18. Kāṇḍa 18 — The Pitṛmedha — rites for the departed
Sūkta 1 (mantras 1–59)
Atharvaveda 18.1 · mantras 1–59 of 61 · part 1 of 2
18.1.1
ओ चित् सखायं सख्या ववृत्यां तिरः पुरु चिद् अर्णवं जगन्वान् ।
पितुर् नपातम् आ दधीत वेधा अधि क्षमि प्रतरं दीध्यानः ॥
o cit sakhāyaṃ sakhyā vavṛtyāṃ tiraḥ puru cid arṇavaṃ jaganvān ।
pitur napātam ā dadhīta vedhā adhi kṣami prataraṃ dīdhyānaḥ ॥
Yami: With love and desire I come to a friend of my own choice, a friend who has a long way crossed the vast ocean of life, and I solicit and pray that knowing and thinking of your fulfilment of familial obligation on earth, you beget a successor saviour of your father’s familial line and in marriage bless me with a child.
18.1.2
न ते सखा सख्यं वष्ट्य् एतत् सलक्ष्मा यद् विषुरूपा भवति ।
महस् पुत्रासो असुरस्य वीरा दिवो धर्तार उर्विया परि ख्यन् ॥
na te sakhā sakhyaṃ vaṣṭy etat salakṣmā yad viṣurūpā bhavati ।
mahas putrāso asurasya vīrā divo dhartāra urviyā pari khyan ॥
Yama: Your friend accepts not your proposal of friendship, love and union since, for the purpose of conjugality, you are not homogeneous with him in character and versality of merit and maturity, in fact you are the contrary. Indeed the brave progeny of the great lord of life and energy of nature refulgent with light and wisdom who maintain the light of heaven along with the earth take exception to such a union, in fact they watch, wonder and rule out such a proposal for union.
18.1.3
उशन्ति घा ते अमृतास एतद् एकस्य चित् त्यजसं मर्त्यस्य ।
नि ते मनो मनसि धाय्य् अस्मे जन्युः पतिस् तन्वम् आ विविष्याः ॥
uśanti ghā te amṛtāsa etad ekasya cit tyajasaṃ martyasya ।
ni te mano manasi dhāyy asme janyuḥ patis tanvam ā viviṣyāḥ ॥
Yami: The immortal sustainers of earth and heaven do wish that every mortal should leave at least one descendent child. I have accepted that your mind and soul be one with me, so, pray come and join me in body as husband and as life-giver of your child.
18.1.4
न यत् पुरा चकृमा कद् ध नूनम् ऋतं वदन्तो अनृतं रपेम ।
गन्धर्वो अप्स्व् अप्या च योषा सा नौ नाभिः परमं जामि तन् नौ ॥
na yat purā cakṛmā kad dha nūnam ṛtaṃ vadanto anṛtaṃ rapema ।
gandharvo apsv apyā ca yoṣā sā nau nābhiḥ paramaṃ jāmi tan nau ॥
Yama: Having observed the laws of divine nature and what we have spoken as truth, shall we now do things in violation of truth and speak untruth? Sinfully? Gandharva, the sun, our father, and his light and earth sustained in waters, the mother, that is the central relationship of us both, highest and permanent. (Nothing more, no other.)
18.1.5
गर्भे नु नौ जनिता दम्पती कर् देवस् त्वष्टा सविता विश्वरूपः ।
नकिर् अस्य प्र मिनन्ति व्रतानि वेद नाव् अस्य पृथिवी उत द्यौः ॥
garbhe nu nau janitā dampatī kar devas tvaṣṭā savitā viśvarūpaḥ ।
nakir asya pra minanti vratāni veda nāv asya pṛthivī uta dyauḥ ॥
Yami: Our generator Savita, creator of the universe, Tvashta, maker of universal forms, and Kah, sustainer of created forms, made us a couple of male and female conjugality in nature’s womb of generation itself as keepers and sustainers of this earthly home. None can now violate the rules of the Lord’s discipline. no one does. Of this complementarity of natural conjugal relationship, the earth knows, the sun in heaven knows.
18.1.6
को अद्य युङ्क्ते धुरि गा ऋतस्य शिमीवतो भामिनो दुर्हृणायून् ।
आसन्निषून् हृत्स्वसो मयोभून् य एषां भृत्याम् ऋणधत् स जीवात् ॥
ko adya yuṅkte dhuri gā ṛtasya śimīvato bhāmino durhṛṇāyūn ।
āsanniṣūn hṛtsvaso mayobhūn ya eṣāṃ bhṛtyām ṛṇadhat sa jīvāt ॥
Yama: The Almighty God joins the pursuants and celebrants of truth with the business of life, men of noble action, brilliant, passionate opponents of evil, who shoot arrows into the heart of contradictory forces, and bring peace and well being to life. That person lives in reality who maintains such people and promotes their mission.
18.1.7
को अस्य वेद प्रथमस्याह्नः क ईं ददर्श क इह प्र वोचत् ।
बृहन् मित्रस्य वरुणस्य धाम कद् उ ब्रव आहनो वीच्या नॄन् ॥
ko asya veda prathamasyāhnaḥ ka īṃ dadarśa ka iha pra vocat ।
bṛhan mitrasya varuṇasya dhāma kad u brava āhano vīcyā nṝn ॥
Who knows of that complementarity of man and woman in conjugality created on the first day of creation by Savita-Tvashta? Who saw that? And who would speak of that here now? Only he knows who created that. As of now, who witnessed it? Who can vouchsafe it now? Vast is the distance between east, the house of Mitra, sun and the day, and west, the house of Varuna, presiding deity of the night. (We cannot meet). But O wanton dear, how do you so deceptively speak of men?
18.1.8
यमस्य मा यम्यं काम आगन्त् समाने योनौ सहशेय्याय ।
जायेव पत्ये तन्वं रिरिच्यां वि चिद् वृहेव रथ्येव चक्रा ॥
yamasya mā yamyaṃ kāma āgant samāne yonau sahaśeyyāya ।
jāyeva patye tanvaṃ riricyāṃ vi cid vṛheva rathyeva cakrā ॥
Yami: O Yama, I feel stricken and I come with desire to share life with you in one house and one bed and wish I should surrender my body to you as wife does to the husband so that we may carry on the business of life like the two wheels of a chariot.
