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Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (exact r̥ṣi not specified in the provided excerpt; commonly assigned by Anukramaṇī to an Atharvan/Angiras line for such apotropaic material).
Devata: Maruts (as troop-protectors and purifiers).
Chandas: Likely Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-type cadence (needs full pada-metrical verification against the Saunaka text).
AV 7.77は、辟邪と解縛のために用いられる簡潔なマルト讃歌である。マルトに「灼熱の」供物を受け入れさせ、依頼者を守護し、敵対的な害を焼き尽くして食らい尽くすことを願う。敵がかけた縛りを加害者へと反転させ、「エナスの投げ縄」(enas=罪過・穢れ・病厄)を病者または家長/家屋から解き放つよう祈る。本讃歌の特色は、浄化と懲罰を兼ねるマルトのタパス(威熱)と、群としての護衛力および迅速な介入が結びついている点にある。
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। सांत॑पना इ॒दं ह॒विर्मरु॑त॒स्तज्जु॑जुष्टन । अ॒स्माको॒ती रि॑शादसः
敵を滅ぼすもの。この灼きつく供物を――マルット(Maruts)よ、それを嘉して受けよ。われらの助け手、害を喰らう者たちよ。
Mantra 2
यो नो॒ मर्तो॑ मरुतो दुर्हृणा॒युस्ति॒रश्चि॒त्तानि॑ वसवो॒ जिघां॑सति । द्रु॒हः पाशा॒न् प्रति॑ मुञ्चतां॒ सस्तपि॑ष्ठेन॒ तप॑सा हन्तना॒ तम्
われらを殺そうとする者は誰か、マルト(Maruts)よ、悪意を抱き、思いを隠す死すべき者よ、ヴァス(Vasus)よ——その背信の者の縄の輪を彼に返して解き放て。最も灼熱の熱(タパス)をもって、彼を打ち倒せ。
Mantra 3
संव॒त्स॒रीणा॑ म॒रुतः॑ स्व॒र्का उ॒रुक्ष॑याः॒ सग॑णा॒ मानु॑षासः । ते अ॒स्मत् पाशा॒न् प्र मु॑ञ्च॒न्त्वेन॑सः सांतप॒ना म॑त्स॒रा मा॑दयि॒ष्णवः॑
年ごとに巡り来たるマルット(Maruts)よ、天に輝き、広き住まいを持ち、群れを成し、人々の間に友なる者たちよ――われらより罪過の縄目を解き放て。灼熱のもの、嫉みのもの、狂わせて突き動かすもの(の縛め)を。
It is both a metaphor and a ritual image for binding—sin/pollution (enas), disease-like constraint, or hostile sorcery—something that can be “loosened” by divine power.
It is primarily protective and cleansing (release from enas), but it also contains a reversal element: the enemy’s treacherous binding is sent back to the aggressor rather than accepted by the victim.
With a small havis offering into fire while reciting, plus a symbolic loosening action (untying/relaxing a cord) to enact release, followed by a brief settling or optional water-sprinkling for cleansing.
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