Sukta 18
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (rain-compulsion corpus)
Devata: Nabhas (cloud), Pṛthivī, Dhātṛ (as regulator of rain)
Chandas: Jagatī/triṣṭubh-mixed (AV rain hymns often irregular)
《阿闼婆吠陀》7.18是一首简短的“强令降雨”赞歌：把云视为封闭的容器，命令其被劈开，使天上的水为众人倾注而下。诗中召请大地为承受的田野之身，又以达特ṛ（Dhātṛ）为调御雨水的宇宙秩序者——“开启水囊”——使降雨滋养而不致为害。第二节将目标由单纯降雨扩展为气候的均衡：免于灼热的旱灾与致命的霜冻，使福祉与丰饶在苏摩（Soma，吉祥的生命力／祭仪秩序）所安住之处得以昌盛。
Mantras
Mantra 1
दवृष्टिः। प्र न॑भस्व पृथिवि भि॒न्द्धी॒३दं दि॒व्यं नभः॑ । उ॒द्नो दि॒व्यस्य॑ नो धात॒रीशा॑नो॒ वि ष्या॒ दृति॑म्
云啊，前出！大地啊，劈开这天上的云幕。从天界之水，为了我们——主宰的达塔（Dhātṛ）啊——把水囊的口大大开启。
Mantra 2
न घ्रंस्त॑ताप॒ न हि॒मो ज॑घान॒ प्र न॑भतां पृथि॒वी जी॒रदा॑नुः । आप॑श्चिदस्मै घृ॒तमित् क्ष॑रन्ति॒ यत्र॒ सोमः॒ सद॒मित् तत्र॑ भ॒द्रम्
既未被灼热的炽光所烧，也未被霜寒所击：愿大地——富于流动润泽者——被云覆蔽。连诸水也为她滴下酥油；凡是苏摩（Soma）恒常所在之处，那里便有吉祥与安宁。
Frequently Asked Questions
It aims to end drought by commanding the cloud to open and pour down celestial waters, while also ensuring the weather stays beneficial—neither scorching nor frosty—so crops can thrive.
It uses a vivid metaphor: the cloud is like a sealed skin-bag holding water. The mantra asks Dhātṛ to “open it wide,” meaning to release rain in a controlled, life-giving way.
Ghee symbolizes nourishment and prosperity. Saying the waters “drip ghee” expresses a wish that rainfall be fertile and strengthening—supporting growth, yield, and well-being.
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