Sukta 4
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (needs anukramaṇī confirmation for 16.4)
Devata: Rayi (Riches/Plenty) as functional deity; social ‘Samāna’ sphere as target
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like (requires scan; short paustika optative style)
Himne Atharvanik tujuh-mantra ini ialah jampi paustika–saubhāgya yang bertujuan menjadikan pengamal sebagai “nābhi” (pusat) kekayaan, penghormatan, dan kesepaduan sosial dalam kalangan rakan sebaya (samānāḥ). Ia menggabungkan bahasa kemakmuran (rāyīṇām, paśavaḥ) dengan perlindungan berupa kepungan pelbagai ranah (Sūrya, Agni, Vāyu, Yama, Sarasvatī), lalu ditutup dengan peneguhan daya hidup (prāṇa–apāna) dan kecekapan (dakṣa), demi mencapai kedua-duanya: keterpusatan sosial dan kemakmuran yang terjamin.
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
नाभि॑र॒हं र॑यी॒णां नाभिः॑ समा॒नानां॑ भूयासम्
Moga aku menjadi pusat (nābhi) kekayaan, pusat dalam kalangan mereka yang setara denganku.
Mantra 2
स्वा॒सद॑सि सू॒षा अ॒मृतो॒ मर्त्ये॒श्वा
Engkau bersemayam pada tempat dudukmu sendiri; engkau tetap—makmur, tidak mati—di sini dalam kalangan insan fana.
Mantra 3
मा मां प्रा॒णो हा॑सी॒न्मो अ॑पा॒नोऽव॒हाय॒ परा॑ गात्
Janganlah Prāṇa (nafas-hidup) meninggalkan aku; janganlah Apāna (nafas-keluar), setelah menolak aku, pergi jauh.
Mantra 4
सूर्यो॒ माह्नः॑ पात्व॒ग्निः पृ॑थि॒व्या वा॒युर॒न्तरि॑क्षाद् य॒मो म॑नु॒ष्येऽभ्यः॒ सर॑स्वती॒ पार्थि॑वेभ्यः
Semoga Sūrya memeliharaku daripada siang; semoga Agni daripada bumi; semoga Vāyu daripada ruang antara; semoga Yama daripada manusia; semoga Sarasvatī daripada bahaya-bahaya duniawi.
Mantra 5
प्राणा॑पानौ॒ मा मा॑ हासिष्टं॒ मा जने॒ प्र मे॑षि
Wahai Tarikan-Nafas (prāṇa) dan Hembusan-Nafas (apāna), jangan tinggalkan aku—jangan, jangan tinggalkan aku; janganlah kamu keluar daripadaku di tengah orang ramai.
Mantra 6
स्व॒स्त्य॑१द्योषसो॑ दो॒षस॑श्च॒ सर्व॑ आपः॒ सर्व॑गणो अशीय
Kesejahteraan yang berkat pada hari ini—melalui Fajar-fajar dan melalui Malam-malam; semoga aku memperoleh segala Air, semoga aku memperoleh seluruh himpunan (berkat).
Mantra 7
शक्व॑री स्थ प॒शवो॑ मोप॑ स्थेषुर्मि॒त्रावरु॑णौ मे प्राणापा॒नाव॒ग्निर्मे॒ दक्षं॑ दधातु
Jadilah kamu Śakvarī; semoga ternakan berdiri teguh di sisiku. Mitra dan Varuṇa menjadi milikku—(juga) nafas masuk dan nafas keluar; semoga Agni menegakkan dalam diriku kecekapan dan kekuatan.
Inside Sukta 4
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Begins with an identity-formula of centrality: the speaker petitions to become the ‘nābhi’ (hub) of riches and of peers (samānāḥ).
- What it asks
To draw wealth, livestock, and recognition toward oneself, and to stand at the social center where resources circulate and loyalty gathers.
- Where its power lies
Efficacy is asserted by assembling a complete protective net across domains (Sūrya/Agni/Vāyu/Yama/Sarasvatī) and by grounding prosperity in embodied stability (prāṇa–apāna) and competence (dakṣa).
- How it closes
Concludes by fastening prosperity (paśavaḥ standing close), aligning with order (Mitra–Varuṇa), and sealing the result in breath and strength through Agni’s स्थापना of dakṣa.
