Sukta 24
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (anonymous healing unit)
Chandas: Mixed/loosely Anuṣṭubh (Atharvanic prose-verse tendency; pāda lengths may vary)
This short healing hymn invokes the Waters (Āpas) as divine physicians whose flowing, gathered, and confluence-born potency becomes a tangible medicine. It seeks especially saṅgama-jala (meeting-point water) and river-system water under Sindhu’s sovereignty to wash out burning pains and to bestow a “heart-illumining” remedy that restores inner ease and clarity.
Kind of charm
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अपां भैषज्यम्। हि॒मव॑तः॒ प्र स्र॑वन्ति॒ सिन्धौ॑ समह सङ्ग॒मः । आपो॑ ह मह्यं॒ तद् दे॒वीर्दद॑न् हृद्द्योतभेष॒जम्
पानी में दवाई है। हिमालय से पानी बह कर आता है और सिंधु नदी में मिलता है। पानी देवियां हैं, वो मुझे वो दवाई दें जो दिल को रोशन करे। यह पानी अंदर से ठीक करता है।
Mantra 2
यन्मे॑ अ॒क्ष्योरा॑दि॒द्योत॒ पार्ष्ण्योः॒ प्रप॑दोश्च॒ यत्। आप॒स्तत् सर्वं॒ निष्क॑रन् भि॒षजां॒ सुभि॑षक्तमाः
मेरी आँखों में जो जला है, पैरों में जो दर्द है, वो सब पानी ले जाए। पानी सबसे बड़ा डॉक्टर है, वो सब ठीक कर देता है। जो भी बीमारी है, पानी उसे बाहर निकाल दे।
Mantra 3
सिन्धु॑पत्नीः॒ सिन्धु॑राज्ञीः॒ सर्वा॒ या न॒द्य॑१स्थन॑ । द॒त्त न॒स्तस्य॑ भेष॒जं तेना॑ वो भुनजामहै
सिंधु नदी की सारी नदियाँ, जो भी नदियाँ हैं, वो सब अपनी जगह पर हैं। उनसे यह प्रार्थना है कि वो हमें वो दवाई दें। उस दवाई से हम ठीक हों और उसका फायदा उठाएँ।
Inside Sukta 24
How it unfolds
- How it opens
The hymn opens by naming “the Waters’ remedy,” tracing their sacred geography from Himavant to their gathered meeting in Sindhu.
- What it asks
May the Waters, as goddesses and supreme healers, give the medicine that illuminates the heart and remove burning afflictions from eyes and feet.
- Where its power lies
Waters are proclaimed “most excellent of healers among physicians,” able to carry the ailment out (niṣ-kar) as something transferable and removable.
- How it closes
All rivers under Sindhu’s lordship are asked to grant the remedy, concluding with a communal seal of benefit: “with that gift of yours may we partake and profit.”
Famous verses
hṛddyotabheṣajam
niṣkaran bhiṣajāṃ subhiṣaktamāḥ
tenā vo bhunajāmahai
Kind of hymn
Bhaisajya (Healing)
What it is for
Consecration and application of sacred water to remove burning, flashing pain (especially in eyes and feet) and to restore inner well-being through the waters’ medicinal essence.
Who it is for
Healers (atharvan/vaidya), household ritualists, and sufferers seeking relief via ablution/sprinkling with consecrated river or confluence water.
Also used as
- Shantika (pacifying/cooling)
- Pavitrika (purificatory cleansing)
The deity
They embody purity, cooling relief, circulation of life, and the capacity to carry away disease as a removable substance.
Powers of the deity
- Cleansing and purifying (śodhana) through washing/sprinkling
- Cooling and pacifying burning/heat-type afflictions
- Extraction and removal of localized pain (eyes, heels, forefeet)
- Bestowal of bhaiṣajya (medicine) that “brightens the heart” (inner relief, mental clarity)
- Confluence-power (saṅgama) and gathered potency of many streams
- Restorative nourishment and safe participation/benefit from the waters’ gift
Why the deity is called
To obtain ritually charged healing water—ideally from a confluence or river nexus—so it can draw out burning pains and confer a heart-brightening remedy.
The seer
- Anonymous Atharvanic healing unitAtharvan. Bhaiṣajya charms centered on consecrated substances (especially water) for extracting pain/heat, cleansing affliction, and restoring vitality and mental brightness
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 6.23 (Waters/cleansing-healing cluster, traditional association)
- AV 6.25 (adjacent Atharvanic healing material; compendium-style attribution)
Preparing for the rite
- Collect clean water, preferably from a river confluence (saṅgama) or a flowing river; if unavailable, take fresh running water and mentally invoke Himavant→Sindhu flow.
- Seat the patient facing east or north; place the water in a clean vessel (kalaśa/cup).
- Optional: silently state the ailment-location (eyes/feet) to ‘name’ what is to be carried out (niṣkaraṇa).
The rite
- Recite 6.24.1 over the water to awaken the ‘heart-illumining’ bhaiṣajya in it.
- Recite 6.24.2 while sprinkling/washing the eyes (gentle) and then the feet (heels and forefeet), intending that the waters ‘carry out’ the burning/flash.
- Recite 6.24.3 while offering a final libation back to the waters (a small pour-out) or while the patient sips a small amount if appropriate and safe, sealing the request for shared benefit (bhunajāmahai).
What it needs
- Water from rivers, ideally confluence-water (saṅgama-jala)
- Clean vessel (kalaśa or cup)
- Optional: a small ladle/spoon for sprinkling
When
Any time of need; traditionally auspicious at dawn or near a natural water-source, especially when the patient can be washed with fresh flowing water.
The main substance
Consecrated river water, preferably confluence-water (saṅgama-jala)
How it is prepared
Collect fresh flowing water (ideally at a confluence). Recite the hymn over it; use it for gentle eye/foot washing or sprinkling, and optionally offer a small return-libation to the waters as closure.
Frequently Asked Questions
That sacred water—especially water from a river meeting-point—can be ritually awakened as bhaiṣajya (medicine) and can carry disease or burning pain out of the body.
It maps a sacred flow: waters arise from the Himavant and gather in Sindhu, symbolizing concentrated potency—ideal for consecration as a strong, ‘gathered’ remedy.
Traditionally by reciting it over clean water and then washing or sprinkling the affected areas (notably eyes and feet), while intending the waters to remove the burning/irritation and restore inner calm.
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