Sukta 123
Devata: Saumanasa (personified concord) with Agni Jātavedas as fetcher; communal ‘sadhásthaḥ’ as ritual addressees.
Chandas: Likely Anuṣṭubh (requires verification).
Este breve hino distribui e estabiliza a saumanasa — boa vontade partilhada, unanimidade e concórdia de ânimo aprazível — entre um grupo reunido, interpelado como «companheiros de um mesmo assento» (sadhásthaḥ). Agni Jātavedas é concebido como o portador divino que traz o «tesouro» da concórdia, enquanto deuses e ancestrais são invocados para ancorar a continuidade da identidade e da ordem social. O movimento final busca uma sanção «régia» (rājan) do domínio elevado, assegurando favor à comunidade e o reconhecimento de seus dons meritórios (pūrta).
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
सौमनसम्। ए॒तं स॑धस्थाः॒ परि॑ वो ददामि॒ यं शे॑व॒धिमा॒वहा॑ज्जा॒तवे॑दाः । अ॒न्वा॒ग॒न्ता यज॑मानः स्व॒स्ति तं स्म॑ जानीत पर॒मे व्योऽमन्
Boa disposição. Isto, ó companheiros de um mesmo assento, eu vos concedo ao redor: o tesouro que Jātavedas trouxe para cá. Seguindo-o, o sacrificante vem em bem-estar: isso, de fato, reconhecei no céu supremo.
Mantra 2
जा॒नी॒त स्मै॑नं पर॒मे व्योऽम॒न् देवाः॒ सध॑स्था वि॒द लो॒कमत्र॑ । अ॒न्वा॒ग॒न्ता यज॑मानः स्व॒स्तीऽष्टापू॒र्तं स्म॑ कृणुता॒विर॑स्मै
Reconhecei-o, de fato, no mais alto céu; ó deuses, companheiros de um mesmo assento, tomai aqui conhecimento deste mundo. Seguindo adiante vem o sacrificante em bem-estar: tornai-lhe manifesto o mérito — do sacrifício e da dádiva piedosa (aṣṭāpūrta).
Mantra 3
देवाः॒ पित॑रः॒ पित॑रो॒ देवाः॑ । यो अस्मि॒ सो अ॑स्मि
Os deuses são os Pais; os Pais são os deuses. O que eu sou — isso mesmo eu sou.
Mantra 4
स प॑चामि॒ स द॑दामि॒ । स य॑जे॒ स द॒त्तान्मा यू॑षम्
Ele — assim eu cozinho; ele — assim eu dou. Ele — assim eu sacrifico; por esse dar — a mim, vós, guardai.
Mantra 5
नाके॑ राज॑न् प्रति॑ तिष्ठ॒ तत्रै॒तत् प्रति॑ तिष्ठतु । वि॒द्धि पू॒र्तस्य॑ नो राज॒न्त्स दे॑व सु॒मना॑ भव
No cimo do céu, ó Rei, põe-te de pé em confronto; ali também que isto se mantenha em confronto. Reconhece o nosso devido tributo piedoso, ó Rei; ó deus, torna-te de ânimo gracioso.
Inside Sukta 123
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Begins by naming and ‘handing around’ saumanasa to the co-seated assembly, treating concord as a brought-in treasure delivered by Agni Jātavedas (6.123.1).
- What it asks
That the group and yajamāna proceed in svasti (welfare) with shared goodwill, supported by divine and ancestral powers, and that the boon be acknowledged in the highest realm.
- Where its power lies
The hymn uses performative identifications—Devas and Pitṛs mutually reflect one another, and the speaker’s ‘yo asmi so asmi’ asserts a fixed, legitimate self within that order (6.123.3).
- How it closes
The boon is ‘set facing/established’ in the heavenly height and linked to recognition of pūrta; the rājan/deva is asked to become su-manāḥ (gracious-minded), sealing social and authoritative stability (6.123.5).
