Sukta 23
Rishi: Uncertain (requires anukramaṇī verification for AVŚ 7.23.1).
Devata: Rakṣoghna-brahman (the mantra’s own power); implicitly Indra/Agni as destroyers of rakṣas in Atharvanic idiom.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; requires scansion).
AVŚ 7.23 ଏକ ସଂକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ ରକ୍ଷୋଘ୍ନ ମନ୍ତ୍ର, ଯାହା ରାତ୍ରିକାଳୀନ ଓ ମନୋ-ଦେହୀୟ କ୍ଲେଶମାନଙ୍କର ସମଗ୍ର ଗୁଚ୍ଛକୁ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରେ—ଦୁଷ୍ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ, “କୁଜୀବନ”, ଦୈତ୍ୟୀୟ ପୀଡ଼ନ, ଏବଂ ଶତ୍ରୁତାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବାକ୍। ଏକମାତ୍ର ଅନୁଷ୍ଟୁଭ୍-ଶୈଳୀର ଉଚ୍ଚାରଣରେ ଏହା ଆପଦମାନଙ୍କୁ ନାମେ ଚିହ୍ନେଇ ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିଷ୍କାସନ କରେ, ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ ହେଉଛି ନିରାପଦ ନିଦ୍ରା, ପ୍ରାଣଶକ୍ତି, ଏବଂ ସାମାଜିକ-ବାଚିକ କୁଶଳତା ପୁନଃସ୍ଥାପନ।
Mantras
Frequently Asked Questions
It protects against bad dreams and the forces believed to cause them—demonic oppression, life-wasting misfortune, deathward influences, and harmful/hostile speech.
No. The verse itself is designed as a self-sufficient rakṣoghna-brahman: the spoken mantra is the primary instrument, though simple cleansing or sprinkling water may be added optionally.
Before sleep is the most natural timing; it can also be recited right after a disturbing dream or whenever one feels pressured by misfortune, fear, or slander.
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