Atharva Veda 3.21.1: Kanda 3, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 1
Sukta 21
शान्तिः। ये अ॒ग्नयो॑ अ॒प्स्व॑१न्तर्ये वृ॒त्रे ये पुरु॑षे॒ ये अश्म॑सु । य आ॑वि॒वेशोष॑धी॒र्यो वन॒स्पतीं॒स्तेभ्यो॑ अ॒ग्निभ्यो॑ हु॒तम॑स्त्वे॒तत्
śā́ntiḥ | yé agnáyo apsv àntar yé vṛtré yé púruṣe yé áśmasu | yá āvivéśóṣadhīr yó vanaspátīṁs tébhyo agníbhyo hútam astv etát
Peace. The Fires that are within the waters, the Fires that are within Vṛtra, the Fires that are within man, the Fires that are within stones; he who hath entered the herbs, he who the forest-lords hath entered—to those Fires let this oblation be offered.
ಶಾಂತಿಃ। ಜಲಗಳೊಳಗೆ ಇರುವ ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳು, ವೃತ್ರದೊಳಗೆ ಇರುವ ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳು, ಪುರುಷನೊಳಗೆ ಇರುವ ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳು, ಕಲ್ಲುಗಳೊಳಗೆ ಇರುವ ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳು; ಔಷಧಿಗಳೊಳಗೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿದವನು, ವನಸ್ಪತಿಗಳೊಳಗೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸಿದವನು—ಆ ಅಗ್ನಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಈ ಹವಿಸ್ಸು (ಹುತಿ) ಅರ್ಪಿತವಾಗಲಿ.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Angiras rubric; specific r̥ṣi attribution varies by anukramaṇī)
Devata: Agni (plural forms; Vaiśvānara implied by the hymn’s theology)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (mixed/irregular in Atharvanic śānti verses)
Primary: shanta
Sāyaṇa glosses the plural ‘agnayaḥ’ as the many forms of Agni abiding in diverse seats (waters, stones, the human body, vegetation). ‘Vṛtra’ is taken as the obstructing/demonic enclosure wherein Agni is yet present as the power that breaks obstruction. ‘Āviveśa’ is emphasized as vyāpti/antarvyāpti (pervasion), grounding the mantra’s efficacy: by acknowledging Agni’s indwelling in medicines and materials, the oblation reaches all such fires and pacifies their potentially harmful manifestations (e.g., fever-heat) while activating their protective force.
To pacify and enlist the manifold immanent fires (in water, stone, body, plants) so that their dangerous heat is quelled and their protective/curative potency is secured.
Heat disorders broadly conceived: fever, inflammation, burning sensations; also ‘inner heat’ agitation and toxic obstruction (Vṛtra motif).
puruṣa (whole body as locus of agni)
Pacification and reorientation of agni: acknowledging distributed fires, offering to them, and thereby restoring balanced internal/external heat.
Agni regulation (jāṭharāgni/bhūtāgni conceptually); useful in pitta aggravation imagery, while also stabilizing vāta by ritual order.
Mind–body practices for stress-related inflammation; ritualized relaxation supporting autonomic regulation.
shantika
To pacify manifold fires in nature and body so they become protective and curative rather than harmful.
Enumerative identification (naming loci of agni) + oblation formula that establishes appeasement and alliance.
Fevers, burns, inflammatory ‘heat,’ environmental dangers (fire/lightning) by extension.
Health and household safety; stable vitality.
A śānti invocation offering to the manifold Fires: those within waters, within Vṛtra, within man, within stones; the Fire that has entered herbs and forest-lords—may this oblation be offered to those Fires.
Recognizes ‘heat’ everywhere: in emotions (waters), in obstruction/conflict (Vṛtra), in the body (metabolism), and in stones (latent spark). By acknowledging and offering to these fires, one pacifies destructive inflammation and recruits transformative energy for healing.
The same force that harms when uncontrolled heals when honored and regulated; peace comes from integrating elemental energies rather than denying them.
- अग्नयः (agnayaḥ)
- multiple metabolic/transformative energies across domains
- अप्सु अन्तः (apsu antaḥ)
- hidden heat in coolness; vitality within emotion and purification
- वृत्रे (vṛtre)
- fire within blockage—pressure that can be released into healing change
- पुरुषे (puruṣe)
- digestive fire, will, consciousness
- अश्मसु (aśmasu)
- latent spark; potential energy; the flint-heart
- ओषधीः (oṣadhīḥ)
- plant medicines as embodied agni—healing intelligence
- वनस्पतीन् (vanaspatīn)
- protective vegetal powers; shelter and medicine
- हुतम् अस्तु (hutam astu)
- ritual consent that converts danger into protection
Observe ‘inner fire’ (metabolic heat, irritation) and offer it into a calm witnessing space; cultivate balanced warmth.
manipura
moderate
Small, steady flame in the navel becoming gentle; cool waters surrounding it; herbs glowing with soft inner light.
Equanimous regulation of energy; calm alertness.
Chant slowly, pausing after each locus (‘apsu… vṛtre… puruṣe… aśmasu…’) and exhale as an ‘offering’ of excess heat.
Śānti-style steady recitation; keep even tone, slight emphasis on each ‘ye’ and on ‘agnibhyaḥ’.
Group by loci: (apsu antaḥ) (vṛtre) (puruṣe) (aśmasu) (oṣadhīḥ) (vanaspatīn); conclude firmly on ‘hutam astu etat’.
śāntiḥ: clear ś + long ā, agnayo: avoid turning ‘gn’ into ‘ng’, āvivēśa: keep long ē, oṣadhīḥ: retroflex ṣ, long īḥ, vanaspatīn: dental n, long īn
soft, steady, appeasing; avoid harsh plosives.
Works well with a minimal ‘substance set’ (water + stone + herb) to enact the mantra’s distributed-agni theology.
Feverishness, irritability/overheating, recovery after conflict, desire to pacify household atmosphere.
Evening; during convalescence; after exposure to heat, anger, or exhausting work.
Cooling calm, improved sense of balance and safety; supportive mindset for recovery.
If high fever or serious symptoms persist, seek medical care; do not use fire offerings unsafely indoors.
पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolved): शान्तिः । ये अग्नयः अप्सु अन्तः ये वृत्रे ये पुरुषे ये अश्मसु । यः आविवेश ओषधीः यः वनस्पतीन् तेभ्यः अग्निभ्यः हुतम् अस्तु एतत् । विशेष: ‘अप्स्वन्तर्’ = अप्सु + अन्तः (उदात्त/स्वरचिह्नयुक्त संहिता-रूप); ‘आविवेश’ लिट्-रूप (√विश्) ‘आ-’ उपसर्गयुक्त; ‘हुतम्’ √हु-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृत् (P.P.P.).
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