
Rishi: Atharvanic amulet tradition (ṛṣi not securely fixed for this short maṇi-hymn unit)
Devata: Prajāpati / Astṛta-maṇi (object-deity)
Chandas: Mixed; largely yajus-like with mantra-prose cadence
Mantra 1
अस्तृतमणिः। प्रजापतिष्ट्वा बध्नात् प्रथममस्तृतं वीर्याय कम्। तत् ते बध्नाम्यायुषे वर्चस ओजसे च बलाय चास्तृतस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
The Astṛta amulet: may Prajāpati bind thee on—Astṛta first of all—for manly might, for Ka. That do I bind on for thee, for length of days, for lustre, for vigor, and for strength; may Astṛta guard thee round about.
Mantra 2
ऊर्ध्वस्तिष्ठतु रक्षन्नप्रमादमस्तृतेमं मा त्वा दभन् पणयो यातुधानाः । इन्द्र इव दस्यूनव धूनुष्व पृतन्यतः सर्वांछत्रून् वि षहस्वास्तृतस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
Stand thou upright, guarding, vigilant, O Astṛta: let not the Paṇis, let not the Yātudhānas overreach me. Like Indra, shake down the Dasyus; from the battling ones shake off all enemies; prevail asunder: may Astṛta guard thee round about.
Mantra 3
शतं च न प्रहरन्तो निघ्नन्तो न तस्तिरे। तस्मिन्निन्द्रः पर्यदत्त चक्षुः प्राणमथो बलमस्तृतस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
Though a hundred smiters, though slayers, they prevailed not. Therein Indra bestowed full sight, and breath, and moreover strength: may Astṛta guard thee round about.
Mantra 4
इन्द्रस्य त्वा वर्मणा परि धापयामो यो देवानामधिराजो बभूव । पुनस्त्वा देवाः प्र णयन्तु सर्वेऽस्तृतस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
With Indra’s armour we encompass thee and cause it to be put upon thee—he who became the over-king of the Gods. Again may all the Gods lead thee forth; may Aṣṭṛta guard thee round about.
Mantra 5
अस्मिन् मणावेकशतं वीर्याणि सहस्रं प्राणा अस्मिन्नस्तृते । व्याघ्रः शत्रूनभि तिष्ठ सर्वान् यस्त्वा पृतन्यादधरः सो अस्त्वस्तृतस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
In this amulet are a hundred-and-one powers; a thousand vital breaths are in this Aṣṭṛta. As a tiger stand thou against all foes: whoever would contend with thee—let him be the lower one. May Aṣṭṛta guard thee round about.
Mantra 6
घृतादुल्लुप्तो मधुमान् पयस्वान्त्सहस्रप्राणः शतयोनिर्वयोधाः । शम्भूश्च मयोभूश्चोर्जस्वांश्च पयस्वांश्चास्तृतस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
Anointed with ghee, honeyed, rich in milk—of thousandfold breath, of hundredfold sources, a giver of vigor: beneficent and bliss-bestowing, strong in nourishment and rich in milk—may Aṣṭṛta guard thee round about.
Mantra 7
यथा त्वमुत्तरोऽसो असपत्नः सपत्नहा। सजातानामसद् वशी तथा त्वा सविता करदस्तृतस्त्वाभि रक्षतु
Even as thou art the higher one—rivalless, a slayer of rivals—so among thy peers be thou the master: thus may Savitar make thee. May Aṣṭṛta guard thee round about.
It is a protective amulet-power treated as a living guardian. The hymn consecrates it and binds it onto a person so it continuously protects and strengthens them.
It asks for long life (āyus), radiance/authority (varcas), vigor (ojas), strength (bala), and protection on all sides, including the defeat of rivals (asapatna, sapatnahā).
A ritual specialist or householder binds a corded amulet onto the recipient while reciting the verses, especially the repeated seal “may Astṛta guard thee round about,” to establish an ongoing protective ‘armor.’