Sukta 3
Rishi: Atharvanic (protective litany; traditional attribution varies)
Devata: Multiple: Indra, Pūṣan, Aditi, Maruts, Apām Napāt, Seven Rivers, Viṣṇu, Dyauḥ
Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like litany (prose-rubric + metrical cola)
Mantras
Mantra 1
आत्मगोपनम्। पा॒तं न॑ इन्द्रापूष॒णादि॑तिः॒ पान्तु॑ म॒रुतः॑ । अपां॑ नपात् सिन्धवः स॒प्त पा॑तन॒ पातु॑ नो॒ विष्णु॑रु॒त द्यौः
Self-guarding: Let Indra and Pūṣan protect us; let Aditi protect; let the Maruts protect. Let Apām Napāt protect; ye seven Rivers, protect! Let Viṣṇu protect us, and Heaven as well.
Mantra 2
पा॒तां नो॒ द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒भिष्ट॑ये॒ पातु॒ ग्रावा॒ पातु॒ सोमो॑ नो॒ अंह॑सः । पातु॑ नो दे॒वी सु॒भगा॒ सर॑स्वती॒ पात्व॒ग्निः शि॒वा ये अ॑स्य पा॒यवः॑
Let Heaven and Earth protect us for succor; let the Pressing-stone protect; let Soma protect us from distress. Let the Goddess, gracious Sarasvatī, protect us; let Agni protect—(he) whose guardians are auspicious.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means “self-guarding.” The hymn is framed as a protective act where the reciter asks many cosmic and ritual powers to form a shield around them.
Because protection is sought from every realm—sky, earth, storms, waters, and the sacrificial fire. The ‘many protectors’ approach leaves no opening for harm or misfortune.
No. They can be symbolic: a clean stone can stand for grāvā, and a simple offering-intention (or milk/juice) can stand for Soma. The central practice is focused recitation with a protection intention.
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