Atharva Veda Sukta 19
Kanda 20Anuvaka 2Sukta 197 Mantras

Sukta 19

Rishi: Indra-stotra tradition (RV-derived); in AV 20 generally attributed to Rigvedic seers as per the borrowed hymn-source

Devata: Indra (Śatakratu)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (as in the RV source hymn-style)

اے وی ۲۰۔۱۹ ایک اندر-ستوترہ ہے جو ایک حفاظتی اور جیت کی تعویذ کے طور پر استعمال ہوتا ہے: یہ اندر کے ذہن اور نظر کو یاجمان کی طرف موڑتا ہے اور اس کے بہت سے ناموں کو فعال طاقتوں کے طور پر پکارتا ہے۔ اس منتر کی طاقت اپوتروپیک ہے, ابھیماتی (دشمنی، عداوت، نقصان دہ اثر) کو دور کرنے والی, اور سنگرامک ہے, وہ جیت کو یقینی بناتا ہے، اندر کو وریتر-قتل کے طور پر پکارتے ہوئے جو مقابلے اور تنازع میں رکاوٹوں پر غالب آتا ہے۔

Kind of charm

Abhicharika (against foes)
Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 20.19

Mantras

Mantra 1

वार्त्र॑हत्याय॒ शव॑से पृतना॒षाह्या॑य च । इन्द्र॒ त्वा व॑र्तयामसि

وِتر کو مارنے کے لیے، طاقت کے لیے، اور لڑائیاں جیتنے کے لیے، اے اِندر، ہم تجھے حرکت میں لاتے ہیں۔

Mantra 2

अ॒र्वा॒चीनं॒ सु ते॒ मन॑ उ॒त चक्षुः॑ शतक्रतो । इन्द्र॑ कृ॒ण्वन्तु॑ वा॒घतः॑

اے سو-کرتار اندر، گویندوں کی ستائش سے تیرا من اور تیرا ناظرہ اچھی طرح اس طرف رکھا جائے۔

Mantra 3

नामा॑नि ते शतक्रतो॒ विश्वा॑भिर्गी॒र्भिरी॑महे । इन्द्रा॑भिमाति॒षाह्ये॑

اے شتکرتو، ہم تیرے ناموں کو اپنی تمام گیتوں کے ساتھ یہاں پکارتے ہیں - اے اندر - دشمنوں کے حملوں پر غالب آنے کے لیے۔

Mantra 4

पु॒रु॒ष्टु॒तस्य॒ धाम॑भिः श॒तेन॑ महयामसि । इन्द्र॑स्य चर्षणी॒धृतः॑

بہت تعریف کیے گئے کی سو طاقتوں سے ہم عظمت دیتے ہیں - اندر کی، جو لوگوں کا سہارا ہے۔

Mantra 5

इन्द्रं॑ वृ॒त्राय॒ हन्त॑वे पुरुहू॒तमुप॑ ब्रुवे । भरे॑षु॒ वाज॑सातये

اندر، بہت پکارے جانے والے، کوں ورتر کو مارنے کے لیے - میں اسے اپنے پاس بلاتا ہوں؛ لڑائیوں میں، طاقت کے انعام کو جیتنے کے لیے۔

Mantra 6

वाजे॑षु सास॒हिर्भ॑व॒ त्वामी॑महे शतक्रतो । इन्द्र॑ वृ॒त्राय॒ हन्त॑वे

مقابلوں میں تو غالب رہ - تجھے ہم پکارتے ہیں، اے شتکرتو - اے اندر - روکنے والے کو مارنے کے لیے۔

Mantra 7

द्यु॒म्नेषु॑ पृत॒नाज्ये॑ पृ॒त्सु॒तूर्षु॒ श्रवः॑सु च । इन्द्र॒ साक्ष्वा॒भिमा॑तिषु

عظمتوں میں، جنگ جیتنے میں، لڑائیوں میں، حملوں میں، اور نام میں بھی - اے اندر، طاقت دکھا؛ دشمنوں کے حملوں میں مدد کر۔

Inside Sukta 19

How it unfolds

  1. How it opens

    Indra is called hitherward: the singers’ praise is asked to make his mind and eye favorable and turned toward the patron.

  2. What it asks

    Invoke Indra’s names and strength specifically ‘for the overpowering of hostile onsets’ and for victory in contests, culminating in the request to smite Vṛtra-like obstruction.

