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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

The Sūkta of the Unseen: Counteracting Venom and Toxic Forces

📜 26 Verses

Act 1

The Gathering of the Unseen Crawlers

Verses 1, 2, 3, 4

Verse 1

कंक॑तो॒ न कंक॒तोऽथो॑ सती॒नकं॑कतः । द्वाविति॒ प्लुषी॒ इति॒ न्य१॒॑दृष्टा॑ अलिप्सत ॥

káṅkato ná káṅkató’tho satīnákaṅkataḥ ǀ dvā́víti plúṣī íti nyádṛ́ṣṭā alipsata ǁ

Verse 2

अ॒दृष्टा॑न्हंत्याय॒त्यथो॑ हंति पराय॒ती । अथो॑ अवघ्न॒ती हं॒त्यथो॑ पिनष्टि पिंष॒ती ॥

adṛ́ṣṭānhantyāyatyátho hanti parāyatī́ ǀ átho avaghnatī́ hantyátho pinaṣṭi piṃṣatī́ ǁ

Verse 3

श॒रासः॒ कुश॑रासो द॒र्भासः॑ सै॒र्या उ॒त । मौं॒जा अ॒दृष्टा॑ वैरि॒णाः सर्वे॑ सा॒कं न्य॑लिप्सत ॥

śarā́saḥ kúśarāso darbhā́saḥ sairyā́ utá ǀ mauñjā́ adṛ́ṣṭā vairiṇā́ḥ sárve sākám nyálipsata ǁ

Verse 4

नि गावो॑ गो॒ष्ठे अ॑सद॒न्नि मृ॒गासो॑ अविक्षत । नि के॒तवो॒ जना॑नां॒ न्य१॒॑दृष्टा॑ अलिप्सत ॥

ní gā́vo goṣṭhé asadanní mṛgā́so avikṣata ǀ ní ketávo jánānām nyádṛ́ṣṭā alipsata ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi addresses the hidden, creeping dangers that lurk in the grasses and shadows—venomous insects, spiders, and unseen serpents. The verses describe how these creatures approach and attack, whether coming or going, crushing or grinding down their victims. They settle silently among the reeds, darbha grasses, and wild vegetation like secret thieves in the night. Yet, even as the hidden forces of toxicity gather and attempt to strike, a counter-movement of divine containment takes place. The Ṛṣi invokes a cosmic settling, wherein wild creatures and natural elements sink into stillness, mirroring the quietude of cows returning to their stalls at dusk. This section establishes the immediate reality of danger and the necessity of bringing it under control through ritual speech.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: Be it the kankata or the satina-kankata, whether twofold or the plushi, all these unseen ones have now settled down.

Verse 2: The unseen strikes as it comes, it strikes as it goes away; it strikes as it presses down, and it strikes as it grinds to dust.

Verse 3: The sara grasses, the kushara grasses, the darbha grasses, the sairya, and the maunja—all these unseen and hostile ones have settled down together.

Verse 4: The cows have settled into the stable, the wild beasts have settled into their lares, the beacons of men have settled—and the unseen ones have settled down.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Traditional commentators like Sāyaṇa explain these verses as an incantation against snakebite and scorpion venom, while symbolic interpretations view the 'unseen ones' as internal psychological poisons or negative subtle forces.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
कङ्कतः	kaṅkataḥ	a kind of insect or spider
सतीनऽकङ्कतः	satīna-kaṅkataḥ	a specific variety of venomous crawler
अदृष्टाः	adṛṣṭāḥ	the unseen ones, invisible hazards

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अदृष्टान्	adṛṣṭān	the invisible venomous beings
हन्ति	hanti	strikes, slays, or harms
पिनष्टि	pinaṣṭi	grinds or crushes

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
शरासः	śarāsaḥ	reed grasses
कुशरासः	kuśarāsaḥ	bushy grasses
वैरिणाः	vairiṇāḥ	hostile or adversarial ones

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
गावः	gāvaḥ	cows
गोऽस्थे	go-sthe	in the cow-pen or stable
मृगासः	mṛgāsaḥ	wild beasts or animals

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a meadow at dusk where all creatures—from cows returning to their stalls to hidden venomous insects—settle into stillness as night falls.