18.1.9
न तिष्ठन्ति न नि मिषन्त्य् एते देवानां स्पश इह ये चरन्ति ।
अन्येन मद् आहनो याहि तूयं तेन वि वृह रथ्येव चक्रा ॥
na tiṣṭhanti na ni miṣanty ete devānāṃ spaśa iha ye caranti ।
anyena mad āhano yāhi tūyaṃ tena vi vṛha rathyeva cakrā ॥
Yama: These watchful lights of starry divinities which sojourn here around in space neither stop nor deviate from their path, nor do they ever wink their eye. O love-lorn maiden, go soon to one such other than me and with him carry on the business of life like a chariot wheel.
18.1.10
रात्रीभिर् अस्मा अहभिर् दशस्येत् सूर्यस्य चक्षुर् मुहुर् उन् मिमीयात् ।
दिवा पृथिव्या मिथुना सबन्धू यमीर् यमस्य विवृहाद् अजामि ॥
rātrībhir asmā ahabhir daśasyet sūryasya cakṣur muhur un mimīyāt ।
divā pṛthivyā mithunā sabandhū yamīr yamasya vivṛhād ajāmi ॥
Yami: I wish the eye of the sun were to open again and again, and the days with nights and the nights with days were to favour and enlighten him that just as the sun is in union with the earth together, so would Yamis too like nights join Yama, the day, as strangers, in love.
18.1.11
आ घा ता गछान् उत्तरा युगानि यत्र जामयः कृणवन्न् अजामि ।
उप बर्बृहि वृषभाय बाहुम् अन्यम् इछस्व सुभगे पतिं मत् ॥
ā ghā tā gachān uttarā yugāni yatra jāmayaḥ kṛṇavann ajāmi ।
upa barbṛhi vṛṣabhāya bāhum anyam ichasva subhage patiṃ mat ॥
O Yami, those times would follow long long ages hence when contraries would lie together and co-exist without contradictions. Therefore for the time being, O sweet and debonair, extend your hand to someone else other than me, a real virile man.
18.1.12
किं भ्रातासद् यद् अनाथं भवाति किम् उ स्वसा यन् निरृतिर् निगछात् ।
काममूता बह्व् एतद् रपामि तन्वा मे तन्वं सं पिपृग्धि ॥
kiṃ bhrātāsad yad anāthaṃ bhavāti kim u svasā yan nirṛtir nigachāt ।
kāmamūtā bahv etad rapāmi tanvā me tanvaṃ saṃ pipṛgdhi ॥
Yami: O Yama, what? Then have you become a supporter without support? And I, without support and care, become a stream of life, bereft and forlorn, going away elsewhere in search of another? Love lorn, I am babbling so much, pray join me body with body.
18.1.13
न ते नाथं यम्य् अत्राहम् अस्मि न ते तनूं तन्वा सम् पपृच्याम् ।
अन्येन मत् प्रमुदः कल्पयस्व न ते भ्राता सुभगे वष्ट्य् एतत् ॥
na te nāthaṃ yamy atrāham asmi na te tanūṃ tanvā sam papṛcyām ।
anyena mat pramudaḥ kalpayasva na te bhrātā subhage vaṣṭy etat ॥
Yama: O Yami, I am not your master, not your husband, so I would not embrace your body with mine. So think of enjoying yourself with someone other than me. O fortunate one, the twin friend of yours does not like this union.
18.1.14
न वा उ ते तनूं तन्वा सं पिपृच्यां पापम् आहुर् यः स्वसारं निगछात् ।
असंयद् एतन् मनसो हृदो मे भ्राता स्वसुः शयने यच् छयीय ॥
na vā u te tanūṃ tanvā saṃ pipṛcyāṃ pāpam āhur yaḥ svasāraṃ nigachāt ।
asaṃyad etan manaso hṛdo me bhrātā svasuḥ śayane yac chayīya ॥
And I would not touch your body with mine. The wise say that for a twin it is sin to meet a sister in conjugality. It is against my mind and heart that a brother should even think of sleeping with a sister.
18.1.15
बतो बतासि यम नैव ते मनो हृदयं चाविदाम् आ ।
अन्या किल त्वां कक्ष्येव युक्तं परि ष्वजातौ लिबुजेव वृक्षम् ॥
bato batāsi yama naiva te mano hṛdayaṃ cāvidām ā ।
anyā kila tvāṃ kakṣyeva yuktaṃ pari ṣvajātau libujeva vṛkṣam ॥
Yami: Sorry Yama, it is a pity I did not understand your mind and heart this way of nature and tradition. May be someone other than me would join you like a girdle round your waist and embrace you as a creeper clings by a tree.
18.1.16
अन्यम् ऊ षु यम्य् अन्य उ त्वां परि ष्वजातौ लिबुजेव वृक्षम् ।
तस्य वा त्वं मन इछा स वा तवाधा कृणुष्व संविदं सुभद्राम् ॥
anyam ū ṣu yamy anya u tvāṃ pari ṣvajātau libujeva vṛkṣam ।
tasya vā tvaṃ mana ichā sa vā tavādhā kṛṇuṣva saṃvidaṃ subhadrām ॥
Yama: O Yami, you too find some other partner. Some other may embrace you, and you too embrace him like a creeper embracing the tree. Love you the other man heart and soul, and may he too love you heart and soul. Thus may you create and achieve a happy union in love and good fortune.
18.1.17
त्रीणि छन्दांसि कवयो वि येतिरे पुरुरूपं दर्शतं विश्वचक्षणम् ।
आपो वाता ओषधयस् तान्य् एकस्मिन् भुवन आर्पितानि ॥
trīṇi chandāṃsi kavayo vi yetire pururūpaṃ darśataṃ viśvacakṣaṇam ।
āpo vātā oṣadhayas tāny ekasmin bhuvana ārpitāni ॥
Sages and scholars of Shastra and Vedas study and foster three joyous gifts of nature and divinity, versatile in form, sensitively satisfying and universally illuminative for body, sense and mind and the soul. For this purpose, they are: waters for taste and sweetness, winds for energy of prana, and herbs for strength and alleviation of pain. And all these three are vested and concentrated in the same one source. Nature.
