12. Kāṇḍa 12 — Pṛthivī Sūkta — Hymn to the Earth
Sūkta 1 — Bhumi Devata, Atharva Rshi
Atharvaveda 12.1 · 63 mantras
12.1.1
सत्यं बृहद् ऋतम् उग्रं दीक्षा तपो ब्रह्म यज्ञः पृथिवीं धारयन्ति ।
सा नो भूतस्य भव्यस्य पत्न्य् उरुं लोकं पृथिवी नः कृणोतु ॥
satyaṃ bṛhad ṛtam ugraṃ dīkṣā tapo brahma yajñaḥ pṛthivīṃ dhārayanti ।
sā no bhūtasya bhavyasya patny uruṃ lokaṃ pṛthivī naḥ kṛṇotu ॥
Pillars of the Earth: Truth of Constancy, Infinity, Law of Mutability, Passion for Truth and Law, inviolable Commitment, Austerity of discipline. Divine knowledge, Yajna, participative living for creativity and contribution: these sustain the Earth, the life on earth and the human family on earth. May She, Prthivi, Mother, sustainer of past, present and future of all living beings, provide and continue to provide a beautiful wide world of life and joy for all of us.
12.1.2
असंबाधं मध्यतो मानवानां यस्या उद्वतः प्रवतः समं बहु ।
नानावीर्या ओषधीर् या बिभर्ति पृथिवी नः प्रथतां राध्यतां नः ॥
asaṃbādhaṃ madhyato mānavānāṃ yasyā udvataḥ pravataḥ samaṃ bahu ।
nānāvīryā oṣadhīr yā bibharti pṛthivī naḥ prathatāṃ rādhyatāṃ naḥ ॥
Among whose intelligent people there is freedom from bondage and perfect equanimity and balance between high and low, who bears many herbs and trees of varied vigour and vitality, may that Earth provide ample room for expansion and growth and possibilities of higher success and progress.
12.1.3
यस्यां समुद्र उत सिन्धुर् आपो यस्याम् अन्नं कृष्टयः संबभूवुः ।
यस्याम् इदं जिन्वति प्राणद् एजत् सा नो भूमिः पूर्वपेये दधातु ॥
yasyāṃ samudra uta sindhur āpo yasyām annaṃ kṛṣṭayaḥ saṃbabhūvuḥ ।
yasyām idaṃ jinvati prāṇad ejat sā no bhūmiḥ pūrvapeye dadhātu ॥
Where seas roll and rivers flow, lakes abound and showers fall incessantly, where food is plenty and people live in comfort, where a moving, breathing, vibrant world of life exists in wide variety, may that Mother Earth establish us in abundant peace and prosperity.
12.1.4
यस्याश् चतस्रः प्रदिशः पृथिव्या यस्याम् अन्नम् कृष्टयः संबभूवुः ।
या बिभर्ति बहुधा प्राणद् एजत् सा नो भूमिर् गोष्व् अप्य् अन्ने दधातु ॥
yasyāś catasraḥ pradiśaḥ pṛthivyā yasyām annam kṛṣṭayaḥ saṃbabhūvuḥ ।
yā bibharti bahudhā prāṇad ejat sā no bhūmir goṣv apy anne dadhātu ॥
The earth mother whose four quarters extend far and wide in space, where food is plenty and farmers and other people grow happy, which bears and sustains her living breathing children vibrant and happy in a variety of ways, may that motherland establish us in plenty of the wealth of cows and food.
12.1.5
यस्यां पूर्वे पूर्वजना विचक्रिरे यस्यां देवा असुरान् अभ्यवर्तयन् ।
गवाम् अश्वानां वयसश् च विष्ठा भगं वर्चः पृथिवी नो दधातु ॥
yasyāṃ pūrve pūrvajanā vicakrire yasyāṃ devā asurān abhyavartayan ।
gavām aśvānāṃ vayasaś ca viṣṭhā bhagaṃ varcaḥ pṛthivī no dadhātu ॥
Where our ancient forefathers did wonderful deeds, where brilliant heroes kept the negative, violent and demonic forces down under control, where there are protective and promotive shelter stalls for cows, horses and birds, may that motherland bless us with honour and excellence, lustre and splendour.
12.1.6
विश्वंभरा वसुधानी प्रतिष्ठा हिरण्यवक्षा जगतो निवेशनी ।
वैश्वानरं बिभ्रती भूमिर् अग्निम् इन्द्रऋषभा द्रविणे नो दधातु ॥
viśvaṃbharā vasudhānī pratiṣṭhā hiraṇyavakṣā jagato niveśanī ।
vaiśvānaraṃ bibhratī bhūmir agnim indraṛṣabhā draviṇe no dadhātu ॥
Bearer and sustainer of the world, treasure-hold of wealth, shelter and stability of life, golden in form and beauty, shelter home of world community, bearing and sustaining citizens of the world, may mother earth ruled by generous omnipotent Indra give us the light of life and leadership and establish us the in wealth in life.
12.1.7
यां रक्षन्त्य् अस्वप्ना विश्वदानीं देवा भूमिं पृथिवीम् अप्रमादम् ।
सा नो मधु प्रियं दुहाम् अथो उक्षतु वर्चसा ॥
yāṃ rakṣanty asvapnā viśvadānīṃ devā bhūmiṃ pṛthivīm apramādam ।
sā no madhu priyaṃ duhām atho ukṣatu varcasā ॥
Generous and brilliant brave sleeplessly protect and serve the firm and wide motherland without relent and wantonness. May she, generous giver of wealth and excellence of the world for all, give us honey sweets of life and consecrate us with light and splendour.
12.1.8
यार्णवे ऽधि सलिलम् अग्र आसीत् यां मायाभिर् अन्वचरन् मनीषिणः ।
यस्या हृदयं परमे व्योमन्त् सत्येनावृतम् अमृतं पृथिव्याः ।
सा नो भूमिस् त्विषिं बलं राष्ट्रे दधातूत्तमे ॥
yārṇave 'dhi salilam agra āsīt yāṃ māyābhir anvacaran manīṣiṇaḥ ।
yasyā hṛdayaṃ parame vyomant satyenāvṛtam amṛtaṃ pṛthivyāḥ ।
sā no bhūmis tviṣiṃ balaṃ rāṣṭre dadhātūttame ॥
That earth which in the beginning of creation nestled in the liquid mutation of Prakrti in the vast spatial ocean of particles (Rgveda 10,190,1), over which wise sages roamed around free with their wondrous vision and supernal creations, whose heart core wrapped in truth abides in the supreme light of Divinity, that mother earth may, we pray, establish light and splendour, and strength and power in our social order, the noblest of its kind in the universe.
12.1.9
यस्याम् आपः परिचराः समानीर् अहोरात्रे अप्रमादं क्षरन्ति ।
सा नो भूमिर् भूरिधारा पयो दुहाम् अथो उक्षतु वर्चसा ॥
yasyām āpaḥ paricarāḥ samānīr ahorātre apramādaṃ kṣaranti ।
sā no bhūmir bhūridhārā payo duhām atho ukṣatu varcasā ॥
On which free flowing rivers flow continuously day and night without relent, may that earth of abundant streams and rivers bless us with refreshing waters and consecrate us with light and splendour.
12.1.10
याम् अश्विनाव् अमिमातां विष्णुर् यस्यां विचक्रमे ।
इन्द्रो यां चक्र आत्मने ऽनमित्रां शचीपतिः ।
सा नो भूमिर् वि सृजतां माता पुत्राय मे पयः ॥
yām aśvināv amimātāṃ viṣṇur yasyāṃ vicakrame ।
indro yāṃ cakra ātmane 'namitrāṃ śacīpatiḥ ।
sā no bhūmir vi sṛjatāṃ mātā putrāya me payaḥ ॥
Earth Mother which Ashvins, day and night, have wrapped in light and shade, which Vishnu, the sun, covers in a single step, which Indra, Lord Supreme, renders free from enemy powers, may that mother land release milk and water in plenty for me, her child.
12.1.11
गिरयस् ते पर्वता हिमवन्तो ऽरण्यं ते पृथिवि स्योनम् अस्तु ।
बभ्रुं कृष्णां रोहिणीं विश्वरूपां ध्रुवां भूमिं पृथिवीम् इन्द्रगुप्ताम् ।
अजीतो ऽहतो अक्षतो ऽध्य् अष्ठाम् पृथिवीम् अहम् ॥
girayas te parvatā himavanto 'raṇyaṃ te pṛthivi syonam astu ।
babhruṃ kṛṣṇāṃ rohiṇīṃ viśvarūpāṃ dhruvāṃ bhūmiṃ pṛthivīm indraguptām ।
ajīto 'hato akṣato 'dhy aṣṭhām pṛthivīm aham ॥
Earth Mother, may your hills and mountains capped with snow, and your woodlands be good and grand and pleasant, and, on this land, brown and productive, dark green and fertile, red and luxuriant, vast and varied in form and hue, firm and unshakable seat of settlement guarded by mighty heroes of Indra, may we live safe and secure with pride and confidence, unconquered free, unbroken and unviolated.
12.1.12
यत् ते मध्यं पृथिवि यच् च नभ्यं यास् त ऊर्जस् तन्वः संबभूवुः ।
तासु नो धेह्य् अभि नः पवस्व माता भूमिः पुत्रो अहं पृथिव्याः पर्जन्यः पिता स उ नः पिपर्तु ॥
yat te madhyaṃ pṛthivi yac ca nabhyaṃ yās ta ūrjas tanvaḥ saṃbabhūvuḥ ।
tāsu no dhehy abhi naḥ pavasva mātā bhūmiḥ putro ahaṃ pṛthivyāḥ parjanyaḥ pitā sa u naḥ pipartu ॥
Earth Mother, whatever is in the midst of your person, whatever is at the centre of your person, and your gift for us from the clouds and the sky, and all that is the nutriments and energy from your body, pray establish us therein, make us pure and strong. The earth is my mother, I am a child of the Earth Mother’s. The sky and the rain cloud from the sun and sky is my father. I am a child of Nature. May the father and mother give us total fulfilment.
12.1.13
यस्यां वेदिं परिगृह्णन्ति भूम्यां यस्यां यज्ञं तन्वते विश्वकर्माणः ।
यस्यां मीयन्ते स्वरवः पृथिव्याम् ऊर्ध्वाः शुक्रा आहुत्याः पुरस्तात् ।
सा नो भूमिर् वर्धयद् वर्धमाना ॥
yasyāṃ vediṃ parigṛhṇanti bhūmyāṃ yasyāṃ yajñaṃ tanvate viśvakarmāṇaḥ ।
yasyāṃ mīyante svaravaḥ pṛthivyām ūrdhvāḥ śukrā āhutyāḥ purastāt ।
sā no bhūmir vardhayad vardhamānā ॥
Whereon, on the ground, the disciples of Vishvakarma build the vedi, sit round and perform and extend and direct the yajna of social development, whereon, before the oblations are offered, celebrative posts and pillars, pure, white and powerful, are designed and raised, may that earth, herself rising and developing. raise us to heights of development and excellence.
12.1.14
यो नो द्वेषत् पृथिवि यः पृतन्याद् यो ऽभिदासान् मनसा यो वधेन ।
तं नो भूमे रन्धय पूर्वकृत्वरि ॥
yo no dveṣat pṛthivi yaḥ pṛtanyād yo 'bhidāsān manasā yo vadhena ।
taṃ no bhūme randhaya pūrvakṛtvari ॥
O Mother Earth, whoever hate and malign us, whoever fight against us and enslave us by mind, whoever by physical force of deadly kind, O motherland, ever active and preventive of evil, subdue him, subject him to correction or destroy him.
12.1.15
त्वज् जातास् त्वयि चरन्ति मर्त्यास् त्वं बिभर्षि द्विपदस् त्वं चतुष्पदः ।
तवेमे पृथिवि पञ्च मानवा येभ्यो ज्योतिर् अमृतं मर्त्येभ्य उद्यन्त् सूर्यो रश्मिभिर् आतनोति ॥
tvaj jātās tvayi caranti martyās tvaṃ bibharṣi dvipadas tvaṃ catuṣpadaḥ ।
taveme pṛthivi pañca mānavā yebhyo jyotir amṛtaṃ martyebhya udyant sūryo raśmibhir ātanoti ॥
Born of you, living and moving around freely on you, all the mortals, humans, animals, birds, you bear, support and sustain. Mother Earth, yours are all the children, all five classes, native as well as foreign; for all of these mortals, the immortal light, the sun, rising and radiating with its rays, shines far and wide.
12.1.16
ता नः प्रजाः सं दुह्रतां समग्रा वाचो मधु पृथिवि धेहि मह्यम् ॥
tā naḥ prajāḥ saṃ duhratāṃ samagrā vāco madhu pṛthivi dhehi mahyam ॥
Let all these people, your children, together receive the mother’s gift of nourishment, sustenance and support. O Mother Earth, bless me with honey sweets of the Common Word and mutual discourse, pray establish me therein.
12.1.17
विश्वस्वं मातरम् ओषधीनां ध्रुवां भूमिं पृथिवीं धर्मणा धृताम् ।
शिवां स्योनाम् अनु चरेम विश्वहा ॥
viśvasvaṃ mātaram oṣadhīnāṃ dhruvāṃ bhūmiṃ pṛthivīṃ dharmaṇā dhṛtām ।
śivāṃ syonām anu carema viśvahā ॥
O children of the earth, let us all together and always serve and live in accord with the universal love, unity and generosity of Mother Earth, vast and wide, mother of all herbs and trees, firm, established in Dharma, blissfully peaceful, beautiful and gracious beyond bounds.
12.1.18
महत् सधस्थं महती बभूविथ महान् वेग एजथुर् वेपथुष् टे ।
महांस् त्वेन्द्रो रक्षत्य् अप्रमादम् ।
सा नो भूमे प्र रोचय हिरण्यस्येव संदृशि मा नो द्विक्षत कश् चन ॥
mahat sadhasthaṃ mahatī babhūvitha mahān vega ejathur vepathuṣ ṭe ।
mahāṃs tvendro rakṣaty apramādam ।
sā no bhūme pra rocaya hiraṇyasyeva saṃdṛśi mā no dvikṣata kaś cana ॥
Mother Earth, be, indeed you are, the mighty one great hall of residence for humanity. High is your velocity, mighty your motion, terrible your tremor. Mighty Indra, the sun, keeps and protects you in orbit relentlessly, the Ruler maintains you at peace vigilantly. O motherland, let us shine in the golden glory of light and grandeur on earth. Let none hate and malign us. Let us live with love in mutual trust.
12.1.19
अग्निर् भूम्याम् ओषधीष्व् अग्निम् आपो बिभ्रत्य् अग्निर् अश्मसु ।
अग्निर् अन्तः पुरुषेषु गोष्व् अश्वेष्व् अग्नयः ॥
agnir bhūmyām oṣadhīṣv agnim āpo bibhraty agnir aśmasu ।
agnir antaḥ puruṣeṣu goṣv aśveṣv agnayaḥ ॥
There is agni, fire energy in the earth, fire in the herbs and trees, waters bear fire, there is fire in stones, fire in humans, in cows, and in horses, fire of various orders and energy, electric, magnetic, pure light.
12.1.20
अग्निर् दिव आ तपत्य् अग्नेर् देवस्योर्व् अन्तरिक्षम् ।
अग्निं मर्तास इन्धते हव्यवाहं घृतप्रियम् ॥
agnir diva ā tapaty agner devasyorv antarikṣam ।
agniṃ martāsa indhate havyavāhaṃ ghṛtapriyam ॥
Agni burns, shines and radiates from the solar region as the sun. By divine Agni, wind blows and lightning flashes as electrical energy. Humans light the fire which loves to consume ghrta and carries the oblations from earth to heaven.
12.1.21
अग्निवासाः पृथिव्य् असितज्ञूस् त्विषीमन्तं संशितं मा कृणोतु ॥
agnivāsāḥ pṛthivy asitajñūs tviṣīmantaṃ saṃśitaṃ mā kṛṇotu ॥
The Earth, wrapped in fire, unbound with limitations, may, I pray, vest me in light and fire and turn me sharp and refined.
12.1.22
भूम्यां देवेभ्यो ददति यज्ञं हव्यम् अरंकृतम् ।
भूम्यां मनुष्या जीवन्ति स्वधयान्नेन मर्त्याः ।
सा नो भूमिः प्राणम् आयुर् दधातु जरदष्टिं मा पृथिवी कृणोतु ॥
bhūmyāṃ devebhyo dadati yajñaṃ havyam araṃkṛtam ।
bhūmyāṃ manuṣyā jīvanti svadhayānnena martyāḥ ।
sā no bhūmiḥ prāṇam āyur dadhātu jaradaṣṭiṃ mā pṛthivī kṛṇotu ॥
On earth, people offer homage of the finest and best prepared havi in yajna to the divinities, and they offer service and hospitality to revered sages and scholars. On earth, mortal men live their life on food with their own essential nature, character and energy for survival and growth. May that Mother Earth, giver of food and energy, bring us pranic energy, good health and full long age to live a life of piety and fulfilment.
12.1.23
यस् ते गन्धः पृथिवि संबभूव यं बिभ्रत्य् ओषधयो यम् आपः ।
यं गन्धर्वा अप्सरसश् च भेजिरे तेन मा सुरभिं कृणु मा नो द्विक्षत कश् चन ॥
yas te gandhaḥ pṛthivi saṃbabhūva yaṃ bibhraty oṣadhayo yam āpaḥ ।
yaṃ gandharvā apsarasaś ca bhejire tena mā surabhiṃ kṛṇu mā no dvikṣata kaś cana ॥
Earth Mother, that sweet fragrance which is your very essence, which herbs and trees, and seas and streams bear, which Gandharvas and Apsaras, all those that live and play on earth and those that float and frolick and swim in waters share, with that same fragrance make me fragrant. Let none of us hate any one, let no one hate us.
12.1.24
यस् ते गन्धः पुष्करम् आविवेश यं संजभ्रुः सूर्याया विवाहे ।
अमर्त्याः पृथिवि गन्धम् अग्रे तेन मा सुरभिं कृणु मा नो द्विक्षत कश् चन ॥
yas te gandhaḥ puṣkaram āviveśa yaṃ saṃjabhruḥ sūryāyā vivāhe ।
amartyāḥ pṛthivi gandham agre tena mā surabhiṃ kṛṇu mā no dvikṣata kaś cana ॥
Mother Earth, that fragrance of yours which has entered the lotus flower, which, since time immemorial, the immortals bear and bring in radiation of the solar rays and their contact with the earth, with that fragrance make me fragrant. Let none of us hate any one, let no one hate us.
12.1.25
यस् ते गन्धः पुरुषेषु स्त्रीषु पुंसु भगो रुचिः ।
यो अश्वेषु वीरेषु यो मृगेषूत हस्तिषु ।
कन्यायां वर्चो यद् भूमे तेनास्मां अपि सं सृज मा नो द्विक्षत कश् चन ॥
yas te gandhaḥ puruṣeṣu strīṣu puṃsu bhago ruciḥ ।
yo aśveṣu vīreṣu yo mṛgeṣūta hastiṣu ।
kanyāyāṃ varco yad bhūme tenāsmāṃ api saṃ sṛja mā no dvikṣata kaś cana ॥
That fragrance of yours which breathes in men, in women, in males and females, which is in grandeur and excellence, beauty and glamour, which is in horses and brave heroes, which is in beasts of the forest and in elephants, which is in the beauty of innocence and lustre of virginity among maidens, with that fragrance, O Mother Earth, make us fragrant. Let none of us hate any one, let no one hate us.
12.1.26
शिला भूमिर् अश्मा पांसुः सा भूमिः संधृता धृता ।
तस्यै हिरण्यवक्षसे पृथिव्या अकरं नमः ॥
śilā bhūmir aśmā pāṃsuḥ sā bhūmiḥ saṃdhṛtā dhṛtā ।
tasyai hiraṇyavakṣase pṛthivyā akaraṃ namaḥ ॥
The slab and stone, dust and mountain, all is earth. That earth is placed in position, firmly in place in orbit. To that Earth Mother and to her golden expanse like the mother’s bosom, I do homage of obeisance.
12.1.27
यस्यां वृक्षा वानस्पत्या ध्रुवास् तिष्ठन्ति विश्वहा ।
पृथिवीं विश्वधायसं धृताम् अछावदामसि ॥
yasyāṃ vṛkṣā vānaspatyā dhruvās tiṣṭhanti viśvahā ।
pṛthivīṃ viśvadhāyasaṃ dhṛtām achāvadāmasi ॥
Whereon herbs and trees of the forest stand firm and always flourish, that Mother Earth, bearer and sustainer of all things of the world, placed and held very well in her position, we praise and serve with reverence.
12.1.28
उदीराणा उतासीनास् तिष्ठन्तः प्रक्रामन्तः ।
पद्भ्यां दक्षिणसव्याभ्यां मा व्यथिष्महि भूम्याम् ॥
udīrāṇā utāsīnās tiṣṭhantaḥ prakrāmantaḥ ।
padbhyāṃ dakṣiṇasavyābhyāṃ mā vyathiṣmahi bhūmyām ॥
Sitting or standing, moving around or walking forward on both legs right and left, let us never fall, never waver, nor fail ever.
12.1.29
विमृग्वरीं पृथिवीम् आ वदामि क्षमां भूमिं ब्रह्मणा वावृधानाम् ।
ऊर्जं पुष्टं बिभ्रतीम् अन्नभागं घृतं त्वाभि नि षीदेम भूमे ॥
vimṛgvarīṃ pṛthivīm ā vadāmi kṣamāṃ bhūmiṃ brahmaṇā vāvṛdhānām ।
ūrjaṃ puṣṭaṃ bibhratīm annabhāgaṃ ghṛtaṃ tvābhi ni ṣīdema bhūme ॥
To Earth, sacred mother, pure, unhurt, forbearing, growing by divine power and celebrated with Vedic songs of adoration, bearing food, energy, and every body’s share of nourishment and ghrta, I say: O motherland, let us all sit with you together at peace.
12.1.30
शुद्धा न आपस् तन्वे क्षरन्तु यो नः सेदुर् अप्रिये तं नि दध्मः ।
पवित्रेण पृथिवि मोत् पुनामि ॥
śuddhā na āpas tanve kṣarantu yo naḥ sedur apriye taṃ ni dadhmaḥ ।
pavitreṇa pṛthivi mot punāmi ॥
Mother Earth, let pure showers and streams of water flow for our body’s health. Whatever negative, bad or evil be ours, we assign to our dislike and rejection. O Motherland, I initiate and consecrate myself with the purity and sanctity of your presence, inspiration and holy action.
12.1.31
यास् ते प्राचीः प्रदिशो या उदीचीर् यास् ते भूमे अधराद् याश् च पश्चात् ।
स्योनास् ता मह्यं चरते भवन्तु मा नि पप्तं भुवने शिश्रियाणः ॥
yās te prācīḥ pradiśo yā udīcīr yās te bhūme adharād yāś ca paścāt ।
syonās tā mahyaṃ carate bhavantu mā ni paptaṃ bhuvane śiśriyāṇaḥ ॥
May your regions in front or at the back, up or down, O Mother Earth, all directions and sub-directions, where I live and move, be good and auspicious to me. As long as I live with your support in the world, let me never stumble and never fall down.