Act 2

The Universal Dawn and the Banishing of Shadows

Verses 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Verse 5

ए॒त उ॒ त्ये प्रत्य॑दृश्रन्प्रदो॒षं तस्क॑रा इव । अदृ॑ष्टा॒ विश्व॑दृष्टाः॒ प्रति॑बुद्धा अभूतन ॥

etá u tyé prátyadṛśranpradoṣám táskarā iva ǀ ádṛṣṭā víśvadṛṣṭāḥ prátibuddhā abhūtana ǁ

Verse 6

द्यौर्वः॑ पि॒ता पृ॑थि॒वी मा॒ता सोमो॒ भ्रातादि॑तिः॒ स्वसा॑ । अदृ॑ष्टा॒ विश्व॑दृष्टा॒स्तिष्ठ॑ते॒लय॑ता॒ सु कं॑ ॥

dyáurvaḥ pitā́ pṛthivī́ mātā́ sómo bhrā́tā́ditiḥ svásā ǀ ádṛṣṭā víśvadṛṣṭāstíṣṭhateláyatā sú kam ǁ

Verse 7

ये अंस्या॒ ये अंग्याः॑ सू॒चीका॒ ये प्र॑कंक॒ताः । अदृ॑ष्टाः॒ किं च॒नेह वः॒ सर्वे॑ सा॒कं नि ज॑स्यत ॥

yé áṃsyā yé áṅgyāḥ sūcī́kā yé prakaṅkatā́ḥ ǀ ádṛṣṭāḥ kím canéhá vaḥ sárve sākám ní jasyata ǁ

Verse 8

उत्पु॒रस्ता॒त्सूर्य॑ एति वि॒श्वदृ॑ष्टो अदृष्ट॒हा । अ॒दृष्टा॒न्त्सर्वा॑ञ्जं॒भय॒न्त्सर्वा॑श्च यातुधा॒न्यः॑ ॥

útpurástātsū́rya eti viśvádṛṣṭo adṛṣṭahā́ ǀ adṛ́ṣṭāntsárvāñjambháyantsárvāśca yātudhānyáḥ ǁ

Verse 9

उद॑पप्तद॒सौ सूर्यः॑ पु॒रु विश्वा॑नि॒ जूर्व॑न् । आ॒दि॒त्यः पर्व॑तेभ्यो वि॒श्वदृ॑ष्टो अदृष्ट॒हा ॥

údapaptadasáu sū́ryaḥ purú víśvāni jū́rvan ǀ ādityáḥ párvatebhyo viśvádṛṣṭo adṛṣṭahā́ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Ṛṣi invokes the rising sun and the cosmic order to expose and neutralize the nocturnal threats. Just as thieves are spotted at daybreak, the hidden toxins and yatudhanas (dark sorcerers) are revealed by the all-seeing light of Sūrya. The Ṛṣi calls upon heaven (the father), earth (the mother), Soma (the brother), and Aditi (the sister) to establish a protective cosmic harmony. With the ascent of Sūrya—the slayer of the unseen—the darkness is pierced. The solar energy surges upward from behind the mountains, scattering the venomous entities and burning away the malice of malignant forces. This act represents the triumph of divine illumination over subterranean and toxic obscurations.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 5: These ones have become visible at dusk like thieves; though unseen, they are now seen by all, fully awakened.

Verse 6: Heaven is your father, Earth your mother, Soma your brother, Aditi your sister; O unseen yet all-seen ones, stand still and grow quiet!

Verse 7: You who dwell in the shoulders, you who dwell in the limbs, the tiny needle-like ones, and the protruding ones—all you unseen ones here, perish together!

Verse 8: Upward from the east rises the sun, seen by all, the slayer of the unseen, crushing all the unseen ones and all female sorcerers.

Verse 9: That sun has flown upward, consuming many things, the Aditya from the mountains, seen by all and slaying the unseen.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets the elemental relatives (Heaven and Earth) as cosmic witnesses invoked to bind the venom, while modern philologists see this as a nature hymn elevating solar heat as a natural antidote.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
तस्कराःऽइव	taskarāḥ-iva	like thieves or burglars
विश्वऽदृष्टाः	viśva-dṛṣṭāḥ	seen by all
प्रतिऽबुद्धाः	prati-buddhāḥ	fully awakened

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पिता	pitā	father
माता	mātā	mother
स्वसा	svasā	sister

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अंस्याः	aṃsyāḥ	dwelling in the shoulders
अङ्ग्याः	aṅgyāḥ	dwelling in the limbs
सूचीकाः	sūcīkāḥ	needle-like or stinging ones

