conflict contexts
- Acts as viśvabheṣaja (universal medicine) when ritually installed and worn
Why the deity is called
Invoked to ‘activate’ the śaṅkha as an empowered amulet that simultaneously heals, wards off spirits, and carries the bearer safely through peril, extending life and removing distress (aṃhas).
The seer
- Atharvanic seer(s) of the maṇi-tradition (Anukramaṇī: Atharvan/Āṅgirasa transmission)Atharvan. Maṇi (amulet) liturgies combining bhaiṣajya healing with rakṣoghna spirit-expulsion; installation/charging of protective objects for longevity, travel, and crisis-warding.
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 4.4 (Maṇi-hymn cluster, protective charm)
- AV 4.9 (Protective/amulet-oriented hymn in the same kanda sequence)
- AV 5.22 (Rakṣoghna protective formulas; Atharvanic style)
- AV 6.136 (Bhaiṣajya healing charm; Atharvanic medical register)
Preparing for the rite
- Select a clean, intact śaṅkha (conch) or conch-piece suitable as a maṇi; cleanse with water (optionally with astringent/alkaline wash) and dry.
- Seat the patient or wearer facing east; establish a small protective boundary (rekhā) or clean space; maintain silence/continence during the rite.
- If used as a pendant, thread it with a clean cord; if used as a hand-held charm, place it on a clean cloth near the reciter.
The rite
- Recite the sukta over the śaṅkha, touching it at key verses that name its powers (e.g., viśvabheṣaja, rakṣas-smiting).
- Bind or place the śaṅkha on the person (neck/upper arm/waist) while repeating the protective pādas; alternatively keep it at the head of the bed for a patient.
- Perform a short apotropaic gesture: circle the conch around the head/torso 3 times, then set it on the body or threshold; conclude with a final recitation for āyus (safe ‘crossing over’).
What it needs
- Śaṅkha (conch) as maṇi/amulet (Kṛśana)
- Clean water for purification
- Cord/thread for binding (if worn)
- Optional: ghee or a small lamp for ‘radiance’ symbolism; a clean cloth/altar space
When
Preferably at dawn or early morning (āyus/health rites), or immediately upon onset of illness/ominous symptoms; also before travel or entering contested/unsafe spaces.
The main substance
Śaṅkha (conch) fashioned/used as a maṇi (amulet), invoked as Kṛśana
Amulets
- Śaṅkha-maṇi (conch amulet)
- Cord/thread binding for wearing
- Optional adjunct: protective knot or cloth wrap for the conch
How it is prepared
Wash and dry the conch; optionally anoint lightly with ghee for ‘radiance’; recite the sukta over it (and over the cord), then bind it onto the patient/wearer or place it at the bedside/threshold as a charged protective object.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both: the śaṅkha (conch) is treated as a maṇi (amulet) and simultaneously as a personified power called Kṛśana, capable of healing and protection when ritually empowered.
It targets bodily illness (amīvā), mental disturbance or confusion (amatí/durmati), persistent misfortune (sadānvāḥ), and hostile spirit-forces (rakṣas/attriṇaḥ), while also aiming at longevity and safe passage.
The conch is cleansed, the hymn is recited over it to ‘charge’ it, and then it is worn or placed near the person (bedside/threshold). The rite emphasizes binding/placement plus repeated recitation of the key protective verses.
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