18.1.18
वृषा वृष्णे दुदुहे दोहसा दिवः पयांसि यह्वो अदितेर् अदाभ्यः ।
विश्वं स वेद वरुणो यथा धिया स यज्ञियो यजति यज्ञियां ऋतून् ॥
vṛṣā vṛṣṇe duduhe dohasā divaḥ payāṃsi yahvo aditer adābhyaḥ ।
viśvaṃ sa veda varuṇo yathā dhiyā sa yajñiyo yajati yajñiyāṃ ṛtūn ॥
Generous lord divine, omnipotent and undaunted, with cosmic churning, distils the nectar sweets of heaven from mother Aditi, imperishable Prakrti, for generous humanity. He, lord omniscient of infinite wisdom knows the universe and showers the knowledge of Veda too for mankind. And the generous scholar, man of judgement, venerable as Varuna, distils universal knowledge from Veda according to his intelligence and vision, joins the divine seasons and distils the joyous gifts of food, energy and illumination from nature and Vedic vision.
18.1.19
रपद् गन्धर्वीर् अप्या च योषणा नदस्य नादे परि पातु नो मनः ।
इष्टस्य मध्ये अदितिर् नि धातु नो भ्राता नो ज्येष्ठः प्रथमो वि वोचति ॥
rapad gandharvīr apyā ca yoṣaṇā nadasya nāde pari pātu no manaḥ ।
iṣṭasya madhye aditir ni dhātu no bhrātā no jyeṣṭhaḥ prathamo vi vocati ॥
Gandharvi, Vedic voice that holds and expresses the voice of the Lord of the universe, which is adorable and inspiring and which eternally proclaims the divine Word, may, we pray, establish and promote our mind and soul in the celebration of the resounding flood of the divine voice. And may Aditi, Mother Nature, and her eternal voice, and Agni, leading light of life, first and highest brotherly supporter, establish us at the centre of our desire and fulfilment and continue to speak to us of nature, knowledge and wisdom.
18.1.20
सो चित् नु भद्रा क्षुमती यशस्वत्य् उषा उवास मनवे स्वर्वती ।
यद् ईम् उशन्तम् उशताम् अनु क्रतुम् अग्निं होतारं विदथाय जीजनन् ॥
so cit nu bhadrā kṣumatī yaśasvaty uṣā uvāsa manave svarvatī ।
yad īm uśantam uśatām anu kratum agniṃ hotāraṃ vidathāya jījanan ॥
Surely the illuminant, auspicious, abundant, brilliant, beatifying light of the dawn of divine vision arises when the sages invoke and kindle and raise the loving divine fire of Agni, high priest of divine-human communion, in accordance with the passion and devotion of the lovers of Divinity for the success of their meditative yajna.
18.1.21
अध त्यं द्रप्सं विभ्वं विचक्षनं विर् आभरद् इषिरः श्येनो अध्वरे ।
यदी विशो वृणते दस्मम् आर्या अग्निं होतारम् अध धीर् अजायत ॥
adha tyaṃ drapsaṃ vibhvaṃ vicakṣanaṃ vir ābharad iṣiraḥ śyeno adhvare ।
yadī viśo vṛṇate dasmam āryā agniṃ hotāram adha dhīr ajāyata ॥
When noble dedicated people choose, invoke and adore this blissful Agni, high priest of meditative as well as social yajna, and when the vision of clairvoyance arises, then the instant, inspiring eagle spirit of divinity brings in the infinite, illuminative nectar shower of divine bliss to the devotee in the meditative communion.
18.1.22
सदासि रण्वो यवसेव पुष्यते होत्राभिर् अग्ने मनुषः स्वध्वरः ।
विप्रस्य वा यच् छशमान उक्थ्यो वाजं ससवां उपयासि भूरिभिः ॥
sadāsi raṇvo yavaseva puṣyate hotrābhir agne manuṣaḥ svadhvaraḥ ।
viprasya vā yac chaśamāna ukthyo vājaṃ sasavāṃ upayāsi bhūribhiḥ ॥
Agni, divine spirit of man’s holy yajna of love and non-violence, you are always lovable and inspiring as sumptuous food for the mind and soul. And, served and adorable with abundant offers of homage and oblations, having accepted and enjoying the homage, you come fast and bless the vibrant devotee’s yajna with success and attainments.
18.1.23
उद् ईरय पितरा जार आ भगम् इयक्षति हर्यतो हृत्त इष्यति ।
विवक्ति वह्निः स्वपस्यते मखस् तविष्यते असुरो वेपते मती ॥
ud īraya pitarā jāra ā bhagam iyakṣati haryato hṛtta iṣyati ।
vivakti vahniḥ svapasyate makhas taviṣyate asuro vepate matī ॥
Agni, leading light of life, inspire the parents: The sun augments honour and excellence, the lover is eager to meet the love, anxious with heart and soul, the messenger speaks and inspires, the oblations energise, pranic energy stirs the mind.
18.1.24
यस् ते अग्ने सुमतिं मर्तो अख्यत् सहसः सूनो अति स प्र शृण्वे ।
इषं दधानो वहमानो अश्वैर् आ स द्युमां अमवान् भूषति द्यून् ॥
yas te agne sumatiṃ marto akhyat sahasaḥ sūno ati sa pra śṛṇve ।
iṣaṃ dadhāno vahamāno aśvair ā sa dyumāṃ amavān bhūṣati dyūn ॥
Agni, inspirer of power and patience, one who enjoys your good will, bears your light and wisdom and proclaims it,, wins the ear of his audience and rises to fame. Bearing and enjoying plenty and prosperity of food, energy and love, moving by horse drawn chariot he adds to the strength and splendour of his life and time.
18.1.25
श्रुधी नो अग्ने सदने सधस्थे युक्ष्वा रथम् अमृतस्य द्रवित्नुम् ।
आ नो वह रोदसी देवपुत्रे माकिर् देवानाम् अप भूर् इह स्याः ॥
śrudhī no agne sadane sadhasthe yukṣvā ratham amṛtasya dravitnum ।
ā no vaha rodasī devaputre mākir devānām apa bhūr iha syāḥ ॥
O leading life of existence, Agni, listen to our voice of prayer in this hall of yajna, harness the superfast chariot of immortality and bring us here the heaven and earth with their divine children, never forsake the divinities in human form, always abide by us here itself.