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सूर्यः	sūryaḥ	the sun
अदृष्टऽहा	adṛṣṭa-hā	slayer of the unseen
यातुऽधान्यः	yātu-dhānyaḥ	female sorceresses or malignant spirits

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
आदित्यः	ādityaḥ	the son of Aditi, the sun
पर्वतेभ्यः	parvatebhyaḥ	from the mountains
जूर्वन्	jūrvan	burning up or consuming

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine the brilliant morning sun cresting the mountains like a golden warrior, instantly melting away the shadows and paralyzing toxic creatures.

Act 3

The Neutralization of Venom and the Refrain of Sweetness

Verses 10, 11, 12, 13

Verse 10

सूर्ये॑ वि॒षमा स॑जामि॒ दृतिं॒ सुरा॑वतो गृ॒हे । सो चि॒न्नु न म॑राति॒ नो व॒यं म॑रामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

sū́rye viṣámā́ sajāmi dṛ́tim súrāvato gṛhé ǀ só cinnú ná marāti nó vayám marāmāré asya yójanam hariṣṭhā́ madhu tvā madhulā́ cakāra ǁ

Verse 11

इ॒य॒त्ति॒का श॑कुंति॒का स॒का ज॑घास ते वि॒षं । सो चि॒न्नु न म॑राति॒ नो व॒यं म॑रामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

iyattikā́ śakuntikā́ sakā́ jaghāsa te viṣám ǀ só cinnú ná marāti nó vayám marāmāré asya yójanam hariṣṭhā́ madhu tvā madhulā́ cakāra ǁ

Verse 12

त्रिः स॒प्त वि॑ष्पुलिंग॒का वि॒षस्य॒ पुष्य॑मक्षन् । ताश्चि॒न्नु न म॑रंति॒ नो व॒यं म॑रामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

tríḥ saptá viṣpuliṅgakā́ viṣásya púṣyamakṣan ǀ tā́ścinnú ná maranti nó vayám marāmāré asya yójanam hariṣṭhā́ mádhu tvā madhulā́ cakāra ǁ

Verse 13

न॒वा॒नां न॑वती॒नां वि॒षस्य॒ रोपु॑षीणां । सर्वा॑सामग्रभं॒ नामा॒रे अ॑स्य॒ योज॑नं हरि॒ष्ठा मधु॑ त्वा मधु॒ला च॑कार ॥

navānā́m navatīnā́m viṣásya rópuṣīṇām ǀ sárvāsāmagrabham nā́māré asya yójanam hariṣṭhā́ mádhu tvā madhulā́ cakāra ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

This section introduces a famous ritual refrain where the Ṛṣi symbolically binds the poison, placing it into a leather bag in the house of a brewer, or neutralizing it through tiny birds and sparks of fire. The haunting refrain repeated across these verses declares that neither the venom nor the person afflicted shall die; instead, the divine power associated with Hari (the solar or divine steed) transforms the poison into sweetness (madhu). The Ṛṣi reaches into the very source of toxicity—counting the subtle sparks, the ninety-nine varieties of venomous excretions—and grasps them by the name, subverting their destructive potency into a healing nectar.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 10: Upon the sun I deposit the poison, like a leather skin in the house of the mead-brewer. That one shall not die, nor shall we die; far away is the path of this poison, and the holder of the bays has made thee sweet with honey.

Verse 11: This tiny female bird has devoured your poison. That one shall not die, nor shall we die; far away is its path, and the holder of the bays has made thee sweet with honey.

Verse 12: Thrice seven sparks of the poison have eaten its essence. They shall not die, nor shall we die; far away is its path, and the holder of the bays has made thee sweet with honey.

Verse 13: Of the ninety-nine venomous, secretion-releasing sources, I have grasped the name of all of them; far away is its path, and the holder of the bays has made thee sweet with honey.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Commentators emphasize that capturing the 'name' of the poison signifies complete mastery over its essence through mantra-power, turning a lethal substance into a metaphor for spiritual purification.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विषम्	viṣam	poison or venom
दृतिम्	dṛtim	leather bag or skin
मधु	madhu	honey or sweetness

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
शकुन्तिका	śakuntikā	a small bird
जघास	jaghāsa	has devoured
हरिऽस्थाः	hari-sthāḥ	standing upon or possessing bay horses

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विष्पुलिङ्गकाः	viṣpuliṅgakāḥ	sparks or fiery particles
पुष्यम्	puṣyam	essence or nourishment
मरन्ति	maranti	they die

Verse 13

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
रोपुषीणाम्	ropuṣīṇām	secreting or discharging venom
अग्रभम्	agrabham	I have seized or grasped
नाम	nāma	name or identity

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize a bitter toxin being poured into a brewer's vat of honey, where divine alchemy transmutes the poison into a healing nectar.

