Kanda 7Anuvaka 1Sukta 71 Mantras

Sukta 7

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Āditya-stuti; anukramaṇī-dependent)

Devata: Ādityas (collective)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like (edition-dependent)

Mantras

Mantra 1

आदित्याः। दितेः पुत्राणामदितेरकारिषमव देवानां बृहतामनर्मणाम्। तेषां हि धाम गभिषक् समुद्रियं नैनान् नमसा परो अस्ति कश्चन

The Ādityas—of Diti’s sons, of Aditi’s—have I wrought a propitiation, of the great gods that are without harm. For deep, ocean-like is their ordinance and abode: beyond them, by reverence, there is none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the Ādityas in this hymn?

They are Aditi’s sons, a collective group of great gods associated with order (ṛta), moral law, and guardianship. Here they are praised as ‘unharming’ protectors with unsurpassed authority.

What does “ocean-like is their dhāman” mean?

It is a metaphor: their ordinance/abode is as deep and encompassing as the ocean—immeasurable, steady, and impossible for hostile forces to cross or overturn.

How is this mantra used for protection?

By reciting it as a stuti (praise) and offering namas (reverence), the reciter aligns with the Ādityas’ supreme guardianship. The verse’s closing claim—none is beyond them—functions as a protective ‘seal’ against rival powers.