Sukta 64
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (śānti/prāyaścitta hymn; specific r̥ṣi not stated in the supplied excerpt)
Devata: Āpaḥ (Waters) as purifiers and protectors
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; common in AV śānti verses)
अथर्ववेदस्य ७.६४ सूक्तं संक्षिप्तं प्रायश्चित्त-शान्तिमन्त्ररूपं, यत् कृष्णशकुनपक्षिणः समीपागमनात्, उपवेशनात्, स्पर्शदूषणाच्च जायमानं अमङ्गल्यं पापं च (एनस्) निरस्यति। अत्र द्विविधः शोधकः प्रयुज्यते—आपः दुरितस्य प्रक्षालनाय, अग्निर्गार्हपत्यः एनसो दाहाय—येन साधकः रक्षितः, विमुक्तः, पुनश्च यज्ञीय-सामाजिकशुद्धौ प्रतिष्ठापितो भवति।
Mantras
Mantra 1
पापमोचनम्। इ॒दं यत् कृ॒ष्णः श॒कुनि॑रभिनि॒ष्पत॒न्नपी॑पतत्। आपो॑ मा॒ तस्मा॒त् सर्व॑स्माद् दुरि॒तात् पा॒न्त्वंह॑सः
पापमोचनम्। इदं यत् कृष्णः शकुनिरभिनिष्पतन्नपीपतत्—आपो मां तस्मात् सर्वस्माद् दुरितात् पान्त्वंहसः।
Mantra 2
इ॒दं यत् कृ॒ष्णः श॒कुनि॑र॒वामृ॑क्षन्निरृते ते॒ मुखे॑न । अ॒ग्निर्मा॒ तस्मा॒देन॑सो॒ गार्ह॑पत्यः॒ प्र मु॑ञ्चतु
इदं यत् कृष्णः शकुनिर् निरृतेर्मुखेनावामृक्षत् (अपवित्रं कृतवान्), तस्मादेनसो गार्हपत्योऽग्निर्मां सम्पूर्णं प्रमुञ्चतु।
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used when an inauspicious black bird (śakuni) approaches, alights, or is believed to have defiled a person—an event treated as an omen requiring immediate purification and expiation.
Waters cleanse and protect from ‘evil hap’ (durita) and anguish (aṃhas), while Agni Gārhapatya performs expiation by ‘releasing’ from enas—together expressing complete removal of taint.
No. The hymn’s ritual logic centers on simple, primary purifiers: clean water for sprinkling/ablution and the household fire for expiatory release; optional ghee/kuśa may be used according to custom.
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