Sukta 56
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Angiras lineages; specific r̥ṣi not stated in the provided excerpt)
Devata: Sarpa/Ahi (serpent-kinds) addressed through propitiation; gods invoked as restrainers
Chandas: Predominantly Anuṣṭubh (with Atharvanic cadence)
Himne rakṣā yang ringkas ini memperoleh perlindungan daripada ular dengan menggabungkan penghormatan pendamaian (namo) kepada pelbagai jenis ular dengan mantera “mengikat/menutup” yang kuat untuk melumpuhkan gigitan. Ia memohon para dewa mengekang ahi agar tidak dapat menerjang keluar, lalu secara ritual menutup taring, rahang, lidah, dan mulut ular—menetralisir bisa dan bahaya bagi seluruh isi rumah.
Mantras
Mantra 1
सर्पेभ्यो रक्षणम्। मा नो॑ देवा॒ अहि॑र्वधी॒त् सतो॑कान्त्स॒हपु॑रुषान्। सम्य॑तं॒ न वि ष्प॑रद् व्यात्तं॒ न सं य॑म॒न्नमो॑ देवज॒नेभ्यः॑।।१।। नमो॑ऽस्त्वसि॒ताय॒ नम॒स्तिर॑श्चिराजये । स्व॒जाय॑ ब॒भ्रवे॒ नमो॒ नमो॑ देवज॒नेभ्यः॑
Slay us not, O Gods, let not the Serpent smite—us with our children, us with all our folk. As one held in, let him not dart abroad; as one whose jaws are gaping, let him be closed again. Homage be to the divine tribes. Homage—be it—to Asita; homage to Tirascirāja; to the self-born, to the brown one, homage, yea homage, to the divine tribes.
Mantra 2
सं ते॑ हन्मि द॒ता द॒तः समु॑ ते॒ हन्वा॒ हनू॑ । सं ते॑ जि॒ह्वया॑ जि॒ह्वां सम्वा॒स्नाह॑ आ॒स्यऽम्
I smite thy tooth with tooth; yea, I shut thy jaws with jaw. I shut thy tongue with tongue; I shut thy mouth with snout and breath.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used for protection from serpents—preventing attack and neutralizing the bite by ritually restraining the serpent and ‘closing’ its mouth-organs through mantra.
In Atharvanic practice, respectful address and correct naming pacify dangerous classes of beings; the namo-formula functions as propitiation and as a sealing act of restraint.
Its primary intent is preventive and apotropaic (rakṣā) and includes stambhana (disabling the bite). In lived practice it may be recited in emergencies, but it is not a full medical protocol by itself.
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