Sukta 41
Rishi: Ṛgvedic provenance (Dadhīci/Indra cycle); specific seer per anukramaṇī not provided here.
Devata: Indra
Chandas: Likely Anuṣṭubh (requires verification).
अयं संक्षिप्तोऽथर्ववैदिकः सूक्तः त्रिचरणमन्त्ररूपेण ऋग्वैदिकं वीरमिथचक्रं संनिबध्नाति—दधीचेः अस्थिभिः इन्द्रस्य ‘अप्रतिहत’ जयः विघ्नकरशक्तीनां मर्दनाय प्रतिमानं भवति। ततः सूक्तं सफलप्राप्तेः प्रतीकान् प्रति वलते—गूढाश्वशिरसः अन्वेषणं, गोः गुह्यनाम्नः अनुशोधनं—येन साधकः निगूढं (बलं, श्रीं, यज्ञसिद्धिं) पुनरुद्धरेत्, प्रजननं च ऋतं च पुनः स्थापयेत्।
Mantras
Mantra 1
इन्द्रो॑ दधी॒चो अ॒स्थभि॑र्वृ॒त्राण्यप्र॑तिष्कुतः । ज॒घान॑ नव॒तीर्नव॑
इन्द्रो दधीचेरस्थिभिः अप्रतिष्कुतः वृत्रान् जघान—नवतीर्नव च।
Mantra 2
इ॒च्छनश्व॑स्य॒ यच्छिरः॒ पर्वते॒ष्वप॑श्रितम्। तद् वि॑दच्छर्य॒णाव॑ति
पर्वतेष्वपश्रितं गूढमश्वस्य शिर इच्छन्, तत् शर्यणावत्यां विदद्।
Mantra 3
अत्राह॒ गोर॑मन्वत॒ नाम॒ त्वष्टु॑रपी॒च्यम्। इ॒त्था च॒न्द्रम॑सो गृ॒हे
अत्रैव खलु गोर् नामान्वविन्दन्—त्वष्टुरपि गुह्यं रहस्यम्; एवं चन्द्रमसो गृहे।
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used to become ‘unopposed’ in difficult situations—crushing obstructive forces (rivals, hostile powers, ritual impediments) and restoring what is hidden or withheld (luck, goods, vitality).
In the myth, Indra uses Dadhīci’s bones as a weapon to defeat many Vṛtras; ritually, this turns sacred substance into a symbol of irresistible force that the practitioner seeks to inherit through recitation.
They function as ‘successful recovery’ exempla: the mantra models finding what is concealed and unlocking a hidden secret of nourishment and fertility, supporting rites for retrieval, restoration, and household increase.
Ask anything about Sukta 41 of the Atharva Veda
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