Atharva Veda 4.5.7: Kanda 4, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 5, Mantra 7
Sukta 5
स्वप्न॑ स्वप्नाभि॒कर॑णेन॒ सर्वं॒ नि स्वापया॒ जन॑म्। ओ॒त्सू॒र्यम॒न्यान्त्स्वा॒पया॑व्यु॒षं जा॑गृताद॒हमिन्द्र॑ इ॒वारि॑ष्टो॒ अक्षि॑तः
svapná svapnābhikarā́ṇena sárvaṃ ní svāpayā jánam | út sū́ryam anyā́nt svāpayāvyúṣaṃ jā́gṛtād ahám índra ivā́riṣṭo ákṣitaḥ
O Sleep, by thy dream-working enchantment lull down to slumber all the folk. Till the Sun rise, lull thou the others: from wakefulness am I awake—like Indra, unhurt, unconsumed.
नींद, तुम अपने सपने की शक्ति से सब लोगों को सुला दो। सूरज उगने तक दूसरों को सुलाते रहो। मैं जग रहा हूँ, जैसे इंद्र, बिना ज़ख्म, बिना खत्म हुए।
The meaning
What it says
Sleep is invoked to lull all people down through dream-enchantment, but the practitioner commands Sleep to lull ‘the others’ until sunrise, while the speaker remains awake from wakefulness—like Indra, unharmed and unconsumed.
The inner meaning
Strategic control of attention-states: the practitioner seeks a protected vigil while the surrounding field becomes quiet. ‘Others’ can be external rivals or internal distractions; Indra-model signifies invulnerability during liminal night.
The truth in it
Power sometimes lies in staying awake while the world sleeps: maintaining awareness without being harmed by the night’s forces—outer or inner.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Abhicarika (Sorcery) / Raksha (Protective-apotropaic)
Its aim
To induce sleep upon a targeted group (‘others’) while keeping the practitioner awake, unharmed, and effective until sunrise.
Word by Word
Pada patha
स्वप्नः । स्वप्न-अभि-करणेन । सर्वम् । नि । स्वापय । जनम् । उत् । सूर्यम् । अन्यान् । स्वापय । अव्युषम् । जागृतात् । अहम् । इन्द्रः । इव । अरिष्टः । अक्षितः ।
- स्वप्न
- O Sleep (personified)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (मन्त्र-सम्बोधन)Role सम्बोधन (कर्तृ-प्रेरणासम्बन्ध)Root स्वप्न (प्रातिपदिक) < √स्वप्
- स्वप्नाभिकरणेन
- with the sleep-causing instrument/meansNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot स्वप्नाभिकरण (प्रातिपदिक; स्वप्न + अभि + करण) < √कृ
- सर्वम्
- all (of them), everythingAll, the whole (entire surrounding population without remainder).Adjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सर्व (सर्व-शब्द)
- नि
- down, completely (prefix)Down, completely; intensifier indicating thorough subduing into sleep.Indeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- स्वापय
- put to sleep!Cause to sleep; a direct injunctive/imperative used as a spell-command.Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (कर्तृ-प्रेरणा) क्रियाRoot √स्वप् (णिच्) → स्वापय
- जनम्
- the people, the person(s)People/folk; the targeted human collectivity (village/household/hostile group).Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot जन (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत्
- up, out (prefix)Up, forth; here marking the rising/appearance (of the sun) as a temporal boundary.Indeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root उत् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सूर्यम्
- the sunThe Sun; cosmic witness and time-marker whose rising ends the spell’s night-domain.Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्यान्
- the othersOthers; all except the speaker/ritualist and his protected party.Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वापय
- put to sleep!Cause to sleep; repeated command for reinforcement (mantric doubling for potency).Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (कर्तृ-प्रेरणा) क्रियाRoot √स्वप् (णिच्) → स्वापय
- अव्युषम्
- the one not yet dawned/awake (i.e., still in night/sleep)Not yet dawned/undawned; remaining in darkness, i.e., kept from waking until the desired time.Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अव्युष (प्रातिपदिक; a- + व्युष) < √वस्/√उष् (व्युष् ‘to dawn, to become bright’)
- जागृतात्