12.1.32
मा नः पश्चान् मा पुरस्तान् नुदिष्ठा मोत्तराद् अधराद् उत ।
स्वस्ति भूमे नो भव मा विदन् परिपन्थिनो वरीयो यावया वधम् ॥
mā naḥ paścān mā purastān nudiṣṭhā mottarād adharād uta ।
svasti bhūme no bhava mā vidan paripanthino varīyo yāvayā vadham ॥
O Mother Earth, do not push us from behind, from front, from above and from below. Pray be kind and gracious. Let there be no thieves, robbers and highway men among us. Throw off all weapons of destruction far away from us.
12.1.33
यावत् ते ऽभि विपश्यामि भूमे सूर्येण मेदिना ।
तावन् मे चक्षुर् मा मेष्टोत्तरामुत्तरां समाम् ॥
yāvat te 'bhi vipaśyāmi bhūme sūryeṇa medinā ।
tāvan me cakṣur mā meṣṭottarāmuttarāṃ samām ॥
O Motherland, as long as I live, look to you and watch around with the gracious light of the sun, that long let my eye and discriminative judgement never fail over time passing on with the passage of years.
12.1.34
यच् छयानः पर्यावर्ते दक्षिणं सख्यम् अभि भूमे पार्श्वम् उत्तानास् त्वा प्रतीचीं यत् पृष्टीभिर् अधिशेमहे ।
मा हिंसीस् तत्र नो भूमे सर्वस्य प्रतिशीवरि ॥
yac chayānaḥ paryāvarte dakṣiṇaṃ sakhyam abhi bhūme pārśvam uttānās tvā pratīcīṃ yat pṛṣṭībhir adhiśemahe ।
mā hiṃsīs tatra no bhūme sarvasya pratiśīvari ॥
O Motherland, while I sleep and change sides right and left, and when we lie face upward and back on the ground, then O Motherland, gracious giver of restful support and sleep to all, pray do not hurt us.
12.1.35
यत् ते भूमे विखनामि क्षिप्रं तद् अपि रोहतु ।
मा ते मर्म विमृग्वरि मा ते हृदयम् अर्पिपम् ॥
yat te bhūme vikhanāmi kṣipraṃ tad api rohatu ।
mā te marma vimṛgvari mā te hṛdayam arpipam ॥
O Mother Earth, when I dig and till the soil to sow the seed, let the seed grow soon and the ground fill up. O gracious, purifying and regenerative Mother, never would I hurt your vitality and fertility, never will I rip up your heart.
12.1.36
ग्रीष्मस् ते भूमे वर्षाणि शरद् धेमन्तः शिशिरो वसन्तः ।
ऋतवस् ते विहिता हायनीर् अहोरात्रे पृथिवि नो दुहाताम् ॥
grīṣmas te bhūme varṣāṇi śarad dhemantaḥ śiśiro vasantaḥ ।
ṛtavas te vihitā hāyanīr ahorātre pṛthivi no duhātām ॥
O Motherland, expansive Mother Earth, may your seasons, summers, rains, autumns, winters, freezing winters and springs in the yearly cycle and the days and nights be generous and give profuse showers of nature’s gifts to us.
12.1.37
याप सर्पं विजमाना विमृग्वरी यस्याम् आसन्न् अग्नयो ये अप्स्व् अन्तः ।
परा दस्यून् ददती देवपीयून् इन्द्रं वृणाना पृथिवी न वृत्रम् शक्राय दध्रे वृषभाय वृष्णे ॥
yāpa sarpaṃ vijamānā vimṛgvarī yasyām āsann agnayo ye apsv antaḥ ।
parā dasyūn dadatī devapīyūn indraṃ vṛṇānā pṛthivī na vṛtram śakrāya dadhre vṛṣabhāya vṛṣṇe ॥
Mother Earth which goes on revolving and rotating at high speed, which is worth discovering and researching, in which there are fire energies which are in waters too, which goes on in time, throwing off negative destroyers of positivities, which loves to be with Indra, the powerful sun, not with the covering darkness and evil: such is the earth which sustains and is held in position for the mighty generous giver of showers. (The earth is for the generous brave.)
12.1.38
यस्यां सदोहविर्धाने यूपो यस्यां निमीयते ।
ब्रह्माणो यस्याम् अर्चन्त्य् ऋग्भिः साम्ना यजुर्विदः युज्यन्ते यस्याम् ऋत्विजः सोमम् इन्द्राय पातवे ॥
yasyāṃ sadohavirdhāne yūpo yasyāṃ nimīyate ।
brahmāṇo yasyām arcanty ṛgbhiḥ sāmnā yajurvidaḥ yujyante yasyām ṛtvijaḥ somam indrāya pātave ॥
Whereon halls of residence and stores of havi are built for congregations of yajna-performers, where pillars are designed and raised for the yajna sessions, where sagely scholars of Yajurveda worship the Lord of Universe with Rks and Samans, where high priests engage in yajna and distil the soma for oblations to Indra, Lord Omnipotent: such is our Mother Earth.
12.1.39
यस्यां पूर्वे भूतकृत ऋषयो गा उदानृचुः ।
सप्त सत्रेण वेधसो यज्ञेन तपसा सह ॥
yasyāṃ pūrve bhūtakṛta ṛṣayo gā udānṛcuḥ ।
sapta satreṇa vedhaso yajñena tapasā saha ॥
Whereon creative sages of ancient times, seven sages, with yajnic sessions of their life time with yajna and austerity of Tapas, chanted the holy songs of Veda: such is our motherland.
12.1.40
सा नो भूमिर् आ दिशतु यद् धनं कामयामहे ।
भगो अनुप्रयुङ्क्ताम् इन्द्र एतु पुरोगवः ॥
sā no bhūmir ā diśatu yad dhanaṃ kāmayāmahe ।
bhago anuprayuṅktām indra etu purogavaḥ ॥
That ancient Motherland may give us whatever wealth, honour and excellence we pray for, may Indra, Lord of glory, pioneer of great creative power, be with us, and then may the honour and grandeur of the world follow for us in the footsteps of Indra.
12.1.41
यस्यां गायन्ति नृत्यन्ति भूम्यां मर्त्या व्यैलबाः ।
युध्यन्ते यस्याम् आक्रन्दो यस्याम् वदति दुन्दुभिः ।
सा नो भूमिः प्र णुदतां सपत्नान् असपत्नं मा पृथिवी कृणोतु ॥
yasyāṃ gāyanti nṛtyanti bhūmyāṃ martyā vyailabāḥ ।
yudhyante yasyām ākrando yasyām vadati dundubhiḥ ।
sā no bhūmiḥ pra ṇudatāṃ sapatnān asapatnaṃ mā pṛthivī kṛṇotu ॥
The Motherland on whose bosom mortal people of various classes and cultures sing and dance in joy, whereon war drums boom and warriors clash with shouts and chllenges against the adversaries, may that Motherland throw away violent adversaries, and render me free from enemies and war.
12.1.42
यस्याम् अन्नं व्रीहियवौ यस्या इमाः पञ्च कृष्टयः ।
भूम्यै पर्जन्यपत्न्यै नमो ऽस्तु वर्षमेदसे ॥
yasyām annaṃ vrīhiyavau yasyā imāḥ pañca kṛṣṭayaḥ ।
bhūmyai parjanyapatnyai namo 'stu varṣamedase ॥
Whereon abound food grains, rice and barley, whereon five classes of people, native and foreign, happily live together, to this Mother Earth blest by showers, beloved of the cloud, honour and salutations !
12.1.43
यस्याः पुरो देवकृताः क्षेत्रे यस्या विकुर्वते ।
प्रजापतिः पृथिवीं विश्वगर्भाम् आशामाशां रण्यां नः कृणोतु ॥
yasyāḥ puro devakṛtāḥ kṣetre yasyā vikurvate ।
prajāpatiḥ pṛthivīṃ viśvagarbhām āśāmāśāṃ raṇyāṃ naḥ kṛṇotu ॥
Whose cities are created, designed and built by divine architects, in whose fields various productive projects are pursued and perfected, may Prajapati, lord of the people, render that Earth Mother of the world in every place in every direction happy and joyous for us.
12.1.44
निधिं बिभ्रती बहुधा गुहा वसु मणिं हिरण्यं पृथिवी ददातु मे ।
वसूनि नो वसुदा रासमाना देवी दधातु सुमनस्यमाना ॥
nidhiṃ bibhratī bahudhā guhā vasu maṇiṃ hiraṇyaṃ pṛthivī dadātu me ।
vasūni no vasudā rāsamānā devī dadhātu sumanasyamānā ॥
Bearing wealth of many forms deep in the mi nes, I pray, may the Mother Earth give me wealth, jewels and gold. Generous Mother divine, noble at heart, giver of wealth, may bear and continue to give us wealth of all kinds.
12.1.45
जनं बिभ्रती बहुधा विवाचसं नानाधर्माणं पृथिवी यथौकसम् ।
सहस्रं धारा द्रविणस्य मे दुहां ध्रुवेव धेनुर् अनपस्फुरन्ती ॥
janaṃ bibhratī bahudhā vivācasaṃ nānādharmāṇaṃ pṛthivī yathaukasam ।
sahasraṃ dhārā draviṇasya me duhāṃ dhruveva dhenur anapasphurantī ॥
Bearing and sustaining many people speaking different languages and observing different forms of Dharma and Karma in life, conduct and profession in many different ways like a family living in the same one home, may the wide and varied earth mother, constant, firm and undisturbed, give me a thousand showers and streams of wealth like the mother cow profusely giving streams of milk steadily, continuously and patiently. (This mantra may be interpreted as the prayer of a ruler as well as of a citizen of the country which, in this sukta, should be interpreted as the world.)
12.1.46
यस् ते सर्पो वृश्चिकस् तृष्टदंश्मा हेमन्तजब्धो भृमलो गुहा शये ।
क्रिमिर् जिन्वत् पृथिवि यद्यद् एजति प्रावृषि तन् नः सर्पन् मोप सृपद् यच् छिवं तेन नो मृड ॥
yas te sarpo vṛścikas tṛṣṭadaṃśmā hemantajabdho bhṛmalo guhā śaye ।
krimir jinvat pṛthivi yadyad ejati prāvṛṣi tan naḥ sarpan mopa sṛpad yac chivaṃ tena no mṛḍa ॥
Whether it is a snake or a scorpion whose bite causes excessive thirst, or an insect or germ which causes fever with shivering cold or delirium, all of which could be hidden and might come out, live and roam around in rains, may all these, O Mother Earth, never come close to me. Pray bless us with that which is good.
12.1.47
ये ते पन्थानो बहवो जनायना रथस्य वर्त्मानसश् च यातवे ।
यैः संचरन्त्य् उभये भद्रपापास् तं पन्थानं जयेमानमित्रम् अतस्करं यच् छिवं तेन नो मृड ॥
ye te panthāno bahavo janāyanā rathasya vartmānasaś ca yātave ।
yaiḥ saṃcaranty ubhaye bhadrapāpās taṃ panthānaṃ jayemānamitram ataskaraṃ yac chivaṃ tena no mṛḍa ॥
Many are the paths and highways for carts and chariots meant for public transport, by which both good people and bad elements of society travel. Pray let us control them and make them free from enemies, thieves, robbers and smugglers. O Mother Earth, bless us with that which is good.
12.1.48
मल्वं बिभ्रती गुरुभृद् भद्रपापस्य निधनं तितिक्षुः ।
वराहेण पृथिवी संविदाना सूकराय वि जिहीते मृगाय ॥
malvaṃ bibhratī gurubhṛd bhadrapāpasya nidhanaṃ titikṣuḥ ।
varāheṇa pṛthivī saṃvidānā sūkarāya vi jihīte mṛgāya ॥
Bearing her own gravitation, attraction and forbearance, sustaining both the virtuous and the sinful and shaping their family and family line, the earth in cooperation with the cloud, moves on in orbit doing homage to the sun, sojourner of space.
12.1.49
ये त आरण्याः पशवो मृगा वने हिताः सिंहा व्याघ्राः पुरुषादश् चरन्ति ।
उलं वृकं पृथिवि दुछुनाम् इत ऋक्षीकां रक्षो अप बाधयास्मत् ॥
ye ta āraṇyāḥ paśavo mṛgā vane hitāḥ siṃhā vyāghrāḥ puruṣādaś caranti ।
ulaṃ vṛkaṃ pṛthivi duchunām ita ṛkṣīkāṃ rakṣo apa bādhayāsmat ॥
Your animals of the forest, the deer inhabiting the woods, lions and tigers, carnivorous they are, all ranging over you, O Mother Earth, remove away all those ferocious wolves, she bears, and all deadly devils dangerous to people.
12.1.50
ये गन्धर्वा अप्सरसो ये चारायाः किमीदिनः ।
पिशाचान्त् सर्वा रक्षांसि तान् अस्मद् भूमे यावय ॥
ye gandharvā apsaraso ye cārāyāḥ kimīdinaḥ ।
piśācānt sarvā rakṣāṃsi tān asmad bhūme yāvaya ॥
Mother Earth, pray throw out and keep away from us all those demons and violent forces which are negative, destructive, selfish, exploitative, and blood thirsty.
12.1.51
यां द्विपादः पक्षिणः संपतन्ति हंसाः सुपर्णाः शकुना वयांसि ।
यस्यां वातो मातरिश्वेयते रजांसि कृण्वंश् च्यावयंश् च वृक्षान् ।
वातस्य प्रवाम् उपवाम् अनु वात्य् अर्चिः ॥
yāṃ dvipādaḥ pakṣiṇaḥ saṃpatanti haṃsāḥ suparṇāḥ śakunā vayāṃsi ।
yasyāṃ vāto mātariśveyate rajāṃsi kṛṇvaṃś cyāvayaṃś ca vṛkṣān ।
vātasya pravām upavām anu vāty arciḥ ॥
On which bipeds, birds, swans, eagles, hawks and others fly and land (on lakes and trees), where winds and storms blow raising dust, shaking trees and beating the clouds, where light and shade alternate in response to the strength and calm of the winds, that is Mother Earth.
12.1.52
यस्यां कृष्णम् अरुणं च संहिते अहोरात्रे विहिते भूम्याम् अधि ।
वर्षेण भूमिः पृथिवी वृतावृता सा नो दधातु भद्रया प्रिये धामनिधामनि ॥
yasyāṃ kṛṣṇam aruṇaṃ ca saṃhite ahorātre vihite bhūmyām adhi ।
varṣeṇa bhūmiḥ pṛthivī vṛtāvṛtā sā no dadhātu bhadrayā priye dhāmanidhāmani ॥
Mother Earth where day and night, bright and dark, are joined in the natural system, the vast earth which is soaked and covered with showers of rain, may she, we pray, establish us in goodness, peace and prosperity with noble good fortune in every place and situation.
12.1.53
द्यौश् च म इदं पृथिवी चान्तरिक्षं च मे व्यचः ।
अग्निः सूर्य आपो मेधां विश्वे देवाश् च सं ददुः ॥
dyauś ca ma idaṃ pṛthivī cāntarikṣaṃ ca me vyacaḥ ।
agniḥ sūrya āpo medhāṃ viśve devāś ca saṃ daduḥ ॥
May the heaven, this vast earth, this expansive firmament, heat and light, sun, waters, and all divinities of nature and humanity of the world bless me with holy intelligence and good will.
12.1.54
अहम् अस्मि सहमान उत्तरो नाम भूम्याम् ।
अभीषाड् अस्मि विश्वाषाड् आशामाशां विषासहिः ॥
aham asmi sahamāna uttaro nāma bhūmyām ।
abhīṣāḍ asmi viśvāṣāḍ āśāmāśāṃ viṣāsahiḥ ॥
I am the man, a patient, forbearing challenger, forward fighter, for sure, the winner on the field. I beat who faces me, I win all over the land, I am the conqueror all round in all directions (overall the problems and all the crises that face me, threaten to defeat me, and deprive me of my identity).
12.1.55
अदो यद् देवि प्रथमाना पुरस्ताद् देवैर् उक्ता व्यसर्पो महित्वम् ।
आ त्वा सुभूतम् अविशत् तदानीम् अकल्पयथाः प्रदिशश् चतस्रः ॥
ado yad devi prathamānā purastād devair uktā vyasarpo mahitvam ।
ā tvā subhūtam aviśat tadānīm akalpayathāḥ pradiśaś catasraḥ ॥
O divine Mother Earth, when in those early ancient times you expanded and, exalted by divine forces of nature and humanity, you waxed with grandeur, then the prosperity and excellence of life and motherhood entered your personality and you rose to the energy, power, inspiration and glory of your divine identity all over the four directions. Be that, O Mother, and continue to be that all time, everywhere.
12.1.56
ये ग्रामा यद् अरण्यं याः सभा अधि भूम्याम् ।
ये संग्रामाः समितयस् तेषु चारु वदेम ते ॥
ye grāmā yad araṇyaṃ yāḥ sabhā adhi bhūmyām ।
ye saṃgrāmāḥ samitayas teṣu cāru vadema te ॥
O Mother, whatever villages and cities there are, or forests, or parliaments and assemblies there are on earth, whatever battles or problems, whatever committees, congregations and conferences there be, we shall speak and perform well everywhere and do you proud.
12.1.57
अश्व इव रजो दुधुवे वि तान् जनान् य आक्षियन् पृथिवीं याद् अजायत ।
मन्द्राग्रेत्वरी भुवनस्य गोपा वनस्पतीनां गृभिर् ओषधीनाम् ॥
aśva iva rajo dudhuve vi tān janān ya ākṣiyan pṛthivīṃ yād ajāyata ।
mandrāgretvarī bhuvanasya gopā vanaspatīnāṃ gṛbhir oṣadhīnām ॥
Happy, calm, and moving forward at a pleasant, undisturbing pace, protector of her earthly world, bearer and sustainer of herbs and trees, ever since she was bom, the Earth Mother, like a horse that shakes off dust from its body, shakes off those people who live but presume to possess and over-ride her as masters.
12.1.58
यद् वदामि मधुमत् तद् वदामि यद् ईक्षे तद् वनन्ति मा ।
त्विषीमान् अस्मि जूतिमान् अवान्यान् हन्मि दोधतः ॥
yad vadāmi madhumat tad vadāmi yad īkṣe tad vananti mā ।
tviṣīmān asmi jūtimān avānyān hanmi dodhataḥ ॥
Whatever I speak, that is sweet as honey, whatever or whoever I see and meet, they love and honour me. Brilliant and dynamic with a drive, I throw out all those others who are angry with me and hostile toward the motherland.
12.1.59
शन्तिवा सुरभिः स्योना कीलालोध्नी पयस्वती ।
भूमिर् अधि ब्रवीतु मे पृथिवी पयसा सह ॥
śantivā surabhiḥ syonā kīlālodhnī payasvatī ।
bhūmir adhi bravītu me pṛthivī payasā saha ॥
Peaceable, kind and beneficent, fragrant, gentle and blissful, overflowing with milk, food and water, may the expansive Earth Mother, with all her wealth of nourishments, speak to me and inspire me in the motherland.
12.1.60
याम् अन्वैछद् धविषा विश्वकर्मान्तर् अर्णवे रजसि प्रविष्टाम् ।
भुजिष्यं पात्रं निहितं गुहा यद् आविर् भोगे अभवन् मातृमद्भ्यः ॥
yām anvaichad dhaviṣā viśvakarmāntar arṇave rajasi praviṣṭām ।
bhujiṣyaṃ pātraṃ nihitaṃ guhā yad āvir bhoge abhavan mātṛmadbhyaḥ ॥
When Vishvakarma, maker of the universe, wished to evolve and form the earth which was then contained in the spatial ocean of waters, and, further, when he wished to vest it with all the materials favourable to the emergence and support of life in the course of natural evolution, then all the nutriments of food and drink implicit in the mysterious cave of Mother Nature meant for all forms of life were bom of Mother Earth, grew up and came into existence. (For the natural evolution of life from Divine Will and the existential mutation of Nature refer to Taittiriya Upanishad 2, 1.)
12.1.61
त्वम् अस्य् आवपनी जनानाम् अदितिः कामदुघा पप्रथाना ।
यत् त ऊनं तत् त आ पूरयाति प्रजापतिः प्रथमजा ऋतस्य ॥
tvam asy āvapanī janānām aditiḥ kāmadughā paprathānā ।
yat ta ūnaṃ tat ta ā pūrayāti prajāpatiḥ prathamajā ṛtasya ॥
Earth Mother, you are Aditi, unbreakable and indivisible, giver of fulfilment, growing and expansive in living potential. You provide the field of production, growth and development for humanity. And whatever is wanted of you for such growth, Prajapati, first self-manifest Divinity and father creator and sustainer of life forms, in the course of creative evolution and the Law of Mutability, replenishes and fulfils.
12.1.62
उपस्थास् ते अनमीवा अयक्ष्मा अस्मभ्यं सन्तु पृथिवि प्रसूताः ।
दीर्घं न आयुः प्रतिबुध्यमाना वयं तुभ्यं बलिहृतः स्याम ॥
upasthās te anamīvā ayakṣmā asmabhyaṃ santu pṛthivi prasūtāḥ ।
dīrghaṃ na āyuḥ pratibudhyamānā vayaṃ tubhyaṃ balihṛtaḥ syāma ॥
Earth Mother, let the wombs and bosoms of fertility, creativity and motherly care, bom, reborn and developed, be free from negativity and cancerous diseases. Let our life be long, full and healthy, and let us all, your children, awakened and enlightened, be homage bearers with reverence and gratitude to you.
12.1.63
भूमे मातर् नि धेहि मा भद्रया सुप्रतिष्ठितम् ।
संविदाना दिवा कवे श्रियां मा धेहि भूत्याम् ॥
bhūme mātar ni dhehi mā bhadrayā supratiṣṭhitam ।
saṃvidānā divā kave śriyāṃ mā dhehi bhūtyām ॥
Earth Mother, creative, dynamic and one with me, sustain and support me with light and all that is good. Keep me established firmly in wealth, honour and excellence, blest in prosperity and grace.
Sūkta 2 — Agni and others Devatah, Bhrgu Rshi
Atharvaveda 12.2 · 55 mantras
12.2.1
नडम् आ रोह न ते अत्र लोक इदं सीसं भागधेयं त एहि ।
यो गोषु यक्ष्मः पुरुषेषु यक्ष्मस् तेन त्वं साकम् अधराङ् परेहि ॥
naḍam ā roha na te atra loka idaṃ sīsaṃ bhāgadheyaṃ ta ehi ।
yo goṣu yakṣmaḥ puruṣeṣu yakṣmas tena tvaṃ sākam adharāṅ parehi ॥
O fire, rise on the reeds. Your place is not here. This lead is your food. Come and rise. Whatever cancer or consumption there is among cows and other animals or humans, along with that go down from here, far off from us. (This mantra is addressed to the fire, the fuel being reeds. On reed fire, which is slow and mild, lead is melted and burnt with certain chemicals and ash, i.e., Bhasma, is prepared for medicinal purposes for the cure of cancer and consumption. The mantra is not a magic formula, but it suggests a miraculous cure with leadash for diseases which eat up the flesh and blood and bone of the patient.)
12.2.2
अघशंसदुःशंसाभ्यां करेणानुकरेण च ।
यक्ष्मं च सर्वं तेनेतो मृत्युं च निर् अजामसि ॥
aghaśaṃsaduḥśaṃsābhyāṃ kareṇānukareṇa ca ।
yakṣmaṃ ca sarvaṃ teneto mṛtyuṃ ca nir ajāmasi ॥
Whatever cancer or consumption is caused by sinful acts or despicable habits, by doing certain acts or imitating and following certain negative acts and habits, all that cancer and consumption, even fatal diseases and untimely death, we ward off with that lead-ash and cast out.