Famous verses
नाभिरहं रयीणां नाभिः समानानां भूयासम्अग्निर्मे दक्षं दधातुKind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Saubhagya (Good fortune, social centrality)
What it is for
The practitioner becomes the focal point of resources and esteem within a peer group, while remaining protected from domain-specific dangers and stabilized in vitality and strength so gains endure.
Who it is for
Householders, leaders of a peer-group/guild/kin-circle, or anyone seeking prominence and steady prosperity (especially where wealth is tied to cattle and social standing).
Also used as
- Saubhāgya (good fortune/social centrality)
- Rakṣā (apotropaic protection)
- Bhaiṣajya adjunct (vital stabilization via prāṇa–apāna/dakṣa)
The deity
Rayi is invoked as the functional personification of wealth, abundance, and social resources, while the hymn also recruits domain-guardians (solar/day, fire/earth, wind/midspace, Yama/social-mortal constraint, Sarasvatī/earthly well-being and ordered speech) to protect and stabilize the attained prosperity.
Powers of the deity
- Concentrates wealth and opportunity around the practitioner as a social ‘hub’ (nābhi)
- Draws recognition and precedence among equals (samānāḥ)
- Creates a layered protective boundary across cosmic, terrestrial, aerial, social, and mortal domains
- Secures livestock/means of livelihood (paśavaḥ) as mobile wealth
- Stabilizes life-force (prāṇa–apāna) and installs capability/efficacy (dakṣa)
Why the deity is called
To attract and consolidate prosperity and social centrality, then ‘seal’ it against loss, rivalry, and everyday harms by invoking guardians of multiple spheres and by strengthening breath and competence.
The seer
- To be confirmed from the Anukramaṇī for AV 16.4 (Atharvanic attribution)Atharvan. Paustika and saubhāgya-oriented charms: attracting rāyas (riches), anchoring social prominence (nābhi among samānāḥ), and sealing gains with apotropaic protection and vital steadiness (prāṇa–apāna, dakṣa).
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 16.1 (kāṇḍa-level Atharvanic material; attribution to be checked in the Anukramaṇī)
- AV 16.2 (Atharvanic; needs Anukramaṇī collation)
- AV 16.3 (Atharvanic; needs Anukramaṇī collation)
- AV 16.5–16.7 (adjacent prosperity/protection cluster; attribution to be verified)
Preparing for the rite
- Choose a clean, calm place associated with household prosperity (threshold/hearth area) or a meeting-space of the samānāḥ (peers).
- Perform basic śauca (washing hands/face); steady breath for a few cycles to align with the hymn’s prāṇa–apāna emphasis.
- Optional: light the household fire or sit facing it, treating Agni as witness and stabilizer.
The rite
- Recite the hymn as a single sequence, with special emphasis on 16.4.1 (‘nābhi’ formula) as the intent-setting seed.
- During the protective catalogue (16.4.4), mentally map each deity to its sphere (day/earth/midspace/people/earthly harms) to ‘close’ the perimeter.
- On the concluding prosperity-vitality formula (16.4.7), touch the chest lightly on prāṇa–apāna words (breath awareness) and affirm dakṣa as inner capacity.
- If performed for prosperity in a cattle-based economy, recite while standing near the herd/pen or while symbolically ‘calling’ cattle to stand close (upa stheṣuḥ).
What it needs
- None required by the cited mantras; optional household fire (Agni) as ritual focus; optional water for purification.
When
Daytime is suitable (explicit Sūrya/day protection), especially morning after household rites; can also be used before assemblies, negotiations, or communal gatherings among equals.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means becoming the central point where wealth, opportunities, and social attention converge—so that among one’s peers (samānāḥ) one is recognized as the focal person through whom resources and decisions circulate.
Because Atharvanic prosperity is meant to be protected and stable: these powers guard different domains (day, earth, midspace, human/social threats, and earthly harms), forming a complete protective boundary so wealth and status are not easily lost.
It can be recited as an intention-and-protection sequence: set the aim with 16.4.1 (social and financial centrality), then ‘close’ protection with 16.4.4, and finish by steadying breath and resolve with 16.4.7 (prāṇa–apāna, dakṣa).
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