Sukta 2
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Indra-protective usage; r̥ṣi attribution edition-dependent)
Devata: Indra (with Soma as enabling offering)
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like (requires metrical verification)
Mantras
Mantra 1
आत्मगोपनम्। इन्द्रा॑य॒ सोम॑मृत्विजः सु॒नोता च॑ धावत । स्तो॒तुर्यो वचः॑ शृ॒णव॒द्धवं॑ च मे
Self-guarding. For Indra press ye the Soma, O officiants, and haste ye on: may he hear the praiser’s word, and my call as well.
Mantra 2
आ यं वि॒शन्तीन्द॑वो॒ वयो॒ न वृ॒क्षमन्ध॑सः । विर॑प्शि॒न् विमृधो॑ जहि रक्ष॒स्विनीः॑
Him, whom the Soma-drops enter—like birds a tree—(him) of the pressed draught: O wide-handed one, smite apart the hostile powers; slay the demon-women.
Mantra 3
सु॒नोता॑ सोम॒पाव्ने॑ सोम॒मिन्द्रा॑य व॒ज्रिणे॑ । युवा॒ जेतेशा॑नः॒ स पु॑रुष्टु॒तः
Press ye the Soma, O purifier of Soma—press Soma for Indra, the bolt-bearer: youthful, conquering, sovereign is he, the much-lauded.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is used for self-protection (ātmagopana): to call Indra through Soma and to drive away hostile forces and rakṣas-like afflictions.
Traditionally Soma is the enabling offering, but many Atharvanic settings allow a consecrated substitute drink; the key is the intention of ‘pressing/purifying’ and the focused recitation.
In Atharvavedic idiom this can denote specific classes of harmful, obstructive influences—personified as rākṣasī-like agents—whom Indra is commanded to destroy for the reciter’s safety.
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