Duswapna Nivarana Suktam is the hymn or sukta in the tenth
mandala of Rig Veda Samhita. This is a very powerful Rig Vedic hymn for getting
rid of bad dreams. The main theme of the hymn is the nashanam (destruction) of
unpleasant and horrifying dreams, i.e. duswapna.
Duswapna Nivarana Suktam consists of five verses or mantras;
apart from this, there is only one other verse on bad dreams.
Pracetas Angirasa is mentioned as the seer, i.e. rishi of
the sukta.
In Vedas, Varuna Deva is often invoked by the name Pracetas.
It is noteworthy that in this sukta he is also referred to as a deity.
This concise and interesting hymn from Rig Veda is of
particular importance, as it highlights the hidden powers and manifold nature
of the human mind.
It concerns the psychological aspects of bad dreams that
result from sinful acts and thoughts. It clearly states that bad or unpleasant
dreams are the result of man’s own evil deeds and sinful acts done during the
time he is awake.
Agni is invoked by the seer to get rid of the effect of such
sins.
Indra and Brahmanaspati are also invoked for getting rid of the
effect of unpleasant dreams.
When man attains freedom from sin and guilt, his bad dreams
are transferred to other bad persons.
According to the second mantra, Yaman, the son of Vivasvata,
is the deity presiding over bad dreams. The evil spirit of dreams is addressed
here as master of the mind, i.e. manasapati.
Rig Veda Mandala 10 Hymn 164 Dedicated To Dreams
अपेहि मनसस पते.अप कराम
परश्चर |
परो निरतया आचक्ष्व बहुधा जीवतो मनः ||
भद्रं वै वरं वर्णते भद्रं युञ्जन्ति दक्षिणम |
भद्रं वैवस्वते चक्षुर्बहुत्रा जीवतो मनः ||
यदाशसा निःशसाभिशसोपारिम जाग्रतो यत सवपन्तः |
अग्निर्विश्वान्यप दुष्क्र्तान्यजुष्टान्यारे अस्मद्दधातु ||
यदिन्द्र बरह्मणस पते.अभिद्रोहं चरामसि |
परचेता नाङगिरसो दविषतां पात्यंहसः ||
अजैष्माद्यासनाम चाभूमानागसो वयम |
जाग्रत्स्वप्नःसंकल्पः पापो यं दविष्मस्तं स रछतु यो नो दवेष्टितं रछतु ||
परो निरतया आचक्ष्व बहुधा जीवतो मनः ||
भद्रं वै वरं वर्णते भद्रं युञ्जन्ति दक्षिणम |
भद्रं वैवस्वते चक्षुर्बहुत्रा जीवतो मनः ||
यदाशसा निःशसाभिशसोपारिम जाग्रतो यत सवपन्तः |
अग्निर्विश्वान्यप दुष्क्र्तान्यजुष्टान्यारे अस्मद्दधातु ||
यदिन्द्र बरह्मणस पते.अभिद्रोहं चरामसि |
परचेता नाङगिरसो दविषतां पात्यंहसः ||
अजैष्माद्यासनाम चाभूमानागसो वयम |
जाग्रत्स्वप्नःसंकल्पः पापो यं दविष्मस्तं स रछतु यो नो दवेष्टितं रछतु ||
apehi manasas pate.apa krāma paraścara |
paro nirtyā ācakṣva bahudhā jīvato manaḥ ||
bhadraṃ vai varaṃ vṛṇate bhadraṃ yuñjanti dakṣiṇam |
bhadraṃ vaivasvate cakṣurbahutrā jīvato manaḥ ||
yadāśasā niḥśasābhiśasopārima jāghrato yat svapantaḥ |
aghnirigvedaśvānyapa duṣkṛtānyajuṣṭānyāre asmaddadhātu ||
yadindra brahmaṇas pate.abhidrohaṃ carāmasi |
pracetā naāṅghiraso dviṣatāṃ pātyaṃhasaḥ ||
ajaiṣmādyāsanāma cābhūmānāghaso vayam |
jāghratsvapnaḥsaṃkalpaḥ pāpo yaṃ dviṣmastaṃ sa ṛchatu yo no dveṣṭitaṃ ṛchatu ||
paro nirtyā ācakṣva bahudhā jīvato manaḥ ||
bhadraṃ vai varaṃ vṛṇate bhadraṃ yuñjanti dakṣiṇam |
bhadraṃ vaivasvate cakṣurbahutrā jīvato manaḥ ||
yadāśasā niḥśasābhiśasopārima jāghrato yat svapantaḥ |
aghnirigvedaśvānyapa duṣkṛtānyajuṣṭānyāre asmaddadhātu ||
yadindra brahmaṇas pate.abhidrohaṃ carāmasi |
pracetā naāṅghiraso dviṣatāṃ pātyaṃhasaḥ ||
ajaiṣmādyāsanāma cābhūmānāghaso vayam |
jāghratsvapnaḥsaṃkalpaḥ pāpo yaṃ dviṣmastaṃ sa ṛchatu yo no dveṣṭitaṃ ṛchatu ||
Avaunt, thou Master of the mind Depart, and vanish far away. Look on Destruction far from hence. The live man's mind is manifold. A happy boon do men
elect, a mighty blessing they obtain.Bliss with Vaivasvata they see. The live man's mind seeks many a place. If by address, by
blame, by imprecation we have committed sin, awake or sleeping,
All hateful acts of ours, all evil doings may Agni bear away to distant places. When, Indra, Brahmaṇaspati,
our deeds are wrongful and unjust, May provident Aṅgirasa
prevent our foes from troubling, us. We have prevailed this day and won: we are made free from
sin and guilt. Ill thoughts, that visit us awake or sleeping, seize the man we hate, yea,
seize the man who hateth us.