- from the wakeful/awake stateFrom wakefulness; ablative—remove them from the state of being awake.Adjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक; पञ्चमी एकवचन (अपादान) रूपRole अपादानRoot जागृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √जागृ)
- अहम्
- II; the officiant/agent who remains awake and efficacious.Pronounउत्तमपुरुष; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अहम् (सर्वनाम)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraIndra; model of inviolable power—speaker claims Indra-like immunity.Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमान-आश्रय) / विशेषण-सम्बन्धRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asAs, like; simile marker establishing protective identification.Indeclinableउपमानवाचक अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- अरिष्टः
- unharmed, uninjuredUnharmed, uninjured; apotropaic state free from assault.Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot अरिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
- अक्षितः
- undiminished, imperishableUnwasted, undecayed, unimpaired; enduring vitality and unbroken watchfulness.Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot अक्षित (प्रातिपदिक; a- + क्षित) < √क्षि/√क्षय (क्षि ‘to perish, diminish’)
Sandhi Notes
- स्वप्न | स्वप्नाभिकरणेन | सर्वम् | नि | स्वापय | जनम् || उत् | सूर्यम् | अन्यान् | स्वापय | अव्युषम् | जागृतात् | अहम् | इन्द्रः | इव | अरिष्टः | अक्षितः ।
- (1) स्वप्नाभि॒कर॑णेन = स्वप्न + अभिकरणेन (समास/सन्धि)
- (2) नि स्वापय = नि + स्वापय (उपसर्गयोग)
- (3) ओ॒त्सू॒र्यम् = उत् + सूर्यम् (उद् + स- → उत्सूर्यम्; मन्त्रपाठे ओत्सूर्यम्)
- (4) अ॒न्यान्त्स्वा॒पय = अन्यान् + स्वापय (न् + स् संयोग; लेखने ‘अन्यान्त्’)
- (5) स्वापयाव्यु॒षम् = स्वापय + अव्युषम् (अ + अ → आ; मन्त्रपाठे ‘स्वापयाव्युषम्’)
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Atharvanic tradition (attribution varies by anukramaṇī)
- Devata
- Svapna (Sleep/Dream), with Indra as protective paradigm
- Chandas
- Mixed/irregular (Atharvanic; approximates anuṣṭubh cadence but not strictly)
- Rasa
- Bhayankara and Vira
Sāyaṇa treats Svapna as a controllable power: the mantra is an abhikāra-like command to cast collective sleep upon ‘others’ while the performer remains protected and vigilant. The Indra-simile functions as kavaca (protective identification), ensuring the operator’s immunity from counter-attack or nocturnal danger while the target is rendered inert until sunrise.
Anukramaṇī-variable (Atharvanic)
Night-charms and state-manipulation: inducing sleep in others while maintaining the practitioner’s protected wakefulness (rakṣā for vigil).
Highlights Atharvanic mastery of liminal states (sleep/dream) as both vulnerability and instrument—sleep as a directed force.
Svapna (Sleep/Dream) with Indra as protective paradigm
Svapna governs the nightly withdrawal of senses; when invoked, it can pacify communities. Indra stands as the archetype of undefeated vigilance.
Protects the practitioner’s wakeful agency through Indra-identification; suppresses hostile activity by inducing sleep in others.
Mixed/irregular (Atharvanic cadence approximating Anuṣṭubh)
Two long lines with internal cadence breaks; not strictly 4x8 in recitation practice.
Atharvanic spells often privilege performative syntax (commands, time clauses) over strict metrical regularity.
Hypnotic imperative flow; then a proud, protective self-assertion.
Induces drowsiness in the environment while sharpening the chanter’s sense of guarded alertness.
At night, the Atharvan positions himself at a liminal point (doorway/threshold or boundary of the target space).
He recites the mantra as an imperative-address to Svapna, directing sleep toward the designated ‘others’.
He maintains wakeful guarding (jāgara) for himself/household, optionally repeating the command until signs of quieting are observed.
The rite’s temporal limit is sunrise (‘until the Sun rises’), after which the operator ceases the coercive command and resumes normal observance.