18.1.26
यद् अग्न एषा समितिर् भवाति देवी देवेषु यजता यजत्र ।
रत्ना च यद् विभजासि स्वधावो भागं नो अत्र वसुमन्तं वीतात् ॥
yad agna eṣā samitir bhavāti devī deveṣu yajatā yajatra ।
ratnā ca yad vibhajāsi svadhāvo bhāgaṃ no atra vasumantaṃ vītāt ॥
Agni, adorable leading light and ruling lord of life, when this Samiti, assembly of the people, becomes elevated, enlightened, acceptable and companionable among noble and enlightened people and you come to distribution of the jewel valuables of life, pray give us our share of the wealth, honour and excellence of life
18.1.27
अन्व् अग्निर् उषसाम् अग्रम् अख्यद् अन्व् अहानि प्रथमो जातवेदाः ।
अनु सूर्य उषसो अनु रश्मीन् द्यावापृथिवी आ विवेश ॥
anv agnir uṣasām agram akhyad anv ahāni prathamo jātavedāḥ ।
anu sūrya uṣaso anu raśmīn dyāvāpṛthivī ā viveśa ॥
Agni, cosmic light of existence, all pervasive, first presence, self-manifestive, omniscient of all forms, potential and actual, one with the sun, exists in advance of the dawns and days, and pervades the stars, the dawns, the radiating rays and the earth and heaven (as they come into existence).
18.1.28
प्रत्य् अग्निर् उषसाम् अग्रम् अख्यत् प्रत्य् अहानि प्रथमो जातवेदाः ।
प्रति सूर्यस्य पुरुधा च रश्मीन् प्रति द्यावापृथिवी आ ततान ॥
praty agnir uṣasām agram akhyat praty ahāni prathamo jātavedāḥ ।
prati sūryasya purudhā ca raśmīn prati dyāvāpṛthivī ā tatāna ॥
Agni, light of existence, all pervasive, first presence, self-manifestive, omniscient of all forms potential and actual, exists before and pervades and watches as they come into existence, every one of the dawns, every one of the days, and many ways extends and pervades every sun, the radiating rays and heaven and earth as they expand and multiply.
18.1.29
द्यावा ह क्षामा प्रथमे ऋतेनाभिश्रावे भवतः सत्यवाचा ।
देवो यन् मर्तान् यजथाय कृण्वन्त् सीदद् धोता प्रत्यङ् स्वम् असुं यन् ॥
dyāvā ha kṣāmā prathame ṛtenābhiśrāve bhavataḥ satyavācā ।
devo yan martān yajathāya kṛṇvant sīdad dhotā pratyaṅ svam asuṃ yan ॥
Heaven and earth are the first and closest divinities by virtue of the cosmic order to listen to the holy chant and proclaim their response with light and generosity when Agni, refulgent spirit of life and light of the world, chief yajamana and inspirer of cosmic yajna, calling mortals to the altar, settles in the vedi itself upfront, generating and accelerating the radiation of its own energy in the yajnic process of evolution being enacted.
18.1.30
देवो देवान् परिभूर् ऋतेन वहा नो हव्यं प्रथमश् चिकित्वान् ।
धूमकेतुः समिधा भाऋजीको मन्द्रो होता नित्यो वाचा यजीयान् ॥
devo devān paribhūr ṛtena vahā no havyaṃ prathamaś cikitvān ।
dhūmaketuḥ samidhā bhāṛjīko mandro hotā nityo vācā yajīyān ॥
May Agni, supreme power and presence of the spirit over divinities of heaven and earth, first and instant cognizant of our invocation and prayers, radiate and carry our homage and oblations to the divinities of nature by the laws of its cosmic order: Agni, that is the power with the banner of light and fragrance, blazing with flames of fuel fire, adorable sublime, divine call for action and self-sacrifice, eternal and imperishable, loving and companionable, responsive to words of sincere adoration.
18.1.31
अर्चामि वां वर्धायापो घृतस्नू द्यावाभूमी शृणुतं रोदसी मे ।
अहा यद् देवा असुनीतिम् आयन् मध्वा नो अत्र पितरा शिशीताम् ॥
arcāmi vāṃ vardhāyāpo ghṛtasnū dyāvābhūmī śṛṇutaṃ rodasī me ।
ahā yad devā asunītim āyan madhvā no atra pitarā śiśītām ॥
Listen ye both heaven and earth to my words of adoration: I celebrate you both heaven and earth as father and mother, givers of the liquid energies of life for the growth and progress of humanity and the environment, which, may the brilliant geniuses of humanity, taking forward the energy projects and policies of the world, promote day and night incessantly and which, may the parental powers and leadership of mankind refine and augment further to add to the light and sweetness of life here on earth.
18.1.32
स्वावृग् देवस्यामृतं यदी गोर् अतो जातासो धारयन्त उर्वी ।
विश्वे देवा अनु तत् ते यजुर् गुर् दुहे यद् एनी दिव्यं घृतम् वाः ॥
svāvṛg devasyāmṛtaṃ yadī gor ato jātāso dhārayanta urvī ।
viśve devā anu tat te yajur gur duhe yad enī divyaṃ ghṛtam vāḥ ॥
When the celestial nectar of this refulgent power’s own essence radiates, then the energies generated by it support and sustain both earth and heaven, and all divinities of nature and humanity receive and celebrate these gifts of Agni, the divine beauty, radiance and liquid energies which the divine light showers upon them.
18.1.33
किं स्विन् नो राजा जगृहे कद् अस्याति व्रतं चकृमा को वि वेद ।
मित्रस् चिद् धि ष्मा जुहुराणो देवां छ्लोको न याताम् अपि वाजो अस्ति ॥
kiṃ svin no rājā jagṛhe kad asyāti vrataṃ cakṛmā ko vi veda ।
mitras cid dhi ṣmā juhurāṇo devāṃ chloko na yātām api vājo asti ॥
Does the ruling refulgent Agni receive and accept our homage? Do we sometimes overstep its laws and limits of benediction and experimentation? Who knows this secret we ought to know? Agni is a friend after all, invoked and served with excess or remiss, it would accept our homage and adoration and convey it to the divinities, and we pray may there be success and ultimate victory.
18.1.34
दुर्मन्त्व् अत्रामृतस्य नाम सलक्ष्मा यद् विषुरूपा भवाति ।
यमस्य यो मनवते सुमन्त्व् अग्ने तम् ऋष्व पाह्य् अप्रयुछन् ॥
durmantv atrāmṛtasya nāma salakṣmā yad viṣurūpā bhavāti ।
yamasya yo manavate sumantv agne tam ṛṣva pāhy aprayuchan ॥
Incomprehensible is this mystery of immortal Agni and its power, for sure, since arising from the same one source and homogeneous, it grows to boundless variety of forms which, nevertheless, for the man who knows the One Supreme Agni, ordainer and controller of this existential variety, is simple and clearly understandable. This man, O lord great and gracious, protect and promote without relent.