  3. Where its power lies

    Indra’s epithets are treated as operative forces: by naming him and praising him, his battle-winning, obstruction-breaking power becomes present and effective.

  4. How it closes

    The hymn seals the work by resting the outcome in Indra’s vṛtra-slaying capacity—hostility is repelled and the obstructing enemy is designated for defeat.

Famous verses

arvā́cīnaṃ su te maná u̱ta cákṣuḥ
Verse 20.19.2Sets the ritual psychology: it turns Indra’s mind and gaze toward the worshipper, establishing protective attention as the basis for subsequent victory petitions.Read verse 20.19.2 →
indrā́bhimātiṣā́hye
Verse 20.19.3Core apotropaic line: invoking Indra’s ‘names’ as powers specifically for abhimāti-ṣāhya (overpowering hostile onsets).Read verse 20.19.3 →
indra vṛtrā́ya hántave
Verse 20.19.6Core saṃgrāmika line: asks Indra to be the overpowerer in contests and to smite Vṛtra, a paradigmatic statement of victory over obstruction.Read verse 20.19.6 →

Kind of hymn

Abhicarika (Apotropaic/Counter-sorcery) / Saṃgrāmika (Battle-victory)

What it is for

Repel abhimāti and hostile influences, remove obstruction, and establish victory/ascendancy for the patron in conflict and competition under Indra’s protection.

Who it is for

Warriors, kings/patrons, and householders facing enmity, public rivalry, litigation-like contest, or any ‘obstruction’ framed as Vṛtra/abhimāti.

Also used as

  • Saṃgrāmika
  • Rakṣā
  • Pauṣṭika

The deity

Indra here is the many-skilled lord of victorious force, the protector who turns his attention (mind and eye) toward the worshipper and breaks hostile pressures. As Śatakratu, his ‘hundred powers/skills’ are accessed through praise and the recitation of his names.

Powers of the deity

  • Overpowering enemies and hostile onsets (abhimāti-ṣāhya)
  • Victory in contests and battle (vājeṣu sāsaḥ)
  • Smiting the Obstructor (Vṛtra-han) and removing impediments
  • Protective oversight through his favorable gaze (cakṣus)
  • Bestowing strength, courage, and dominance through invoked epithets

Why the deity is called

To draw Indra near and make him favorably attentive, then to deploy his named powers to repel aggression and secure decisive victory over obstructing foes.

The seer

  • Indra-stotra (RV-derived seer-lineage; AV 20 Rigvedic source attribution)Angiras. Stotra-based protective and victory charms: invoking Indra’s epithets for abhimāti-śānti (repelling hostile onsets), saṃgrāma-jaya (battle/contest success), and removal of vṛtra-like obstruction.

Other hymns of this seer

  • AV 20.1
  • AV 20.2
  • AV 20.3
  • AV 20.4
  • AV 20.5

Preparing for the rite

  • Choose a clean, quiet spot facing east or north; steady breath and intention (saṅkalpa) for protection/victory.
  • Mentally ‘turn’ Indra toward oneself: visualize Indra’s favorable mind and eye becoming arvācīna (hitherward).
  • If in a battle context, stand behind the leader/standard or at the threshold of departure; if in a domestic context, stand at the doorway as a protective boundary.

The rite

  • Recite the hymn as a stotra: begin with inviting Indra’s attention (mind and eye), then intensify by naming and praising Indra for abhimāti-ṣāhya.
  • On the key victory verse(s), make a firm verbal ‘command’ of outcome (jaya/overpowering) while maintaining respectful invocation.
  • Conclude with a brief silent seal: resolve that obstruction is ‘smitten’ and protection established.

What it needs

  • None required (voice/praise is the principal instrument).

When

Before departure to contest/battle; at dawn; or immediately upon sensing hostility/pressure (abhimāti).

Frequently Asked Questions

Abhimāti refers to hostile pressure—enmity, aggressive intent, and harmful influence directed at a person. The hymn asks Indra to overpower and neutralize that oncoming hostility.

No. While it is saṃgrāmika in tone, it also applies to any ‘contest’ (vāja)—rivalry, public competition, or obstructive circumstances—framed as a Vṛtra-like blockage to be broken.

Not necessarily. The text itself emphasizes stotra (praise/recitation) and the invocation of Indra’s names; the ‘substance’ is primarily the voiced hymn and focused intention.

Ask anything about Sukta 19 of the Atharva Veda

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