12.2.3
निर् इतो मृत्युं निरृतिं निर् अरातिम् अजामसि ।
यो नो द्वेष्टि तम् अद्ध्य् अग्ने अक्रव्याद् यम् उ द्विष्मस् तम् उ ते प्र सुवामसि ॥
nir ito mṛtyuṃ nirṛtiṃ nir arātim ajāmasi ।
yo no dveṣṭi tam addhy agne akravyād yam u dviṣmas tam u te pra suvāmasi ॥
We drive out from here death and disease, adversity and negativity. O Agni, saviour of the patient’s person, destroy that disease and germs which eat into our flesh and eliminate those negative forces which we hate to suffer. All these we send up to you for cure.
12.2.4
यद्य् अग्निः क्रव्याद् यदि वा व्याघ्र इमं गोष्ठं प्रविवेशान्योकाः ।
तं माषाज्यं कृत्वा प्र हिणोमि दूरं स गछत्व् अप्सुषदो ऽप्य् अग्नीन् ॥
yady agniḥ kravyād yadi vā vyāghra imaṃ goṣṭhaṃ praviveśānyokāḥ ।
taṃ māṣājyaṃ kṛtvā pra hiṇomi dūraṃ sa gachatv apsuṣado 'py agnīn ॥
If the flesh-eating fire, that is, cancerous disease that consumes the patient’s flesh enters the house or stall like carnivorous beasts on the prowl, I deal with it with Masha paste and ghrta,specially of goat or sheep, and send it far out where it might join other forms of fire such as electric energy in the waters.
12.2.5
यत् त्वा क्रुद्धाः प्रचक्रुर् मन्युना पुरुषे मृते ।
सुकल्पम् अग्ने तत् त्वया पुनस् त्वोद् दीपयामसि ॥
yat tvā kruddhāḥ pracakrur manyunā puruṣe mṛte ।
sukalpam agne tat tvayā punas tvod dīpayāmasi ॥
If on the patient’s death, people stricken with rage and sorrow put out the fire, that absence ought to be corrected and fire restored in the home. Therefore we light the fire again in the home.
12.2.6
पुनस् त्वादित्या रुद्रा वसवः पुनर् ब्रह्मा वसुनीतिर् अग्ने ।
पुनस् त्वा ब्रह्मणस् पतिर् आधाद् दीर्घायुत्वाय शतशारदाय ॥
punas tvādityā rudrā vasavaḥ punar brahmā vasunītir agne ।
punas tvā brahmaṇas patir ādhād dīrghāyutvāya śataśāradāya ॥
O Garhapatyagni, sacred home fire, let the enlightened people of Aditya, Rudra and Vasu order of discipline and scholarship, the Brahma of knowledge, wisdom and practical vision, and the sagely scholar of Vedic lore, rekindle and establish you in the family for inmates of the home for their long and healthy life of a hundred years.
12.2.7
यो अग्निः क्रव्यात् प्रविवेश नो गृहम् इमं पश्यन्न् इतरं जातवेदसम् ।
तं हरामि पितृयज्ञाय दूरं स घर्मम् इन्धां परमे सधस्थे ॥
yo agniḥ kravyāt praviveśa no gṛham imaṃ paśyann itaraṃ jātavedasam ।
taṃ harāmi pitṛyajñāya dūraṃ sa gharmam indhāṃ parame sadhasthe ॥
If life-consuming Agni of average activity were to enter this home, yours though,then watching this other, Jatavedas Agni of higher and divine purpose, I take that away for the service of parents, grand parents and other forefathers. Let it light and add to the heat and light of the highest region and carry our yajna there.
12.2.8
क्रव्यादम् अग्निं प्र हिणोमि दूरम् यमराज्ञो गछतु रिप्रवाहः ।
इहायम् इतरो जातवेदा देवो देवेभ्यो हव्यं वहतु प्रजानन् ॥
kravyādam agniṃ pra hiṇomi dūram yamarājño gachatu ripravāhaḥ ।
ihāyam itaro jātavedā devo devebhyo havyaṃ vahatu prajānan ॥
Kravyada Agni, which carries on the dynamics of flesh on the natural plane, I assign to far off forces other than the spirit. Let it be the carrier of the acts of evil to the house of Yama, death and sufferance. For me, this other fire, Jataveda, brilliant leader of enlightened life, knowing the rules and paths of the good life, may carry our offerings in yajna to the divinities and to the ultimate Lord Supreme. (To understand the difference between the service of Kravyadagni and that of Jataveda, refer to
12.2.9
क्रव्यादम् अग्निम् इषितो हरामि जनान् दृंहन्तं वज्रेण मृत्युम् ।
नि तं शास्मि गार्हपत्येन विद्वान् पितॄणां लोके ऽपि भागो अस्तु ॥
kravyādam agnim iṣito harāmi janān dṛṃhantaṃ vajreṇa mṛtyum ।
ni taṃ śāsmi gārhapatyena vidvān pitṝṇāṃ loke 'pi bhāgo astu ॥
Enlightened and inspired, with adamantine discipline of Dharmic living, I subdue the Kravyadagni which is death and fixes people as if with a stroke of lightning. Knowing well the mortality of corporeal existence in contrast with the spirit’s immortality, I control the onslaughts of natural and carnal passion by dedication to Garhapatyagni, sacred fire of higher yajna, even though I acknowledge the natural place of Kravyadagni of biological dynamics in the field of the continuity of the species.
12.2.10
क्रव्यादम् अग्निं शशमानम् उक्थ्यं प्र हिणोमि पथिभिः पितृयाणैः ।
मा देवयानैः पुनर् आ गा अत्रैवैधि पितृषु जागृहि त्वम् ॥
kravyādam agniṃ śaśamānam ukthyaṃ pra hiṇomi pathibhiḥ pitṛyāṇaiḥ ।
mā devayānaiḥ punar ā gā atraivaidhi pitṛṣu jāgṛhi tvam ॥
I acknowledge the existence and place of Kravyadagni, the fire of natural passion for biological continuity of life along the paths of procreation and successive generation as it is celebrated in history and literature as such. But I subdue it for higher spiritual ends by the paths of life divine and pray : Pray come not again, stay where you are in the biological line, and keep awake in parental couples for a life time.
12.2.11
सम् इन्धते संकसुकं स्वस्तये शुद्धा भवन्तः शुचयः पावकाः ।
जहाति रिप्रम् अत्य् एन एति समिद्धो अग्निः सुपुना पुनाति ॥
sam indhate saṃkasukaṃ svastaye śuddhā bhavantaḥ śucayaḥ pāvakāḥ ।
jahāti ripram aty ena eti samiddho agniḥ supunā punāti ॥
People light the fire, all cotrolling, catalytic, and separating the body from the soul, freeing the pure from the impure, for the sake of the good of life. They become cleansed, pure, and purifiers of the self. The spirit gives up the smear of the material body and passes beyond existential involvements. Thus does the lighted fire, pure and purifier, purify the spirit.
12.2.12
देवो अग्निः संकसुको दिवस् पृष्ठान्य् आरुहत् ।
मुच्यमानो निर् एणसो ऽमोग् अस्मां अशस्त्याः ॥
devo agniḥ saṃkasuko divas pṛṣṭhāny āruhat ।
mucyamāno nir eṇaso 'mog asmāṃ aśastyāḥ ॥
Divine fire, catalytic agent of nature and divinity, abides on top of the heavens of light. Thence radiated, immaculate and free, it releases us from all imprecation and sin.
12.2.13
अस्मिन् वयं संकसुके अग्नौ रिप्राणि मृज्महे ।
अभूम यज्ञियाः शुद्धाः प्र ण आयूंषि तारिषत् ॥
asmin vayaṃ saṃkasuke agnau riprāṇi mṛjmahe ।
abhūma yajñiyāḥ śuddhāḥ pra ṇa āyūṃṣi tāriṣat ॥
Into this Agni, all controlling catalytic, purifying fire, we pour and purify our material smears, become pure performers of yajna and associates of divinity throughout life. May the holy fire advance and elevate our life to fullness, free from sin and sickness.
12.2.14
संकसुको विकसुको निरृथो यश् च निस्वरः ।
ते ते यक्ष्मं सवेदसो दूराद् दूरम् अनीनशन् ॥
saṃkasuko vikasuko nirṛtho yaś ca nisvaraḥ ।
te te yakṣmaṃ savedaso dūrād dūram anīnaśan ॥
Destroyer of common ailments, destroyer of individual ailments, eliminator of sin and sickness wholly, and a silent agent of nature and divinity is the divine fire. O man, may all modes, mutations and manners of this fire, acting together to a united end, destroy even from the farthest your cancerous consumptions of body and mind for spiritual purification.
12.2.15
यो नो अश्वेषु वीरेषु यो नो गोष्व् अजाविषु ।
क्रव्यादं निर् णुदामसि यो अग्निर् जनयोपनः ॥
yo no aśveṣu vīreṣu yo no goṣv ajāviṣu ।
kravyādaṃ nir ṇudāmasi yo agnir janayopanaḥ ॥
Whatever cancerous ailment there may be in our horses and in brave youth and warriors, whatever in our cows, sheep and goats, we throw out that flesh eating consumptive fire energy of evil and negativity which vexes humanity.
12.2.16
अन्येभ्यस् त्वा पुरुषेभ्यो गोभ्यो अश्वेभ्यस् त्वा ।
निः क्रव्यादं नुदामसि यो अग्निर् जीवितयोपनः ॥
anyebhyas tvā puruṣebhyo gobhyo aśvebhyas tvā ।
niḥ kravyādaṃ nudāmasi yo agnir jīvitayopanaḥ ॥
O Kravyadagni, flesh eating cancerous consumptive fire of negativity and disease, who vex the life of all living forms on earth, we throw you out of all other people, cows and horses anywhere else in the world.
12.2.17
यस्मिन् देवा अमृजत यस्मिन् मनुष्या उत ।
तस्मिन् घृतस्तावो मृष्ट्वा त्वम् अग्ने दिवं रुह ॥
yasmin devā amṛjata yasmin manuṣyā uta ।
tasmin ghṛtastāvo mṛṣṭvā tvam agne divaṃ ruha ॥
Hey Agni, O man pure as fire, having merged in and purified yourself through yajnic discipline, you too rise to the light of heaven with oblations of ghrta into that sacred fire into which divinities merged and purified themselves, and into which humanity merged and purified itself in body, mind and soul.
12.2.18
समिद्धो अग्न आहुत स नो माभ्यपक्रमीः ।
अत्रैव दीदिहि द्यवि ज्योक् च सूर्यं दृशे ॥
samiddho agna āhuta sa no mābhyapakramīḥ ।
atraiva dīdihi dyavi jyok ca sūryaṃ dṛśe ॥
O sacred fire of Ahavaniyagni, kindled, raised and served with oblations of ghrta, pray do not negleet us, do not bypass us, nor assail us as Kravyadagni. Shine for us here itself in this very heaven on earth so that we may see the sun, light of heaven, right now for all time in our journey of life.
12.2.19
सीसे मृड्ढ्वं नडे मृड्ढ्वम् अग्नौ संकसुके च यत् ।
अथो अव्यां रामायां शीर्षक्तिम् उपबर्हणे ॥
sīse mṛḍḍhvaṃ naḍe mṛḍḍhvam agnau saṃkasuke ca yat ।
atho avyāṃ rāmāyāṃ śīrṣaktim upabarhaṇe ॥
Whatever headache of existential smear or eaneerous eonsumption is there, wash it off in lead-ash, wash it off in the reed fire, wash it off in the purifying fire, wash it off in the purity of nature and in the pure warmth of the sun.
12.2.20
सीसे मलं सादयित्वा शीर्षक्तिम् उपबर्हणे ।
अव्याम् असिक्न्यां मृष्ट्वा शुद्धा भवत यज्ञियाः ॥
sīse malaṃ sādayitvā śīrṣaktim upabarhaṇe ।
avyām asiknyāṃ mṛṣṭvā śuddhā bhavata yajñiyāḥ ॥
Having absorbed the dirt and impurity of the headache of cancerous consumption into the lead ash, into the pure warmth of the sun, into the milk of black sheep or goat, having thus eliminated the impurity, be pure and immaeulate performers of life’s yajna.
12.2.21
परं मृत्यो अनु परेहि पन्थां यस् त एष इतरो देवयानात् ।
चक्षुष्मते शृण्वते ते ब्रवीमीहेमे वीरा बहवो भवन्तु ॥
paraṃ mṛtyo anu parehi panthāṃ yas ta eṣa itaro devayānāt ।
cakṣuṣmate śṛṇvate te bravīmīheme vīrā bahavo bhavantu ॥
O Death, go far away at the farthest, by the path that is other than this path of divinity, I say to you who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Let there be a plenty of the brave here free from danger and death.
12.2.22
इमे जीवा वि मृतैर् आववृत्रन्न् अभूद् भद्रा देवहुतिर् नो अद्य ।
प्राञ्चो अगाम नृतये हसाय सुवीरासो विदथम् आ वदेम ॥
ime jīvā vi mṛtair āvavṛtrann abhūd bhadrā devahutir no adya ।
prāñco agāma nṛtaye hasāya suvīrāso vidatham ā vadema ॥
All these that are living have come from the shades of death in life. Our dedication, service and prayer to Divinity has been auspcious and fruitful today. Let us go forward to live a life of high order of virtue to sing and dance with joyous laughter and, blest with progeny worthy of the brave, define a social order of knowledge, justice and Dharma.
12.2.23
इमं जीवेभ्यः परिधिं दधामि मैषां नु गाद् अपरो अर्थम् एतम् ।
शतं जीवन्तः शरदः पुरूचीस् तिरो मृत्युं दधताम् पर्वतेन ॥
imaṃ jīvebhyaḥ paridhiṃ dadhāmi maiṣāṃ nu gād aparo artham etam ।
śataṃ jīvantaḥ śaradaḥ purūcīs tiro mṛtyuṃ dadhatām parvatena ॥
I set this border line of order and discipline for these living people. Let none of them trespass this border line into the other territory of death. Let them so live a long age of full hundred years, bearing though the fact of death within with adamantine walls of resistance by the discipline of health.
12.2.24
आ रोहतायुर् जरसं वृणाना अनुपूर्वं यतमाना यति स्थ ।
तान् वस् त्वष्टा सुजनिमा सजोषाः सर्वम् आयुर् नयतु जीवनाय ॥
ā rohatāyur jarasaṃ vṛṇānā anupūrvaṃ yatamānā yati stha ।
tān vas tvaṣṭā sujanimā sajoṣāḥ sarvam āyur nayatu jīvanāya ॥
Come, take on to life enthusiastically, and go forward rising to the heights of life at the full, striving in order one after another till you reach the destination, as many as you are. And may Tvashta, lord maker of life, loving and friendly, lead you to fulfilment as you choose to live your life at the full.
12.2.25
यथाहान्य् अनुपूर्वं भवन्ति यथ र्तव ऋतुभिर् यन्ति साकम् ।
यथा न पूर्वम् अपरो जहात्य् एवा धातर् आयूंषि कल्पयैषाम् ॥
yathāhāny anupūrvaṃ bhavanti yatha rtava ṛtubhir yanti sākam ।
yathā na pūrvam aparo jahāty evā dhātar āyūṃṣi kalpayaiṣām ॥
As day-nights follow one after the other, as seasons move on in cycle one in link with the other, so may the successor among you follow and not forsake the predecessor, and thus may the Lord Ordainer and sustainer of life order and guide the life of all these people on earth.
12.2.26
अश्मन्वती रीयते सं रभध्वं वीरयध्वं प्र तरता सखायः ।
अत्रा जहीत ये असन् दुरेवा अनमीवान् उत् तरेमाभि वाजान् ॥
aśmanvatī rīyate saṃ rabhadhvaṃ vīrayadhvaṃ pra taratā sakhāyaḥ ।
atrā jahīta ye asan durevā anamīvān ut taremābhi vājān ॥
The rocky stream of life flows on in flood. Hold on fast together, friends, rise and swim to the shore. Let us jettison all that is inauspicious here. Let us swim and cross over to attain the trophies of victory. Drop the miseries, attain to the state of joy.
12.2.27
उत् तिष्ठता प्र तरता सखायो ऽश्मन्वती नदी स्यन्दत इयम् ।
अत्रा जहीत ये असन्न् अशिवाः शिवान्त् स्योनान् उत् तरेमाभि वाजान् ॥
ut tiṣṭhatā pra taratā sakhāyo 'śmanvatī nadī syandata iyam ।
atrā jahīta ye asann aśivāḥ śivānt syonān ut taremābhi vājān ॥
Arise friends, heave the boat together and cross to the shore. This rocky stream now rises in storm. Here itself throw off all those things which are no good, and let us cross over to win the good, the beautiful, and the grand prizes of victory in truth.
12.2.28
वैश्वदेवीं वर्चसा आ रभध्वं शुद्धा भवन्तः शुचयः पावकाः ।
अतिक्रामन्तो दुरिता पदानि शतं हिमाः सर्ववीरा मदेम ॥
vaiśvadevīṃ varcasā ā rabhadhvaṃ śuddhā bhavantaḥ śucayaḥ pāvakāḥ ।
atikrāmanto duritā padāni śataṃ himāḥ sarvavīrā madema ॥
Join and start serving the winsome divinity of universal good, that way being purified, sanctified immaculate saviours of the self for the real beauty and splendour of life. Crossing over all evil and temptations, let us together, all unassailable brave, enjoy life for a full hundred years of happiness.
12.2.29
उदीचीनैः पथिभिर् वायुमद्भिर् अतिक्रामन्तो ऽवरान् परेभिः ।
त्रिः सप्त कृत्व ऋषयः परेता मृत्युं प्रत्य् औहन् पदयोपनेन ॥
udīcīnaiḥ pathibhir vāyumadbhir atikrāmanto 'varān parebhiḥ ।
triḥ sapta kṛtva ṛṣayaḥ paretā mṛtyuṃ praty auhan padayopanena ॥
By the best and highest vibrant ways of yoga practice, having rejected the lower ways of living, thinking and doing, the Rshis of high order conquer the pain of death by thrice seven ways of piety and noble actions at every step of life.
12.2.30
मृत्योः पदं योपयन्त एत द्राघीय आयुः प्रतरं दधानाः ।
आसीना मृत्युं नुदता सधस्थे ऽथ जीवासो विदथम् आ वदेम ॥
mṛtyoḥ padaṃ yopayanta eta drāghīya āyuḥ prataraṃ dadhānāḥ ।
āsīnā mṛtyuṃ nudatā sadhasthe 'tha jīvāso vidatham ā vadema ॥
Effacing the pain of death, bearing a full long age unto completion and fulfilment, come hither and, sitting on the seat of yoga in the house of holiness, calm and undisturbed, warding off the onslaught of death, let us all, living happily, celebrate the life and beauties of the social order.
12.2.31
इमा नारीर् अविधवाः सुपत्नीर् आञ्जनेन सर्पिषा सं स्पृशन्ताम् ।
अनश्रवो अनमीवाः सुरत्ना आ रोहन्तु जनयो योनिम् अग्रे ॥
imā nārīr avidhavāḥ supatnīr āñjanena sarpiṣā saṃ spṛśantām ।
anaśravo anamīvāḥ suratnā ā rohantu janayo yonim agre ॥
And these women, noble wives happily married to their husbands, should anoint themselves with cream and collyrium, and let them, free from tears and sorrow, free from ill-health, wearing jewels and ornaments, go forward in life as proud mothers in their home.
12.2.32
व्याकरोमि हविषाहम् एतौ तौ ब्रह्मणा व्य् अहं कल्पयामि ।
स्वधां पितृभ्यो अजरां कृणोमि दीर्घेणायुषा सम् इमान्त् सृजामि ॥
vyākaromi haviṣāham etau tau brahmaṇā vy ahaṃ kalpayāmi ।
svadhāṃ pitṛbhyo ajarāṃ kṛṇomi dīrgheṇāyuṣā sam imānt sṛjāmi ॥
I serve them both, men and women, with the sacred food they need, and I strengthen both with the Vedic knowledge they deserve. And I provide the Pitaras, parental seniors, with the food and energy which maintains their own vitality and resistance to early aging and disease, and I provide others with food and maintenance for good health and longevity of life. (This mantra can be interpreted as a divine word, or a social promise of the ruling power, or a promise of the house-holder.)
12.2.33
यो नो अग्निः पितरो हृत्स्व् अन्तर् आविवेशामृतो मर्त्येषु ।
मय्य् अहं तं परि गृह्णामि देवं मा सो अस्मान् द्विक्षत मा वयं तम् ॥
yo no agniḥ pitaro hṛtsv antar āviveśāmṛto martyeṣu ।
mayy ahaṃ taṃ pari gṛhṇāmi devaṃ mā so asmān dvikṣata mā vayaṃ tam ॥
O Pitaras, seniors of humanity and parents of every human individual, that love, fire and passion for humanity and divinity-the immortal vested in mortals -which is rooted in our hearts since eternity, that same human attribute I preciously hold at heart and pray it may never forsake us, and we too may never forsake it, nor ever deny any one.
12.2.34
अपावृत्य गार्हपत्यात् क्रव्यादा प्रेत दक्षिणा ।
प्रियं पितृभ्य आत्मने ब्रह्मभ्यः कृणुता प्रियम् ॥
apāvṛtya gārhapatyāt kravyādā preta dakṣiṇā ।
priyaṃ pitṛbhya ātmane brahmabhyaḥ kṛṇutā priyam ॥
Having taken some fire from the household fire and turned, go south with this flesh-eating fire to the cremation ground and do what is good for the departed pitaras and what is good and dear to the self and the learned people. (This mantra describes the function of Kravyada, flesh eating, fire in case of death or sickness. If there is a death in the family, the funeral fire is Kravyada. If a person is suffering from cancer, the cancer is Kravyada. And, also, the drug that fights and destroys the cancer is Kravyada. Whether it is funeral fire, or cancer or the drug, all these three are nature’s energy, and energy is fire and fire is energy. The function defines its character.)
12.2.35
द्विभागधनम् आदाय प्र क्षिणात्य् अवर्त्या ।
अग्निः पुत्रस्य ज्येष्ठस्य यः क्रव्याद् अनिराहितः ॥
dvibhāgadhanam ādāya pra kṣiṇāty avartyā ।
agniḥ putrasya jyeṣṭhasya yaḥ kravyād anirāhitaḥ ॥
Kravyadagni, unless it is propitiated, exhausted and extinguished by elimination of the cause, continues to consume and deplete the wealth of the eldest son upto the double of his share of wealth, savings and earnings both, and thus reduces him to utter poverty.
12.2.36
यत् कृषते यद् वनुते यच् च वस्नेन विन्दते ।
सर्वं मर्त्यस्य तन् नास्ति क्रव्याच् चेद् अनिराहितः ॥
yat kṛṣate yad vanute yac ca vasnena vindate ।
sarvaṃ martyasya tan nāsti kravyāc ced anirāhitaḥ ॥
All that mortal man produces by farming, whatever he receives by salary, and whatever he earns by trade, is not his really, unless he eliminates the Kravyadagni and its cause from the house.