18.1.35
यस्मिन् देवा विदथे मादयन्ते विवस्वतः सदने धारयन्ते ।
सूर्ये ज्योतिर् अदधुर् मास्य् अक्तून् परि द्योतनिं चरतो अजस्रा ॥
yasmin devā vidathe mādayante vivasvataḥ sadane dhārayante ।
sūrye jyotir adadhur māsy aktūn pari dyotaniṃ carato ajasrā ॥
In whose being the divinities of nature and humanity rejoice in the yajnic order of existence, carry on their assigned tasks in the regions of light and in the heart and soul of humanity, vest light in the sun and dark tinge in the moon, that refulgent Agni, the sun and moon and all other divinities constantly adore and serve.
18.1.36
यस्मिन् देवा मन्मनि संचरन्त्य् अपीच्ये न वयम् अस्य विद्म ।
मित्रो नो अत्रादितिर् अनागान्त् सविता देवो वरुणाय वोचत् ॥
yasmin devā manmani saṃcaranty apīcye na vayam asya vidma ।
mitro no atrāditir anāgānt savitā devo varuṇāya vocat ॥
In whose illuminative yet mysterious being all divine powers exist and act, we know not well. May the same refulgent Agni, the divine powers reveal to us who are simple, sincere and conscientious seekers of Divinity, so that we may distinctly and intelligently know and serve the divine power. May Mitra, universal spirit of divine love as the sun, Aditi, imperishable mother Nature, self-refulgent Savita, creator and inspirer, reveal the mysterious power and presence of Agni.
18.1.37
सखाय आ शिषामहे ब्रह्मेन्द्राय वज्रिणे ।
स्तुष ऊ षु नृतमाय धृष्णवे ॥
sakhāya ā śiṣāmahe brahmendrāya vajriṇe ।
stuṣa ū ṣu nṛtamāya dhṛṣṇave ॥
Come friends, let us for your sake sing a song of adoration in honour of Indra, lord of power, wielder of the thunderbolt of justice and punishment, in order to glorify the noblest leader of resolute will and inviolable command.
18.1.38
शवसा ह्य् असि श्रुतो वृत्रहत्येन वृत्रहा ।
मघैर् मघोनो अति शूर दाशसि ॥
śavasā hy asi śruto vṛtrahatyena vṛtrahā ।
maghair maghono ati śūra dāśasi ॥
O heroic leader and ruler, by virtue of your strength and will you are renowned as destroyer of evil for having eliminated evil, want and suffering. You are famous as the lord magnanimous of glory for your wealth and generosity because your generosity exceeds the expectations of the richest generous people.
18.1.39
स्तेगो न क्षाम् अत्य् एषि पृथिवीं मही नो वाता इह वान्तु भूमौ ।
मित्रो नो अत्र वरुणो युजमानो अग्निर् वने न व्य् असृष्ट शोकम् ॥
stego na kṣām aty eṣi pṛthivīṃ mahī no vātā iha vāntu bhūmau ।
mitro no atra varuṇo yujamāno agnir vane na vy asṛṣṭa śokam ॥
Just as the sun shines upon the earth and transcends, so do you, O Indra, ruler, rule the earth. Let pleasant winds blow upon the vast earth for us. Let Mitra, divine love, and Varuna, divine judgement, as sun and air, together, remove our pain and suffering as fire releases its heat in the forest and burns away unwanted undergrowth.
18.1.40
स्तुहि श्रुतं गर्तसदं जनानां राजानं भीमम् उपहत्नुम् उग्रम् ।
मृडा जरित्रे रुद्र स्तवानो अन्यम् अस्मत् ते नि वपन्तु सेन्यम् ॥
stuhi śrutaṃ gartasadaṃ janānāṃ rājānaṃ bhīmam upahatnum ugram ।
mṛḍā jaritre rudra stavāno anyam asmat te ni vapantu senyam ॥
O man, worship and adore Rudra, vibrant in the soul, self-refulgent ruler of humanity, closest at heart, terrible destroyer of evil instantly. O Rudra, celebrated and adored by humanity, be kind and gracious to the dedicated worshippers, and let the force of your punitive power fall upon other forces than us, such as hate and enmity, sin and suffering, all alien to us.
18.1.41
सरस्वतीं देवयन्तो हवन्ते सरस्वतीम् अध्वरे तायमाने ।
सरस्वतीं सुकृतो हवन्ते सरस्वती दाशुषे वार्यं दात् ॥
sarasvatīṃ devayanto havante sarasvatīm adhvare tāyamāne ।
sarasvatīṃ sukṛto havante sarasvatī dāśuṣe vāryaṃ dāt ॥
People dedicated to Divinity invoke and worship Sarasvati. Mother Voice of divine Omniscience. They worship her in the performance of yajna while the fragrance is expanding and light is radiating. People of holy action invoke and worship Saras vati while they act. May Saras vati give to the generous worshipper and yajna performer the fruit the singer of the song divine prays for.
18.1.42
सरस्वतीं पितरो हवन्ते दक्षिना यज्ञम् अभिनक्षमाणाः ।
आसद्यास्मिन् बर्हिषि मादयध्वम् अनमीवा इष आ धेह्य् अस्मे ॥
sarasvatīṃ pitaro havante dakṣinā yajñam abhinakṣamāṇāḥ ।
āsadyāsmin barhiṣi mādayadhvam anamīvā iṣa ā dhehy asme ॥
Parental house-holders eager to perform yajna with generous gifts of Dakshina invoke and worship Sarasvati, mother Spirit of Voice divine. O mother, come and grace this holy vedi with your divine presence, rejoice with the dedicated worshippers and bring us food and energy, wealth, honour and excellence free from all kinds of negativities.
18.1.43
सरस्वति या सरथं ययाथोक्थैः स्वधाभिर् देवि पितृभिर् मदन्ती ।
सहस्रार्घम् इडो अत्र भागं रायस् पोषं यजमानाय धेहि ॥
sarasvati yā sarathaṃ yayāthokthaiḥ svadhābhir devi pitṛbhir madantī ।
sahasrārgham iḍo atra bhāgaṃ rāyas poṣaṃ yajamānāya dhehi ॥
Sarasvati, vibrant mother voice of Divinity who come with celestial joy in response to songs of adoration and oblations of holy fragrance, divine mother rejoicing with parental house-holders, pray come and bless the yajamana with food and energy, wealth, honour and excellence for body, mind and soul, a rightful share worth a thousand laudations.
