Atharva Veda 7.82.3: Kanda 7, Anuvaka 9, Sukta 82, Mantra 3
Sukta 82
इ॒हैवाग्ने॒ अधि॑ धारया र॒यिं मा त्वा॒ नि क्र॒न् पूर्व॑चित्ता निका॒रिणः॑ । क्ष॒त्रेणा॑ग्ने सु॒यम॑मस्तु॒ तुभ्य॑मुपस॒त्ता व॑र्धतां ते॒ अनि॑ष्टृतः
iháivā́gne ádhi dhāraya rayíṃ mā́ tvā ní kran pū́rvacittā nikā́riṇaḥ | kṣatréṇā́gne suyámam astu túbhyam upasattā́ vardhatāṃ te ániṣṭṛtaḥ ||
Here, even here, O Agni, hold fast the treasure: let not the fore-plotting deceivers strike thee down. With ruling power, O Agni, be there good control for thee; let thine attendants increase, uninjured.
अग्नि, यहीं रहो और खज़ाना पकड़ के रखो। जो लोग पहले से चाल चलते हैं और धोखा देते हैं, उन्होंने तुम्हे गिरा न दिया जाये। राज के साथ तुम्हारा काम सही से चलना चाहिए। तुम्हारे साथ काम करने वाले लोग भी बढ़ते रहें, किसी को तकलीफ न हो।
The meaning
What it says
Agni is asked to hold the treasure here; may fore-planning deceivers not strike him down. With kṣatra may Agni have good control; may his attendants increase unharmed.
The inner meaning
Protect the ‘central fire’ (core values/discipline) from sabotage—inner (self-deception, old habits) and outer (hostile intent). ‘Good control’ (suyama) is self-regulation; attendants are supportive faculties and allies that grow when the center is protected.
The truth in it
Wealth and stability persist when the core system is defended from subtle sabotage and governed with steady self-control; support networks grow around a protected center.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Paustika (Prosperity) + Rakṣā (Protective)
Its aim
To stabilize wealth in the household by protecting Agni from hostile plotters and ensuring orderly control and growth of supporters.
Word by Word
Pada patha
इह । एव । अग्ने । अधि । धारय । रयिम् । मा । त्वा । नि । क्रन् । पूर्वचित्ताः । निकारिणः । क्षत्रेण । अग्ने । सुयमम् । अस्तु । तुभ्यम् । उपसत्ताः । वर्धताम् । ते । अनिष्टृतः ।
- इह
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot इह (अव्यय)
- एव
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/निपातRoot एव (अव्यय)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि
- अधि
- upon, overIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- धारय
- hold, place, maintainhold, sustain, keep in place (stabilize; prevent loss)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot धृ
- रयिम्
- wealth, treasureNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रयि
- मा
- do notnot (prohibitive particle)Indeclinableनिषेध-अव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/निपातRoot मा (निषेध)
- त्वा
- youthee (Agni; the household fire/power)Pronounद्वितीया; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot युष्मद्
- नि
- down, away (prefix)down, away (direction of overthrow)Indeclinableअव्ययRole सम्बन्ध/निपातRoot नि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- क्रन्
- step away/down; withdrawoverthrow, strike down, assail (hostile action against Agni/rite)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ) / वैदिक-रूप; मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (नि+क्रम्)Role क्रियाRoot क्रम्
- पूर्वचित्ताः
- those of former intent/forethought; the earlier-mindedfore-thinking, premeditating (those who plan harm; crafty enemies)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot पूर्वचित्त (पूर्व + चित्त)
- निकारीणः
- harm-doers, injurersNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot निकारीन् (नि + √कॄ/कर् ‘to do, harm’ → agent noun)
- क्षत्रेण
- by (your) power/sovereigntywith kṣatra, ruling/protective power (force of command and defense)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot क्षत्र
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अग्नि
- सुयमम्
- good restraint/control; good ordergood control, good governance (well-reined order; effective restraint)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (अस्तु-सम्बन्धे प्रथमा)Role कर्तृ (अस्तु) / विधेयRoot सुयम (सु + यम)
- अस्तु