12.2.37
अयज्ञियो हतवर्चा भवति नैनेन हविर् अत्तवे ।
छिनत्ति कृष्या गोर् धनाद् यं क्रव्याद् अनुवर्तते ॥
ayajñiyo hatavarcā bhavati nainena havir attave ।
chinatti kṛṣyā gor dhanād yaṃ kravyād anuvartate ॥
Whoever the mortal man whom cancerous Kravyadagni pursues, he is unable to perform any yajna, he loses the lustre of life, even food is not for him to eat. In fact, he is deprived of all, his farm, his cows, his entire wealth in the end, unless he dispels the carnivorous cause from his life and home.
12.2.38
मुहुर् गृध्यैः प्र वदत्य् आर्तिम् मर्त्यो नीत्य ।
क्रव्याद् यान् अग्निर् अन्तिकाद् अनुविद्वान् वितावति ॥
muhur gṛdhyaiḥ pra vadaty ārtim martyo nītya ।
kravyād yān agnir antikād anuvidvān vitāvati ॥
knowing them and afflicting them at the closest, the victim, having been reduced to ruin, has to go to cutthroat money-sharks and plead for a loan again and again in order to survive.
12.2.39
ग्राह्या गृहाः सं सृज्यन्ते स्त्रिया यन् म्रियते पतिः ।
ब्रह्मैव विद्वान् एष्यो यः क्रव्यादं निरादधत् ॥
grāhyā gṛhāḥ saṃ sṛjyante striyā yan mriyate patiḥ ।
brahmaiva vidvān eṣyo yaḥ kravyādaṃ nirādadhat ॥
The homes and all the inmates are seized with sorrow when the husband of a woman dies. At that time a learned scholar of the Veda should be sought and found who may dispel the ravages of sorrow and despair caused by Kravyadagi.
12.2.40
यद् रिप्रं शमलं चकृम यच् च दुष्कृतम् ।
आपो मा तस्माच् छुम्भन्त्व् अग्नेः संकसुकाच् च यत् ॥
yad ripraṃ śamalaṃ cakṛma yac ca duṣkṛtam ।
āpo mā tasmāc chumbhantv agneḥ saṃkasukāc ca yat ॥
Whatever the sin, evil or trespass that we have committed, which has smeared our peace and purity, may the soothing streams of waters and the tranquillity of divine meditation cleanse us of that and save us from the mind-splitting flames of Kravyadagni.
12.2.41
ता अधराद् उदीचीर् आववृत्रन् प्रजानैतीः पथिभिर् देवयानैः ।
पर्वतस्य वृषभस्याधि पृष्ठे नवाश् चरन्ति सरितः पुराणीः ॥
tā adharād udīcīr āvavṛtran prajānaitīḥ pathibhir devayānaiḥ ।
parvatasya vṛṣabhasyādhi pṛṣṭhe navāś caranti saritaḥ purāṇīḥ ॥
Those streams of the waters of life flow from the earth below and rise on high to heaven, and they flow back from heaven on high to life on earth below, and knowing thus all the paths of existence they circulate in the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. From top of the generous cloud on high they shower on top of the mountain and, formed anew into streams and rivers, they flow on, streams of life, old but ancient and eternal, ever new. (Thus are the ravages of Kravyadagni washed out into life anew.)
12.2.42
अग्ने अक्रव्यान् निः क्रव्यादं नुदा देवयजनं वह ॥
agne akravyān niḥ kravyādaṃ nudā devayajanaṃ vaha ॥
O Akravyadagni, fire of renewal (which by healing counters the fire that eats into the vitals of life), dispel the Kravyadagni and bring in the Deva-yajani fire which would continue the yajna of life and living anew. (This mantra also suggests the efficacy of medication and healing by fumes and aroma.)
12.2.43
इमं क्रव्याद् आ विवेशायं क्रव्यादम् अन्व् अगात् ।
व्याघ्रौ कृत्वा नानानं तं हरामि शिवापरम् ॥
imaṃ kravyād ā viveśāyaṃ kravyādam anv agāt ।
vyāghrau kṛtvā nānānaṃ taṃ harāmi śivāparam ॥
The infection of Kravyadagni has entered and affected this patient. This patient, in consequence, has suffered the cancerous ravages of the disease. Diagnosing these two separately, the infection with the cause and the consequent suffering process, and taking them both as dangerously, damaging, I dispel both, the disease as well as the root cause.
12.2.44
अन्तर्धिर् देवानां परिधिर् मनुष्याणाम् अग्निर् गार्हपत्य उभयान् अन्तरा श्रितः ॥
antardhir devānāṃ paridhir manuṣyāṇām agnir gārhapatya ubhayān antarā śritaḥ ॥
Garhapatyagni, yajnic fire of the home, cosmic home maintained by nature and the individual home maintained by humans, is vested within, in the creative and recuperative powers of nature, and in the heart-core of men of divine disposition. And this Agni, also, is the border line of conduct for humans (because while it works in nature as divinely programmed within the border lines determined, it works in humans by choice which is open to observance as well as to violation).
12.2.45
जीवानाम् आयुः प्र तिर त्वम् अग्ने पितॄणां लोकम् अपि गछन्तु ये मृताः ।
सुगार्हपत्यो वितपन्न् अरातिम् उषामुषां श्रेयसीं धेह्य् अस्मै ॥
jīvānām āyuḥ pra tira tvam agne pitṝṇāṃ lokam api gachantu ye mṛtāḥ ।
sugārhapatyo vitapann arātim uṣāmuṣāṃ śreyasīṃ dhehy asmai ॥
O Garhapatyagni of home yajna, augment and elevate the life, health and age of the souls alive, and help the dead also to rise and reach the region of Pitaras’ noble life in future on earth. O noble fire, heating, straining and exhausting all want, adversity and disease from life, bless us with happiness, prosperity and excellence more and ever more day by day.
12.2.46
सर्वान् अग्ने सहमानः सपत्नान् ऐषाम् ऊर्जं रयिम् अस्मासु धेहि ॥
sarvān agne sahamānaḥ sapatnān aiṣām ūrjaṃ rayim asmāsu dhehi ॥
Holy fire, challenging and subduing all the adversarial forces of life on earth, pray recover and return to us the wealth and energy of life being wasted on those negativities of human existence and pollution.
12.2.47
इमम् इन्द्रं वह्निं पप्रिम् अन्वारभध्वं स वो निर् वक्षद् दुरिताद् अवद्यात् ।
तेनाप हत शरुम् आपतन्तं तेन रुद्रस्य परि पातास्ताम् ॥
imam indraṃ vahniṃ paprim anvārabhadhvaṃ sa vo nir vakṣad duritād avadyāt ।
tenāpa hata śarum āpatantaṃ tena rudrasya pari pātāstām ॥
Take on to the love, protection and support of this Indra, divine power and potential. It takes you across all cancerous onslaughts of negativity, adversity and misfortune, makes up your loss and deficiency, and gives you total fulfilment. It saves and releases you from despicable evils and suffering. With that power, ward off the deadly darts of impending calamities and protect yourself from the punitive shots of Rudra, nature’s punishments for the violations of its law and discipline. (These are gifts of divine Garhapatyagni.)
12.2.48
अनड्वाहं प्लवम् अन्वारभध्वं स वो निर् वक्षद् दुरिताद् अवद्यात् ।
आ रोहत सवितुर् नावम् एतां षड्भिर् उर्वीभिर् अमतिं तरेम ॥
anaḍvāhaṃ plavam anvārabhadhvaṃ sa vo nir vakṣad duritād avadyāt ।
ā rohata savitur nāvam etāṃ ṣaḍbhir urvībhir amatiṃ tarema ॥
Take on to the love, protection and support of the universal burden bearer, the ark of divinity. It will take you across the storms of life’s despicable evils. Come, embark this boat of Savita, Lord Creator, inspirer and saviour with the light of life. Let us swim over the flood of darkness and self-ignorance and attain to the splendour of life by sixfold lights of the six quarters of space and the divine message of the six-dimensional universe of heaven and earth, day and night, water and vegetation of our cosmic and earthly environment.
12.2.49
अहोरात्रे अन्व् एषि बिभ्रत् क्षेम्यस् तिष्ठन् प्रतरणः सुवीरः ।
अनातुरान्त् सुमनसस् तल्प बिभ्रज् ज्योग् एव नः पुरुषगन्धिर् एधि ॥
ahorātre anv eṣi bibhrat kṣemyas tiṣṭhan prataraṇaḥ suvīraḥ ।
anāturānt sumanasas talpa bibhraj jyog eva naḥ puruṣagandhir edhi ॥
Day and night you move on, bearing the burden of the universe, yet still and constant, giver of peace and saviour over the floods and storms of existence, holiest potent sustenance and support of the brave, mainstay of the healthy and happy minds, you are the giver of the fragrance of life for humanity. Come, O Lord, and always bless us with health, happiness and the fragrance of life.
12.2.50
ते देवेभ्य आ वृश्चन्ते पापं जीवन्ति सर्वदा ।
क्रव्याद् यान् अग्निर् अन्तिकाद् अश्व इवानुवपते नडम् ॥
te devebhya ā vṛścante pāpaṃ jīvanti sarvadā ।
kravyād yān agnir antikād aśva ivānuvapate naḍam ॥
They sever themselves from the divinities and live a continuous life of sin and deprivation whom cancerous Kravyadagni uproots at the closest, just as a wild horse tramples and wastes a slope of reeds by the lake.
12.2.51
ये ऽश्रद्धा धनकाम्या क्रव्यादा समासते ।
ते वा अन्येषां कुम्भीं पर्यादधति सर्वदा ॥
ye 'śraddhā dhanakāmyā kravyādā samāsate ।
te vā anyeṣāṃ kumbhīṃ paryādadhati sarvadā ॥
Those who are void of faith and truth and dedicated to lust for wealth of money align themselves with carnivorous fire, they always put the pan on the fire but the pan as well as the meat belongs of others, invariably.
12.2.52
प्रेव पिपतिषति मनसा मुहुर् आ वर्तते पुनः ।
क्रव्याद् यान् अग्निर् अन्तिकाद् अनुविद्वान् वितावति ॥
preva pipatiṣati manasā muhur ā vartate punaḥ ।
kravyād yān agnir antikād anuvidvān vitāvati ॥
Mentally they wish to soar high but again and again they fall back to earth whom carnivorous Agni pursues relentlessly, knowing them at the closest by nature, character and ambition.
12.2.53
अविः कृष्णा भागधेयं पशूनां सीसं क्रव्याद् अपि चन्द्रं त आहुः ।
माषाः पिष्टा भागधेयं ते हव्यम् अरण्यान्या गह्वरं सचस्व ॥
aviḥ kṛṣṇā bhāgadheyaṃ paśūnāṃ sīsaṃ kravyād api candraṃ ta āhuḥ ।
māṣāḥ piṣṭā bhāgadheyaṃ te havyam araṇyānyā gahvaraṃ sacasva ॥
O cancerous carnivorous fire, the milk of black sheep, of all the animals, is your favourite food. Also, they say, the ash of lead or silver and gold too is your share. Crushed masha lentils also is your food, in fact you better go and roam around in the thick of forest woods.
12.2.54
इषीकां जरतीम् इष्ट्वा तिल्पिञ्जं दण्डनं नडम् ।
तम् इन्द्र इध्मम् कृत्वा यमस्याग्निं निरादधौ ॥
iṣīkāṃ jaratīm iṣṭvā tilpiñjaṃ daṇḍanaṃ naḍam ।
tam indra idhmam kṛtvā yamasyāgniṃ nirādadhau ॥
Having made withered munja grass and the stock of reed as fuel of fire and having offered white sesamum for oblation, Indra, the physician, dispelled the flesh-eating fire of death from the body and the home.
12.2.55
प्रत्यञ्चम् अर्कं प्रत्यर्पयित्वा प्रविद्वान् पन्थां वि ह्य् आविवेश ।
परामीषाम् असून् दिदेश दीर्घेणायुषा सम् इमान्त् सृजामि ॥
pratyañcam arkaṃ pratyarpayitvā pravidvān panthāṃ vi hy āviveśa ।
parāmīṣām asūn dideśa dīrgheṇāyuṣā sam imānt sṛjāmi ॥
Having bowed to the refulgent sun yonder in front, having surrendered to the omnipresent self-refulgent Divinity, I have directed away the energies of all those negative powers which eat into the flesh, and I have joined these senses, mind and pranic energies of mine with nature’s positive powers of health, happiness and a long full age.
Sūkta 3 — Svarga, Odana, Agni Devata, Yama Rshi (mantras 1–55)
Atharvaveda 12.3 · mantras 1–55 of 60 · part 1 of 2
12.3.1
पुमान् पुंसो ऽधि तिष्ठ चर्मेहि तत्र ह्वयस्व यतमा प्रिया ते ।
यावन्ताव् अग्रे प्रथमं समेयथुस् तद् वां वयो यमराज्ये समानम् ॥
pumān puṃso 'dhi tiṣṭha carmehi tatra hvayasva yatamā priyā te ।
yāvantāv agre prathamaṃ sameyathus tad vāṃ vayo yamarājye samānam ॥
Brave man, intelligent soul, mature and self-confident, come, take this seat of distinction here, invite whoever be your dearest choice of love, and as much as you first met, thought, associated and agreed together earlier, may that life pattern, love and harmony be equal and equally acceptable in the ethos, culture and values of the social order. (This mantra is relevant to love, marriage, home, family and also to the entire social order and its tradition. A life of love, harmony and social order is a very paradise on earth, and that paradisal bliss also is the food of life on top.)
12.3.2
तावद् वां चक्षुस् तति वीर्याणि तावत् तेजस् ततिधा वाजिनानि ।
अग्निः शरीरं सचते यदैधो ऽधा पक्वान् मिथुना सं भवाथः ॥
tāvad vāṃ cakṣus tati vīryāṇi tāvat tejas tatidhā vājināni ।
agniḥ śarīraṃ sacate yadaidho 'dhā pakvān mithunā saṃ bhavāthaḥ ॥
Thus as far well as you first met, thought, associated and agreed together without reservation, that far perfectly let your vision, that much your noble powers, that high your splendour, and to that very extent let your advancement and achievements be common together. And just as fire takes on the fuel and sets it ablaze, so let your love and passion for life inspire your conjugal body, matured, seasoned and united, and raise it to brilliance so that you become an ideal couple.
12.3.3
सम् अस्मिंल् लोके सम् उ देवयाने सं स्मा समेतं यमराज्येषु ।
पूतौ पवित्रैर् उप तद् ध्वयेथां यद्यद् रेतो अधि वां संबभूव ॥
sam asmiṃl loke sam u devayāne saṃ smā sametaṃ yamarājyeṣu ।
pūtau pavitrair upa tad dhvayethāṃ yadyad reto adhi vāṃ saṃbabhūva ॥
United together in this home life of conjugality, on the path of divinities and in all affairs of the social order from home life upto the united world of humanity, go on together in unison. And purified, sanctified and consecrated by the holy rites of matrimony, bring up to full life what is bom of your joint vigour and vitality and call it up to its natural performance and perfection.
12.3.4
आपस् पुत्रासो अभि सं विशध्वम् इमं जीवं जीवधन्याः समेत्य ।
तासां भजध्वम् अमृतं यम् आहुर् ओदनं पचति वां जनित्री ॥
āpas putrāso abhi saṃ viśadhvam imaṃ jīvaṃ jīvadhanyāḥ sametya ।
tāsāṃ bhajadhvam amṛtaṃ yam āhur odanaṃ pacati vāṃ janitrī ॥
O children of nature and divinity, vigilant guards of the human community, nobly bom and blest with vigour and vitality, come together, take this life fully in hand and enter the fluid field of action in the dynamics of existence. Plunge into it and take for yourself your shares what they call the nectar of action and its fruit, the immortal food of life which Mother Nature prepares for you to the last detail of perfection.
12.3.5
यं वां पिता पचति यं च माता रिप्रान् निर्मुक्त्यै शमलाच् च वाचः ।
स ओदनः शतधारः स्वर्ग उभे व्य् आप नभसी महित्वा ॥
yaṃ vāṃ pitā pacati yaṃ ca mātā riprān nirmuktyai śamalāc ca vācaḥ ।
sa odanaḥ śatadhāraḥ svarga ubhe vy āpa nabhasī mahitvā ॥
Whatever food for life your father prepares and matures for you, whatever your mother prepares for you, whatever Mother Nature prepares, and whatever the Father Supreme perfects and releases from the Voice of Veda in order to release you from the stains and smears of earthly involvements and the colours and covers of existential fluctuations, that food of divinity and divine revelation in a thousand showers leads you both to the ecstasy of super joy and pervades both heaven and earth with its own splendour and majesty.
12.3.6
उभे नभसी उभयांश् च लोकान् ये यज्वनाम् अभिजिताः स्वर्गाः ।
तेषां ज्योतिष्मान् मधुमान् यो अग्रे तस्मिन् पुत्रैर् जरसि सं श्रयेथाम् ॥
ubhe nabhasī ubhayāṃś ca lokān ye yajvanām abhijitāḥ svargāḥ ।
teṣāṃ jyotiṣmān madhumān yo agre tasmin putrair jarasi saṃ śrayethām ॥
Both heaven and earth, both those worlds of here and hereafter, all those states of joy which the performers of yajna have won by their noble actions, of all these, whatever is most enlightened and delicious as honey. there on top in Grhastha live at peace together with children till the completion and fulfilment of your life.
12.3.7
प्राचींप्राचीं प्रदिशम् आ रभेथाम् एतं लोकं श्रद्दधानाः सचन्ते ।
यद् वां पक्वं परिविष्टम् अग्नौ तस्य गुप्तये दंपती सं श्रयेथाम् ॥
prācīṃprācīṃ pradiśam ā rabhethām etaṃ lokaṃ śraddadhānāḥ sacante ।
yad vāṃ pakvaṃ pariviṣṭam agnau tasya guptaye daṃpatī saṃ śrayethām ॥
O wedded couple, start off together, move foreward eastwards, the direction of a fresh sunrise, step by step. People of truth and faith live and honour this world of Grhastha. It is with your maturity of body, mind, culture and mission that you have entered this material life of yajna fire. Live in Grhastha and honour that mission for its protection and fulfilment till the completion.
12.3.8
दक्षिणां दिशम् अभि नक्षमाणौ पर्यावर्तेथाम् अभि पात्रम् एतत् ।
तस्मिन् वां यमः पितृभिः संविदानः पक्वाय शर्म बहुलं नि यछात् ॥
dakṣiṇāṃ diśam abhi nakṣamāṇau paryāvartethām abhi pātram etat ।
tasmin vāṃ yamaḥ pitṛbhiḥ saṃvidānaḥ pakvāya śarma bahulaṃ ni yachāt ॥
Moving on in life together to the right, turn round the holy ideal of Grhastha in the service of promotive nature and redeeming Divinity, and therein may Yama, lord of law and recompense bless you with abundant peace and fulfilment in a happy home.
12.3.9
प्रतीची दिशाम् इयम् इद् वरं यस्यां सोमो अधिपा मृडिता च ।
तस्यां श्रयेथां सुकृतः सचेथाम् अधा पक्वान् मिथुना सं भवाथः ॥
pratīcī diśām iyam id varaṃ yasyāṃ somo adhipā mṛḍitā ca ।
tasyāṃ śrayethāṃ sukṛtaḥ sacethām adhā pakvān mithunā saṃ bhavāthaḥ ॥
Moving on to this noble direction of the west, declining in years but rising in ripeness and wisdom, when the moon and peace. Soma, is the dominant ruler, protector and giver of tranquillity, stay together in loving company, seasoned in love and loyalty and enjoy a life of serenity and meditation.
12.3.10
उत्तरं राष्ट्रं प्रजयोत्तरावद् दिशाम् उदीची कृणवन् नो अग्रम् ।
पाङ्क्तं छन्दः पुरुषो बभूव विश्वैर् विश्वाङ्गैः सह सं भवेम ॥
uttaraṃ rāṣṭraṃ prajayottarāvad diśām udīcī kṛṇavan no agram ।
pāṅktaṃ chandaḥ puruṣo babhūva viśvair viśvāṅgaiḥ saha saṃ bhavema ॥
The rising nation rises higher by our progeny rising as the future promise. May the north above, the highest direction, raise us to the front forward in every direction of progress. At this stage man becomes happily free and self-fulfilled in his senses and mind with complete satisfaction. May we all feel complete and fulfilled in all aspects of worldly life.
12.3.11
ध्रुवेयं विराण् नमो अस्त्व् अस्यै शिवा पुत्रेभ्य उत मह्यम् अस्तु ।
सा नो देव्य् अदिते विश्ववार इर्य इव गोपा अभि रक्ष पक्वम् ॥
dhruveyaṃ virāṇ namo astv asyai śivā putrebhya uta mahyam astu ।
sā no devy adite viśvavāra irya iva gopā abhi rakṣa pakvam ॥
Steady is this Earth mother. Salutations to her. May she be kind and gracious for our children and for ourselves. This divine indivisible earth is universally abundant and generous for all. May you, divine mother, protect and maintain our maturity as the human nation just as Lord Supreme protects the universe.
12.3.12
पितेव पुत्रान् अभि सं स्वजस्व नः शिवा नो वाता इह वान्तु भूमौ ।
यम् ओदनं पचतो देवते इह तं नस् तप उत सत्यं च वेत्तु ॥
piteva putrān abhi saṃ svajasva naḥ śivā no vātā iha vāntu bhūmau ।
yam odanaṃ pacato devate iha taṃ nas tapa uta satyaṃ ca vettu ॥
Lord Supreme, just as a father loves and meets his children, so pray love and be with us, your children. Let the winds blow auspicious for us here on earth. And may the service which noble divine couples mature and offer to you, and the food they cook for yajnic offering be inspired by truth and divine austerity, and may that service and food also define our truth and sincere austerity of discipline in piety here.
12.3.13
यद्यद् कृष्णः शकुन एह गत्वा त्सरन् विषक्तं बिल आससाद ।
यद् वा दास्य् आर्द्रहस्ता समङ्क्त उलूखलं मुसलं शुम्भतापः ॥
yadyad kṛṣṇaḥ śakuna eha gatvā tsaran viṣaktaṃ bila āsasāda ।
yad vā dāsy ārdrahastā samaṅkta ulūkhalaṃ musalaṃ śumbhatāpaḥ ॥
Stealthily alight on a dish or pan in the home, or when a maid with soiled hands smear the mortar and pestle, let the waters wash off the dirt and smear away and cleanse the dish and mortar and pestle.
12.3.14
अयं ग्रावा पृथुबुध्नो वयोधाः पूतः पवित्रैर् अप हन्तु रक्षः ।
आ रोह चर्म महि शर्म यछ मा दंपती पौत्रम् अघं नि गाताम् ॥
ayaṃ grāvā pṛthubudhno vayodhāḥ pūtaḥ pavitrair apa hantu rakṣaḥ ।
ā roha carma mahi śarma yacha mā daṃpatī pautram aghaṃ ni gātām ॥
This grinding stone, this vital air and pranic energy, this learned man of life sciences, broad based, pure, purified with holy materials may destroy the life-damaging elements. O learned man, pray have a seat, bring us great peace, purity and freedom. Let no couple suffer the want and deprivation of children and let no one have to face the pain of their suffering.