18.1.44
उद् ईरताम् अवर उत् परास उन् मध्यमाः पितरः सोम्यासः ।
असुं य ईयुर् अवृका ऋतज्ञास् ते नो ऽवन्तु पितरो हवेषु ॥
ud īratām avara ut parāsa un madhyamāḥ pitaraḥ somyāsaḥ ।
asuṃ ya īyur avṛkā ṛtajñās te no 'vantu pitaro haveṣu ॥
May the wise and parental seniors of average, high and middle order, harbingers of peace and joy, friendly dynamic scholars and scientists of yajna who know the cosmic order and the laws of nature and living truths of life, rise, inspire us with energy and enthusiasm for life, and may all these saviour and protective powers of nature and humanity strengthen us to defend and promote ourselves in internal and external challenges of life and the environment.
18.1.45
आहं पितॄन्त् सुविदत्रां अवित्सि नपातं च विक्रमणं च विष्णोः ।
बर्हिषदो ये स्वधया सुतस्य भजन्त पित्वस् त इहागमिष्ठाः ॥
āhaṃ pitṝnt suvidatrāṃ avitsi napātaṃ ca vikramaṇaṃ ca viṣṇoḥ ।
barhiṣado ye svadhayā sutasya bhajanta pitvas ta ihāgamiṣṭhāḥ ॥
I know and join the holy, wise, generous and parental powers of humanity. I know the stable, radiative and expansive powers and presence of yajna and its creative effects. O scholars and scientists of yajna who join the creative fire enterprise here on the vedi with your inputs of knowledge and expertise, come and partake of the freshness and fragrance of fruits produced and given by yajna.
18.1.46
इदं पितृभ्यो नमो अस्त्व् अद्य ये पूर्वासो ये अपरास ईयुः ।
ये पार्थिवे रजस्य् आ निषक्ता ये वा नूनं सुवृजनासु दिक्षु ॥
idaṃ pitṛbhyo namo astv adya ye pūrvāso ye aparāsa īyuḥ ।
ye pārthive rajasy ā niṣaktā ye vā nūnaṃ suvṛjanāsu dikṣu ॥
Let this yajnic homage today be for the sun rays and pranic energies radiating from the east and west, let it also be for the parental wise and seniors of the past and later ones. Let it be for the energies which abide in the earthly sphere and in space and skies, and let it be for the energy which vibrates in the living forms of nature anywhere, and for the wise anywhere in humanity.
18.1.47
मातली कव्यैर् यमो अङ्गिरोभिर् बृहस्पतिर् ऋक्वभिर् वावृधानः ।
यांश् च देवा वावृधुर् ये च देवांस् ते नो ऽवन्तु पितरो हवेषु ॥
mātalī kavyair yamo aṅgirobhir bṛhaspatir ṛkvabhir vāvṛdhānaḥ ।
yāṃś ca devā vāvṛdhur ye ca devāṃs te no 'vantu pitaro haveṣu ॥
May Matali, master creator of knowledge and power with wise experts of Vedic science, Yama, the yogi with vibrant pranic energies, Brhaspati, eminent scholar with all round versatility rising with the application of Rk verses, those whose natural knowledge of life and environment has raised them to eminence, and those who advance natural knowledge and extend the work of earlier dedicated scholars, may all these parental seniors protect and promote us in the serious struggles we face for the advancement of life and knowledge.
18.1.48
स्वादुष् किलायं मधुमां उतायं तीव्रः किलायं रसवां उतायम् ।
उतो न्व् अस्य पपिवांसम् इन्द्रं न कश् चन सहत आहवेषु ॥
svāduṣ kilāyaṃ madhumāṃ utāyaṃ tīvraḥ kilāyaṃ rasavāṃ utāyam ।
uto nv asya papivāṃsam indraṃ na kaś cana sahata āhaveṣu ॥
Surely this knowledge and power, the taste of it, is delicious, it is honey sweet, it is strong and intense, and its flavour is soothing, sobering and exciting too. Whoever the soul that has tasted of it is strong, a very Indra, whom no one can challenge in the pressing battles of life.
18.1.49
परेयिवांसं प्रवतो महीर् इति बहुभ्यः पन्थाम् अनुपस्पशानम् ।
वैवस्वतं संगमनं जनानां यमं राजानं हविषा सपर्यत ॥
pareyivāṃsaṃ pravato mahīr iti bahubhyaḥ panthām anupaspaśānam ।
vaivasvataṃ saṃgamanaṃ janānāṃ yamaṃ rājānaṃ haviṣā saparyata ॥
With homage of havi and self-sacrifice in karma, serve and worship Yama, leading light and ruler of life with justice and dispensation, who shows the paths of living for all and leads the pioneers of initiative and advancement to distant lands of their choice and who, lord of the worlds of light like regent of the Sun, is the ultimate haven and home of people.
18.1.50
यमो नो गातुं प्रथमो विवेद नैषा गव्यूतिर् अपभर्तवा उ ।
यत्रा नः पूर्वे पितरः परेता एना जज्ञानाः पथ्या अनु स्वाः ॥
yamo no gātuṃ prathamo viveda naiṣā gavyūtir apabhartavā u ।
yatrā naḥ pūrve pitaraḥ paretā enā jajñānāḥ pathyā anu svāḥ ॥
Yama, lord of ultimate justice and dispensation, first carved, manifested and proclaimed the universal way of life according to the laws of nature. And that is the way and the law of life in existence which is neither challengeable nor changeable. That is the path by which our ancestors went forward in life, and that same is the path by which others who come later, know and go according to their own choice for themselves.
18.1.51
बर्हिषदः पितर ऊत्य् अर्वाग् इमा वो हव्या चकृमा जुषध्वम् ।
त आ गतावसा शंतमेनाधा नः शं योर् अरपो दधात ॥
barhiṣadaḥ pitara ūty arvāg imā vo havyā cakṛmā juṣadhvam ।
ta ā gatāvasā śaṃtamenādhā naḥ śaṃ yor arapo dadhāta ॥
O parental powers of nature and humanity, scholars of the science of atmospheric and environmental management of the globe, for all round peace and protection of life here and here-after, we have prepared these yajnic materials for homage to you which please accept and use with love and faith. O masters, come always with peaceful modes of universal protection, bear and bring us showers of peace and freedom from sin, violence and fear.
