Sukta 100
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution varies; commonly Atharvan/Angiras-type seer for bhaiṣajya hymns)
Devata: Viṣadūṣaṇa (antidotal power) with cosmic donors (Sūrya, Dyauḥ, Pṛthivī, Sarasvatī)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (predominant in AV book 6 healing charms)
Mantras
Mantra 1
विषदूषणम्। दे॒वा अ॑दुः॒ सूर्यो॑ अदाद् द्यौर॑दात् पृथि॒व्यऽदात्। ति॒स्रः सर॑स्वतिरदुः॒ सचि॑त्ता विष॒दूष॑णम्
The Gods bestowed it; the Sun bestowed it; Heaven bestowed it; Earth bestowed it. The three Sarasvatīs, of one accord in counsel, bestowed the Poison-destroyer.
Mantra 2
यद् वो॑ दे॒वा उ॑पजीका॒ आसि॑ञ्च॒न् धन्व॑न्युद॒कम्। तेन॑ दे॒वप्र॑सूतेने॒दं दू॑षयता वि॒षम्
What water, O Gods, the Upajīkās poured in upon the dry land—therewith, divinely impelled, do ye make this poison to be spoiled and powerless.
Mantra 3
असु॑राणां दुहि॒तासि॒ सा दे॒वाना॑मसि॒ स्वसा॑ । दि॒वस्पृ॑थि॒व्याः संभू॑ता॒ सा च॑कर्थार॒सं वि॒षम्
Thou art the Asuras’ daughter; thou art the Gods’ own sister. Sprung from Heaven and Earth, thou hast made the poison sapless, void of strength.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is the personified antidotal power—often enacted through consecrated water—that ‘spoils’ poison, making it unable to harm.
They function as cosmic donors and witnesses, establishing that the antidote is divinely bestowed and universally effective across all realms where poison can act.
Traditionally it is recited over clean water, then the water is poured or sprinkled on the afflicted place (and sometimes sipped), while the verses declare the poison to become sapless and inert.
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