Sukta 13
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution varies)
Devata: Mṛtyu (Death), and implicitly the agencies of vadhá (slaying)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh
AV 6.13は、早すぎる死を退けるための簡潔な「勝死・鎮静」（Mṛtyujaya-śānti）讃歌である。死（Mṛtyu）そのものと、殺害／致死（vadhá）が到来しうる社会的・宇宙的なあらゆる経路――神的なもの、王権的なもの、共同体的なもの――に対して礼拝（namas）を捧げることで、夭折を防ぐ。死を攻撃するのではなく、なだめてその意向を「転じ」、致命的な言葉、敵対的な裁定、悪魔的な働きを無力化し、薬とブラフマンの力を生命と回復へと整合させる。
Mantras
Mantra 1
मृत्युजयः। नमो॑ देवव॒धेभ्यो॒ नमो॑ राजव॒धेभ्यः॑ । अथो॒ ये विश्या॑नां व॒धास्तेभ्यो॑ मृत्यो॒ नमो॑ऽस्तु ते
（死に勝つもの。）神々の殺すはたらきに敬礼、王たちの殺すはたらきに敬礼。また民衆に属する殺すはたらきにも——それらに対して、死よ、汝に敬礼あれ。
Mantra 2
नम॑स्ते अधिवा॒काय॑ परावा॒काय॑ ते॒ नमः॑ । सु॒म॒त्यै मृ॑त्यो ते॒ नमो॑ दुर्म॒त्यै त॑ इ॒दं नमः॑
汝の「上の言葉」（adhivākā）に敬礼、汝の「対の言葉」（parāvākā）に敬礼。死よ、汝の善き意（sumati）に敬礼、汝の悪しき意（durmati）にも——この敬礼は汝のためである。
Mantra 3
नम॑स्ते यातु॒धाने॑भ्यो॒ नम॑स्ते भेष॒जेभ्यः॑ । नम॑स्ते मृत्यो॒ मूले॑भ्यो ब्राह्म॒णेभ्य॑ इ॒दं नमः॑
汝に、ヤートゥダーナ（yātudhāna、妖魅）に関して敬礼する。汝に、薬（bhaiṣajya）に関して敬礼する。死（Mṛtyu）よ、根（mūla、薬根）に関して汝に敬礼する。ブラーフマナ（brāhmaṇa）たちに——この敬礼を捧げる。
Frequently Asked Questions
In Atharvanic śānti logic, namas pacifies and restrains a dangerous power. By honoring every channel of vadhá, the hymn neutralizes it and redirects Mṛtyu toward a non-harmful stance.
They refer to harmful speech-acts and counter-speech—curses, accusations, hostile pronouncements, and the verbal force that can ‘carry’ death. The mantra offers namas to both, dissolving their lethal charge.
No. The sukta works as a mantra-śānti by recitation alone. If available, simple healing roots (mūla) can be kept nearby as a supportive bheṣaja symbol and remedy, but they are not mandatory.
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