Sukta 3
Rishi: Atharvanic (protective litany; traditional attribution varies)
Devata: Multiple: Indra, Pūṣan, Aditi, Maruts, Apām Napāt, Seven Rivers, Viṣṇu, Dyauḥ
Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like litany (prose-rubric + metrical cola)
AV 6.3は、簡潔な「自己護持」（ātmagopanam）の護身リタニーであり、宇宙・大気・水域・祭儀に属するヴェーダの守護者たちを連合として招き、あらゆる方角に及ぶ防護の盾を築く。その力は累積的な呼請にあり、各神格／力に「守れ」（pātu/pāntu）と次々に願い、守りの層を重ねて、aṃhas（苦難・罪過・不運）および目に見える／見えない害から身を護る。
Mantras
Mantra 1
आत्मगोपनम्। पा॒तं न॑ इन्द्रापूष॒णादि॑तिः॒ पान्तु॑ म॒रुतः॑ । अपां॑ नपात् सिन्धवः स॒प्त पा॑तन॒ पातु॑ नो॒ विष्णु॑रु॒त द्यौः
自己護持。インドラとプーシャンよ、われらを守れ。アディティよ守れ。マルット（風神）らよ守れ。アパーム・ナパートよ守れ。七つの河よ、守れ。ヴィシュヌよ、そして天（ディヤウス）もまた、われらを守れ。
Mantra 2
पा॒तां नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒भिष्ट॑ये॒ पातु॒ ग्रावा॒ पातु॒ सोमो॑ नो॒ अंह॑सः । पातु॑ नो दे॒वी सु॒भगा॒ सर॑स्वती॒ पात्व॒ग्निः शि॒वा ये अ॑स्य पा॒यवः॑
天と地よ、救護のためにわれらを守れ。搾り石（グラーヴァ）よ守れ。ソーマよ、われらを苦難（アṃハス）から守れ。めでたき女神サラスヴァティーよ守れ。アグニよ守れ——その守護者（パーヤヴァ）らは吉祥なる者。
Frequently Asked Questions
It means “self-guarding.” The hymn is framed as a protective act where the reciter asks many cosmic and ritual powers to form a shield around them.
Because protection is sought from every realm—sky, earth, storms, waters, and the sacrificial fire. The ‘many protectors’ approach leaves no opening for harm or misfortune.
No. They can be symbolic: a clean stone can stand for grāvā, and a simple offering-intention (or milk/juice) can stand for Soma. The central practice is focused recitation with a protection intention.
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