12.3.15
वनस्पतिः सह देवैर् न आगन् रक्षः पिशाचां अपबाधमानः ।
स उच् छ्रयातै प्र वदाति वाचं तेन लोकां अभि सर्वान् जयेम ॥
vanaspatiḥ saha devair na āgan rakṣaḥ piśācāṃ apabādhamānaḥ ।
sa uc chrayātai pra vadāti vācaṃ tena lokāṃ abhi sarvān jayema ॥
This forest gift and this scholar of nature’s forest gifts has come to us with the divine energies of nature, protecting us against blood sucking and life threatening negativities of the environment. Rising high, he speaks to us words of health care and freedom from disease with which, we pray, we may win gifts of the earth, environment and all other regions of space.
12.3.16
सप्त मेधान् पशवः पर्य् अगृह्णन् य एषां ज्योतिष्मां उत यश् चकर्श ।
त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवतास् तान्त् सचन्ते स नः स्वर्गम् अभि नेष लोकम् ॥
sapta medhān paśavaḥ pary agṛhṇan ya eṣāṃ jyotiṣmāṃ uta yaś cakarśa ।
trayastriṃśad devatās tānt sacante sa naḥ svargam abhi neṣa lokam ॥
All living beings especially humans have received seven organs of perception, volition and discrimination, (these are eyes, ears, nose tongue and the skin, with mind (mana) and intelligence (Buddhi). All thirty-three divinities (eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, Indra and Prajapati) are associated with these and co-operate with these. That person who is the most enlightened and most boldly creative may, we wish and pray, lead us to the state of paradise on earth.
12.3.17
स्वर्गं लोकम् अभि नो नयासि सं जायया सह पुत्रैः स्याम ।
गृह्णामि हस्तम् अनु मैत्व् अत्र मा नस् तारीन् निरृतिर् मो अरातिः ॥
svargaṃ lokam abhi no nayāsi saṃ jāyayā saha putraiḥ syāma ।
gṛhṇāmi hastam anu maitv atra mā nas tārīn nirṛtir mo arātiḥ ॥
O Lord giver of life and knowledge, you lead us to the state of paradisal bliss on earth. Bless us that we may live and enjoy life with wife and children. May the wife whose hand I hold always go with me here in Grhastha. Let no want, adversity and distress ever assail us.
12.3.18
ग्राहिं पाप्मानम् अति तां अयाम तमो व्य् अस्य प्र वदासि वल्गु ।
वानस्पत्य उद्यतो मा जिहिंसीर् मा तण्डुलं वि शरीर् देवयन्तम् ॥
grāhiṃ pāpmānam ati tāṃ ayāma tamo vy asya pra vadāsi valgu ।
vānaspatya udyato mā jihiṃsīr mā taṇḍulaṃ vi śarīr devayantam ॥
Dear partner, let us reject that freezing state of sloth and sin which seizes our will and action. Cast away gloom and depression, talk with love and enthusiasm. But the wooden pestle that is raised must not be violent, it must not break nor crush the rice which is for offering to the divinities.
12.3.19
विश्वव्यचा घृतपृष्ठो भविष्यन्त् सयोनिर् लोकम् उप याह्य् एतम् ।
वर्षवृद्धम् उप यछ शूर्पं तुषं पलावान् अप तद् विनक्तु ॥
viśvavyacā ghṛtapṛṣṭho bhaviṣyant sayonir lokam upa yāhy etam ।
varṣavṛddham upa yacha śūrpaṃ tuṣaṃ palāvān apa tad vinaktu ॥
O man, universally broad-minded, brilliant as fire and refined as ghrta, being one with mankind, come, join and integrate with this world community. Take to discriminative intelligence, like a winnowing basket of a year’s full growth of reed which separates the grain from chaff, and separate the truth from falsehood and thus accept and advance truth and reject the untruth.
12.3.20
त्रयो लोकाः संमिता ब्राह्मणेन द्यौर् एवासौ पृथिव्य् अन्तरिक्षम् ।
अंशून् गृभीत्वान्वारभेथाम् आ प्यायन्तां पुनर् आ यन्तु शूर्पम् ॥
trayo lokāḥ saṃmitā brāhmaṇena dyaur evāsau pṛthivy antarikṣam ।
aṃśūn gṛbhītvānvārabhethām ā pyāyantāṃ punar ā yantu śūrpam ॥
Three are the regions discriminated by the Vedic sage as by Veda itself: they are heaven, earth and the middle regions. (So are three orders of the truth of reality: Sanatana, i.e., absolute constant truth of heavenly light, earthly truth conditioned by time and place, and the middling truth which is a historical mutation of the Sanatana). With your judgement, take on to the essences of truth like the freshest shoots of eternal soma, love, act and advance the truth, and let historical truth come to your discriminative judgement again and again for the continuous advancement of Sanatana truth and Dharma against the outmoded junk and falsehood. (Refer also to Atharva-veda 10, 8, 23 for the manifestation of the Sanatana, old yet ever new, like the succession of night-and-day, the same yet ever new and fresh.)
12.3.21
पृथग् रूपाणि बहुधा पशूनाम् एकरूपो भवसि सं समृद्ध्या ।
एतां त्वचं लोहिनीं तां नुदस्व ग्रावा शुम्भाति मलग इव वस्त्रा ॥
pṛthag rūpāṇi bahudhā paśūnām ekarūpo bhavasi saṃ samṛddhyā ।
etāṃ tvacaṃ lohinīṃ tāṃ nudasva grāvā śumbhāti malaga iva vastrā ॥
Many ways different are the forms of living beings. In fact, one single-form Prakrti by her abundance and versatility becomes many formed. Similarly the soul, all alike in the essence, assumes many forms because of the variety of Prakrtic forms. The same soul of many Prakrtic forms becomes essentially the same one form by the success of meditation. O soul, jettison this form of flesh and blood and be the soul in the essence. The enlightened sage would cleanse you to purity of essence as the washerman washes away the colour and dirt of the cloth and renders it pure white in the essence.
12.3.22
पृथिवीं त्वा पृथिव्याम् आ वेशयामि तनूः समानी विकृता त एषा ।
यद्यद् द्युत्तं लिखितम् अर्पणेन तेन मा सुस्रोर् ब्रह्मणापि तद् वपामि ॥
pṛthivīṃ tvā pṛthivyām ā veśayāmi tanūḥ samānī vikṛtā ta eṣā ।
yadyad dyuttaṃ likhitam arpaṇena tena mā susror brahmaṇāpi tad vapāmi ॥
I render you back, Prthivi, material body, into Prthivi, Mother Nature, the same in essence though this one is a mutation of the essence, Prakrti. O man, whatever is shining, whatever the writing from existence in the material body, waste yourself not thereby and therefrom, I supplement that with knowledge of the Veda to let the seed state fructify to fresh maturity.
12.3.23
जनित्रीव प्रति हर्यासि सूनुं सं त्वा दधामि पृथिवीं पृथिव्या ।
उखा कुम्भी वेद्यां मा व्यथिष्ठा यज्ञायुधैर् आज्येनातिषक्ता ॥
janitrīva prati haryāsi sūnuṃ saṃ tvā dadhāmi pṛthivīṃ pṛthivyā ।
ukhā kumbhī vedyāṃ mā vyathiṣṭhā yajñāyudhair ājyenātiṣaktā ॥
I place you, Prthivi, the human soul in body form, together with Prthivi, the world of nature. Mother Nature, as a mother loves her child, so pray love your child. Just as the pan and the pot do not feel afflicted in the fire as they get baked and tempered, so you too, o man, do not get afflicted in the fiery vedi of life armed as you are with the fighting powers of yajna and tempered as you are with the flames of ghrta fire.
12.3.24
अग्निः पचन् रक्षतु त्वा पुरस्ताद् इन्द्रो रक्षतु दक्षिणतो मरुत्वान् ।
वरुणस् त्वा दृंहाद् धरुणे प्रतीच्या उत्तरात् त्वा सोमः सं ददातै ॥
agniḥ pacan rakṣatu tvā purastād indro rakṣatu dakṣiṇato marutvān ।
varuṇas tvā dṛṃhād dharuṇe pratīcyā uttarāt tvā somaḥ saṃ dadātai ॥
In the Vedic crucibles of life, let the yajnic flames of life-fire protect and temper you from the front in the east. Let Indra, with his forces of Maruts, protect and strengthen you from the right in the south. Let Varuna protect, strengthen and secure you from the back in the west for adamantine strength in the all-supporting environment, and let Soma, peace, refreshment and renewal support and sustain you from the left in the north.
12.3.25
पूताः पवित्रैः पवन्ते अभ्राद् दिवं च यन्ति पृथिवीं च लोकान् ।
ता जीवला जीवधन्याः प्रतिष्ठाः पात्र आसिक्ताः पर्य् अग्निर् इन्धाम् ॥
pūtāḥ pavitraiḥ pavante abhrād divaṃ ca yanti pṛthivīṃ ca lokān ।
tā jīvalā jīvadhanyāḥ pratiṣṭhāḥ pātra āsiktāḥ pary agnir indhām ॥
Showers of holy water, energised and purified by rays of the sun purify us. Indeed they reach the heaven, the earth and all other regions of space. Those showers of waters, full of life, blissful and beatifying, constant and unfailing, held in the jar of life, may the fire of yajna energise and thereby inspire us to the state of fire, passion and light of the spirit.
12.3.26
आ यन्ति दिवः पृथिवीं सचन्ते भूम्याः सचन्ते अध्य् अन्तरिक्षम् ।
शुद्धाः सतीस् ता उ शुम्भन्त एव ता नः स्वर्गम् अभि लोकं नयन्तु ॥
ā yanti divaḥ pṛthivīṃ sacante bhūmyāḥ sacante adhy antarikṣam ।
śuddhāḥ satīs tā u śumbhanta eva tā naḥ svargam abhi lokaṃ nayantu ॥
The waters of life come from the heaven of light and join the earth with living energy. From the earth they rise and reach to join the skies. Pure and sanctified as they are, they are bright and holy. May they lead us to the regions of bliss.
12.3.27
उतेव प्रभ्वीर् उत संमितास उत शुक्राः शुचयश् चामृतासः ।
ता ओदनं दंपतिभ्यां प्रशिष्टा आपः शिक्षन्तीः पचता सुनाथाः ॥
uteva prabhvīr uta saṃmitāsa uta śukrāḥ śucayaś cāmṛtāsaḥ ।
tā odanaṃ daṃpatibhyāṃ praśiṣṭā āpaḥ śikṣantīḥ pacatā sunāthāḥ ॥
The waters of life are abundant, constant and eternal, and they are also measured in forms such as jars, the human body as well, and they are bright, potent and sacred, they are pure immortal nectar. Such as you are, O waters of life, well directed, controlled and beneficent, pray prepare, mature, season and provide the food of life for the wedded couples with showers of grace.
12.3.28
संख्याता स्तोकाः पृथिवीं सचन्ते प्राणापानैः संमिता ओषधीभिः ।
असंख्याता ओप्यमानाः सुवर्णाः सर्वं व्यापुः शुचयः शुचित्वम् ॥
saṃkhyātā stokāḥ pṛthivīṃ sacante prāṇāpānaiḥ saṃmitā oṣadhībhiḥ ।
asaṃkhyātā opyamānāḥ suvarṇāḥ sarvaṃ vyāpuḥ śucayaḥ śucitvam ॥
Measured are the drops of water which join the earth as with prana and apana energies they seep into and join the herbs and trees. But measureless are the showers, golden and pure, which all come to the earth as seeds of life, and that way they attain to the state of purity, sanctity and divinity.
12.3.29
उद् योधन्त्य् अभि वल्गन्ति तप्ताः फेनम् अस्यन्ति बहुलांश् च बिन्दून् ।
योषेव दृष्ट्वा पतिम् ऋत्वियायैतैस् तण्डुलैर् भवता सम् आपः ॥
ud yodhanty abhi valganti taptāḥ phenam asyanti bahulāṃś ca bindūn ।
yoṣeva dṛṣṭvā patim ṛtviyāyaitais taṇḍulair bhavatā sam āpaḥ ॥
They rise in contest, they dance and rejoice, and heated by the sun they throw up foam and shoot off volleys of droplet bullets. Just as a youthful wife having seen her husband solicits him for romance of the season, so you too, O waters, join the youthful couples, and for those delicious delicacies they would love to enjoy.
12.3.30
उत् थापय सीदतो बुध्न एनान् अद्भिर् आत्मानम् अभि सं स्पृशन्ताम् ।
अमासि पात्रैर् उदकं यद् एतन् मितास् तण्डुलाः प्रदिशो यदीमाः ॥
ut thāpaya sīdato budhna enān adbhir ātmānam abhi saṃ spṛśantām ।
amāsi pātrair udakaṃ yad etan mitās taṇḍulāḥ pradiśo yadīmāḥ ॥
Raise the rice settled at the bottom of the pan so that the grains may mix with the water. You have measured the water in relation to the pot and the ladles as rice too has been measured in relation to the size and space of the pan.
12.3.31
प्र यछ पर्शुं त्वरया हरौसम् अहिंसन्त ओषधीर् दान्तु पर्वन् ।
वासां सोमः परि राज्यं बभूवामन्युता नो वीरुधो भवन्तु ॥
pra yacha parśuṃ tvarayā harausam ahiṃsanta oṣadhīr dāntu parvan ।
vāsāṃ somaḥ pari rājyaṃ babhūvāmanyutā no vīrudho bhavantu ॥
Take up the sickle, be quick, take the herbs shining at dawn, chipping without damaging the herb at the joint. Let the herbs, of which soma is supremely efficacious, be free from afflictive and outrageous aftereffects.
12.3.32
नवं बर्हिर् ओदनाय स्तृणीत प्रियं हृदश् चक्षुषो वल्ग्व् अस्तु ।
तस्मिन् देवाः सह दैवीर् विशन्त्व् इमं प्राश्नन्त्व् ऋतुभिर् निषद्य ॥
navaṃ barhir odanāya stṛṇīta priyaṃ hṛdaś cakṣuṣo valgv astu ।
tasmin devāḥ saha daivīr viśantv imaṃ prāśnantv ṛtubhir niṣadya ॥
Strew fresh sheets of grass for the rice feast. Let these be soothing to the heart and pleasing to the eye. On them let divine sages with divine ladies be seated and enjoy this feast of rice according to the seasons.
12.3.33
वनस्पते स्तीर्णम् आ सीद बर्हिर् अग्निष्टोभैः संमितो देवताभिः ।
त्वष्ट्रेव रूपं सुकृतं स्वधित्यैना एहाः परि पात्रे ददृश्राम् ॥
vanaspate stīrṇam ā sīda barhir agniṣṭobhaiḥ saṃmito devatābhiḥ ।
tvaṣṭreva rūpaṃ sukṛtaṃ svadhityainā ehāḥ pari pātre dadṛśrām ॥
O Vanaspati, host and master of this auspicious feast, be seated on this grassy sheet spread for you, along with the sages and the ladies and with the plans for Agnishtoma yajnas. And the beauty of this entire programme created as if by Tvashta, divine architect, is seen here in all details of the vedi and utensils for yajna finished with his art.
12.3.34
षष्ट्यां शरत्सु निधिपा अभीछात् स्वः पक्वेनाभ्य् अश्नवातै ।
उपैनं जीवान् पितरश् च पुत्रा एतं स्वर्गं गमयान्तम् अग्नेः ॥
ṣaṣṭyāṃ śaratsu nidhipā abhīchāt svaḥ pakvenābhy aśnavātai ।
upainaṃ jīvān pitaraś ca putrā etaṃ svargaṃ gamayāntam agneḥ ॥
For sixty years of life, the master of the house, carrying on the yajna and yajnic charity, should, with his experience and growth of mature wisdom, wish and work to enjoy the spiritual bliss of life, while the parents and children, depending on him, live and enjoy their life. O Lord, lead him to the ultimate bliss of life at the end of his yajna on top of knowledge and spiritual vision.
12.3.35
धर्ता ध्रियस्व धरुणे पृथिव्या अच्युतं त्वा देवताश् च्यावयन्तु ।
तं त्वा दंपती जीवन्तौ जीवपुत्राव् उद् वासयातः पर्य् अग्निधानात् ॥
dhartā dhriyasva dharuṇe pṛthivyā acyutaṃ tvā devatāś cyāvayantu ।
taṃ tvā daṃpatī jīvantau jīvaputrāv ud vāsayātaḥ pary agnidhānāt ॥
O house-holder, be firm, divinely supported on the firm foundation of the earth. Stay unshaken, let the divinities inspire you to move on on the path of yajnic living. And when you have done your job, call it a day, let living, inspiring wedded couples with living jovial children help you be released and relieved of your duties to the divine fire of yajna.
12.3.36
सर्वान्त् समागा अभिजित्य लोकान् यावन्तः कामाः सम् अतीतृपस् तान् ।
वि गाहेथाम् आयवनं च दर्विर् एकस्मिन् पात्रे अध्य् उद् धरैनम् ॥
sarvānt samāgā abhijitya lokān yāvantaḥ kāmāḥ sam atītṛpas tān ।
vi gāhethām āyavanaṃ ca darvir ekasmin pātre adhy ud dharainam ॥
Having lived and fulfilled all your desires and ambitions as much and as far as they were, and thus having ruled and conquered all your earthly territories of existence, you have reached this phase of freedom and renunciation. Place all your spoons and ladles, all that was and were yours in life, in one basket, deliver that all to your trusted follower in the line, and raise your self as pure soul, free from all burdens.
12.3.37
उप स्तृणीहि प्रथय पुरस्ताद् घृतेन पात्रम् अभि घारयैतत् ।
वाश्रेवोस्रा तरुणं स्तनस्युम् इमं देवासो अभिहिङ्कृणोत ॥
upa stṛṇīhi prathaya purastād ghṛtena pātram abhi ghārayaitat ।
vāśrevosrā taruṇaṃ stanasyum imaṃ devāso abhihiṅkṛṇota ॥
Spread out your mattress, move ahead, hold on this life of divinity and shine it with the light of spiritual vision. And O Devas, divinities of heaven and earth, just as the mother cow loves the young calf eager for a feed of milk, so welcome this new comer with a song and fulfill him with the milk of paradise.
12.3.38
उपास्तरीर् अकरो लोकम् एतम् उरुः प्रथताम् असमः स्वर्गः ।
तस्मिं छ्रयातै महिषः सुपर्णो देवा एनं देवताभ्यः प्र यछान् ॥
upāstarīr akaro lokam etam uruḥ prathatām asamaḥ svargaḥ ।
tasmiṃ chrayātai mahiṣaḥ suparṇo devā enaṃ devatābhyaḥ pra yachān ॥
You have spread out your mattress and fully attained to this new phase of life. Let this incomparable phase which leads to heavenly bliss expand wide and high. Let the one mighty supama, elevated soul, rest and shine as the sun in this phase and may all divinities of heaven and earth extend their love and devotion for the joy of his mind and senses.
12.3.39
यद्यज् जाया पचति त्वत् परःपरः पतिर् वा जाये त्वत् तिरः ।
सं तत् सृजेथां सह वां तद् अस्तु संपादयन्तौ सह लोकम् एकम् ॥
yadyaj jāyā pacati tvat paraḥparaḥ patir vā jāye tvat tiraḥ ।
saṃ tat sṛjethāṃ saha vāṃ tad astu saṃpādayantau saha lokam ekam ॥
O man, whatever your wife does separately from you, and O woman, whatever your husband does by himself away from you, do all that together with each other. Let all that be jointly yours, one in common, as you are leading your wedded life together in unison as one personality.
12.3.40
यावन्तो अस्याः पृथिवीं सचन्ते अस्मत् पुत्राः परि ये संबभूवुः ।
सर्वांस् तां उप पात्रे ह्वयेथां नाभिं जानानाः शिशवः समायान् ॥
yāvanto asyāḥ pṛthivīṃ sacante asmat putrāḥ pari ye saṃbabhūvuḥ ।
sarvāṃs tāṃ upa pātre hvayethāṃ nābhiṃ jānānāḥ śiśavaḥ samāyān ॥
All our children bom of her by me who live and serve the motherland, call them all together to dinner on one table, and let the children too know their one common link of natural piety, the centre to which they should come and join together.
12.3.41
वसोर् या धारा मधुना प्रपीना घृतेन मिश्रा अमृतस्य नाभयः ।
सर्वास् ता अव रुन्धे स्वर्गः षष्ट्यां शरत्सु निधिपा अभीछात् ॥
vasor yā dhārā madhunā prapīnā ghṛtena miśrā amṛtasya nābhayaḥ ।
sarvās tā ava rundhe svargaḥ ṣaṣṭyāṃ śaratsu nidhipā abhīchāt ॥
All those streams of wealth and joy on earth in Grhastha which are replete with honey and mixed with ghrta are centre-holds of nectar and immortality. Let the earthly paradise of the home hold in all these, and let the master protector and maintainer of the home wish and strive for these through sixty years.
12.3.42
निधिं निधिपा अभ्य् एनम् इछाद् अनीश्वरा अभितः सन्तु ये ऽन्ये ।
अस्माभिर् दत्तो निहितः स्वर्गस् त्रिभिः काण्डैस् त्रीन्त् स्वर्गान् अरुक्षत् ॥
nidhiṃ nidhipā abhy enam ichād anīśvarā abhitaḥ santu ye 'nye ।
asmābhir datto nihitaḥ svargas tribhiḥ kāṇḍais trīnt svargān arukṣat ॥
Let the head and guradian of the family wish and strive to protect, maintain and promote this homely commonwealth. Others who would not wish and strive thus would deny and deprive themselves all round of this divine familial bliss. This earthly paradise of homely bliss is given by us, divinities of earth and heaven, which man should try to attain through three stages of Brhmacharya education, Grhastha life of yajna, and the stage of retirement and renunciation across three generations of the wedded couple, parents and children for threefold bliss of body, mind and soul for the individual, the family and the society as a whole.
12.3.43
अग्नी रक्षस् तपतु यद् विदेवं क्रव्याद् पिशाच इह मा प्र पास्त ।
नुदाम एनम् अप रुध्मो अस्मद् आदित्या एनम् अङ्गिरसः सचन्ताम् ॥
agnī rakṣas tapatu yad videvaṃ kravyād piśāca iha mā pra pāsta ।
nudāma enam apa rudhmo asmad ādityā enam aṅgirasaḥ sacantām ॥
May Agni, light of knowledge and fire of passion for life and positive living, light up, bum out and eliminate the negativities of life in humanity and the environment. Let darkness, ignorance and exploitation eating into the vitals of life and sucking the blood of innocents be out by the holy fire of yajna. Let us throw out all such antisocial elements. Let us shut them all out. Let brilliant scholars of Aditya order, and Angirasas, veterans of wisdom, adamantine will, determined action and vibrant spirit of life take these up and deal with them appropriately with justice.
12.3.44
आदित्येभ्यो अङ्गिरोभ्यो मध्व् इदं घृतेन मिश्रं प्रति वेदयामि ।
शुद्धहस्तौ ब्राह्मणस्यानिहत्यैतं स्वर्गं सुकृताव् अपीतम् ॥
ādityebhyo aṅgirobhyo madhv idaṃ ghṛtena miśraṃ prati vedayāmi ।
śuddhahastau brāhmaṇasyānihatyaitaṃ svargaṃ sukṛtāv apītam ॥
To the sages and scholars of Aditya order and vibrant leaders of determined action and policy for the elimination of negativities from society and the environment, I offer these honey sweets of homage with approval and total cooperation mixed with ghrta to sprinkle their holy fire of social yajna. O wedded couples, men and women of the human nation, your hands are clean, you do not violate the vision and will of the Brahmana, man of knowledge and foresight, your actions are positive, I exhort you to act, cooperate, create and enjoy this happy paradise on earth free from ogres and blood suckers.