Kauśika Sūtra: svapna-nidrā-karman (sleep-inducing rite; exact sūtra numbering varies by edition)
Atharvan/Brahman as nocturnal guardian-operator: he performs the coercive utterance (abhicāra) while simultaneously establishing a protective self-identification (Indra-kavaca).
Used for guarding the house at night, protecting a journey-camp, or ensuring quiet during a necessary vigil (e.g., tending a sick person) while others sleep.
Night, before midnight; release at sunrise is implicit in the wording.
Householder as night-guardian; no elaborate priestly apparatus required.
As a contemplative ‘night-watch’ mantra: calm the environment (noise reduction) while sustaining mindful alertness.
No materia is named; the operative ‘substance’ is time (night) and vāc. Sunrise is the built-in release mechanism—ethical containment of the spell.
Touches nidrā-tattva: directed sleep; could be adapted as insomnia support for ‘others’ while maintaining a caretaker’s alertness (non-classical but pragmatic).
Sedation/quieting a group (metaphorically); night-watch alertness; caregiver staying awake while others sleep.
‘Others’ (anyān)—rivals, guards, or obstructing persons; also potentially distracting influences.
To impose sleep on others until sunrise while the practitioner remains awake and unharmed.
State-imposition via direct address to Svapna; time-bounding to sunrise; self-identification with Indra for invulnerability.
Night dangers, enemy action, interruption of a vigil/operation.
- स्वप्न (svapna)
- state-control; veil over perception; also a magical field that can be directed
- स्वप्नाभिकरण (svapnābhikaraṇa)
- oneiric magic; suggestion, fascination, induced quiescence
- नि स्वापय (ni svāpay(a))
- pacification of agency—making others inactive
- उत् सूर्यम् (ut sūryam)
- time-bound spell; night as operational window
- जागृतात् अहम् (jāgṛtāt aham)
- heightened vigilance; meta-awareness
- इन्द्र इव अरिष्टः अक्षितः (indra iva ariṣṭaḥ akṣitaḥ)
- sovereign immunity; protected agency in conflict
Maintaining awareness through the night without anxiety; directing the mind’s ‘sleep’ toward distractions.
Nasal breathing with gentle ujjāyī-like constriction to sustain vigilance without strain.
Visualize a dome of quiet settling over the household; within it, a single steady flame of awareness remains lit in the heart.
Quiet alertness (jāgrat within night), bordering on yogic nidrā but with retained witness.
Use sparingly; end at sunrise with a release prayer/intent so the mind does not cling to control.
Low, hypnotic tone on ‘ni svāpayā’; brighter tone on ‘jāgṛtāt aham’.
Soften the first commands (lulling), then clearly assert the final Indra-simile as a protective seal.
Whispered or very soft; final line slightly firmer.
Because it is coercive (abhicāra-leaning), traditional use is constrained by context; keep intention protective, not malicious.
3 times
Need to keep vigil (caregiving, guarding, focused work at night) while minimizing disturbance from others.
At night before beginning the vigil; stop at sunrise (or explicitly ‘release’ the intention).
Quieter surroundings, steadier alertness, reduced fear of night-time vulnerability.
Avoid using with harmful intent; do not use to control others in unethical ways; prioritize consent and safety.
No plant or drug is named; efficacy is achieved through personified Sleep (Svapna) and coercive verbal command. This is a ‘pure speech-technology’ rather than pharmacology, though it can be paired with soporific substances in practice.
The speaker assumes the right to immobilize ‘others’ while remaining protected—an asymmetry typical of Atharvanic ritual power. The Atharvan/Brahman’s authority is encoded as the capacity to command personified forces (Svapna) and to claim Indra-like inviolability.
The direct operational imperative ‘svāpayā’ and the pragmatic targeting ‘anyān’ are characteristic of Atharvanic spell-style diction. The compact coercive syntax and repeated command reflect later ritualized speech-acts more than RV praise-hymn structure.
Gopatha’s general Atharvanic theory treats mantras as operative instruments (karman) whose correctness of application and protective framing prevent recoil. This verse exemplifies that logic: coercion of an external state (sleep) is paired with a self-protective identification (Indra) to secure the operator.
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