- let there beVerbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्-सदृश आज्ञार्थ); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot अस्
- तुभ्यम्
- for youfor thee (for Agni; to empower him)Pronounचतुर्थी; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot युष्मद्
- उपसत्ता
- the attendant/servant; one who sits near (as helper)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot उपसत्तृ (उप + √सद् ‘to sit/attend’ → agent noun)
- वर्धताम्
- let (it/they) increase, growlet (them) increase (growth of supporters and dependents)Verbलोट्; प्रथमपुरुष; द्विवचन/बहुवचन (वैदिक प्रयोगे ‘let (it/they) grow’); आत्मनेपद/परस्मैपद-भेदः पाठानुसारRole क्रियाRoot वृध्
- ते
- of you, yourthy (belonging to Agni/household fire)Pronounषष्ठी; एकवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्
- अनिष्टृतः
- unhindered; not held back (unrestrained)unharmed, uninjured, unassailed (secure; not struck down)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole विशेषण (उपसत्ता/पूर्वचित्ता-सम्बन्धे) / कर्तृRoot अनिष्टृत् (अन् + √स्तृ/स्तॄ ‘to spread/lay out’?; वैदिक विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- इह + एव + अग्ने + अधि + धारय + रयिम् + मा + त्वा + नि + क्रन् + पूर्वचित्ताः + निकारीणः । क्षत्रेण + अग्ने + सुयमम् + अस्तु + तुभ्यम् + उपसत्ता + वर्धताम् + ते + अनिष्टृतः । मुख्य-सन्धयः:
- (1) इह + एव → इहैव (स्वर-सन्धि)
- (2) इहैव + अग्ने → इहैवाग्ने (अ + अ → आ)
- (3) मा + त्वा → मा त्वा (सन्धि नहीं; पद-सीमा)
- (4) क्षत्रेण + अग्ने → क्षत्रेणाग्ने (अ + अ → आ)
- (5) तुभ्यम् + उपसत्ता → तुभ्यमुपसत्ता (म् + उ → मुप्)
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Atharvanic tradition
- Devata
- Agni (as protector and governor)
- Chandas
- Mixed/irregular (requires metrical verification)
- Rasa
- Vira and Bhayankara
Sāyaṇa treats Agni as the household’s stability-node: if Agni is ‘struck down’ (ritual/fire extinguished, order disrupted), wealth departs. The enemies are ‘premeditating’ (pūrvacittāḥ) and ‘harm-doing’ (nikāriṇaḥ). Kṣatra is invoked as protective sovereignty to secure Agni’s governance (suyama) and to multiply loyal ‘upasattāḥ’ (those who sit near/serve), ensuring the rite and household remain unassailed.
Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution)
Rakṣā + paustika integration: protecting prosperity by defending the household fire and its ritual-social perimeter.
Atharvan protection logic: preserve the locus (Agni) and the flow (rayi) will not be cut; ‘control’ is sacralized as kṣatra within the rite.
Agni (as protector-governor)
Household guardian and mediator; enforcer of order (ṛta) through heat/light; center of domestic security.
Stabilizes vitality by preventing ‘striking down’ (collapse) of the core fire; supports recovery through steadiness.
Wards hostile intent and deception; strengthens ‘good control’ and the integrity of attendants/allies.
Approx. 4 pādas of ~11 syllables; caesura often after key imperatives (adhi dhārayā; mā tvā).
Protective diction (mā…ni kran) can compress or expand syllables; pragmatic cadence outweighs strict meter.
Defensive and commanding; sharp prohibitive ‘mā’ contrasts with stabilizing ‘adhi dhārayā’.
Creates a protective perimeter around Agni/wealth; ends with a growth-blessing for supporters.
At the household fire, the priest recites the mantra while placing a protective fuel-stick (samidh) to ‘hold’ Agni steady.
He circles the fire clockwise once, marking a boundary against ‘pūrvacittā nikāriṇaḥ’.
He sprinkles water around the hearth (or at the threshold) as a sealing perimeter, then returns to the fire.
Optionally, he seats household members briefly near the fire to enact ‘upasattāḥ’, concluding with a blessing for their increase and safety.
Kauśika Sūtra: protective household-fire rites (rakṣā) and prosperity stabilization using AV 7.82 (general rubric; exact sūtra-number varies by edition).
Atharvan as rakṣākartṛ: he maintains the domestic fire’s continuity and wards off human/occult hostility that would ‘knock down’ the household’s prosperity.
