Sukta 68
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (not specified in the provided excerpt)
Devata: Savitar; Vāyu; Ādityas, Rudras, Vasus; Soma (as royal paradigm)
Chandas: Mixed/prose-like anuṣṭubh cadence (likely anuṣṭubh with ritual heading ‘vapanam’)
Mantras
Mantra 1
वपनम्। आयमगन्त्सविता क्षुरेणोष्णेन वाय उदकेनेहि । आदित्या रुद्रा वसव उन्दन्तु सचेतसः सोमस्य राज्ञो वपत प्रचेतसः
Shaving. Hither hath this (rite) come: Savitar with the razor, with the warm (water); O Vāyu, come with the water. Let the Ādityas, the Rudras, the Vasus—of one accord—bedew (him). Shave ye the King Soma, ye provident and foreknowing.
Mantra 2
अदितिः श्मश्रु वपत्वाप उन्दन्तु वर्चसा । चिकित्सतु प्रजापतिर्दीर्घायुत्वाय चक्षसे
Let Aditi shave the beard; let the Waters bedew (him) with splendour. Let Prajāpati take heed and ordain (this) for long life, for the eye’s clear seeing.
Mantra 3
येनावपत् सविता क्षुरेण सोमस्य राज्ञो वरुणस्य विद्वान्। तेन ब्रह्माणो वपतेदमस्य गोमानश्ववानयमस्तु प्रजावान्
With that wherewith Savitar, the knowing one, shaved with the razor the King Soma—(and) Varuṇa—therewith, O Brahmans, shave ye this man of his: let this (person) be possessed of cows, possessed of horses; let him be possessed of offspring.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is recited during shaving—especially beard shaving—to make the act safe, ritually pure, and auspicious, while invoking radiance (varcas), long life, and well-being.
Soma functions as a royal paradigm: by recalling that Savitar shaved King Soma (and Varuṇa) with divine knowledge, the same successful, harm-free pattern is applied to the human rite.
No specific herbs or amulets are stated here. The key ritual supports are the razor and water (especially warm water), used with sprinkling/bedewing alongside the recitation.