Sukta 57
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (unspecified here)
Devata: Bheṣaja; Rudra as lord of healing
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh
Mantras
Mantra 1
जलचिकित्सा। इ॒दमिद् वा उ॑ भेष॒जमि॒दं रु॒द्रस्य॑ भेष॒जम्। येनेषु॒मेक॑तेजनां श॒तश॑ल्यामप॒ब्रव॑त्
This, verily, is the remedy—this is Rudra’s remedy—wherewith he drives away the arrow, keen-pointed, hundred-barbed.
Mantra 2
जा॒ला॒षेणा॒भि षि॑ञ्चत जालाषेणोप॑ सिञ्चत । जा॒ला॒षमु॒ग्रं भे॑ष॒जं तेन॑ नो मृड जी॒वसे॑
With jālāṣa sprinkle ye upon us; with jālāṣa sprinkle ye close upon us. Jālāṣa is a potent remedy: with that be gracious unto us for life.
Mantra 3
शं च॑ नो॒ मय॑श्च नो॒ मा च॑ नः॒ किं च॒नाम॑मत्। क्ष॒मा रपो॒ विश्वं॑ नो अस्तु भेष॒जं सर्वं॑ नो अस्तु भेष॒जम्
Weal be to us, and joy be to us; and let not anything at all harm us. Earth and the Waters—let all be remedy to us; let all, without exception, be remedy to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
It targets acute, piercing pains and sudden afflictions described as Rudra’s ‘arrow,’ using consecrated water to drive the pain away and restore vitality.
Jālāṣa is medicinal/consecrated water used for sprinkling or ablution; the hymn treats it as a potent bheṣaja (remedy) empowered under Rudra’s healing authority.
The practitioner recites the verses over water, sprinkles it on the patient (repeatedly as stated), and ends with a sealing prayer that Earth and Waters—and everything—become remedial and protective.
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