Sukta 22
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often anonymous/Angiras-type attribution in AV healing hymns)
Devata: Āpas (Waters), with Marutic/cloud agencies implied
Chandas: Mixed; predominantly Triṣṭubh-like cadence in Saunaka book 6 hymnic style
AV 6.22は簡潔な「水の薬」（apām-bhaiṣajya）の讃歌であり、諸水——とりわけマルト（嵐の神群）の力を帯びた雨——を、生きた薬として、大地と身体を開き、潤し、甦らせるものとして扱う。雲・雨・ṛta（宇宙秩序）という宇宙的水循環を、実際の治癒へと結びつけ、水が薬草に汁（樹液）を満たし、養いを増し、乾きと乱れを洗い去ると説く。水が秩序正しく降下し、甘味をもたらす力を讃えることで、回復とは土地・植物・人の内における「正しい流れ」の回復であると枠づけられる。
Mantras
Mantra 1
भैषज्यम्। कृ॒ष्णं नि॒यानं॒ हर॑यः सुप॒र्णा अ॒पो वसा॑ना॒ दिव॒मुत् प॑तन्ति । त आव॑वृत्र॒न्त्सद॑नादृ॒तस्यादिद् घृ॒तेन॑ पृथि॒वीं व्यूऽदुः
これは薬である。黒く、下へ導く塊。黄褐色の、善き翼をもつ者たち（suparṇa）は、水をまとい、天へと飛び上がる。彼らは秩序（ṛta）の座を取り巻き、ついで酥油（ghṛta）によって大地を開き、広く潤した。
Mantra 2
पय॑स्वतीः कृणुथा॒प ओष॑धीः शि॒वा यदेज॑था मरुतो रुक्मवक्षसः । ऊर्जं॑ च॒ तत्र॑ सुम॒तिं च॑ पिन्वत॒ यत्रा॑ नरो मरुतः सि॒ञ्चथा॒ मधु॑
水たちよ、薬草（oṣadhī）を汁豊かにせよ、吉祥にせよ。金の胸をもつマルト（Marut）よ、汝らが奮い動くときに。そこにおいて汝らは、養い（ūrj）と善き思い（sumati）とをともに満たし、英雄なるマルトよ、甘き蜜を注ぎ下ろす。
Mantra 3
उ॒द॒प्रुतो॑ म॒रुत॒स्तां इ॑यर्त वृ॒ष्टिर्या विश्वा॑ नि॒वत॑स्पृ॒णाति॑ । एजा॑ति॒ ग्लहा॑ क॒न्येऽव तु॒न्नैरुं॑ तुन्दा॒ना पत्ये॑व जा॒या
水に駆られて、マルット（Maruts）よ、その雨を放て——あらゆる低地を満たすその降雨を。賭博者は震える、乙女よ、彼を下へ押し伏せよ——その痛みを突き立てて——夫を慕う妻のように。
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to invoke waters—especially rain—as a healing force that restores moisture, strengthens vitality, and increases the medicinal potency of herbs.
The Marutas are the storm-and-cloud powers that set rain in motion; the hymn treats them as the active agencies that help the waters descend with sweetness and nourishment.
No specific plant is named here; ‘oṣadhīḥ’ is generic. Practitioners typically use locally known healing herbs or simple sprigs as representatives while sprinkling or preparing medicinal water.
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