Famous verses
saumanasam … pari vo dadāmi
devāḥ pitaraḥ pitaraḥ devāḥ / yo asmi so asmi
sa deva su-manā bhava
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Saṃghātika (Social concord)
What it is for
A unified, conflict-free assembly with stable identity and auspicious continuity, culminating in recognized merit (pūrta) and favorable, ‘gracious-minded’ authority toward the community.
Who it is for
Householders and community leaders conducting group rites; yajamāna with co-participants (sadhásthaḥ); also applicable in councils, clan gatherings, and occasions of reconciliation.
Also used as
- Saṃghātika (social concord)
- Śāntika (pacificatory/settling)
- Rājakarman (authority/favor-seeking element)
The deity
Saumanasa is the embodied force of good will and harmonious disposition that makes a group ‘of one mind.’ Agni Jātavedas functions as the knowing-fire who brings and installs the boon like a treasure; Devas and Pitṛs provide cosmic and ancestral legitimacy; the ‘Rājan’ figure represents authoritative sanction and favor from the highest station.
Powers of the deity
- Creates unanimity and pleasant-minded concord in assemblies
- Transfers/‘distributes’ auspiciousness to all participants
- Secures welfare (svasti) for the yajamāna and group
- Links divine and ancestral support to present social identity
- Stabilizes authority and elicits gracious disposition from leadership (su-manāḥ)
Why the deity is called
To circulate concord as a shareable ‘treasure,’ validate the group through gods and ancestors, and obtain high-level (royal/divine) favor that keeps the assembly stable and prosperous.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī to be consulted for AVŚ 6.123Atharvan. Saṃghātika and paustika charms: rites for social cohesion, auspicious following (svasti), and securing elite/royal favor through performative speech.
Other hymns of this seer
- AVŚ 6.64 (concord/unity-type material; attribution varies by recensions—verify)
- AVŚ 3.30 (saṃjñāna/unity theme; traditional parallels—verify)
Preparing for the rite
- Seat participants together as a single assembly (sadhástha), ideally facing a common direction.
- Establish a small household fire or ritual lamp as the locus of Jātavedas (if feasible).
- Mentally frame the rite as ‘distribution of concord’—each participant intends goodwill toward all.
The rite
- Recite 6.123.1 as an explicit ‘bestowal’ of saumanasa to the seated group, optionally circling the assembly (pari) or gesturing inclusively.
- Recite the Deva–Pitṛ formula (6.123.3) as a stabilizing ‘seal’ of continuity; the speaker/yajamāna affirms identity and rightful place in lineage and cosmos.
- Conclude with 6.123.5 as an elevation and fixing (prati-tiṣṭha) of the boon in the ‘heavenly height,’ requesting recognition of pūrta and a gracious mind from the rājan/deva.
What it needs
- Optional ghee or kindling for a small fire (Agni as carrier)
- Optional shared water for sipping/sprinkling as a social ‘cooling’ and settling gesture
- The ‘śevadhi’ functions primarily as an abstract treasure of concord
When
Preferably at the start of an assembly, before deliberation/feasting, or during reconciliation after dispute; auspicious daytime is suitable.
The main substance
None required (saumanasa/śevadhi functions as an abstract ‘talisman’ of concord)
How it is prepared
If ritualized materially, kindle a small Agni with ghee and treat the recitation as the ‘carrier’ action of Jātavedas; optionally share water afterward as a settling, concord-confirming act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Saumanasa means pleasant-minded goodwill—shared concord that makes a group harmonious and cooperative. The hymn treats it like a ‘treasure’ that can be bestowed on everyone present.
By pairing gods (Devas) and ancestors (Pitṛs), the hymn anchors the present community in both cosmic authority and lineage continuity, strengthening legitimacy and social stability.
Not only. ‘Rājan’ can point to a literal king, but it also functions as a symbol of authoritative sanction; the hymn can be used by communities seeking favor, recognition of merit, and settled order.
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