Sukta 66
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution not supplied in input)
Devata: Indra (with implicit hostile forces as object)
Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (exact metrical parsing uncertain from provided text)
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। निर्ह॑स्तः शत्रु॑रभि॒दास॑न्नस्तु॒ ये सेना॑भि॒र्युध॑मा॒यन्त्य॒स्मान्। सम॑र्पयेन्द्र मह॒ता व॒धेन॒ द्रात्वे॑षामघहा॒रो विवि॑द्धः
Enemy-destruction. Handless be the foe, the assailant: let him be so—those who with armies, warring, advance against us. Deliver them up, O Indra, to mighty slaughter; let their evil-bearer be pierced through, and let them be driven off.
Mantra 2
आ॒त॒न्वा॒ना आ॒यच्छ॒न्तोऽस्य॑न्तो॒ ये च॒ धाव॑थ । निर्ह॑स्ताः शत्रवः स्थ॒नेन्द्रो॑ वोऽद्य परा॑शरीत्
Ye who extend yourselves, who reach and shoot, and ye who rush—stand ye, O enemies, disarmed: Indra hath this day shattered you utterly.
Mantra 3
निर्ह॑स्ताः सन्तु॒ शत्र॒वोऽङ्गै॑षां म्लापयामसि । अथै॑षामिन्द्र॒ वेदां॑सि शत॒शो वि भ॑जामहै
Disarmed be the foes; their limbs we cause to languish. Then, O Indra, their counsels—by hundreds—may we rend asunder and divide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Literally “handless,” it functions as “weaponless/disarmed”—a ritual command that strips the enemy of fighting capacity and initiative.
In Atharvanic terms it is abhicāra with a defensive aim: it targets hostile aggressors who are advancing, seeking to prevent harm by disabling and routing them under Indra’s power.
Here “vedāṃsi” means their counsels/plans (strategic intentions). The mantra asks that their coordination be split into many parts so their force collapses into confusion and retreat.
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