Act 4

The Crushing of the Scorpion and the Cosmic Tremor

Verses 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20

Verse 14

त्रिः स॒प्त म॑यू॒र्यः॑ स॒प्त स्वसा॑रो अ॒ग्रुवः॑ । तास्ते॑ वि॒षं वि ज॑भ्रिर उद॒कं कुं॒भिनी॑रिव ॥

tríḥ saptá mayūryáḥ saptá svásāro agrúvaḥ ǀ tā́ste viṣám ví jabhrira udakám kumbhínīriva ǁ

Verse 15

इ॒य॒त्त॒कः कु॑षुंभ॒कस्त॒कं भि॑न॒द्म्यश्म॑ना । ततो॑ वि॒षं प्र वा॑वृते॒ परा॑ची॒रनु॑ सं॒वतः॑ ॥

iyattakáḥ kuṣumbhakástakám bhinadmyáśmanā ǀ táto viṣám prá vāvṛte párācīránu saṃvátaḥ ǁ

Verse 16

कु॒षुं॒भ॒कस्तद॑ब्रवीद्गि॒रेः प्र॑वर्तमान॒कः । वृश्चि॑कस्यार॒सं वि॒षम॑र॒सं वृ॑श्चिक ते वि॒षं ॥

kuṣumbhakástádabravīdgiréḥ pravartamānakáḥ ǀ vṛ́ścikasyārasám viṣámarasám vṛścika te viṣám ǁ

Verse 17

मा बि॑भे॒र्न म॑रिष्यसि॒ परि॑ त्वा पामि स॒र्वतः॑ । घ॒नेन॑ हन्मि॒ वृश्चि॑क॒महिं॑ द॒ण्डेनाग॑तम् ॥

mā́ bibherná mariṣyasi pári tvā pāmi sarvátaḥ ǀ ghanéna hanmi vṛ́ścikamáhiṃ daṇḍénāgatam ǁ

Verse 18

आ॒दि॒त्य॒र॒थ॒वे॒गेन॒ विष्णो॑र्बाहुब॒लेन॑ च । ग॒रु॒ळ॒प॒क्ष॒नि॒पाते॑न भूमिं॑ गच्छ म॒हाय॑शाः ॥

ādityarathavegéna víṣṇorbāhubaléna ca ǀ garuḷapakṣanipā́tena bhūmiṃ gaccha mahā́yaśāḥ ǁ

Verse 20

गग॑नं॒ नष्ट॑चन्द्रार्कं॒ ज्योति॑षं॒ न प्र का॑शते । दे॒वता॑ भयभी॒ताश्च॒ मारु॑तो॒ न प्ल॑वायति॒ मारु॑तो॒ न प्ल॑वाय॒त्यों नमः॑ ॥

gáganaṃ náṣṭacandrārkaṃ jyótiṣaṃ ná pra kāśate ǀ devátā bhayabhītā́śca mā́ruto ná plavāyati mā́ruto ná plavāyatyóṃ namaḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The focus shifts specifically to scorpions and serpents. The Ṛṣi employs sympathetic magic and divine imagery—invoking the speed of Aditya's chariot, the arm-strength of Viṣṇu, and the mighty descent of Garuḍa's wings—to suppress the venom. The tiny kṣuṣumbhaka (scorpion or small crawler) is crushed with a stone, and its venom is declared powerless and 'flavorless' (arasam). As the cosmic bird Garuḍa is invoked, his birth shakes the three worlds and the earth with all its forests. The skies lose their luminaries in terror, and the Ṛṣi reassures the listener: 'Do not fear, you shall not die; I protect you on all sides and strike the scorpion-serpent with a staff.'

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 14: Thrice seven peahens, seven unmarried sisters—they have carried away your poison like water-maidens carrying water.

