Sukta 10
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (often transmitted under Atharvan/Angiras lineages for maṇi-hymns)
Devata: Śaṅkha/Kṛśana as personified remedy (maṇi-devatā)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (4 pādas, with Atharvanic cadence)
AV 4.10 to hymn-mantra, który wynosi śaṅkhę (muszlę) do rangi żywego, uosobionego lekarstwa, Kṛśany, godnego noszenia i napełnienia mocą jako amulet. Poprzez imagines narodzin z oceanu, złotego blasku wywodzącego się z Somy oraz wyraźne zapewnienia o zwalczaniu rakṣasów, hymn wypędza choroby, zaburzenia umysłowe i uporczywe nieszczęścia, zapewniając jednocześnie bezpieczną podróż i długie życie.
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
शङ्खमणिः। वाता॑ज्जा॒तो अ॒न्तरि॑क्षाद् वि॒द्युतो॒ ज्योति॑ष॒स्परि । स नो॑ हिरण्य॒जाः श॒ङ्खः कृश॑नः पा॒त्वंह॑सः
Amulet Muszla - zrodzony z Wiatru, z przestworzy, z Błyskawicy, z krainy Światła - niechaj ta złotem zrodzona Muszla, Kṛśana, chroni nas przed udręką i krzywdą.
Mantra 2
यो अ॑ग्र॒तो रो॑च॒नानां॑ समु॒द्रादधि॑ जज्ञि॒षे। श॒ङ्खेन॑ ह॒त्वा रक्षां॑स्य॒त्त्रिणो॒ वि ष॑हामहे
Ty, który narodziłeś się z oceanu, najprzedniejszy z lśniących regionów, mając muszlą uderzywszy Rakshasów, pożeraczy, zwyciężamy ich i przezwyciężamy całkowicie.
Mantra 3
श॒ङ्खेनामी॑वा॒मम॑तिं श॒ङ्खेनो॒त सदान्वाः॑ । श॒ङ्खो नो॑ वि॒श्वभे॑षजः॒ कृश॑नः पा॒त्वंह॑सः
Za pomocą muszli odpędzamy choroby, za pomocą muszli również głupotę i zło, które zawsze przylega. Niechaj muszla, powszechne lekarstwo, Kryśana, chroni nas przed utrapieniem.
Mantra 4
दि॒वि जा॒तः स॑मुद्र॒जः सि॑न्धु॒तस्पर्याभृ॑तः । स नो॑ हिरण्य॒जाः श॒ङ्ख आ॑युष्प्र॒तर॑णो म॒णिः
Zrodzony w niebie, zrodzony w morzu, przyniesiony z wód rzecznych i tu przybyły, niechaj ta ze złota zrodzona muszla, amulet, który przenosi nas w życie, będzie naszą.
Mantra 5
स॒मु॒द्राज्जा॒तो म॒णिर्वृ॒त्राज्जा॒तो दि॑वाक॒रः । सो अ॒स्मान्त्स॒र्वतः॑ पातु हे॒त्या दे॑वासु॒रेभ्यः॑
Zrodzony z oceanu jest amulet; zrodzony z Wrytry jest ten, który przynosi słońce. Niechaj on chroni nas z każdej strony przed ciosami broni, przed bogami i Asurami.
Mantra 6
हिर॑ण्याना॒मेको॑ऽसि॒ सोमा॒त् त्वमधि॑ जज्ञिषे । रथे॒ त्वम॑सि दर्श॒त॑ इ॑षु॒धौ रो॑च॒नस्त्वं प्र ण॒ आयूं॑षि तारिषत्
Spośród złotych rzeczy jesteś jedyną; z Somy zostałeś zrodzony. Na rydwanie jesteś widoczny; w kołczanie lśnisz: przenieś nasze życia bezpiecznie na drugą stronę.
Mantra 7
दे॒वाना॒मस्थि॒ कृश॑नं बभूव॒ तदा॑त्म॒न्वच्च॑रत्य॒प्स्व॑१न्तः । तत् ते॑ बध्ना॒म्यायु॑षे॒ वर्च॑से॒ बला॑य दीर्घायु॒त्वाय॑ श॒तशा॑रदाय कार्श॒नस्त्वा॒भि र॑क्षतु
Kryśana stał się kością bogów; to, mające duszę, porusza się wewnątrz wód. To ja przywiązuję na tobie dla życia, dla blasku, dla siły, dla długiego życia, na sto jesieni: niechaj Kryśana chroni cię ze wszystkich stron.
Inside Sukta 10
How it unfolds
- How it opens
The hymn opens by presenting the śaṅkha as ocean-born and foremost among shining powers, establishing its cosmic pedigree and right to command hostile forces.
- What it asks
That the conch-amulet drive away disease, mental derangement, and clinging evils, while protecting the bearer from distress and hostile beings.
- Where its power lies
It is proclaimed as viśvabheṣaja (‘universal medicine’), Soma-born and golden-luminous, effective on chariot and in quiver—i.e., in movement, danger, and conflict.
