Sukta 18
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (individual r̥ṣi not specified in the provided excerpt; to be resolved via Anukramaṇī data).
Devata: Mantra as operative power (brahman); implicitly Agni as carrier due to svāhā.
Chandas: Likely Anuṣṭubh or a short pragmatic formula; exact meter requires full pada-count verification.
《阿闼婆吠陀》2.18 为一组简短而以“svāhā”标记的作法咒式，旨在使敌对的竞争者衰耗（kṣayaṇa）并将其驱逐（cātana），尤以 bhrātṛvya（争夺地位/权利的同侪对手）与 arā́ya（敌对势力）为对象。各句咒语把仪式的器具与行为本身指认为摧敌之力，并祈请此力转移并归附于祭主，使其获得护佑、胜利与不断绝的安稳。反复出现的 svāhā 将此咒定格为火供之行：咒力（brahman）由阿耆尼承载，并借火供而被“封印”与落实。
Mantras
Mantra 1
शत्रुनाशनम्। भ्रा॒तृ॒व्य॒क्षय॑णमसि भ्रातृव्य॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
你是灭敌之力；你是令怨敌衰亡者。赐我驱逐怨敌之能——娑婆诃（svāhā）。
Mantra 2
स॒प॒त्न॒क्षय॑णमसि सपत्न॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
你是令对手衰亡者；赐我驱逐对手之能——娑婆诃（svāhā）。
Mantra 3
अ॒रा॒य॒क्षय॑णमस्यराय॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
你是令此敌对之力衰亡者；赐我驱逐这敌对之势之能——娑婆诃（svāhā）。
Mantra 4
पि॒शा॒च॒क्षय॑णमसि पिशाच॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
你是毗舍遮（Piśāca）之衰灭；赐我驱逐毗舍遮之力——娑嚩诃（svāhā）。
Mantra 5
स॒दा॒न्वा॒क्षय॑णमसि सदान्वा॒चात॑नं मे दाः॒ स्वाहा॑
你是常随而不竭者；常随而不可侵者：愿将此赐予我。娑嚩诃（svāhā）。
Frequently Asked Questions
In Atharvavedic usage, bhrātṛvya is a hostile peer or rival claimant—someone competing for the same status, share, or authority. The hymn aims to diminish that rival’s strength and drive them away from the sacrificer’s sphere.
Svāhā marks the mantra as an offering-formula: the words are meant to be accompanied by an oblation into fire. It also functions as a ritual seal, transmitting the intended effect through Agni as carrier.
Its primary register is abhicārika (rival-subduing and expulsion), but it is also strongly apotropaic: it seeks to remove hostile forces from the patron and establish ongoing protection. Traditional use is framed as defense, safeguarding, and securing one’s rightful standing.
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