Sukta 161
Sukta 10.161
Traditionally associated with healing/expulsion hymns (bhaiṣajya); specific rishi attribution varies by Anukramaṇī
Triṣṭubh (probable; requires metrical verification)
This short healing (bhaiṣajya/āyuṣya) hymn invokes the paired power of Indra and Agni to release a sufferer from grasping, wasting illnesses and from the unseen “seizer” (grāhi). Through the force of havis (offering/oblation) and sacred speech, the patient is symbolically “brought back,” restored in sight, limbs, and life-span, and led beyond durita (distress, misfortune, wrong movement).
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
मुञ्चामि त्वा हविषा जीवनाय कमज्ञातयक्ष्मादुत राजयक्ष्मात् । ग्राहिर्जग्राह यदि वैतदेनं तस्या इन्द्राग्नी प्र मुमुक्तमेनम् ॥
मैं यह हवन की शक्ति से तुम्हे ज़िन्दा होने के लिए आज़ाद करता हूँ। कोई भी बीमारी हो, जानी या अनजानी, उस्से मैं तुम्हे छुटा करता हूँ। अगर कोई बुरी ताकत तुम्हे पकड़ के बैठी है, तो इन्द्र और अग्नि दोनों मिल के तुम्हे उस्से पूरा आज़ाद करेंगे।
Mantra 2
यदि क्षितायुर्यदि वा परेतो यदि मृत्योरन्तिकं नीत एव । तमा हरामि निॠतेरुपस्थादस्पार्षमेनं शतशारदाय ॥
अगर उसकी उम्र खत्म हो गई है, या वो मरने के करीब आ गया है, या मौत ने उस्से पकड़ लिया है, तब भी मैं उसे वापस लाता हूँ। मैं उसे बीमारी और मौत की पकड़ से आज़ाद करता हूँ। मैं उसे वापस लाता हूँ ताकि वो सौ साल तक ज़िन्दा रहे।
Mantra 3
सहस्राक्षेण शतशारदेन शतायुषा हविषाहार्षमेनम् । शतं यथेमं शरदो नयातीन्द्रो विश्वस्य दुरितस्य पारम् ॥
हज़ार आँखों वाली शक्ति से, सौ बरस की पकने की उम्र से, सौ गुना ज़िन्दगी की ताकत से, मैंने उसे यहाँ बुलाया है। यह सब एक इच्छा के साथ किया है। इन्द्र इस इंसान को सौ बरस तक ले जाए। वो उसे हर तरह के दुख और बुराई से पार ले जाए।
Mantra 4
शतं जीव शरदो वर्धमानः शतं हेमन्ताञ्छतमु वसन्तान् । शतमिन्द्राग्नी सविता बृहस्पतिः शतायुषा हविषेमं पुनर्दुः ॥
सौ बरस तक जियो, हर दिन बढ़ते रहो। सौ सर्दियाँ देखो, और सौ बहार देखो। इन्द्र-अग्नि, सविता और बृहस्पति मिल के इस आदमी को वापस लाएँ। वो सौ बरस की ज़िन्दगी दे के उसे फिर से नया बनाएँ।
Mantra 5
आहार्षं त्वाविदं त्वा पुनरागाः पुनर्नव । सर्वाङ्ग सर्वं ते चक्षुः सर्वमायुश्च तेऽविदम् ॥
मैंने तुम्हे वापस ला दिया है, मैंने तुम्हे फिर से ढूँढ लिया है। तुम नए बन के वापस आओ, हर बार नया बन के। तुम्हारा हर अंग ठीक हो जाए। तुम्हारी आँखें वापस आ जाएँ, तुम्हारी साँस वापस आ जाए। मैंने यह सब तुम्हारे लिए वापस पाया है।
Inside Sukta 161
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct therapeutic declaration: the speaker releases the patient ‘for life’ from wasting sickness and from the grasp of the Seizer, calling Indrāgnī to unbind.
- Development
The hymn expands from expulsion to restoration—re-establishing longevity (hundred seasons), wholeness, and safe passage beyond durita through Indra’s leadership and Agni’s rite.
- Climax
The turning point is the longevity/transition vision: Indra leads the person across the far shore of all distress, implying definitive recovery and re-entry into ordered life.
- Where it settles
It ends with a tender retrieval refrain—‘I have brought you back, found you again’—and a sealing blessing for complete limbs, restored sight, and recovered life-force.
The deity: Indrāgnī
- In the VedaAs a dual deity, Indrāgnī unites decisive force with consecrated flame to drive away affliction and re-establish order.
- Cosmic functionThey protect life by dispelling hostile forces, restoring vitality (āyus), and re-aligning the person with ṛta through the sacrificial channel (Agni) and the overcoming power (Indra).
- Inner significanceIndra represents courage, expansive will, and the breakthrough beyond fear; Agni represents inner heat, clarity, digestion/transformation, and the capacity to ‘carry’ intention. Together they signify the integrated recovery of strength and coherence after illness or psychic ‘seizure.’
The seer
- Anukramaṇī attribution varies (late Maṇḍala 10 bhaiṣajya strand; often treated as Atharvanic-style healing voice)Associated with expulsion-and-restoration hymns that address disease as a seizing power and use mantra as a therapeutic release (mumukta) and retrieval (āhārṣam/avidaṃ).
Famous verses
pra mumuktam enam
viśvasya duritasya pāram
punar āgāḥ punarnava
Attributes of the deity
- Dual divine agency (paired invocation)
- Release from ‘seizing’ forces (grāhi)
- Restoration of āyus (life-span) and cakṣus (vision)
- Purification and re-integration of the person
- Crossing beyond durita (distress)
Also by this seer
- Connected in style and intent with late RV Maṇḍala 10 āyuṣya/bhaiṣajya material (healing, longevity, restoration).
- Parallels the Atharvavedic medical/expulsion idiom (yakṣma, grāhi, recovery of breath/sight), though this hymn is Rigvedic in placement.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare a small fire (Agni) or a consecrated space; seat the patient facing the fire/light.
- Recite RV 10.161 with intent of ‘release for life’ (jīvanāya), naming the affliction as unknown/royal wasting and as a ‘seizer.’
- Offer havis into the fire (or perform a symbolic offering) while speaking the release formula to Indrāgnī (pra mumuktam enam).
- Pronounce the longevity frame: ‘hundred autumns’ (śataśārad) and ‘lead beyond all durita,’ affirming recovery and future seasons.
- Conclude with the retrieval/return formula (āhārṣam… avidaṃ… punar āgāḥ), touching or anointing the patient to seal restoration of limbs, sight, and life-force.
Offerings
- Ghṛta (ghee) into Agni
- Simple havis (cooked oblation) as available
- Water for sprinkling/ācamana
- Optional medicinal herbs aligned with local tradition (as adjunct, not required by the text)
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a short Vedic healing hymn that asks Indra and Agni to free a person from wasting sickness and from a ‘seizing’ force, and to restore full life, strength, and sight.
Indra represents the power that breaks obstruction and leads beyond danger, while Agni represents the purifying fire that carries the offering and the prayer. Together they act as a united force for release and restoration.
It can be recited in a simple healing rite with an offering (like ghee into fire) or as a spoken prayer near the patient, focusing on the key ideas: release from the grasp, return of vitality, and blessing for long life.
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