Atharva Veda 7.71.1: Kanda 7, Anuvaka 8, Sukta 71, Mantra 1
Sukta 71
अग्निः। परि॑ त्वाग्ने॒ पुरं॑ व॒यं विप्रं॑ सहस्य धीमहि । धृ॒षद् व॑र्णं दि॒वेदि॑वे ह॒न्तारं॑ भङ्गु॒राव॑तः
pári tvāgne púraṁ vayáṁ vípraṁ sahásya dhīmahi | dhṛṣád-varṇaṁ divé-dive hantā́raṁ bhaṅgurā́vataḥ ||
Round thee, O Agni, as a fortress, we establish the inspired, the mighty: of daring hue, day after day, the slayer of the assailant.
अग्नि, हम तुम्हारे आस-पास एक किले की तरह सुरक्षा बनाते हैं। तुम बहुत ताकतवर हो और बुद्धि वाले हो। तुम्हारा रंग तेज़ है। तुम रोज़ दुश्मन को मारते हो जो हमला करता है।
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific r̥ṣi not recoverable from the single verse alone)
Devata: Agni
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable)
Primary: vira
Secondary: adbhuta
Sāyaṇa construes ‘pura’ as a protective rampart formed by Agni’s presence; ‘dhīmahi’ is not mere contemplation but ritual installation. ‘Hantāraṁ bhaṅgurāvataḥ’ is read as Agni’s function to shatter the one who would shatter (the community), i.e., a defensive counter-violence sanctioned by fire.
To establish Agni as a daily protective perimeter around a fort/settlement, repelling and destroying attackers and malign beings.
General danger/attack (rakṣas, enemies, ill-omens) that can manifest as stress, insecurity, and vulnerability to illness.
Protective enclosure: strengthens the ‘field’ around person/home; reduces fear and perceived threat, supporting recovery and stability.
Supports ojas (resilience) through stability, warmth, and routine; aligns with agni (digestive/metabolic fire) as foundational to health—symbolically mirrored by household Agni.
Home-safety routines and protective habits; nervous-system regulation via consistent ritual and warmth cues.
shantika
Attackers (human enemies) and malign beings (rakṣas)
To install Agni as a daily protective fortress around a settlement/household, repelling and destroying assailants.
Perimeter-installation (pari…puram dhīmahi) + daily renewal (divedive) + deity-as-wall visualization.
Intrusion, violence, hostile magic, night-fears, ill-omens
Household stability and security (foundation for prosperity)
Agni is established around the community like a fortress (pura). The hymn sets Agni daily as the inspired, mighty, daring-hued slayer of the assailant.
The psyche builds a ‘fire-fortress’: disciplined attention and ethical heat (tapas) create a perimeter that repels intrusive forces—fear, temptation, hostile influence.
Protection is not only reactive; it is cultivated daily. A stable inner fire—clarity, vigilance, warmth—creates resilience against recurring threats.
- परि (pari)
- protective circumference; boundary-making
- पुरम् (puram)
- secure life-space; defended community/self
- धीमहि (dhīmahi)
- intentional installation; daily cultivation of protection
- विप्र (vipra)
- illumined intelligence; fire as discerning awareness
- सहस् (sahas)
- protective power, energetic capacity
- धृषद्वर्ण (dhṛṣad-varṇa)
- fearless radiance; courageous presence that deters harm
- हन्तारम् (hantāram)
- neutralizer of threats (rakṣas, attackers, inner obstacles)
- भङ्गुरावत् (bhaṅgurāvat)
- intrusive force—enemy, disease-demon, anxiety surge
Building a stable protective aura through daily tapas and clarity; guarding the senses at the ‘gates.’
Maṇipūra (inner fire)
Agni-sāra (gentle) or steady diaphragmatic breathing while visualizing a ring of warmth around the body.
A golden-red fire-ring around the home/body, renewing each day; intrusions dissolve at the perimeter without entering.
Grounded vigilance—alert yet calm; protective presence.
Recite 9 times at lamp-lighting; end with a moment of silent watching of flame to ‘install’ vipra (inspired clarity) in the mind.
Steady, elevated tone on Agne; sustain divedive to convey daily continuity; keep compounds fluid.
Emphasize pari…puram (enclosure) and hantāram (protective climax).
dhīmahi: long ī, dhṛṣadvarṇam: retroflex ṛ; keep ṣ, divedive: articulate both dvi- clearly
Warm, steady, protective
Best paired with actual flame (lamp/fire) so the ‘fortress’ is sensorially anchored, not merely conceptual.
9
Seeking ongoing household protection, especially during instability, travel periods, or after disturbing events.
Daily at dawn/evening; before leaving home; when fear rises at night.
Increased felt safety, steadier routine, reduced anxiety, strengthened family cohesion.
Fire safety if using a lamp; do not use ritual confidence to ignore real security needs.
पदच्छेद (resolved): अग्निः | परि त्वा अग्ने पुरम् वयम् विप्रम् सहस्य धीमहि | धृषद् वर्णम् दिवे-दिवे हन्तारम् भङ्गुरावतः । 1) ‘त्वाग्ने’ = ‘त्वा + अग्ने’ (आ + अ → आ). 2) ‘दिवेदिवे’ = ‘दिवे + दिवे’ (पुनरुक्ति; अर्थ ‘प्रतिदिन’). 3) ‘भङ्गुरावतः’ को षष्ठी-एकवचन रूप में लिया गया है: ‘भङ्गुरावत्’ (वतुप्) का gen. sg. ‘-अतः’ (वेद/काव्य में प्रचलित).
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