12.3.45
इदं प्रापम् उत्तमं काण्डम् अस्य यस्माल् लोकात् परमेष्ठी समाप ।
आ सिञ्च सर्पिर् घृतवत् सम् अङ्ग्ध्य् एष भागो अङ्गिरसो नो अत्र ॥
idaṃ prāpam uttamaṃ kāṇḍam asya yasmāl lokāt parameṣṭhī samāpa ।
ā siñca sarpir ghṛtavat sam aṅgdhy eṣa bhāgo aṅgiraso no atra ॥
This highest state of this earthly paradise from which I attain to the light and vision of supreme divinity too, I have realised. O men and women of the world, wedded couples, prepare and anoint yourselves with the powers and graces of life and join the yajna of social salvation with best cooperation as you sprinkle the fires with purest ghrta. And know, you Angirasas, people of vision and will, that this is our share of Dharma and commitment here in the world toward life, society and
12.3.46
सत्याय च तपसे देवताभ्यो निधिं शेवधिं परि दद्म एतम् ।
मा नो द्यूते ऽव गान् मा समित्यां मा स्मान्यस्मा उत् सृजता पुरा मत् ॥
satyāya ca tapase devatābhyo nidhiṃ śevadhiṃ pari dadma etam ।
mā no dyūte 'va gān mā samityāṃ mā smānyasmā ut sṛjatā purā mat ॥
We offer and contribute this, our cherished share of treasure, toward the peace, prosperity and enlightenment of the human nation for the protection and promotion of truth and right values, austerity and observance of discipline and law, and the enlightened nobilities of humanity and divinities of nature in the environment. Let it not be thrown out to gambling, nor spent out on war, nor wasted over others opposed to social values, nor must it be released before I approve (as for example national approval of the budget).
12.3.47
अहं पचाम्य् अहं ददामि ममेद् उ कर्मन् करुणे ऽधि जाया ।
कौमारो लोको अजनिष्ट पुत्रो ऽन्वारभेथां वय उत्तरावत् ॥
ahaṃ pacāmy ahaṃ dadāmi mamed u karman karuṇe 'dhi jāyā ।
kaumāro loko ajaniṣṭa putro 'nvārabhethāṃ vaya uttarāvat ॥
I cook, I give, my wife is dedicated with me to acts of love and piety with sympathy and compassion. My bachelor son and virgin daughter is born and dedicated to society. Indeed the whole society is grown to be my own child. O men and women, O rising generation, begin your life enthusiastically, rise higher and higher.
12.3.48
न किल्बिषम् अत्र नाधारो अस्ति न यन् मित्रैः समममान एति ।
अनूनं पात्रं निहितं न एतत् पक्तारं पक्वः पुनर् आ विशाति ॥
na kilbiṣam atra nādhāro asti na yan mitraiḥ samamamāna eti ।
anūnaṃ pātraṃ nihitaṃ na etat paktāraṃ pakvaḥ punar ā viśāti ॥
There is nothing short, no want, no void in the Lord’s system here in life, nor props nor false supports, no one can go on without one’s own identity on stilts provided by friends. The life before us is full and perfect, prepared and provided by our own selves by our own karma. The dish one has cooked presents itself before the one that has cooked it. One must taste the fruit of one’s own action (in the cycle).
12.3.49
प्रियं प्रियाणां कृणवाम तमस् ते यन्तु यतमे द्विषन्ति ।
धेनुर् अनड्वान् वयोवय आयद् एव पौरुषेयम् अप मृत्युं नुदन्तु ॥
priyaṃ priyāṇāṃ kṛṇavāma tamas te yantu yatame dviṣanti ।
dhenur anaḍvān vayovaya āyad eva pauruṣeyam apa mṛtyuṃ nudantu ॥
We must do the dearest of the dear for the dear we love, because all those that hate fall into darkness. The milch cow, the burden bearing bull, and the food that comes to us again and again, let these push off the death of the kind we loathe to face.
12.3.50
सम् अग्नयः विदुर् अन्यो अन्यं य ओषधीः सचते यश् च सिन्धून् ।
यावन्तो देवा दिव्य् आतपन्ति हिरण्यं ज्योतिः पचतो बभूव ॥
sam agnayaḥ vidur anyo anyaṃ ya oṣadhīḥ sacate yaś ca sindhūn ।
yāvanto devā divy ātapanti hiraṇyaṃ jyotiḥ pacato babhūva ॥
All the fires of nature’s yajna are akin and join together in action, those that ripen herbs and trees and those that make the clouds to shower and rivers to flow. As long as divine lights shining in heavens of space mature the divinities of nature and humanity, so long the golden light of generosity will continue to inspire those that work with love and provide food for the needy.
12.3.51
एषा त्वचां पुरुषे सं बभूवानग्नाः सर्वे पशवो ये अन्ये ।
क्षत्रेणात्मानं परि धापयाथो ऽमोतं वासो मुखम् ओदनस्य ॥
eṣā tvacāṃ puruṣe saṃ babhūvānagnāḥ sarve paśavo ye anye ।
kṣatreṇātmānaṃ pari dhāpayātho 'motaṃ vāso mukham odanasya ॥
This cover, the human form of all others, the cloth, and the karmic extension of yajna is provided only in the case of the human being. All other living beings are neither naked (because they are given a natural cover) nor do they perform any yajna. O men and women, cover yourselves with cloth and yajnic service of the social system. And home made cloth and home yajna is the first requisite of divine service.
12.3.52
यद् अक्षेषु वदा यत् समित्यां यद् वा वदा अनृतं वित्तकाम्या ।
समानं तन्तुम् अभि सम्वसानौ तस्मिन्त् सर्वं शमलं सादयाथः ॥
yad akṣeṣu vadā yat samityāṃ yad vā vadā anṛtaṃ vittakāmyā ।
samānaṃ tantum abhi samvasānau tasmint sarvaṃ śamalaṃ sādayāthaḥ ॥
Whatever untrue you utter in gambling disputes, or in selfish disputes, or with the desire to win undeserved money, seal it therein, exhaust it, better bum it in the yajna fire while you both wear the common vestments of yajna to wash off the pollution of your
12.3.53
वर्षं वनुष्वापि गछ देवांस् त्वचो धूमं पर्य् उत् पातयासि ।
विश्वव्यचा घृतपृष्ठो भविष्यन्त् सयोनिर् लोकम् उप याह्य् एतम् ॥
varṣaṃ vanuṣvāpi gacha devāṃs tvaco dhūmaṃ pary ut pātayāsi ।
viśvavyacā ghṛtapṛṣṭho bhaviṣyant sayonir lokam upa yāhy etam ॥
Pray for the shower of divine mercy and grace, go up to the divinities, shake off the dust and smoke from your body and mind. Being liberal and universally free, anointed with ghrta, rise to this higher region of the firmament and there join with the people of your nature and character in the spirit.
12.3.54
तन्वं स्वर्गो बहुधा वि चक्रे यथा विद आत्मन्न् अन्यवर्णाम् ।
अपाजैत् कृष्णां रुशतीं पुनानो या लोहिनी तां ते अग्नौ जुहोमि ॥
tanvaṃ svargo bahudhā vi cakre yathā vida ātmann anyavarṇām ।
apājait kṛṣṇāṃ ruśatīṃ punāno yā lohinī tāṃ te agnau juhomi ॥
The soul desirous of rising to the state of paradisal bliss, knowing itself as the soul, raises and transforms its existential body in many ways, from one colour and character to another and higher in quality. Conquering its dark character and purifying it, it rises to the bright and transparent, i.e., from flesh and blood of its gross body and from the blood and passion of its mind, it rises to the crystalline purity of intelligence. O man of noble ambition, I offer your nature and character of flesh and blood and passion into the fire of karmic and spiritual yajna and transform your being into pure and free soul.
12.3.55
प्राच्यै त्वा दिशे ऽग्नये ऽधिपतये ऽसिताय रक्षित्र आदित्यायेषुमते ।
एतं परि दद्मस् तं नो गोपायतास्माकम् ऐतोः ।
दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज् जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्व् अथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम ॥
prācyai tvā diśe 'gnaye 'dhipataye 'sitāya rakṣitra ādityāyeṣumate ।
etaṃ pari dadmas taṃ no gopāyatāsmākam aitoḥ ।
diṣṭaṃ no atra jarase ni neṣaj jarā mṛtyave pari ṇo dadātv atha pakvena saha saṃ bhavema ॥
We deliver you unto the eastern direction, to its lord Agni, transparent and free protector, to Aditya, the sun, wielder of the arrows of light. May Agni, Aditya, protect this, our brother on his onward journey. May this lord guide us to our destined goal till the completion and fulfilment of our existence on earth and deliver us to death and judgement of divinity for our onward journey with the ripeness of our karma and maturity of our existential self.
Sūkta 3 — Svarga, Odana, Agni Devata, Yama Rshi (mantras 56–60)
Atharvaveda 12.3 · mantras 56–60 of 60 · part 2 of 2
12.3.56
दक्षिणायै त्वा दिश इन्द्रायाधिपतये तिरश्चिराजये रक्षित्रे यमायेषुमते ।
एतं परि दद्मस् तं नो गोपायतास्माकम् ऐतोः ।
दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज् जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्व् अथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम ॥
dakṣiṇāyai tvā diśa indrāyādhipataye tiraścirājaye rakṣitre yamāyeṣumate ।
etaṃ pari dadmas taṃ no gopāyatāsmākam aitoḥ ।
diṣṭaṃ no atra jarase ni neṣaj jarā mṛtyave pari ṇo dadātv atha pakvena saha saṃ bhavema ॥
We deliver you unto the Southern quarter, to its lord Indra, ruler, protector and controller of the waves of energy, to Yama, wielder of the arrows of judgement. May Indra, Yama, protect this our brother on his onward journey. May this lord guide us to our destined goal till the completion and fulfilment of our existence on earth and deliver us to death and judgement of divinity for our onward journey with the ripeness of our karma and maturity of our existential self.
12.3.57
प्रतीच्यै त्वा दिशे वरुणायाधिपतये पृदाकवे रक्षित्रे ऽन्नायेषुमते ।
एतं परि दद्मस् तं नो गोपायतास्माकम् ऐतोः ।
दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज् जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्व् अथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम ॥
pratīcyai tvā diśe varuṇāyādhipataye pṛdākave rakṣitre 'nnāyeṣumate ।
etaṃ pari dadmas taṃ no gopāyatāsmākam aitoḥ ।
diṣṭaṃ no atra jarase ni neṣaj jarā mṛtyave pari ṇo dadātv atha pakvena saha saṃ bhavema ॥
We deliver you unto the Western quarter, to its lord Varuna, protector, destroyer of the violent, and sustainer of life, wielder of the arrows of energy and nourishment. May Varuna and divine energy protect this our brother on his onward journey. May this lord guide us to our destined goal till the completion and fulfilment of our existence on earth and deliver us to death and judgement of divinity for our onward journey with the ripeness of our karma and maturity of our existential self.
12.3.58
उदीच्यै त्वा दिशे सोमायाधिपतये स्वजाय रक्षित्रे ऽशन्या इषुमत्यै ।
एतं परि दद्मस् तं नो गोपायतास्माकम् ऐतोः ।
दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज् जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्व् अथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम ॥
udīcyai tvā diśe somāyādhipataye svajāya rakṣitre 'śanyā iṣumatyai ।
etaṃ pari dadmas taṃ no gopāyatāsmākam aitoḥ ।
diṣṭaṃ no atra jarase ni neṣaj jarā mṛtyave pari ṇo dadātv atha pakvena saha saṃ bhavema ॥
We deliver you unto the Northern quarter, to Soma, lord self-existent protector, thunderous wielder of the vibrations of peace and exhilaration. May Soma protect this our brother on his onward journey. May this lord guide us to our destined goal till the completion and fulfilment of our existence on earth and deliver us to death and divine judgement for our onward journey with the ripeness of our karma and maturity of our existential self.
12.3.59
ध्रुवायै त्वा दिशे विष्णवे ऽधिपतये कल्माषग्रीवाय रक्षित्र ओषधीभ्य इषुमतीभ्यः ।
एतं परि दद्मस् तं नो गोपायतास्माकम् ऐतोः ।
दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज् जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्व् अथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम ॥
dhruvāyai tvā diśe viṣṇave 'dhipataye kalmāṣagrīvāya rakṣitra oṣadhībhya iṣumatībhyaḥ ।
etaṃ pari dadmas taṃ no gopāyatāsmākam aitoḥ ।
diṣṭaṃ no atra jarase ni neṣaj jarā mṛtyave pari ṇo dadātv atha pakvena saha saṃ bhavema ॥
We deliver you unto the lower quarter, to Vishnu, lord protector pervader of greenery, and to the
12.3.60
ऊर्ध्वायै त्वा दिशे बृहस्पतये ऽधिपतये श्वित्राय रक्षित्रे वर्षायेषुमते ।
एतं परि दद्मस् तं नो गोपायतास्माकम् ऐतोः ।
दिष्टं नो अत्र जरसे नि नेषज् जरा मृत्यवे परि णो ददात्व् अथ पक्वेन सह सं भवेम ॥
ūrdhvāyai tvā diśe bṛhaspataye 'dhipataye śvitrāya rakṣitre varṣāyeṣumate ।
etaṃ pari dadmas taṃ no gopāyatāsmākam aitoḥ ।
diṣṭaṃ no atra jarase ni neṣaj jarā mṛtyave pari ṇo dadātv atha pakvena saha saṃ bhavema ॥
Sūkta 4
Atharvaveda 12.4 · 53 mantras
12.4.1
ददामीत्य् एव ब्रूयाद् अनु चैनाम् अभुत्सत ।
वशां ब्रह्मभ्यो याचद्भ्यस् तत् प्रजावद् अपत्यवत् ॥
dadāmīty eva brūyād anu cainām abhutsata ।
vaśāṃ brahmabhyo yācadbhyas tat prajāvad apatyavat ॥
“I give”: this every one should say always, and one should think and act in consonance with the same mood of generosity. One who gives a gift of the cow, land, and Vedic speech to the seekers and devotees of holy speech is blest with children, grand children and good people all round.
12.4.2
प्रजया स वि क्रीणीते पशुभिश् चोप दस्यति ।
य आर्षेयेभ्यो याचद्भ्यो देवानां गां न दित्सति ॥
prajayā sa vi krīṇīte paśubhiś copa dasyati ।
ya ārṣeyebhyo yācadbhyo devānāṃ gāṃ na ditsati ॥
He barters himself away along with his cattle, wealth and even his progeny and people who fails to give the divine cow, Vedic speech, to the seekers and followers of the Rshis. He reduces himself to naught.
12.4.3
कूटयास्य सं शीर्यन्ते श्लोणया काटम् अर्दति ।
बण्डया दह्यन्ते गृहाः काणया दीयते स्वम् ॥
kūṭayāsya saṃ śīryante śloṇayā kāṭam ardati ।
baṇḍayā dahyante gṛhāḥ kāṇayā dīyate svam ॥
Whether one is an individual or a ruler, if one’s speech, ethics and policy of action, specially in creativity and giving, is illusive, his people are destroyed thereby. if it is lame, he falls into the pit of adversity, if it is divisive, his homes are burnt, and if it is partial and short-sighted, his own identity is lost.
12.4.4
विलोहितो अधिष्ठानाच् छक्नो विन्दति गोपतिम् ।
तथा वशायाः संविद्यं दुरदभ्ना ह्य् उच्यसे ॥
vilohito adhiṣṭhānāc chakno vindati gopatim ।
tathā vaśāyāḥ saṃvidyaṃ duradabhnā hy ucyase ॥
The man of power gone red or pale with passion and frustration for loss of identity, regains from the treasure source of Divine Voice his identity as master of the Word, with his lands and dominion too. For this reasons the essence and identity is worth knowing and remembering, for this reason, O Vedic Voice, you are ‘Vasha’, the free, the powerful, the indomitable.
12.4.5
पदोर् अस्या अधिष्ठानाद् विक्लिन्दुर् नाम विन्दति ।
अनामनात् सं शीर्यन्ते या मुखेनोपजिघ्रति ॥
pador asyā adhiṣṭhānād viklindur nāma vindati ।
anāmanāt saṃ śīryante yā mukhenopajighrati ॥
The man who perspires for acquistion of the holy Voice discovers and fulfils his real identity from the twofold foundation of its real treasure, i.e., from secular and sacred knowledge of the Veda. But those are lost and split apart who, through indifference, taste or smell it merely from afar. They lose their identity.
12.4.6
यो अस्याः कर्णाव् आस्कुनोत्य् आ स देवेषु वृश्चते ।
लक्ष्म कुर्व इति मन्यते कनीयः कृणुते स्वम् ॥
yo asyāḥ karṇāv āskunoty ā sa deveṣu vṛścate ।
lakṣma kurva iti manyate kanīyaḥ kṛṇute svam ॥
He who tries to bend its ears, i.e., twists the sense of the Voice, to suit himself, isolates himself from the wise and the learned. And he that believes that he has had a glimpse of it and there is no need for more reduces his identity to something too small.
12.4.7
यद् अस्याः कस्मै चिद् भोगाय बालान् कश् चित् प्रकृन्तति ।
ततः किशोरा म्रियन्ते वत्सांश् च घातुको वृकः ॥
yad asyāḥ kasmai cid bhogāya bālān kaś cit prakṛntati ।
tataḥ kiśorā mriyante vatsāṃś ca ghātuko vṛkaḥ ॥
And whoever, for whatever selfish purpose, twists its meaning and cuts its extensive hair for his own trophy, for that very reason his coming generations die out and waiting wolves pounce upon his children.
12.4.8
यद् अस्या गोपतौ सत्या लोम ध्वाङ्क्षो अजीहिडत् ।
ततः कुमारा म्रियन्ते यक्ष्मो विन्दत्य् अनामनात् ॥
yad asyā gopatau satyā loma dhvāṅkṣo ajīhiḍat ।
tataḥ kumārā mriyante yakṣmo vindaty anāmanāt ॥
And while Gopati, the ruler, is there and the sagely scholar of the Vedic Voice is there, and yet some clever thief picks away a shred of its body, identity and meaning, the rising generation dies and cancer infects the commonwealth from remiss.
12.4.9
यद् अस्याः पल्पूलनं शकृद् दासी समस्यति ।
ततो ऽपरूपं जायते तस्माद् अव्येष्यद् एनसः ॥
yad asyāḥ palpūlanaṃ śakṛd dāsī samasyati ।
tato 'parūpaṃ jāyate tasmād avyeṣyad enasaḥ ॥
And when negative and destructive forces grab the power and production of the land, desecrate its free voice and culture, thence arises the pollution and distortion of its form and character, and then recovery from sin and crime is hard.
12.4.10
जायमानाभि जायते देवान्त् सब्राह्मणान् वशा ।
तस्माद् ब्रह्मभ्यो देयैषा तद् आहुः स्वस्य गोपनम् ॥
jāyamānābhi jāyate devānt sabrāhmaṇān vaśā ।
tasmād brahmabhyo deyaiṣā tad āhuḥ svasya gopanam ॥
Nevertheless, Vasha, the Vedic Voice of Truth and free speech of the Brahmana committed to truth and eternal values, reasserting, arises, inspiring the brilliant, the generous, and the learned faithful for recovery, rebirth and reconstruction. For this reason this Voice is to be entrusted to the seekers of Brahma, the ultimate Reality, the Word and the Meaning. And for that reason, this Voice, this trust and this inevitable assertion, they say, is the real protection and security of our wealth and identity.
12.4.11
य एनां वनिम् आयन्ति तेषां देवकृता वशा ।
ब्रह्मज्येयं तद् अब्रुवन् य एनां निप्रियायते ॥
ya enāṃ vanim āyanti teṣāṃ devakṛtā vaśā ।
brahmajyeyaṃ tad abruvan ya enāṃ nipriyāyate ॥
This holy speech is the gift of divinity for those who come to seek for the gift of it with freedom to propagate it for all. But if the ruler locks it up as his own cherished prerogative and denies to others the rightful access to it, this lock up and denial, they say, is an insult to Brahmanas and a sin against God.
12.4.12
य आर्षेयेभ्यो याचद्भ्यो देवानां गां न दित्सति ।
आ स देवेषु वृश्चते ब्राह्मणानां च मन्यवे ॥
ya ārṣeyebhyo yācadbhyo devānāṃ gāṃ na ditsati ।
ā sa deveṣu vṛścate brāhmaṇānāṃ ca manyave ॥
One who does not agree to give the divine cow, holy speech of divinity, freely to the seekers and the disciples of Rshis, alienates himself from the divines and intellectuals and suffers the displeasure and disapproval, even wrath, of the Brahmanas, enlightened devotees of knowledge and wisdom.
12.4.13
यो अस्य स्याद् वशाभोगो अन्याम् इछेत तर्हि सः ।
हिंस्ते अदत्ता पुरुषं याचितां च न दित्सति ॥
yo asya syād vaśābhogo anyām icheta tarhi saḥ ।
hiṃste adattā puruṣaṃ yācitāṃ ca na ditsati ॥
If a person wants to enjoy the pleasure of the Vasha cow, holy speech of divinity, he should have the pleasure some other way than locking it up for himself and arresting its free movement for others, because when someone is unwilling to give it for others when it is asked for, then, refused and hoarded, it destroys the custodian himself.
12.4.14
यथा शेवधिर् निहितो ब्राह्मणानां तथा वशा ।
ताम् एतद् अछायन्ति यस्मिन् कस्मिंश् च जायते ॥
yathā śevadhir nihito brāhmaṇānāṃ tathā vaśā ।
tām etad achāyanti yasmin kasmiṃś ca jāyate ॥
As it is with any pleasureable treasure of wealth, well preserved and well promoted through circulation. SO it is with the treasure of the Brahmana’s free knowledge and speech. Whoever the person, whatever the place wherein it takes root and grows in freedom through circulation, the seekers rush to the man and the place for a gift for their share.
12.4.15
स्वम् एतद् अछायन्ति यद् वशां ब्राह्मणा अभि ।
यथैनान् अन्यस्मिन् जिनीयाद् एवास्या निरोधनम् ॥
svam etad achāyanti yad vaśāṃ brāhmaṇā abhi ।
yathainān anyasmin jinīyād evāsyā nirodhanam ॥
When the seekers of divine knowledge and speech come to the treasurehold of free speech and knowledge, in fact they come to their own rightful treasure. In such cases, its hoarding and refusal to give is just another way of torturing them for a crime they have not committed.
12.4.16
चरेद् एवा त्रैहायणाद् अविज्ञातगदा सती ।
वशां च विद्यान् नारद ब्राह्मणास् तर्ह्य् एष्याः ॥
cared evā traihāyaṇād avijñātagadā satī ।
vaśāṃ ca vidyān nārada brāhmaṇās tarhy eṣyāḥ ॥
Just as a calf roams around unknown and urecognised for three years and then it is known and recognised and then a Brahmana is sought to take it as a gift, similarly, if knowledge and its medium speech were neglected and left to roam around unknown, unrecognised and unplanned, then, O Narada, guardian of human society for culture and education, sagely scholars must be sought and entrusted with the culture and education of the human community so that free development of the society is properly recognised.
