Sukta 42
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific ṛṣi ascription varies by Anukramaṇī)
Devata: Soma-Rudra (dual); with Nirṛti and Enas as targeted afflictions
Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable)
AV 7.42は二詩節からなる簡潔な治癒・浄化の呪で、対をなす力としてのソーマとルドラを神々の医師として招く。さまよい来る災い（病／邪なる影響）を追い払い、ニルリティ（破滅・災厄）をはるか彼方へ放逐し、身体と家にまとわりつくと信じられたエーナス（犯した罪咎）の縛りをほどくことを願う。この讃歌の力は、外へ不幸を逐い出すことと、内において罪を触知しうる身体的拘束として解き放つことという二重の働きにある。
Mantras
Mantra 1
पापमोचनम्। सोमा॑रुद्रा॒ वि वृ॑हतं॒ विषू॑ची॒ममी॑ वा॒ या नो॒ गय॑मावि॒वेश॑ । बाधे॑थां दू॒रं निरृ॑तिं परा॒चैः कृ॒तं चि॒देनः॒ प्र मु॑मुक्तम॒स्मत्
（罪を解くもの。）ソーマとルドラよ、さまよい来る悪、あるいはわれらの命と家に入り込んだ病を、四方へ引き離して追い払え。破滅（Nirṛti）を遠くへ、背後へと打ち退けよ。なされた罪（enas）さえも、われらから解き放て。
Mantra 2
सोमा॑रुद्रा यु॒वमे॒तान्य॒स्मद् विश्वा॑ त॒नूषु॑ भेष॒जानि॑ धत्तम्। अव॑ स्यतं मु॒ञ्चतं॒ यन्नो॒ अस॑त् त॒नूषु॑ ब॒द्धं कृ॒तमेनो॑ अ॒स्मत्
ソーマよ、ルドラよ、汝ら二神よ、これら一切の薬（bhēṣajá）をわれらの身に授けたまえ。追い払え、ほどけ。われらの身に縛られてあるもの――罪咎、なされた罪――それをわれらから取り除け。
Frequently Asked Questions
They are invoked as a paired healing power: Soma provides purifying, medicinal essence, while Rudra forcefully drives away affliction and calamity. Together they heal and protect.
Nirṛti is personified ruin or misfortune that must be sent far away. Enas is a fault or guilt that is imagined as something that can cling to a person and even feel ‘bound’ within the body, needing release.
It can be recited for sickness or household misfortune with simple purification acts—sprinkling water, offering a Soma-symbolic drink, and making an ‘untying’ gesture to dramatize the mantra’s request to unbind and remove harm.
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