- How it closes
The rite seals with the petition that the maṇi ‘carry our lives across’ (āyūṃṣi tāriṣat), turning protection into longevity and safe passage.
Famous verses
śaṅkho no viśvabheṣajaḥ
pra ṇa āyūṃṣi tāriṣat
Kind of hymn
Bhaisajya (Healing) / Rakṣoghna (Apotropaic)
What it is for
To consecrate and deploy a śaṅkha-maṇi (Kṛśana) that removes disease and mental affliction, breaks persistent ill-luck, defeats rakṣas, and secures longevity and safe transit.
Who it is for
Householders, healers (bhaiṣajika), Atharvanic ritualists, travelers/warriors seeking protection, and families safeguarding a patient or vulnerable person (children, the sick, those under ‘evil influence’).
Also used as
- Rakṣoghna
- Paustika
- Maṇi (amulet) liturgy
The deity
The conch—ocean-born, luminous, and ‘universal medicine’—is treated as a conscious protective power (maṇi-devatā). Under the epithet Kṛśana it functions as a wearable, chargeable safeguard that repels malign beings and restores wholeness of body and mind.
Powers of the deity
- Expels amīvā (disease) and durmati/amatí (mental confusion, folly)
- Drives away sadānvāḥ (ever-clinging/persistent evils and misfortunes)
- Smites rakṣas and attriṇaḥ (predatory/demonic forces)
- Bestows āyus (long life) and safe passage across dangers
- Radiant protection (golden, shining), effective in travel and conflict contexts
- Acts as viśvabheṣaja (universal medicine) when ritually installed and worn
Why the deity is called
Invoked to ‘activate’ the śaṅkha as an empowered amulet that simultaneously heals, wards off spirits, and carries the bearer safely through peril, extending life and removing distress (aṃhas).
The seer
- Atharvanic seer(s) of the maṇi-tradition (Anukramaṇī: Atharvan/Āṅgirasa transmission)Atharvan. Maṇi (amulet) liturgies combining bhaiṣajya healing with rakṣoghna spirit-expulsion; installation/charging of protective objects for longevity, travel, and crisis-warding.
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 4.4 (Maṇi-hymn cluster, protective charm)
- AV 4.9 (Protective/amulet-oriented hymn in the same kanda sequence)
- AV 5.22 (Rakṣoghna protective formulas; Atharvanic style)
- AV 6.136 (Bhaiṣajya healing charm; Atharvanic medical register)
Preparing for the rite
- Select a clean, intact śaṅkha (conch) or conch-piece suitable as a maṇi; cleanse with water (optionally with astringent/alkaline wash) and dry.
- Seat the patient or wearer facing east; establish a small protective boundary (rekhā) or clean space; maintain silence/continence during the rite.
- If used as a pendant, thread it with a clean cord; if used as a hand-held charm, place it on a clean cloth near the reciter.
The rite
- Recite the sukta over the śaṅkha, touching it at key verses that name its powers (e.g., viśvabheṣaja, rakṣas-smiting).
- Bind or place the śaṅkha on the person (neck/upper arm/waist) while repeating the protective pādas; alternatively keep it at the head of the bed for a patient.
- Perform a short apotropaic gesture: circle the conch around the head/torso 3 times, then set it on the body or threshold; conclude with a final recitation for āyus (safe ‘crossing over’).
What it needs
- Śaṅkha (conch) as maṇi/amulet (Kṛśana)
- Clean water for purification
- Cord/thread for binding (if worn)
- Optional: ghee or a small lamp for ‘radiance’ symbolism; a clean cloth/altar space
When
Preferably at dawn or early morning (āyus/health rites), or immediately upon onset of illness/ominous symptoms; also before travel or entering contested/unsafe spaces.
The main substance
Śaṅkha (conch) fashioned/used as a maṇi (amulet), invoked as Kṛśana
Amulets
- Śaṅkha-maṇi (conch amulet)
- Cord/thread binding for wearing
- Optional adjunct: protective knot or cloth wrap for the conch
How it is prepared
Wash and dry the conch; optionally anoint lightly with ghee for ‘radiance’; recite the sukta over it (and over the cord), then bind it onto the patient/wearer or place it at the bedside/threshold as a charged protective object.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both: the śaṅkha (conch) is treated as a maṇi (amulet) and simultaneously as a personified power called Kṛśana, capable of healing and protection when ritually empowered.
It targets bodily illness (amīvā), mental disturbance or confusion (amatí/durmati), persistent misfortune (sadānvāḥ), and hostile spirit-forces (rakṣas/attriṇaḥ), while also aiming at longevity and safe passage.
The conch is cleansed, the hymn is recited over it to ‘charge’ it, and then it is worn or placed near the person (bedside/threshold). The rite emphasizes binding/placement plus repeated recitation of the key protective verses.
Ask anything about Sukta 10 of the Atharva Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Atharva Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