18.1.52
आच्या जानु दक्षिणतो निषद्येदं नो हविर् अभि गृणन्तु विश्वे ।
मा हिंसिष्ट पितरः केन चिन् नो यद् व आगः पुरुषता कराम ॥
ācyā jānu dakṣiṇato niṣadyedaṃ no havir abhi gṛṇantu viśve ।
mā hiṃsiṣṭa pitaraḥ kena cin no yad va āgaḥ puruṣatā karāma ॥
O saviour sages of the world, with knees bent in honour of the vedi, please be seated on the right, accept our homage of havi and accomplish the yajna with specific words of appraisal. And if we happen to transgress some rule or ritual of yajnic manners, or if we happen to be impertinent to you - because we are human, after all - pray be kind, take no offence, forgive us, and let no hurt affect the yajna.
18.1.53
त्वष्टा दुहित्रे वहतुं कृणोति तेनेदं विश्वं भुवनं सम् एति ।
यमस्य माता पर्युह्यमाना महो जाया विवस्वतो ननाश ॥
tvaṣṭā duhitre vahatuṃ kṛṇoti tenedaṃ viśvaṃ bhuvanaṃ sam eti ।
yamasya mātā paryuhyamānā maho jāyā vivasvato nanāśa ॥
Tvashta, cosmic maker of the forms of existence, for fulfilment of the creative urge of nature, Prakrti, initiates the onward process of evolution, and the entire universe comes into being in cosmic time. While Prakrti, consort of the self-refulgent creator Savita and mother origin of the order of evolution, is fertilized and moves on to its generative function, it disappears, that is, it transforms from its original intangible essence into the tangible creative form and generative power in existence.
18.1.54
प्रेहि प्रेहि पथिभिः पूर्याणैर् येना ते पूर्वे पितरः परेताः ।
उभा राजानौ स्वधया मदन्तौ यमं पश्यासि वरुणं च देवम् ॥
prehi prehi pathibhiḥ pūryāṇair yenā te pūrve pitaraḥ paretāḥ ।
ubhā rājānau svadhayā madantau yamaṃ paśyāsi varuṇaṃ ca devam ॥
Go forward, O man, move on by the paths of life earlier and universally carved for you, paths by which the ancients too went forward to complete their course of life. Intelligent you are and you see both Yama and Varuna, divine sun and divine night, all-comprehending time and the spirit of cosmic judgement, the solar region and the cosmic waters, both divine, brilliant, ecstatic, ruling strong in terms of their own powers, and agreeable by your service to them and to the environment.
18.1.55
अपेत वीत वि च सर्पतातो ऽस्मा एतं पितरो लोकम् अक्रन् ।
अहोभिर् अद्भिर् अक्तुभिर् व्यक्तं यमो ददात्य् अवसानम् अस्मै ॥
apeta vīta vi ca sarpatāto 'smā etaṃ pitaro lokam akran ।
ahobhir adbhir aktubhir vyaktaṃ yamo dadāty avasānam asmai ॥
All disturbances to go, go away, go far, your own ways. Pitr-prana energies of solar radiation, which have carried this soul, departed, gone away, carried around by sun rays, have prepared this new phase for it, and Yama, cosmic order of law and time, has provided this other stage of its existential being with days, nights, dawns and liquid energies, all anew.
18.1.56
उशन्तस् त्वेधीमह्य् उशन्तः सम् इधीमहि ।
उशन्न् उशत आ वह पितॄन् हविषे अत्तवे ॥
uśantas tvedhīmahy uśantaḥ sam idhīmahi ।
uśann uśata ā vaha pitṝn haviṣe attave ॥
O sacred fire of yajna, with love and passion we light you. With love and faith we raise you into flames. You too with love and longing of heat and light bring our parental seniors and blissful energies of Mother Nature to receive our offerings and disperse them round for all.
18.1.57
द्युमन्तस् त्वेधीमहि द्युमन्तः सम् इधीमहि ।
द्युमान् द्युमत आ वह पितॄन् हविषे अत्तवे ॥
dyumantas tvedhīmahi dyumantaḥ sam idhīmahi ।
dyumān dyumata ā vaha pitṝn haviṣe attave ॥
Brilliant and passionate with love, we light you up. Brilliant and faithful we raise you into flames. O sacred fire of yajna, you too, brilliant and blazing, bring our senior and parental powers of nature and humanity to receive our offerings and disperse them round for all.
18.1.58
अङ्गिरसो नः पितरो नवग्वा अथर्वाणो भृगवः सोम्यासः ।
तेषां वयं सुमतौ यज्ञियानाम् अपि भद्रे सौमनसे स्याम ॥
aṅgiraso naḥ pitaro navagvā atharvāṇo bhṛgavaḥ somyāsaḥ ।
teṣāṃ vayaṃ sumatau yajñiyānām api bhadre saumanase syāma ॥
Our parents and seniors are seers and sages of holistic knowledge, scholars of latest seienees, undisturbed pursuers of technology and engineering, veteran saviours from pain and suffering, and seekers of peace and prosperity. Let us dedicate ourselves to their vision and wisdom and be the recipients of their good will so that we may enjoy their love and graee.
18.1.59
अङ्गिरोभिर् यज्ञियैर् आ गहीह यम वैरूपैर् इह मादयस्व ।
विवस्वन्तं हुवे यः पिता ते ऽस्मिन् बर्हिष्य् आ निषद्य ॥
aṅgirobhir yajñiyair ā gahīha yama vairūpair iha mādayasva ।
vivasvantaṃ huve yaḥ pitā te 'smin barhiṣy ā niṣadya ॥
O Yama, life time of health and age, come with nature’s pranic energies of various and versatile sort worthy of union and assimilation according to time and seasons, be happy and rejoiee with me. I invoke the refulgent sun, your generative father, also to eome and be seated at the holy heart core of this life yajna of mine for a full age of good health and happiness.
