Atharva Veda 5.3.8: Kanda 5, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 3, Mantra 8
Sukta 3
उ॒रु॒व्यचा॑ नो महि॒षः शर्म॑ यछत्व॒स्मिन् हवे॑ पुरुहू॒तः पु॑रु॒क्षु। स नः॑ प्र॒जायै॑ हर्यश्व मृ॒डेन्द्र॒ मा नो॑ रीरिषो॒ मा परा॑ दाः
uruvyácā no mahiṣáḥ śárma yachatu asmín havé puruhūtáḥ purukṣú | sá naḥ prajā́yai haryaśva mṛḍéndra mā́ no rīriṣo mā́ párā dāḥ ||
May the wide-pervading mighty Bull vouchsafe us shelter, at this our call, the Much-invoked, the Much-aiding. Be gracious unto our progeny, O Indra of tawny steeds; harm us not, nor give us over unto destruction.
इंद्र, तुम बहुत बड़े हो। हमारी सुनो और हमें बचाओ। जब हम पुकारते हैं तो तुम आओ। हमारी औलाद पे भी मेहरबानी रखना। हमें नुकसान मत पहुँचाना, हमें खराब मत करना।
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Indra-stuti; specific r̥ṣi not stated in the provided excerpt)
Devata: Indra
Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like cadence (as transmitted; Atharvanic mixed meters occur)
Primary: shanta
Secondary: vira
Sāyaṇa takes ‘śarma’ as rakṣā/śaraṇa (protective refuge) and reads the double prohibitives (mā…mā…) as a formal warding against both direct injury (rīriṣ-) and being ‘handed over’ (parā dā-) to enemies, disease, or Nirṛti-like misfortune. Epithets (uruvyácas, puruhūta, purukṣu) are invoked as guarantees of Indra’s ritual accessibility and broad protective jurisdiction, extending to prajā (lineal continuity).
To secure Indra’s protective ‘shelter’ for the sacrificer/household, avert harm, and ensure progeny; to prevent being delivered over to hostile forces.
Protective reassurance and divine shelter (śarma) to prevent harm; supports recovery by stabilizing fear and invoking safeguarding for family continuity.
Supports ojas (resilience) conceptually through shelter and reduced anxiety; progeny blessing relates to śukra/artava vitality in later frameworks.
Protective prayer for family safety, perinatal anxiety, or stress-related vulnerability.
shantika
Secure Indra’s shelter and avert harm/destruction; protect progeny and household continuity.
Stuti + direct prohibition (mā…) as apotropaic command; calling on epithets to ‘activate’ specific protective aspects.
General harm, calamity, hostile forces, abandonment to ruin.
progeny/lineage continuity
A praise-prayer to Indra: the wide-pervading mighty Bull, much-invoked and much-aiding, is asked to grant shelter at this call; to be gracious to progeny; not to harm or hand the worshippers over to destruction.
Invoking a protective archetype of strength that is also benevolent: power is requested not for domination but for shelter, continuity (progeny), and non-abandonment in crisis.
True protection is both strength and care—force that refuses to betray its dependents. Security is experienced as ‘śarma’ (refuge) granted by a trustworthy order.
- उरुव्यचाः (uru-vyacāḥ)
- protection that is not local or partial; an all-around field
- महिषः (mahiṣaḥ)
- virility, strength, steadfastness; protective potency
- शर्म (śarma)
- felt safety; a home in the cosmos
- पुरुहूतः (puru-hūtaḥ)
- reliable deity—accessible through repeated calling
- पुरुक्षु (puru-kṣu)
- abundant help across many needs
- हर्यश्व (haryaśva)
- swift assistance; dynamic protective force
- मा नो रीरिषः (mā no rīriṣaḥ)
- non-violent protection; fear of divine neglect or punitive fate
- मा परा दाः (mā parā dāḥ)
- do not abandon us to hostile forces, ruin, or despair
Resting the mind in ‘śarma’—felt refuge; cultivating trust and protective strength without aggression.
Anāhata (shelter/heart)
Slow coherent breathing (equal inhale/exhale) while repeating ‘śarma yachatva.’
A wide canopy of light spreading (‘uru-vyacā’) over the home; children and elders within a calm protective field.
Śānta steadiness; devotional security (bhakti-inflected).
Chant 9 times at dusk; end with a silent dedication for family safety and ethical strength.
Stotra-like: keep a dignified rise on epithets (uru-vyacā, puruhūtaḥ) and a clear softening on the pleas (mṛḍa, mā…).
Emphasize prohibitives: ‘mā no rīriṣo mā parā dāḥ’ as two distinct seals.
पुरुहूतः: keep u-u long sequence clear, हर्यश्व: palatal y, not ‘haryasva’, रीरिषः: long ī; retroflex ṣ at end
Warm, sheltering, prayerful; avoid harsh command tone.
Suitable as a general rakṣā mantra; can be paired with simple household offerings (water, lamp) without complex rites.
9
Seeking protection for family, especially children; anxiety about harm, loss, or being ‘left to fate.’
Morning/evening; before travel; during family stress or illness in the home.
Calm, reassurance, strengthened resolve; culturally, a sense of being under divine shelter.
Not a substitute for safety planning or medical care; avoid fatalism—use as support for practical action.
पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-विग्रह): उरुव्यचाः नः महिषः शर्म यच्छतु अस्मिन् हवे पुरुहूतः पुरुक्षु । सः नः प्रजायै हर्यश्व मृड इन्द्र मा नः रीरिषः मा परा दाः । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) उरुव्यचा + नः → उरुव्यचाः नः (अः + न्, विसर्गः) । (2) यछत्वस्मिन् → यच्छतु अस्मिन् (उ + अ, पदान्त-उकारस्य परे अकारे पृथक्करणम्; संहितायां ‘त्व’ इव दृश्यते) । (3) हवे पुरुहूतः (पदसीमा; विशेष सन्धि न) । (4) मृडेन्द्र → मृड इन्द्र (द् + इ, संहितायां संयोग/अनुस्वार-रहित संधि) । (5) मा नो → मा नः (ओ/अः-रूपभेदः; एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ संहितायां ‘नो’ इति प्रायः) । (6) परा दाः (उपसर्ग ‘परा’ पृथक्) ।
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