Sukta 3
Rishi: Atharvanic (protective litany; traditional attribution varies)
Devata: Multiple: Indra, Pūṣan, Aditi, Maruts, Apām Napāt, Seven Rivers, Viṣṇu, Dyauḥ
Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like litany (prose-rubric + metrical cola)
AV 6.3 ialah litani ringkas “penjagaan diri” (ātmagopanam) yang membina perisai perlindungan dari segala arah dengan menyeru gabungan pelindung Veda—kosmik, atmosfera, akuatik, dan ritual. Kekuatannya terletak pada seruan yang terkumpul: setiap dewa/kuasa dimohon agar “melindungi” (pātu/pāntu), menindih lapisan-lapisan keselamatan terhadap aṃhas (kesusahan, dosa, malang) serta bahaya yang kelihatan dan tidak kelihatan.
Mantras
Mantra 1
आत्मगोपनम्। पा॒तं न॑ इन्द्रापूष॒णादि॑तिः॒ पान्तु॑ म॒रुतः॑ । अपां॑ नपात् सिन्धवः स॒प्त पा॑तन॒ पातु॑ नो॒ विष्णु॑रु॒त द्यौः
Penjagaan diri: Semoga Indra dan Pūṣan melindungi kami; semoga Aditi melindungi; semoga para Marut melindungi. Semoga Apām Napāt melindungi; wahai tujuh Sungai, lindungilah! Semoga Viṣṇu melindungi kami, dan juga Dyauḥ (Langit).
Mantra 2
पा॒तां नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒भिष्ट॑ये॒ पातु॒ ग्रावा॒ पातु॒ सोमो॑ नो॒ अंह॑सः । पातु॑ नो दे॒वी सु॒भगा॒ सर॑स्वती॒ पात्व॒ग्निः शि॒वा ये अ॑स्य पा॒यवः॑
Semoga Langit dan Bumi melindungi kami demi pertolongan; semoga batu pemeras (grāvā) melindungi; semoga Soma melindungi kami daripada kesesakan. Semoga Dewi Sarasvatī yang mujur melindungi kami; semoga Agni melindungi—dia yang para penjaganya bersifat śiva (membawa berkat).
Frequently Asked Questions
It means “self-guarding.” The hymn is framed as a protective act where the reciter asks many cosmic and ritual powers to form a shield around them.
Because protection is sought from every realm—sky, earth, storms, waters, and the sacrificial fire. The ‘many protectors’ approach leaves no opening for harm or misfortune.
No. They can be symbolic: a clean stone can stand for grāvā, and a simple offering-intention (or milk/juice) can stand for Soma. The central practice is focused recitation with a protection intention.
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