Sukta 63
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution varies; commonly Atharvan/Angiras-type for such apotropaic hymns)
Devata: Nirṛti (as the binding power), with the rite oriented to release into Āyus/Varcas/Bala
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; requires pada-count verification against a critical text)
この短いアタルヴァヴェーダの讃歌は、危急の場で用いられる護命の呪であり、ニルリティ（Nirṛti）の致死的な縛め――首に巻きつく紐、あるいは鉄の枷として想像される――を解き放ち、患者をāyus（寿命）、varcas（輝く活力）、bala（力）へと回復させることを目的とする。解縛と救出の語法を中心に据えつつ、ヤマ（Yama）と祖霊（Pitṛs）への節度ある祈請を組み合わせ、最後に家の火の枠組みの中でアグニ（Agni）を焚き起こして、あらたな繁栄と守護を確証する。
Mantras
Mantra 1
वर्चोबलप्राप्तिः। यत् ते॑ दे॒वी निरृ॑तिराब॒बन्ध॒ दाम॑ ग्री॒वास्व॑विमो॒क्यं यत्। तत् ते वि ष्या॒म्यायु॑षे॒ वर्च॑से॒ बला॑यादोम॒दमन्न॑मद्धि॒ प्रसू॑तः
【威光と力の獲得】女神ニルリティ（Nirṛti）が汝に結びつけた縛め——頸にかけられ、容易に解けぬ縄——それを我は汝のために解き放つ。寿命のため、威光（várchas）のため、力のために。喜びをもたらすこの食を食せ。これは遣わされ、汝を再び生へと促す。
Mantra 2
नमो॑ऽस्तु ते निरृते तिग्मतेजोऽय॒स्मया॒न् वि चृ॑ता बन्धपा॒शान्। य॒मो मह्यं॒ पुन॒रित् त्वां द॑दाति॒ तस्मै॑ य॒माय॒ नमो॑ अस्तु मृ॒त्यवे॑
汝に敬礼、鋭き威力のニルリティ（Nirṛti）よ。汝の鉄の縛り縄は断ち切られた。ヤマ（Yama）が汝を再び我に返す。かのヤマに敬礼——死（Mṛtyu）に敬礼。
Mantra 3
अ॒य॒स्मये॑ द्रुप॒दे बे॑धिषे इ॒हाभिहि॑तो मृ॒त्युभि॒र्ये स॒हस्र॑म्। य॒मेन॒ त्वं पि॒तृभिः॑ संविदा॒न उ॑त्त॒मं नाक॒मधि॑ रोहये॒मम्
鉄の枷に繋がれし者よ、汝はこの鉄の足枷に打たれ、ここに横たわり、千重の死に取り囲まれている。ヤマ（Yama）とともに、祖霊（Pitṛ）と合意して、この人を最高の天へと昇らせよ。
Mantra 4
संस॒मिद् यु॑वसे वृष॒न्नग्ने॒ विश्वा॑न्य॒र्यृ आ। इ॒डस्प॒दे समि॑ध्यसे॒ स नो॒ वसू॒न्या भ॑र
薪は法にかなって汝のために整えられた、若き雄牛なるアグニ（Agni）よ。祭主は万有をここへ招き寄せる。汝はイダー（Iḍā）の座において燃え立つ。われらに財とよき蓄えをもたらせ。
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a ritual image for deadly constriction—misfortune, wasting, or a death-crisis—spoken of as a cord on the neck or a hard-to-loosen fetter. The mantra treats it as something that can be ‘sundered’ by authoritative speech and rite.
Its primary aim is recovery: release into āyus (life), varcas (vigor), and bala (strength). The mention of Yama and the Pitṛs adds a regulated, lawful framing—countering untimely death and, if fate is fixed, seeking an auspicious ‘best state’ rather than chaotic harm.
Agni seals the unbinding by restoring auspicious domestic order. Kindling the fire and invoking vasu (good stores) shifts the situation from crisis and inauspicious binding to protection, nourishment, and stable vitality.
Ask anything about Sukta 63 of the Atharva Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Atharva Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.