Sukta 71
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (specific r̥ṣi not recoverable from the single verse alone)
Devata: Agni
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable)
គាថារក្សោឃ្នៈមួយខោងក្នុងនេះតម្កល់ព្រះអគ្នីជាជញ្ជាំងបន្ទាយដ៏មានជីវិចក្បាលភ្នំនៅជុំវិញទីតាំងមួយ, ព័ទ្ធជុំវិញសហគមន៍ដោយប្រាជ្ញានិងអានុភាពដ៏ខ្លាំងក្លា។ ដោយការតម្កល់ព្រះអគ្នីដែលទទួលបដិសន្ធិ (វិប្រៈ) ជាបរិវេណជាប្រចាំថ្ងៃ, មន្ត្រៈនេះមានគោលបំណងច្រានច្រាស, ធ្វើឲ្យបាកបែក, និងសម្លាប់អ្នកដែលមកបំផ្លាញ - មនុស្សឬអសុរ - ដែលគំរាមកំហែងដល់ទីកន្លែងដែលបិទជិត។
Kind of charm
Mantras
Inside Sukta 71
How it unfolds
- How it opens
The hymn begins by addressing Agni directly and declaring an act of encirclement: ‘Around thee, O Agni, as a fortress…’
- What it asks
To establish Agni as the ‘pura’—the protective fortification—so that he stands as the inspired, mighty guardian of the community.
- Where its power lies
Agni is described as ‘dhṛṣad-varṇa’ (of daring/ardent hue) and as the ‘hantā’ (slayer), emphasizing active defensive potency renewed day after day.
- How it closes
The verse seals the aim by naming the target and outcome: Agni as the slayer of the ‘bhaṅgurāvat’—the assailing, crashing attacker—thereby completing the protective enclosure.
Famous verses
pari tvāgne puraṃ vayam
dive-dive
hantāraṃ bhaṅgurāvataḥ
Kind of hymn
Rakṣoghna / Apotropaic Protection (fortress-making around settlement)
What it is for
A ritually sealed protective perimeter around a dwelling/fortified space, ensuring safety by repelling and destroying attackers and harmful beings.
Who it is for
Householders, village/fort guardians, ritual specialists (atharvavedins) performing protective rites for homes, settlements, and thresholds.
Also used as
- Rakṣoghna
- Apotropaic protection
- Grāma-kṣema (settlement security)
The deity
Agni is the Vedic fire-principle: the divine priest (vipra), the energizing and discerning power that guards thresholds, carries offerings, and burns away impurity and hostility. In protective hymns he functions as a perimeter—an intelligent, blazing boundary that both illuminates and destroys threats.
Powers of the deity
- Encircling protection (paridhi/boundary-making)
- Destruction of rakṣas and hostile forces
- Daily renewal of protective power (divé-divé)
- Purification of space and persons
- Awakening vigilance and inspired strength (vipratva)
Why the deity is called
To establish Agni around the fort/settlement as a constant, day-by-day defensive ring that breaks and slays assailants and malign intruders.
The seer
- Anon. Atharvanic seerAtharvan. Apotropaic (rakṣoghna) protections: boundary-making, settlement/fort safeguarding, repulsion of hostile beings and attackers through fire-centered rites and mantras.
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 7.70 (adjacent rakṣoghna context; attribution uncertain)
- AV 7.72 (adjacent protective context; attribution uncertain)
Preparing for the rite
- Select and clean the protected space (house, gate, courtyard, settlement boundary).
- Kindle a clean household fire or establish a small altar-fire at a threshold or central point.
- Mentally define the ‘pura’ (fortress-space) to be protected—home, village, or encampment perimeter.
The rite
- Recite the mantra while facing the fire, then circumambulate (or symbolically ‘encircle’) the protected area, visualizing Agni as a ring-fortress.
- Optionally carry a flame/ember in a safe vessel or use a firebrand to mark key points (gate, corners), without causing harm.
- Conclude by returning to the fire and reaffirming daily renewal (divé-divé) of protection.
What it needs
- Fire (Agni) from a clean fuel source
- Ghee or simple kindling (optional, to strengthen the flame)
- A safe lamp/ember-vessel for circumambulation (optional)
When
Daily (divé-divé), especially at dusk/dawn; additionally before travel, after ominous signs, or when threat is perceived.
The main substance
Agni (ritual fire) as the protective boundary
Amulets
- Threshold/fire-side protective cord or knot (optional, as a boundary marker)
- Ash (vibhūti-like) smear on doorposts or boundary points (optional, derived from the same fire)
How it is prepared
Kindle a clean fire; optionally feed with a small offering of ghee. Use the fire’s presence (and optionally its ash) to mark and visualize an encircling ‘fortress’ around the space while reciting.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means treating the sacred fire as an encircling boundary-power: Agni is envisioned not only in the hearth but as a protective ring around the home or settlement.
Because the protection is meant to be renewed regularly; the mantra frames security as a daily re-establishment of Agni’s guarding presence.
No. In Atharvavedic usage, ‘assailants’ can include human attackers as well as rakṣas and other harmful influences; Agni is invoked to repel and destroy any hostile intrusion.
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