Verse 15: This tiny kṣuṣumbhaka insect—I break its venom with a stone! From there the poison turns away, fleeing across the valleys.

Verse 16: The kṣuṣumbhaka, rolling down from the mountain, spoke thus: 'Flavorless is the poison of the scorpion, flavorless is your poison, O scorpion!'

Verse 17: Do not fear, you shall not die; I protect you on all sides. With a heavy club I strike the scorpion, the serpent that has come.

Verse 18: By the speed of Aditya's chariot, by the arm-strength of Viṣṇu, and by the descent of Garuḍa's wings, go down into the earth, O highly-famed one!

Verse 20: The sky is devoid of moon and sun, its light does not shine; the deities are struck with fear, and the wind blows no more. Om, salutation!

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Verses 18 through 26 reflect later strata of mantra collection and additions (sometimes associated with Atharvavedic snake-charmers and the Āstika legend), invoking divine champions like Garuḍa and Viṣṇu for absolute protection.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 14

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मयूर्यः	mayūryaḥ	female peacocks or peahens
अग्रुवः	agruvaḥ	unmarried maidens
कुम्भिनीःऽइव	kumbhinīḥ-iva	like women carrying water pots

Verse 15

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
कुषुम्भकः	kuṣumbhakaḥ	a small venomous insect or spider
भिनद्मि	bhinadmi	I break or shatter
अश्मना	aśmanā	with a stone

Verse 16

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
प्रऽवर्तमानकः	pra-vartamānakaḥ	rolling forward
वृश्चिकस्य	vṛścikasya	of the scorpion
अरसम्	arasam	devoid of essence, tasteless, powerless

Verse 17

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
बिभेः	bibheḥ	fear thou
घनेन	ghanena	with a heavy striking weapon or club
अहिम्	ahim	serpent or snake

Verse 18

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
आदित्यरथऽवेगेन	ādityaratha-vegena	by the speed of the sun's chariot
विष्णोः	viṣṇoḥ	of Viṣṇu
गरुळपक्षऽनिपातेन	garuḷapakṣa-nipātena	by the down-swooping wings of Garuḍa

Verse 20

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
नष्टऽचन्द्रार्कम्	naṣṭa-candrārkam	having lost sun and moon
भयऽभीताः	bhaya-bhītāḥ	terrified with fear
ओम् नमः	om namaḥ	Om, salutation

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture the mythological eagle Garuḍa swooping down with wind-whipping wings, flattening the earth and instantly reducing a venomous scorpion to dust.

Act 5

The Covenant of Āstika and the Protection of Narmadā

Verses 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26

Verse 21

भोः स॑र्प भद्र भ॒द्रं ते॑ दू॒रं ग॑च्छ म॒हाय॑शाः । ज॒न॒मे॒ज॒यस्य॑ यज्ञा॒न्ते आ॑स्तीकवच॒नं स्म॑र ॥

bhóḥ sarpa bhadra bhadráṃ te dūráṃ gaccha mahā́yaśāḥ ǀ janamejayásya yajñānté āstīkavacanáṃ smara ǁ

Verse 22

आ॒स्ती॒क॒व॒च॒नं श्रु॒त्वा यः स॒र्पो न नि॒वर्त॑ते । श॒त॒धा भि॑द्यते मू॒र्ध्नि शिं॑शवृक्षफ॒लं य॑था ॥

āstīkavacanáṃ śrutvā́ yaḥ sarpó na nivártate ǀ śatadhā́ bhidyate mūrdhní śiṃśavṛkṣaphaláṃ yathā ǁ

Verse 23

यो ज॑र॒त्कारु॑णा जा॒तो रंजे॑त् क॒न्यां॑ म॒हाय॑शाः । तस्य॑ स॒र्पाप॑ भ॒द्रं दू॒रं ग॑च्छ म॒हाय॑शाः ॥

yó jaratkā́ruṇā jātó rañjet kanyāṃ mahā́yaśāḥ ǀ tásya sarpā́pa bhadráṃ dūráṃ gaccha mahā́yaśāḥ ǁ

Verse 24

असि॑तिं॒ चार्थ॑सिद्धिं च॒ सुनी॑तिं॒ चापि॒ यः स्मरे॑त् । दिवा॑ वा॒ यदि॑ वा॒ रात्रौ॒ नास्ति॑ सर्पभ॒यं ह॑रेत् ॥