Recite while circling the hearth or lamp clockwise; optionally sprinkle a few drops of ghee into the fire as ‘binding’ of protection; can be used when feeling envy/hostility around household prosperity.
At dusk (rakṣā time), before travel, after disputes, or when moving valuables/cattle.
Householder; a purohita may add protective rites if desired.
Use as a home-protection prayer near a lamp; combine with practical security steps.
Agni (household fire as security node); rayi (wealth/treasure); kṣatra (protective sovereignty)
Agni as the defended locus; hearth as security node
The hearth is treated as a vault: protect the flame and you protect the household’s stored essence (rayi).
Metaphorical ‘attack’ states: anxiety, instability, depletion from hostile environments; also household misfortune framed as a ‘strike down’ of agni/fortune.
Apotropaic protection: naming threats (deceivers) and commanding non-penetration; stabilizing rayi through strengthened governance (suyama).
Stabilizing agni and bala; reducing vāta-like instability (tremulousness, insecurity) through ‘holding fast’ and routine.
Boundary-setting against manipulation; stress inoculation; safeguarding routines that maintain wellbeing.
Household fire/ritual center and the sacrificer’s prosperity
Hold wealth fast in the household; prevent sabotage; increase attendants/allies unharmed under Agni’s sovereign control.
Protective prohibition (mā…); enthronement of kṣatra as control; blessing of attendants; anchoring wealth ‘here’ (ihaiva).
Premeditated harm, deception, social/occult sabotage, ritual disruption
Wealth retention, stable governance, growth of support network
- रयि (rayi)
- stored energy/resources; stability-capital
- पूर्वचित्त (pūrvacitta)
- strategic malice; subtle sabotage; intrusive patterns
- निकारिण (nikāriṇa)
- corrupting influences; exploiters
- सुयम (suyama)
- self-regulation; governance; ordered life
- उपसत्त (upasattāḥ)
- supporting capacities; helpers; protective allies
- अनिष्टृत (aniṣṭṛtaḥ)
- resilience; intact support system
Fortify the inner flame against ‘deceivers’ (self-deception, intrusive thoughts); cultivate suyama (self-restraint).
Manipura (control/agency)
Box-breath 4-4-4-4 for steadiness; silently place ‘ihaiva’ on inhale and ‘adhi dhārayā’ on exhale.
A bright flame inside a protective circle; shadowy ‘nikāriṇaḥ’ remain outside the boundary; allies gather as luminous points around it.
Vigilant, contained, sovereign.
Chant 3 times, then set one concrete boundary (time, spending, relationships) as the lived form of suyama.
Firm recitation; mark prohibitive mā with a clear lift; keep pāda breaks to preserve command structure.
Stress ihaivāgne; clip mā tvā; articulate pūrvacittā nikāriṇaḥ distinctly; broaden on upasattā vardhatām.
Protective, steady, slightly forceful.
Effective as hearth-circling (paryagnikaraṇa-like) speech; the ‘mā’ prohibition is performative—deliver it clearly.
3 times
Feeling undermined at work/home; financial leakage; envy/hostility; need to protect household stability.
After conflict; before signing agreements; when safeguarding savings/valuables; during home move-in or new fire/lamp setup.
Greater sense of security and resolve; traditional aim of wealth retention and protection from sabotage.
Avoid paranoia; pair with ethical conduct and clear communication; fire safety if offering ghee.
No herb is named; the material anchor is the fire itself (fuel-stick, water-boundary). The mantra treats wealth as something that must be ‘held’ by maintaining Agni’s stability—ritual infrastructure replaces pharmacology.
Threat is social (plotters, deceivers) and prosperity is communal (increase of attendants/clients). The household’s security is managed through priestly control of the fire, reflecting a society where ritual continuity underwrites economic continuity.
The explicit naming of human malefactors (pūrvacittā nikāriṇaḥ) and the household-security framing are more Atharvanic than RV. The governance term suyama (‘good control’) aligns with later ethical-political vocabulary while still Vedic.
Gopatha’s logic would connect the household fire’s integrity with the sacrificer’s fortune: when Agni is firm, rayi remains. The mantra’s prohibitive and governance clauses function as a verbal ‘fence’ (rakṣā) around the ritual center.
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