Sukta 23
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (hymn-level attribution varies by anukramaṇī; commonly treated as Atharvanic).
Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters), as empowered agents of tejas and protection.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; confirm against pada-count in the critical edition/anukramaṇī).
AVŚ 2.23は、諸水（Āpaḥ）を、敵意を反転させうる光輝にして熾烈な力として招請する、簡潔な対呪術の讃歌である。諸水のarciṣ（光輝）、haraḥ（奪い去る力）、tejas（効力・威勢）を呼び起こすことにより、この呪は害を「押し返し」、加害者の力を剥ぎ取り、同時に誦者の領域を暗に守護する。
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तप॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ तपत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
（敵滅）おお水よ、汝らのもつ燃ゆる苦行の熱（tapas）をもって、彼に返して灼け――われらを憎む者、またわれらが憎むその者に。
Mantra 2
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ हर॒स्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ हरत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
水よ、汝らの奪い去る力（haras）あるならば、それをもって報いとして、われらを憎む者、すなわちわれらもまた憎むその者を奪い返せ。
Mantra 3
आपो॒ यद् वो॒ऽर्चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रत्य॑र्चत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
おお水よ、汝らのその光輝（arciṣ）をもって、彼に返して燃え照らせ――われらを憎む者、またわれらが憎むその者に。
Mantra 4
आपो॒ यद् वः॑ शो॒चिस्तेन॒ तं प्रति॑ शोचत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
水よ、汝らの灼熱の光輝（śocis）あるならば、それをもって報いとして、われらを憎む者、すなわちわれらもまた憎むその者を焼き返せ。
Mantra 5
आपो॒ यद् व॒स्तेज॒स्तेन॒ तम॑ते॒जसं॑ कृणुत॒ यो॒३स्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः
水なるものよ、汝らに宿る火のごとき威力をもって、我らを憎む者――我らもまた憎むその者を、威力なき者となせ。
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to counter and reverse hostility—social enmity or sorcery-like harm—by invoking the Waters to send the force back and weaken the aggressor’s efficacy (tejas).
In Atharvanic thought, water is not only cleansing; it can carry an inner heat/radiance (arciṣ/tejas) that acts as an active protective and retaliatory power when ritually addressed.
The core substance is water itself. Many prayogas use only clean water consecrated by recitation and applied by sprinkling for protection and symbolic reversal.
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