Sukta 21
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (specific ṛṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī; requires verification for AVŚ 7.21.1).
Devata: Āditya/Sūrya as 'the One, all-pervading Lord'; alternatively a monistic 'Pati' principle.
Chandas: Mixed/irregular (close to Triṣṭubh cadence in parts; requires metrical checking against pada lengths).
この一頌の讃歌は、唯一にして遍在する主宰――スーリヤ／アーディティヤとも、一元的な「パティ（主）」原理とも読まれる――を讃える。あらゆる存在は「言葉とともに」その御前に集い、承認を捧げる。そこでは、つねに「新来の者」を受け入れ、世界の運行を一つの軌道に沿って回転させ続ける太古の主権が確言され、誦者を秩序ある反復（ṛtaに似た規則性）と繁栄へと結びつける。
Kind of charm
Mantras
Inside Sukta 21
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Begins with the stark proclamation ‘One is the all-pervading’ (eko vibhuḥ), immediately establishing unity and supremacy.
- What it asks
Implicitly seeks alignment: all assemble ‘with speech’ to the Lord of heaven, so the reciter’s speech and course conform to that One.
- Where its power lies
Declares the One as ‘guest of men’ and ‘primeval’ who welcomes the new—showing continuing efficacy across old/new, past/present.
- How it closes
Concludes by turning all ‘courses’ along his track—‘unto the One alone’—sealing the hymn in a unity formula (ekam it) with manifold application (puru).
Famous verses
eko vibhuḥ
patim divaḥ
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Daivika (Cosmic order; solar-theological praise)
What it is for
Establishes concord with the one sovereign principle, securing steadiness of life-courses, successful transitions (‘newcomer’ welcomed), and prosperity through maintained order.
Who it is for
Householders and ritual practitioners seeking auspicious stability—especially at beginnings, transitions, or when reaffirming loyalty to cosmic/social order (ṛta, dharma-like regularity).
Also used as
- Daivika
- Śāntika (order-establishing/ṛta-alignment)
- Stotra (theological praise)
The deity
The hymn’s divinity is the singular, all-pervading sovereign—‘Lord of heaven’ and ‘guest of men’—who stands behind cosmic order and the turning of the world’s paths, commonly interpreted through the solar Āditya/Sūrya lens but compatible with a unitary theological principle.
Powers of the deity
- All-pervasion (vibhutva) and singular sovereignty (ekatva)
- Regulation of cosmic courses/paths (vartani) and orderly recurrence
- Hospitality/receiving function as ‘guest of men’ (atithi) and ‘welcomer’ of the new
- Unification of voices: drawing all beings together in common speech/acknowledgment
- Bestowal of prosperity through alignment with the ruling order
Why the deity is called
To acknowledge and align with the single ruling power that governs both gods and humans, so that one’s undertakings follow the right ‘track’ and yield stable, abundant outcomes.
The seer
- Atharvanic/Āṅgirasa seer (anukramaṇī attribution varies; needs verification for AVŚ 7.21.1)Atharvan. Daivika-paustika stotras and concise sovereignty/ṛta-alignment charms that secure auspicious order, social concord, and well-being through theological praise rather than medicinal substances.
Other hymns of this seer
- AVŚ 7.21 (this hymn; single-verse stotra)
- Attribution uncertain: nearby AVŚ book-7 one-verse hymns are often assigned to Atharvan/Angiras lines depending on recension/anukramaṇī; requires manuscript-based confirmation.
Preparing for the rite
- Choose a clean, quiet place; sit facing east (solar orientation) if interpreting the deity as Sūrya/Āditya.
- Perform ācamana and brief mental saṅkalpa: ‘May my speech and actions align with the One Lord’s order.’
- Optional: light a lamp or face the sun at dawn as a supportive (non-mandated) gesture.
The rite
- Recite AVŚ 7.21.1 clearly, emphasizing ‘eko vibhuḥ’ and ‘patim divaḥ’.
- After recitation, observe a short silence to ‘follow the track’ (vartani) in contemplation—letting speech settle into unity.
- Optionally repeat 3, 9, or 27 times for paustika reinforcement, keeping pronunciation steady.
When
Preferably at sunrise or at the start of a new undertaking/transition; otherwise any auspicious time when steadiness and order are sought.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both readings are traditional and compatible: the ‘Lord of heaven’ fits Āditya/Sūrya theology, while the repeated ‘One, all-pervading’ supports a monistic Pati principle behind all powers.
It portrays the deity as the ever-present, continually arriving presence in human life—received through speech, worship, and daily recognition—who also ‘welcomes the newcomer’ (new beginnings and transitions).
By reciting it at dawn or before an undertaking, the practitioner aligns speech and intention with the single ruling order; the hymn’s imagery of ‘paths turning along his track’ is used to seek steady success and auspicious continuity.
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