ásitiṃ cā́rthasiddhiṃ ca súnītiṃ cā́pi yáḥ smaret ǀ dívā vā yádi vā rā́trau nā́sti sarpabhayáṃ haret ǁ

Verse 25

अ॒गस्ति॒र्माध॑वश्चै॒व मु॒चुकु॑न्दो म॒हामु॑निः । क॒पि॒लो मुनि॑रास्ती॒कः प॒ञ्चैते॑ सुखशा॒यिनः॑ ॥

agástirmā́dhavaścaivá mucúkundo mahā́muniḥ ǀ kapiló múnirāstīkáḥ pañcáite sukhaśāyínaḥ ǁ

Verse 26

नर्म॑दायै॒ नमः॑ प्रा॒तर्नर्म॑दायै॒ नमो॒ निशि॑ । नमो॑ऽस्तु नर्मदे तुभ्यं॑ त्रा॒हि मां वि॑ष॒सर्प॑तः ॥

nármadāyai námaḥ prātárnarmadāyai námo níśi ǀ námoastu narmade tubhyaṃ trāhí māṃ viṣasárpataḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The final movement of the Sūkta invokes the legendary protection granted through the memory of Āstika, the sage who saved the serpents during Janamejaya's snake sacrifice. The Ṛṣi commands the serpent to depart peacefully, recalling the vows of Jaratkaru and remembering the great sages—Agastya, Mādhava, Mucukunda, Kapila, and Āstika—who rest in peace free from fear. Finally, homage is paid to the sacred river Narmadā, invoked morning and night as a shield against venomous serpents. This concludes the Sūkta not merely as an exorcism, but as a universal prayer for sanctuary, peace, and harmonious coexistence with nature's most feared creatures.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 21: O serpent, noble one, good be to you, go far away, O highly-famed one! Remembering the words of Āstika at the conclusion of Janamejaya's sacrifice.

Verse 22: Hearing the words of Āstika, whichever serpent does not turn back, its head is shattered into a hundred pieces like the fruit of a shiṃśapa tree.

Verse 23: He who was born of Jaratkaru, who charms the maiden, O highly-famed serpent, away with you! Good be to you, go far away.

Verse 24: He who remembers Asiti, Arthasiddhi, and Sunīti—whether by day or by night—for him there is no fear of serpents, it removes all danger.

Verse 25: Agastya, Mādhava, Mucukunda the great muni, Kapila the muni, and Āstika—these five are the ones who lie down in absolute peace and safety.

Verse 26: Salutation to Narmadā at dawn, salutation to Narmadā at night. O Narmadā, salutation be to you, protect me from the venomous serpent!

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

These concluding verses connect the ancient Rigvedic protection hymns directly with epic lore (the Mahābhārata legend of Āstika and Janamejaya) and sacred geography (the Narmadā river), showing how the tradition evolved into popular protective mantras.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 21

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सर्प	sarpa	serpent or snake
जनमेजयस्य	janamejayasya	of King Janamejaya
आस्तीकऽवचनम्	āstīka-vacanam	the utterance or covenant of Āstika

Verse 22

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
शतधा	śatadhā	into a hundred parts
मूर्ध्नि	mūrdhni	upon the head
शिंशवृक्षऽफलम्	śiṃśavṛkṣa-phalam	the fruit of the shimshapa tree

Verse 23

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
जरत्ऽकारुणा	jarat-kāruṇā	born of Jaratkaru (referring to Sage Āstika)
रञ्जेत	rañjeta	who gladdens or charms
अप	apa	away, depart

Verse 24

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
असितिम्	asitim	Asiti (a legendary sage/serpent)
अर्थऽसिद्धिम्	artha-siddhim	accomplishment of purpose
सर्पऽभयम्	sarpa-bhayam	fear of serpents

Verse 25

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अगस्तिः	agastiḥ	Sage Agastya
मुचुकुन्दः	mucukundaḥ	King/Sage Mucukunda
सुखऽशायिनः	sukha-śāyinaḥ	resting in happiness and security

Verse 26

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
नर्मदायै	narmadāyai	to the sacred river Narmadā
प्रातः	prātaḥ	at dawn or morning
त्राहि	trāhi	protect, save

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a tranquil riverbank at dawn where a devotee invokes the holy river Narmadā and the memory of Sage Āstika, causing all venomous snakes to gracefully slither away.