12.4.17
य एनाम् अवशाम् आह देवानां निहितं निधिम् ।
उभौ तस्मै भवाशर्वौ परिक्रम्येषुम् अस्यतः ॥
ya enām avaśām āha devānāṃ nihitaṃ nidhim ।
ubhau tasmai bhavāśarvau parikramyeṣum asyataḥ ॥
Vasha, divine knowledge and speech in freedom, is a treasure gift of divinity for divine sages and scholars. Any one who cynically calls it Avasha, that is, something of no value, Bhava and Sharva, forces of life and death, through mutabiltiy and history, ensnare him and pierce him with arrows of retribution to fall and die out.
12.4.18
यो अस्या ऊधो न वेदाथो अस्या स्तनान् उत ।
उभयेनैवास्मै दुहे दातुं चेद् अशकद् वशाम् ॥
yo asyā ūdho na vedātho asyā stanān uta ।
ubhayenaivāsmai duhe dātuṃ ced aśakad vaśām ॥
If one, who does not know the treasure-hold of Vasha’s life giving wealth and the channels and media of the inflow of its vitality, were, fortunately, able to know both these gifts and he were able to give to the sagely teachers and scholars the freedom for the release of the flow of knowledge and speech to the community, Vasha would overflow his life with both light and vitality, in freedom, through the treasure and the media.
12.4.19
दुरदभ्नैनम् आ शये याचितां च न दित्सति ।
नास्मै कामाः सम् ऋध्यन्ते याम् अदत्त्वा चिकीर्षति ॥
duradabhnainam ā śaye yācitāṃ ca na ditsati ।
nāsmai kāmāḥ sam ṛdhyante yām adattvā cikīrṣati ॥
Vasha, universal light and vitality of life, is indomitable and indefatigable, but it lies dormant with that individual, community or ruler who is unwilling to give and propagate it freely. Whoever does not give it and yet wants to achieve the fruits of it, his desires and ambitions never fructify for him.
12.4.20
देवा वशाम् अयाचन् मुखं कृत्वा ब्राह्मणम् ।
तेषां सर्वेषाम् अददद् धेडं न्य् एति मानुषः ॥
devā vaśām ayācan mukhaṃ kṛtvā brāhmaṇam ।
teṣāṃ sarveṣām adadad dheḍaṃ ny eti mānuṣaḥ ॥
Having made the Brahmana their voice and leader, the Devas, noble and brilliant sages and scholars of humanity, have prayed for and asked for Vasha, universal knowledge of nature and divinity with freedom of speech. Therefore the man who does not give and expand that knowledge and speech freely for all others suffers the disapproval, displeasure and even wrath of those divinities.
12.4.21
हेडं पशूनां न्य् एति ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ऽददद् वशाम् ।
देवानां निहितं भागं मर्त्यश् चेन् निप्रियायते ॥
heḍaṃ paśūnāṃ ny eti brāhmaṇebhyo 'dadad vaśām ।
devānāṃ nihitaṃ bhāgaṃ martyaś cen nipriyāyate ॥
If mortal man misappropriates for his own self even that share of divinities which is fixed and set apart for them by divine dispensation and refuses to grant to the Brahmanas, scholars, intellectuals and teachers, the freedom of knowledge and speech, he suffers the wrath not only of divinities and men but even of the animals.
12.4.22
यद् अन्ये शतं याचेयुर् ब्राह्मणा गोपतिं वशाम् ।
अथैनां देवा अब्रुवन्न् एवं ह विदुषो वशा ॥
yad anye śataṃ yāceyur brāhmaṇā gopatiṃ vaśām ।
athaināṃ devā abruvann evaṃ ha viduṣo vaśā ॥
If a hundred others, who are dedicated neither to Divinity nor to knowledge nor to speech and freedom, ask the Gopati, lord of knowledge, speech and the earth, for a gift of Vasha, freedom of speech, then, as divine sages have said, Vasha rightly is only for those who are dedicated to Divinity, knowledge and freedom with discipline for the service of all others, not for others.
12.4.23
य एवं विदुषे ऽदत्त्वाथान्येभ्यो ददद् वशाम् ।
दुर्गा तस्मा अधिष्ठाने पृथिवी सहदेवता ॥
ya evaṃ viduṣe 'dattvāthānyebhyo dadad vaśām ।
durgā tasmā adhiṣṭhāne pṛthivī sahadevatā ॥
If a person, community or ruler gives the gift of Vasha, freedom of speech, to others than the learned, having refused it to the dedicated and learned, then it is difficult for them to realise the gifts of earth including those of other divinities of nature and humanity in the house.
12.4.24
देवा वशाम् अयाचन् यस्मिन्न् अग्रे अजायत ।
ताम् एतां विद्यान् नारदः सह देवैर् उद् आजत ॥
devā vaśām ayācan yasminn agre ajāyata ।
tām etāṃ vidyān nāradaḥ saha devair ud ājata ॥
Devas, divine souls, at the earliest prayed and asked for Vasha, universal knowledge and speech, of that Omniscient Spirit in which it first emerged and manifested in thought and Word at the dawn of creation. And that very knowledge, thought and Word, Narada, the man of knowledge and love for humanity, along with other enlightened souls, ought to advance in human society.
12.4.25
अनपत्यम् अल्पपशुं वशा कृणोति पूरुषम् ।
ब्राह्मणैश् च याचिताम् अथैनां निप्रियायते ॥
anapatyam alpapaśuṃ vaśā kṛṇoti pūruṣam ।
brāhmaṇaiś ca yācitām athaināṃ nipriyāyate ॥
If this Vasha, loved and sought for by the devotees of knowledge and divinity, is hoarded by any person, locked up as his exclusive love and wealth, and denied to the seekers, then this denial leads that person to utter destitution of wealth and progeny.
12.4.26
अग्नीषोमाभ्यां कामाय मित्राय वरुणाय च ।
तेभ्यो याचन्ति ब्राह्मणास् तेष्व् आ वृश्चते ऽददत् ॥
agnīṣomābhyāṃ kāmāya mitrāya varuṇāya ca ।
tebhyo yācanti brāhmaṇās teṣv ā vṛścate 'dadat ॥
Brahmanas, seekers of Divinity and knowledge, pray for Vasha for the advancement of Agni and Soma, progress and peace of humanity, for fulfilment of life’s mission, for people of love and friendship, and for people of judgement and discriminative intelligence. The person, individual or ruler, who hoards this divine gift and denies it to the seekers, isolates himself and alienates himself from society although otherwise he may be in the thick of social presence.
12.4.27
यावद् अस्या गोपतिर् नोपशृणुयाद् ऋचः स्वयम् ।
चरेद् अस्य तावद् गोषु नास्य श्रुत्वा गृहे वसेत् ॥
yāvad asyā gopatir nopaśṛṇuyād ṛcaḥ svayam ।
cared asya tāvad goṣu nāsya śrutvā gṛhe vaset ॥
If a ruler has not himself attentively heard the Rks, let him actively move among the scholars of Vedic verses, and when he has fully heard and realised the Vedic voice, let him not be confined to his personal home, nor should the Vedic Voice be locked up in the royal palace.
12.4.28
यो अस्या ऋच उपश्रुत्याथ गोष्व् अचीचरत् ।
आयुश् च तस्य भूतिं च देवा वृश्चन्ति हीडिताः ॥
yo asyā ṛca upaśrutyātha goṣv acīcarat ।
āyuś ca tasya bhūtiṃ ca devā vṛścanti hīḍitāḥ ॥
Having heard and realised the Vasha, Vedic Voice, whoever the person that continues to roam around in the pleasure of the senses, the divinities feel offended and they uproot his life and his life’s wealth of prosperity.
12.4.29
वशा चरन्ती बहुधा देवानां निहितो निधिः ।
आविष् कृणुष्व रूपाणि यदा स्थाम जिघांसति ॥
vaśā carantī bahudhā devānāṃ nihito nidhiḥ ।
āviṣ kṛṇuṣva rūpāṇi yadā sthāma jighāṃsati ॥
Vasha, the Vedic Voice, is the guarded treasure of divine sages and scholars and, in its dynamic state of growth and development through natural media of evolution, gives rise to many new forms of life’s variety while it remains actively living and secure with its
12.4.30
आविर् आत्मानं कृणुते यदा स्थाम जिघांसति ।
अथो ह ब्रह्मभ्यो वशा याञ्च्याय कृणुते मनः ॥
āvir ātmānaṃ kṛṇute yadā sthāma jighāṃsati ।
atho ha brahmabhyo vaśā yāñcyāya kṛṇute manaḥ ॥
Vasha, universal knowledge and the spirit of Being, is a seeker of living media, manifests itself in many forms as it lives with its homely devotees, while, indeed, it inspires the sagely minds for her own self-manifestation and expression for the sake of the seekers of divinity.
12.4.31
मनसा सं कल्पयति तद् देवां अपि गछति ।
ततो ह ब्रह्माणो वशाम् उपप्रयन्ति याचितुम् ॥
manasā saṃ kalpayati tad devāṃ api gachati ।
tato ha brahmāṇo vaśām upaprayanti yācitum ॥
Vasha, the spirit of Being and universal awareness, vibrates and acts through the universal mind. That vibration in the universal mind stimulates the sages at the core of their being and imagination, and thereby the seekers of divinity approach Vasha, universal awareness itself, to pray for the gift of her own self.
12.4.32
स्वधाकारेण पितृभ्यो यज्ञेन देवताभ्यः ।
दानेन राजन्यो वशाया मातुर् हेडम् न गछति ॥
svadhākāreṇa pitṛbhyo yajñena devatābhyaḥ ।
dānena rājanyo vaśāyā mātur heḍam na gachati ॥
By the gift of food and service with reverence for parents and seniors, by yajna in honour of divinities, and by charity in general, the ruler does not suffer the displeasure of Mother Vasha.
12.4.33
वशा माता राजन्यस्य तथा संभूतम् अग्रशः ।
तस्या आहुर् अनर्पणं यद् ब्रह्मभ्यः प्रदीयते ॥
vaśā mātā rājanyasya tathā saṃbhūtam agraśaḥ ।
tasyā āhur anarpaṇaṃ yad brahmabhyaḥ pradīyate ॥
Vasha, the Vedic Voice of divine knowledge, is the mother of rules. It has been so since the beginning. When it is freely given to the seekers of knowledge and divinity in the social system, this giving is not called a gift, because giving knowledge and freedom of speech to the Brahmanas is not charity, it is the fulfilment of the ruler’s obligation.
12.4.34
यथाज्यं प्रगृहीतम् आलुम्पेत् स्रुचो अग्नये ।
एवा ह ब्रह्मभ्यो वशाम् अग्नय आ वृश्चते ऽददत् ॥
yathājyaṃ pragṛhītam ālumpet sruco agnaye ।
evā ha brahmabhyo vaśām agnaya ā vṛścate 'dadat ॥
Just as the person who takes away the ghrta held in the ladle meant for the fire alienates himself from the fire, so does the person withholding Vasha from the rightful seekers of knowledge and divinity alienate himself as a misappropriator in relation to the light of life.
12.4.35
पुरोडाशवत्सा सुदुघा लोके ऽस्मा उप तिष्ठति ।
सास्मै सर्वान् कामान् वशा प्रददुषे दुहे ॥
puroḍāśavatsā sudughā loke 'smā upa tiṣṭhati ।
sāsmai sarvān kāmān vaśā pradaduṣe duhe ॥
Mother Vasha whose gift is food for life and yajna, who is generous and abundant in milk, stands by this humanity in the world. For one who supports and expands this mother knowledge and freedom of speech for the rightful seekers, she brings streams and showers of the nectar milk of life and fulfils all his desires.
12.4.36
सर्वान् कामान् यमराज्ये वशा प्रददुषे दुहे ।
अथाहुर् नारकं लोकं निरुन्धानस्य याचिताम् ॥
sarvān kāmān yamarājye vaśā pradaduṣe duhe ।
athāhur nārakaṃ lokaṃ nirundhānasya yācitām ॥
Mother Vasha fulfils all desires of the generous man of open mind with love of freedom in the dominion of the ruler and dispenser of law, justice and freedom. And the wise say that the world is an insufferable hell under the rule of a person who blocks the spread of knowledge and denies the basic needs of life and freedom of speech to those who rightfully seek and ask for it.
12.4.37
प्रवीयमाना चरति क्रुद्धा गोपतये वशा ।
वेहतं मा मन्यमानो मृत्योः पाशेषु बध्यताम् ॥
pravīyamānā carati kruddhā gopataye vaśā ।
vehataṃ mā manyamāno mṛtyoḥ pāśeṣu badhyatām ॥
Mother Vasha like a pregnant cow, abundant in the gifts of food for body, mind and soul for all, goes about furious with the ruler who believes that she is barren and utterly unproductive. “Cursed be the man who cries me foul and calls me barren,” she protests, “he deserves to be tied down in the chains of Yama, the
12.4.38
यो वेहतं मन्यमानो ऽमा च पचते वशाम् ।
अप्य् अस्य पुत्रान् पौत्रांश् च याचयते बृहस्पतिः ॥
yo vehataṃ manyamāno 'mā ca pacate vaśām ।
apy asya putrān pautrāṃś ca yācayate bṛhaspatiḥ ॥
Whoever the man or ruler that believes that Vasha, mother giver of the milk of life for body, mind and soul with freedom, is barren, unproductive and miscarrier of life and progress and thus tortures her in his home and dominion, Brhaspati, lord of the expansive world of life and progress, punishes him and even reduces his future generations to the state of poverty and destitution.
12.4.39
महद् एषाव तपति चरन्ती गोषु गौर् अपि ।
अथो ह गोपतये वशाददुषे विषं दुहे ॥
mahad eṣāva tapati carantī goṣu gaur api ।
atho ha gopataye vaśādaduṣe viṣaṃ duhe ॥
Like a frustrated cow moving among cows, Vasha, divine knowledge and freedom of speech, scotched yet self-assertive among scholarly sages and intellectuals in a society or dominion, heats up intensely within, and that way it produces but poison for the custodian of life and culture who refuses to grant freedom to the seekers of food for progress and enlightenment.
12.4.40
प्रियं पशूनां भवति यद् ब्रह्मभ्यः प्रदीयते ।
अथो वशायास् तत् प्रियं यद् देवत्रा हविः स्यात् ॥
priyaṃ paśūnāṃ bhavati yad brahmabhyaḥ pradīyate ।
atho vaśāyās tat priyaṃ yad devatrā haviḥ syāt ॥
The freedom of speech and knowledge which is granted to the intellectual seekers of divinity and life’s progress is dear also to the people of average understanding and vision. Indeed that freedom is the real favourite of Vasha, divine spirit of knowledge and freedom itself, which is the holy food of divinities in nature and among humanity.
12.4.41
या वशा उदकल्पयन् देवा यज्ञाद् उदेत्य ।
तासां विलिप्त्यं भीमाम् उदाकुरुत नारदः ॥
yā vaśā udakalpayan devā yajñād udetya ।
tāsāṃ viliptyaṃ bhīmām udākuruta nāradaḥ ॥
That Vasha, mother spirit of divine food, freedom and enlightenment which the divinities received, raised and further developed from cosmic yajna and intellectual gatherings, that very abundant Vasha, that consecrated spirit of life and freedom, now obscured, O Narada, pioneer of knowledge and enlightenment, recover, raise and establish in human society.
12.4.42
तां देवा अमीमांसन्त वशेया3म् अवशेति ।
ताम् अब्रवीन् नारद एषा वशानां वशतमेति ॥
tāṃ devā amīmāṃsanta vaśeyā3m avaśeti ।
tām abravīn nārada eṣā vaśānāṃ vaśatameti ॥
Devas, divine sages, thought over Vasha, spirit of Being, freedom and knowledge, whether it is Vasha, desirable and manageable, or Avasha, undesirable and beyond control. Then Narada, enlightened sage of humanity, thought and said of it : Of all things worthy of love and desire, this Vasha is most valuable and most manageable (by law and discipline).
12.4.43
कति नु वशा नारद यास् त्वं वेत्थ मनुष्यजाः ।
तास् त्वा पृछामि विद्वांसं कस्या नाश्नीयाद् अब्राह्मणः ॥
kati nu vaśā nārada yās tvaṃ vettha manuṣyajāḥ ।
tās tvā pṛchāmi vidvāṃsaṃ kasyā nāśnīyād abrāhmaṇaḥ ॥
O Narada, enlightened thinker of humanity for humanity, how many are the kinds of knowledge and freedom born of divinity through the Vedic lore developed by humanity for humanity, of which you know, I ask you. I ask you, O sage, which one of these is that which the man who is not a Brahmana or Brahmachari, who is not dedicated to Divinity and knowledge with the discipline of celibacy, cannot know?
12.4.44
विलिप्त्या बृहस्पते या च सूतवशा वशा ।
तस्या नाश्नीयाद् अब्राह्मणो य आशंसेत भूत्याम् ॥
viliptyā bṛhaspate yā ca sūtavaśā vaśā ।
tasyā nāśnīyād abrāhmaṇo ya āśaṃseta bhūtyām ॥
O Brhaspati, master, guardian and promoter of knowledge and freedom for life in existence, the man who is indifferent to Divinity and divine values, though deeply dedicated to mundane prosperity, should not, in fact cannot, value and taste the higher pleasures of Vilipti and Sutavasha Vasha, that is, the knowledge and freedom divinely consecrated but humanly obscured, and that which controls the sensual and worldly desires of the men of passion and appetite.
12.4.45
नमस् ते अस्तु नारदानुष्ठु विदुषे वशा ।
कतमासां भीमतमा याम् अदत्त्वा पराभवेत् ॥
namas te astu nāradānuṣṭhu viduṣe vaśā ।
katamāsāṃ bhīmatamā yām adattvā parābhavet ॥
Salutations to you, Narada, enlightened sage. It is fair that the freedom to propagate the knowledge of noble and desirable values enshrined in the Vedic literature be given to the educated and the enlightened. Which of these values is the most sublime and awesome without the pursuit and propagation of which adversity is sure to strike and prevail?
12.4.46
विलिप्ती या बृहस्पते ऽथो सूतवशा वशा ।
तस्या नाश्नीयाद् अब्राह्मणो य आशंसेत भूत्याम् ॥
viliptī yā bṛhaspate 'tho sūtavaśā vaśā ।
tasyā nāśnīyād abrāhmaṇo ya āśaṃseta bhūtyām ॥
O Brhaspati, master, guardian and promoter of knowledge and freedom for life in existence, Vilipti, consecrated but obscured knowledge and freedom unpolluted by hate and attachment, Sutavasha, controller of passions and appetites of men, and Vasha, knowledge and freedom self-disciplined by law and enlightened culture, these are the kinds of knowledge, freedom and values which men indifferent to Divinity and divine values but merged into pleasures of mundane materiality do not and cannot taste and enjoy.
12.4.47
त्रीणि वै वशाजातानि विलिप्ती सूतवशा वशा ।
ताः प्र यछेद् ब्रह्मभ्यः सो ऽनाव्रस्कः प्रजापतौ ॥
trīṇi vai vaśājātāni viliptī sūtavaśā vaśā ।
tāḥ pra yached brahmabhyaḥ so 'nāvraskaḥ prajāpatau ॥
Three are the kinds and orders of Vasha, life-giving spirit of knowledge and freedom: Vilipti, consecrated sublime blest by Divinity for saints and sages, Sutavasha, controller of selfish passions and licentious living, and Vasha, discipline and law for healthy living in family and societyThese the ruler should provide to the scholars, sages and leaders of humanity dedicated to Divinity. Such a ruler, such a person, would not feel isolated and alienated in the world of Prajapati, lord creator, father, ruler and sustainer of life and humanity.
12.4.48
एतद् वो ब्राह्मणा हविर् इति मन्वीत याचितः ।
वशां चेद् एनं याचेयुर् या भीमाददुषो गृहे ॥
etad vo brāhmaṇā havir iti manvīta yācitaḥ ।
vaśāṃ ced enaṃ yāceyur yā bhīmādaduṣo gṛhe ॥
If Brahmanas, saints, sages and Brahmacharis, ask for this Vasha, life-giving mother knowledge and freedom, the ruler giver should give freely, and when he gives, so should he believe and say: O Brahmanas, this is your rightful share of havi due from us, our homage which, otherwise locked up in the house, works havoc with the non-giver’s life.
12.4.49
देवा वशां पर्य् अवदन् न नो ऽदाद् इति हीडिताः ।
एताभिर् ऋग्भिर् भेदं तस्माद् वै स पराभवत् ॥
devā vaśāṃ pary avadan na no 'dād iti hīḍitāḥ ।
etābhir ṛgbhir bhedaṃ tasmād vai sa parābhavat ॥
Frustrated and angry, the divine sages protested to Vasha with Rk verses saying, that the ruler denied them the gift of mother knowledge and freedom of speech. Then arose dissension and for that reason the ruler lost the dominion.
12.4.50
उतैनां भेदो नाददाद् वशाम् इन्द्रेण याचितः ।
तस्मात् तं देवा आगसो ऽवृश्चन्न् अहमुत्तरे ॥
utaināṃ bhedo nādadād vaśām indreṇa yācitaḥ ।
tasmāt taṃ devā āgaso 'vṛścann ahamuttare ॥
And Dissension too did not give the gift of mother knowledge and freedom of speech when Indra, divine seeker, asked for it. And for the reason of that sin of denial, the angry divines uprooted and threw out the misappropriator in the battle of pride and self-aggrandisement.
12.4.51
ये वशाया अदानाय वदन्ति परिरापिणः ।
इन्द्रस्य मन्यवे जाल्मा आ वृश्चन्ते अचित्त्या ॥
ye vaśāyā adānāya vadanti parirāpiṇaḥ ।
indrasya manyave jālmā ā vṛścante acittyā ॥
Those talkative babblers and mischief mongers who advocate and support the denial of mother knowledge and the ban on freedom of speech, those vile fools by their own stupidity get uprooted and fall to the wrath of Indra, the ruler.
12.4.52
ये गोपतिं पराणीयाथाहुर् मा ददा इति ।
रुद्रस्यास्तां ते हेतीं परि यन्त्य् अचित्त्या ॥
ye gopatiṃ parāṇīyāthāhur mā dadā iti ।
rudrasyāstāṃ te hetīṃ pari yanty acittyā ॥
Those who take the Gopati, ruler of the land and master of mother knowledge and free speech, aside and say : “Do not allow free education and free speech to the people”, fall to the wrathful strike of Rudra by the reason of their own ignorance and foolishness.
12.4.53
यदि हुतं यद्य् अहुताम् अमा च पचते वशाम् ।
देवान्त् सब्राह्मणान् ऋत्वा जिह्मो लोकान् निर् ऋछति ॥
yadi hutaṃ yady ahutām amā ca pacate vaśām ।
devānt sabrāhmaṇān ṛtvā jihmo lokān nir ṛchati ॥
Whether the Vasha, gift of living knowledge and freedom of speech, is promised or not promised, received as given or taken by force, when the ruler denies and in his own chamber encloses and stifles this life-giving Vasha, cooking his own plans and plots, the crooked man offends the divinities along with the Brahmanas and violates and forfeits the worlds of his own existence.
Sūkta 5 — Brahma-gavi Devata, Atharvacharya Rshi
Atharvaveda 12.5 · 72 mantras
12.5.53
श्रमेण तपसा सृष्टा ब्रह्मणा वित्ता र्ते श्रिता ॥
वैश्वदेवी ह्य् उच्यसे कृत्या कूल्बजम् आवृता ॥
śrameṇa tapasā sṛṣṭā brahmaṇā vittā rte śritā ॥
vaiśvadevī hy ucyase kṛtyā kūlbajam āvṛtā ॥
The Divine Cow is the Voice of the Veda, brought into being by Divinity with intense thought and spiritual heat, received by the devotee of Divinity, sustained by the law of truth and righteousness,
12.5.2
सत्येनावृता श्रिया प्रावृता यशसा परीवृता ॥
satyenāvṛtā śriyā prāvṛtā yaśasā parīvṛtā ॥
It is consecrated with Truth, enshrined in grace, surrounded with honour,
12.5.3
स्वधया परिहिता श्रद्धया पर्यूढा दीक्षया गुप्ता यज्ञे प्रतिष्ठिता लोको निधनम् ॥
svadhayā parihitā śraddhayā paryūḍhā dīkṣayā guptā yajñe pratiṣṭhitā loko nidhanam ॥
Founded on its own essential power and potential, enshrined in faith, secured in committed loyalty, rooted in yajna, established as the end and aim of life in existence,
12.5.4
ब्रह्म पदवायं ब्राह्मणो ऽधिपतिः ॥
brahma padavāyaṃ brāhmaṇo 'dhipatiḥ ॥
And a prelude to Divinity, Brahma, such is the Divine Cow, universal light and message of Omniscience, of which the Brahmana, man of absolute dedication to Brahma, is the trustee.
12.5.5
ताम् आददानस्य ब्रह्मगवीं जिनतो ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियस्य ॥
tām ādadānasya brahmagavīṃ jinato brāhmaṇaṃ kṣatriyasya ॥
Of that Divine Cow, sacred knowledge and free speech of the Brahmana, if the seizor, Kshatriya, ruler (who really is the protector and promoter) robs the Brahmana,
12.5.6
अप क्रामति सूनृता वीर्यं पुन्या लक्ष्मीः ॥
apa krāmati sūnṛtā vīryaṃ punyā lakṣmīḥ ॥
Then his truth and honour, valour and fame, and his hallowed glory, all forsake him.
12.5.7
ओजश् च तेजश् च सहश् च बलं च वाक् चेन्द्रियं च श्रीश् च धर्मश् च ॥
ojaś ca tejaś ca sahaś ca balaṃ ca vāk cendriyaṃ ca śrīś ca dharmaś ca ॥
And vigour, and lustre, and patience, and power, and speech, and perception, and judgement, and grace, and Dharma,
12.5.8
ब्रह्म च क्षत्रं च राष्ट्रं च विशश् च त्विषिश् च यशश् च वर्चश् च द्रविणं च ॥
brahma ca kṣatraṃ ca rāṣṭraṃ ca viśaś ca tviṣiś ca yaśaś ca varcaś ca draviṇaṃ ca ॥
And piety, and supremacy, and dominion, and economy, and brilliance, and honour, and splendour, and his entire wealth.
12.5.9
आयुश् च रूपं च नाम च कीर्तिश् च प्राणश् चापानश् च चक्षुश् च श्रोत्रं च ॥
āyuś ca rūpaṃ ca nāma ca kīrtiś ca prāṇaś cāpānaś ca cakṣuś ca śrotraṃ ca ॥
And his life, and beauty, and name, and fame, and pranic energy, and apana energy, and eye, and ear,
12.5.10
पयश् च रसश् चान्नं चान्नाद्यं च र्तं च सत्यं चेष्टं च पूर्तं च प्रजा च पशवश् च ॥
payaś ca rasaś cānnaṃ cānnādyaṃ ca rtaṃ ca satyaṃ ceṣṭaṃ ca pūrtaṃ ca prajā ca paśavaś ca ॥
And milk, and drink, and food, and provisions. and righteousness, and truth, and ritual performances, and works of charity, and progeny, and cattle,
12.5.11
तानि सर्वाण्य् अप क्रामन्ति ब्रह्मगवीम् आददानस्य जिनतो ब्राह्मणं क्षत्रियस्य ॥
tāni sarvāṇy apa krāmanti brahmagavīm ādadānasya jinato brāhmaṇaṃ kṣatriyasya ॥
All these forsake that Kshatriya who seizes the Divine Cow and deprives the Brahmana of his rightful knowledge and free speech.
12.5.12
सैषा भीमा ब्रह्मगव्य् अघविषा साक्षात् कृत्या कूल्बजम् आवृता ॥
saiṣā bhīmā brahmagavy aghaviṣā sākṣāt kṛtyā kūlbajam āvṛtā ॥
When this Divine Cow, universal knowledge and free speech, is suppressed and bound as the stormy flood of a river within the banks, then it is terrible, deadly poison, a very killer of the oppressor.
12.5.13
सर्वाण्य् अस्यां घोराणि सर्वे च मृत्यवः ॥
sarvāṇy asyāṃ ghorāṇi sarve ca mṛtyavaḥ ॥
Then all terrors, and all deadly dangers of punitive death concentrate in this Divine Cow, nature’s retribution against suppression of universal knowledge and free speech.
12.5.14
सर्वाण्य् अस्यां क्रूराणि सर्वे पुरुषवधाः ॥
sarvāṇy asyāṃ krūrāṇi sarve puruṣavadhāḥ ॥
Then all hard punishments and deadly possibilities for the violator exist vested in it.
12.5.15
सा ब्रह्मज्यं देवपीयुं ब्रह्मगव्य् आदीयमाना मृत्योः पद्वीष आ द्यति ॥
sā brahmajyaṃ devapīyuṃ brahmagavy ādīyamānā mṛtyoḥ padvīṣa ā dyati ॥
Then the Divine Cow, seized and suppressed, binds the tormentor of Brahmana, worshipper of divinities, in chains of death and destroys him.
12.5.16
मेनिः शतवधा हि सा ब्रह्मज्यस्य क्षितिर् हि सा ॥
meniḥ śatavadhā hi sā brahmajyasya kṣitir hi sā ॥
Then she is a hundred-fold killer, she is a terror for the violator of Divinity and tormentor of the Divine Cow.
12.5.17
तस्माद् वै ब्राह्मणानां गौर् दुराधर्षा विजानता ॥
tasmād vai brāhmaṇānāṃ gaur durādharṣā vijānatā ॥
Therefore this Divine Cow of the Brahmana is invincible, insuppressible, by clever exploiters.
12.5.18
वज्रो धावन्ती वैश्वानर उद्वीता ॥
vajro dhāvantī vaiśvānara udvītā ॥
When raised high, it is Vaishvanara, refulgent sun for humanity, but when terrorised, it is thunderbolt.
12.5.19
हेतिः शफान् उत्खिदन्ती महादेवो ऽपेक्षमाणा ॥
hetiḥ śaphān utkhidantī mahādevo 'pekṣamāṇā ॥
Raising her hoof, she is a strike of thunder, when looked up to with hope and expectation, she is a grand divinity.
12.5.20
क्षुरपविर् ईक्षमाणा वाश्यमानाभि स्फूर्जति ॥
kṣurapavir īkṣamāṇā vāśyamānābhi sphūrjati ॥
Looking round, she is the razor’s edge, when bellowing, the roar of thunder.
12.5.21
मृत्युर् हिङ्कृण्वत्य् उग्रो देवः पुछं पर्यस्यन्ती ॥
mṛtyur hiṅkṛṇvaty ugro devaḥ puchaṃ paryasyantī ॥
Challenging, she is death of the aggressor, raising and striking her tail, a violent supernatural power.
12.5.22
सर्वज्यानिः कर्णौ वरीवर्जयन्ती राजयक्ष्मो मेहन्ती ॥
sarvajyāniḥ karṇau varīvarjayantī rājayakṣmo mehantī ॥
Raising and twisting her ears as if with suspicion, she is fatally moved, pouring fury again and again, she is cancerous and consumptive.
12.5.23
मेनिर् दुह्यमाना शीर्षक्तिर् दुग्धा ॥
menir duhyamānā śīrṣaktir dugdhā ॥
In that tubercular condition, she is dangerous as a weapon when she is being milked, when she has been milked, she is a headache, neurosis.
12.5.24
सेदिर् उपतिष्ठन्ती मिथोयोधः परामृष्टा ॥
sedir upatiṣṭhantī mithoyodhaḥ parāmṛṣṭā ॥
Sitting or standing close, she is infectious and destructive, and when she is in contact, she is a formidable adversary.
12.5.25
शरव्या मुखे ऽपिनह्यमान ऋतिर् हन्यमाना ॥
śaravyā mukhe 'pinahyamāna ṛtir hanyamānā ॥
When her mouth is muzzled, she is like an arrow, and when she is tormented or slain, she becomes a calamity.
12.5.26
अघविषा निपतन्ती तमो निपतिता ॥
aghaviṣā nipatantī tamo nipatitā ॥
Falling, she is deadly poison, fallen, she is utter darkness.
12.5.27
अनुगछन्ती प्राणान् उप दासयति ब्रह्मगवी ब्रह्मज्यस्य ॥
anugachantī prāṇān upa dāsayati brahmagavī brahmajyasya ॥
The Divine Cow pursues the violator by his foot steps and destroys the very soul of his life.
12.5.28
वैरं विकृत्यमाना पौत्राद्यं विभाज्यमाना ॥
vairaṃ vikṛtyamānā pautrādyaṃ vibhājyamānā ॥
Immolated, she is hostility and deadly strife, divided and sheared, she is the devourer of children and grand children.
12.5.29
देवहेतिर् ह्रियमाणा व्यृद्धिर् हृता ॥
devahetir hriyamāṇā vyṛddhir hṛtā ॥
Being distributed and grabbed, she is wrathful Stroke of divinities, when grabbed and gulped, she brings adversity and utter destitution.
12.5.30
पाप्माधिधीयमाना पारुष्यम् अवधीयमाना ॥
pāpmādhidhīyamānā pāruṣyam avadhīyamānā ॥
Seized and possessed, she is sin, possessed and degraded, she brings reproach, squalor and violence.
12.5.31
विषं प्रयस्यन्ती तक्मा प्रयस्ता ॥
viṣaṃ prayasyantī takmā prayastā ॥
Dressed for preparation, she is poison, prepared, she is fever.
12.5.32
अघं प्रच्यमाना दुष्वप्न्यं पक्वा ॥
aghaṃ pracyamānā duṣvapnyaṃ pakvā ॥
Being cooked for pleasure and repast, she is sin, cooked and seasoned, she is an evil dream, a nightmare.
12.5.33
मूलबर्हणी पर्याक्रियमाणा क्षितिः पर्याकृता ॥
mūlabarhaṇī paryākriyamāṇā kṣitiḥ paryākṛtā ॥
Being turned, she uproots, turned and carved, she is extinction.
12.5.34
असंज्ञा गन्धेन शुग् उद्ध्रियमाणाशीविष उद्धृता ॥
asaṃjñā gandhena śug uddhriyamāṇāśīviṣa uddhṛtā ॥
By smell, she is delirium, being taken up, she is sorrow, taken up, she is cobra poison.
12.5.35
अभूतिर् उपह्रियमाणा पराभूतिर् उपहृता ॥
abhūtir upahriyamāṇā parābhūtir upahṛtā ॥
Being seized, she is adversity, taken over, she is the fall, total loss.
12.5.36
शर्वः क्रुद्धः पिश्यमाना शिमिदा पिशिता ॥
śarvaḥ kruddhaḥ piśyamānā śimidā piśitā ॥
Being minced, she is nature’s passion and rage bent on destroying, minced and crushed, she is destruction right up from the roots.
12.5.37
अवर्तिर् अश्यमाना निरृतिर् अशिता ॥
avartir aśyamānā nirṛtir aśitā ॥
Being eaten, she is calamitous, eaten, she is
12.5.38
अशिता लोकाच् छिनत्ति ब्रह्मगवी ब्रह्मज्यम् अस्माच् चामुष्माच् च ॥
aśitā lokāc chinatti brahmagavī brahmajyam asmāc cāmuṣmāc ca ॥
Brahmagavi is the holy cow of Brahma and the Brahmana, Divine Knowledge and holy speech gifted by God, and the knowledge and freedom of that knowledge and speech received in trust, and guarded by Brahmana and Kshatriya for all mankind. When it is devoured, it cuts off the devourer from this world and the next, the other to which humanity aspires to rise. (Brahma Gavi, Divine Cow: the cow, holy mother giver of the milk of life, the Earth, mother sustainer of life. Knowledge, mother giver of light, and freedom, mother giver of continuous progress, must be protected and promoted, never denied, restrained and destroyed. Consecrated, it saves and blesses, defiled, it
12.5.39
तस्या आहननं कृत्या मेनिर् आशसनं वलग ऊबध्यम् ॥
tasyā āhananaṃ kṛtyā menir āśasanaṃ valaga ūbadhyam ॥
Violation and killing of the Divine Cow means self-execution of the violator, carving is strike of the thunderbolt, and arresting or waste is self-decay.
12.5.40
अस्वगता परिह्णुता ॥
asvagatā parihṇutā ॥
Stolen, misappropriated, wrested, it becomes self-denial of life itself for the thief.
12.5.41
अग्निः क्रव्याद् भूत्वा ब्रह्मगवी ब्रह्मज्यं प्रविश्यात्ति ॥
agniḥ kravyād bhūtvā brahmagavī brahmajyaṃ praviśyātti ॥
Violated, the Divine Cow sinks into the violator of Divinity, becomes the fire that eats into his vitals, and ultimately devours him to naught.
12.5.42
सर्वास्याङ्गा पर्वा मूलानि वृश्चति ॥
sarvāsyāṅgā parvā mūlāni vṛścati ॥
All his (violator’s) parts of the body, all vital joints, even the very roots of his being, the Divine Cow cuts into pieces.
12.5.43
छिनत्त्य् अस्य पितृबन्धु परा भावयति मातृबन्धु ॥
chinatty asya pitṛbandhu parā bhāvayati mātṛbandhu ॥
She cuts off all his paternal connections from divinity and humanity, she cuts off all his maternal connections from earth and nature, and reduces him to total alienation from living existence in a state of self-condemnation.
12.5.44
विवाहां ज्ञातीन्त् सर्वान् अपि क्षापयति ब्रह्मगवी ब्रह्मज्यस्य क्षत्रियेणापुनर्दीयमाना ॥
vivāhāṃ jñātīnt sarvān api kṣāpayati brahmagavī brahmajyasya kṣatriyeṇāpunardīyamānā ॥
Unrestored and denied the word of protection and promotion with security by the Kshatriya, guardian ruler, the Divine Cow destroys all familial relations and aU social supports of the violator, denier and destroyer.
12.5.45
अवास्तुम् एनम् अस्वगम् अप्रजसं करोत्य् अपरापरणो भवति क्षीयते ॥
avāstum enam asvagam aprajasaṃ karoty aparāparaṇo bhavati kṣīyate ॥
Violated, the Divine Cow renders the violator homeless, destitute of all his self-possessions, void of kith and kin and even his progeny, alienated from support all round, so that ultimately he goes down self-extinguished.
12.5.46
य एवं विदुषो ब्राह्मणस्य क्षत्रियो गाम् आदत्ते ॥
ya evaṃ viduṣo brāhmaṇasya kṣatriyo gām ādatte ॥
So does the guardian ruler suffer who robs the sagely Brahmana of knowledge and devotion to freedom of speech and misappropriates the Divine Cow unto himself and self-extinction.
12.5.47
क्षिप्रं वै तस्याहनने गृध्राः कुर्वत ऐलबम् ॥
kṣipraṃ vai tasyāhanane gṛdhrāḥ kurvata ailabam ॥
Instant on the guardian ruler’s fall, vultures flock in and raise a deathly din upon the corpse.
12.5.48
क्षिप्रं वै तस्यादहनं परि नृत्यन्ति केशिनीर् आघ्नानाः पाणिनोरसि कुर्वाणाः पापम् ऐलबम् ॥
kṣipraṃ vai tasyādahanaṃ pari nṛtyanti keśinīr āghnānāḥ pāṇinorasi kurvāṇāḥ pāpam ailabam ॥
And soon after on his cremation women with hair dishevelled enact the dance of death, beating their breast with hands and raising the wail of mourning and loss.
12.5.49
क्षिप्रं वै तस्य वास्तुषु वृकाः कुर्वत ऐलबम् ॥
kṣipraṃ vai tasya vāstuṣu vṛkāḥ kurvata ailabam ॥
Soon after, wolves rush into his homes and secret vaults and raise a deathly howl of loot.
12.5.50
क्षिप्रं वै तस्य पृछन्ति यत् तद् आसी3द् इदं नु ता3द् इति ॥
kṣipraṃ vai tasya pṛchanti yat tad āsī3d idaṃ nu tā3d iti ॥
And soon after, people ask about him: Is it that same as he was?
12.5.51
छिन्ध्य् आ छिन्धि प्र छिन्ध्य् अपि क्षापय क्षापय ॥
chindhy ā chindhi pra chindhy api kṣāpaya kṣāpaya ॥
And nature itself seems to say to the fire, Cut down, cut on, break up, reduce, turn it to dust!
12.5.52
आददानम् आङ्गिरसि ब्रह्मज्यम् उप दासय ॥
ādadānam āṅgirasi brahmajyam upa dāsaya ॥
O Spirit of nature, assertive force of life, destroy the violator of Brahma, destroy the killer of Divine Cow, divine knowledge and the divine freedom of the Brahmana’s speech.
12.5.54
ओषन्ती समोषन्ती ब्रह्मणो वज्रः ॥
oṣantī samoṣantī brahmaṇo vajraḥ ॥
Blazing, burning, warming with life, Brahma’s thunder, Brahmana’s lightning light and freedom.
12.5.55
क्षुरपविर् मृत्युर् भूत्वा वि धाव त्वम् ॥
kṣurapavir mṛtyur bhūtvā vi dhāva tvam ॥
Brahmagavi, razor sharp on the wheel, being death for the violator of the Brahmana’s cow, rush on and on.
12.5.56
आ दत्से जिनतां वर्च इष्टं पूर्तं चाशिषः ॥
ā datse jinatāṃ varca iṣṭaṃ pūrtaṃ cāśiṣaḥ ॥
You take off the splendour, cherished performance, charities for fulfilment and all their tally of good wishes from the violators of the Brahmama’s divine cow.
12.5.57
आदाय जीतं जीताय लोके ऽमुष्मिन् प्र यछसि ॥
ādāya jītaṃ jītāya loke 'muṣmin pra yachasi ॥
You pick up the violator of Divine Cow and deliver him up to the chastiser of the violent in the other world of justice and punishment.
12.5.58
अघ्न्ये पदवीर् भव ब्राह्मणस्याभिशस्त्या ॥
aghnye padavīr bhava brāhmaṇasyābhiśastyā ॥
O inviolable Divine Cow, with the appreciation and praise of the Brahmana, be his firm foundation for stablility and his guide on the way forward to enlightenment and social progress.
12.5.59
मेनिः शरव्या भवाघाद् अघविषा भव ॥
meniḥ śaravyā bhavāghād aghaviṣā bhava ॥
Be the thunderbolt, fatal arrow, be the deadly poison against sin and the sinfuls.
12.5.60
अघ्न्ये प्र शिरो जहि ब्रह्मज्यस्य कृतागसो देवपीयोर् अराधसः ॥
aghnye pra śiro jahi brahmajyasya kṛtāgaso devapīyor arādhasaḥ ॥
Inviolable Divine Cow, break the head of the violator of divine law, tormentor of the Brahmana trustee of divine knowledge and freedom of speech, perpetrator of sin, re viler of divinities and the wholly impious.
12.5.61
त्वया प्रमूर्णं मृदितम् अग्निर् दहतु दुश्चितम् ॥
tvayā pramūrṇaṃ mṛditam agnir dahatu duścitam ॥
May the fire burn the sinner, evil at heart, killed and crushed by you.
12.5.62
वृश्च प्र वृश्च सं वृश्च दह प्र दह सं दह ॥
vṛśca pra vṛśca saṃ vṛśca daha pra daha saṃ daha ॥
Pluck off, uproot, cut up, bum, destroy, turn to ash all violators of Divine Cow along with all their supports.
12.5.63
ब्रह्मज्यं देव्य् अघ्न्य आ मूलाद् अनुसंदह ॥
brahmajyaṃ devy aghnya ā mūlād anusaṃdaha ॥
Divine, Inviolable, bum the violator of divine knowledge and freedom of speech unto the root.
12.5.64
यथायाद् यमसादनात् पापलोकान् परावतः ॥
yathāyād yamasādanāt pāpalokān parāvataḥ ॥
So that the violator of Divine Cow go far beyond the House of judgement to the regions of sinners and perdition.
12.5.65
एवा त्वं देव्य् अघ्न्ये ब्रह्मज्यस्य कृतागसो देवपीयोर् अराधसः ॥
evā tvaṃ devy aghnye brahmajyasya kṛtāgaso devapīyor arādhasaḥ ॥
Thus, O Inviolable Divine Cow, deal with the re viler of divine law, tormentor of Brahmana, perpetrator of sin, hater of divinities and the flouter of piety and freedom.
12.5.66
वज्रेण शतपर्वणा तीक्ष्णेन क्षुरभृष्टिना ॥
vajreṇa śataparvaṇā tīkṣṇena kṣurabhṛṣṭinā ॥
Destroy him with the thunderbolt of a hundredfold strike, sharpest burning razor lance of fire.
12.5.67
प्र स्कन्धान् प्र शिरो जहि ॥
pra skandhān pra śiro jahi ॥
Break his shoulders and crush his head.
12.5.68
लोमान्य् अस्य सं छिन्धि त्वचम् अस्य वि वेष्टय ॥
lomāny asya saṃ chindhi tvacam asya vi veṣṭaya ॥
Pluck out his growing tantacles and expose his camouflage.
12.5.69
मांसान्य् अस्य शातय स्नावान्य् अस्य सं वृह ॥
māṃsāny asya śātaya snāvāny asya saṃ vṛha ॥
Break up his material mass and cut off the links of his network.
12.5.70
अस्थीन्य् अस्य पीडय मज्जानम् अस्य निर् जहि ॥
asthīny asya pīḍaya majjānam asya nir jahi ॥
Crush his solid supports and suck out his basic supplies of power and energy.
12.5.71
सर्वास्याङ्गा पर्वाणि वि श्रथय ॥
sarvāsyāṅgā parvāṇi vi śrathaya ॥
Thus break up all parts and unscrew all the connections of his infrastructure.
12.5.72
अग्निर् एनं क्रव्यात् पृथिव्या नुदताम् उद् ओषतु वायुर् अन्तरिक्षान् महतो वरिम्णः ॥
agnir enaṃ kravyāt pṛthivyā nudatām ud oṣatu vāyur antarikṣān mahato varimṇaḥ ॥
Let the funeral fire consume him and throw him up from earth into air with the heat of flames. Let the wind blow him out of the vast firmament over to the heights of space.
12.5.73
सूर्य एनं दिवः प्र णुदतां न्य् ओषतु ॥
sūrya enaṃ divaḥ pra ṇudatāṃ ny oṣatu ॥
Let the sun throw him out of the solar region and bum him to extinction. (Let the violator of Divine Cow, divine law, divine knowledge, freedom of divine speech, be non-existent. That is the ideal of a happy, free, progressive and enlightened human society.)