Sūkta 1 (mantras 60–61)
Atharvaveda 18.1 · mantras 60–61 of 61 · part 2 of 2
18.1.60
इमं यम प्रस्तरम् आ हि रोहाङ्गिरोभिः पितृभिः संविदानः ।
आ त्वा मन्त्राः कविशस्ता वहन्त्व् एना राजन् हविषो मादयस्व ॥
imaṃ yama prastaram ā hi rohāṅgirobhiḥ pitṛbhiḥ saṃvidānaḥ ।
ā tvā mantrāḥ kaviśastā vahantv enā rājan haviṣo mādayasva ॥
18.1.61
इत एत उदारुहन् दिवस् पृष्ठान्व् आरुहन् ।
प्र भूर्जयो यथा पथा द्याम् अङ्गिरसो ययुः ॥
ita eta udāruhan divas pṛṣṭhānv āruhan ।
pra bhūrjayo yathā pathā dyām aṅgiraso yayuḥ ॥
Sūkta 2
Atharvaveda 18.2 · 60 mantras
18.2.1
यमाय सोमः पवते यमाय क्रियते हविः ।
यमं ह यज्ञो गछत्य् अग्निदूतो अरंकृतः ॥
yamāya somaḥ pavate yamāya kriyate haviḥ ।
yamaṃ ha yajño gachaty agnidūto araṃkṛtaḥ ॥
For Yama, lord ordainer of the cosmic order, is Soma distilled and sanctified, and for Yama it flows. For Yama, the yajna havi is prepared. And to Yama goes the holy soma-yajna with all its beauty and power conducted by the holy fire, divine messenger between the yajamana and the air, sun and the lord ordainer of life and human karma.
18.2.2
यमाय मधुमत्तमं जुहोता प्र च तिष्ठत ।
इदं नम ऋषिभ्यः पूर्वजेभ्यः पूर्वेभ्यः पथिकृद्भ्यः ॥
yamāya madhumattamaṃ juhotā pra ca tiṣṭhata ।
idaṃ nama ṛṣibhyaḥ pūrvajebhyaḥ pūrvebhyaḥ pathikṛdbhyaḥ ॥
Offer the sweetest and holiest honeyed oblations to Yama, lord of time and refulgent sovereign of the cosmic order, and thereby abide on the right side of karmic destiny. This homage is in honour of the sagely seers, forefathers and the ancients who carved the paths of life for us.
18.2.3
यमाय घृतवत् पयो राज्ञे हविर् जुहोतन ।
स नो जीवेष्व् आ यमेद् दीर्घम् आयुः प्र जीवसे ॥
yamāya ghṛtavat payo rājñe havir juhotana ।
sa no jīveṣv ā yamed dīrgham āyuḥ pra jīvase ॥
Offer holy homage full of ghrta and milk to Yama, refulgent ruler of life and the law of Karma. And may the lord bless us with strength and efficiency of body, mind and senses and bring us a long life of good health and happiness.
18.2.4
मैनम् अग्ने वि दहो माभि शूशुचो मास्य त्वचं चिक्षिपो मा शरीरम् ।
शृतं यदा करसि जातवेदो ऽथेम् एनं प्र हिणुतात् पितॄंर् उप ॥
mainam agne vi daho mābhi śūśuco māsya tvacaṃ cikṣipo mā śarīram ।
śṛtaṃ yadā karasi jātavedo 'them enaṃ pra hiṇutāt pitṝṃr upa ॥
O Agni, Jataveda, all knowing, all pervading fire of divine discipline, do not bum it wholly, do not hurt or dry it up in its identity, do not destroy its sense of perception and its body form. And when you have cleansed it of its dross and tempered it fully, send it up to the Pitaras, sustainers of living energy and life.
18.2.5
यदा शृतं कृणवो जातवेदो ऽथेमम् एनं परि दत्तात् पितृभ्यः ।
यदो गछात्य् असुनीतिम् एताम् अथ देवानां वशनीर् भवाति ॥
yadā śṛtaṃ kṛṇavo jātavedo 'themam enaṃ pari dattāt pitṛbhyaḥ ।
yado gachāty asunītim etām atha devānāṃ vaśanīr bhavāti ॥
When you have cleansed it of its dross and tempered it fully, send it up to the Pitaras, sustainers of living energy and life onward, and when he connects with the process of life and life energy within the laws of nature, then he will join with the further laws and dynamics of divinities in life and nature with his own mind and intelligence. (Mantras 4 and 5 have been interpreted in connection with the antyeshti sanskara of the dead and also in relation to the education and discipline of a Brahmachari. The Agni in one case is the funeral fire, and in the other case it is the teacher who maintains the discipline of spartan fire relentlessly. In the one case, the soul concerned goes to the Pitaras, that is, sun-rays, in the other case the Brahmachari goes home to his parents. In either case, the situation is transition of the person from one stage of life to another after having passed through the crucibles of fiery discipline.)
18.2.6
त्रिकद्रुकेभिः पवते षड् उर्वीर् एकम् इद् बृहत् ।
त्रिष्टुब् गायत्री छन्दांसि सर्वा ता यम आर्पिता ॥
trikadrukebhiḥ pavate ṣaḍ urvīr ekam id bṛhat ।
triṣṭub gāyatrī chandāṃsi sarvā tā yama ārpitā ॥
The great one, supreme, infinite, omnipotent is One, vibrates, rules and pervades the variety of existence by three dimensions of time, past, present and future, six seasons of the year, three regions of space, heaven, earth and the firmament, and the six directions. Trishtubh, Gayatri and other chhandas abide in the one Word, Aum, as all orders of matter, energy and thought abide in the infinite Shakti of Aum. And all these orders of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence abide in One, emerge from That and converge into That: Yama, the ordainer.
18.2.7
सूर्यं चक्षुषा गछ वातम् आत्मना दिवं च गछ पृथिवीं च धर्मभिः ।
अपो वा गछ यदि तत्र ते हितम् ओषधीषु प्रति तिष्ठा शरीरैः ॥
sūryaṃ cakṣuṣā gacha vātam ātmanā divaṃ ca gacha pṛthivīṃ ca dharmabhiḥ ।
apo vā gacha yadi tatra te hitam oṣadhīṣu prati tiṣṭhā śarīraiḥ ॥
O soul, with your vision of the eye go to the sun, with your pranic energy of the soul go to the wind, or in consequence of your Dharma and karmic performance go to the regions of light and joy or to the earth, or, if such be your intent and desire, go to the waters or reach into the herbs and trees there to stay in
18.2.8
अजो भागस् तपसस् तं तपस्व तं ते शोचिस् तपतु तं ते अर्चिः ।
यास् ते शिवास् तन्वो जातवेदस् ताभिर् वहैनं सुकृताम् उ लोकम् ॥
ajo bhāgas tapasas taṃ tapasva taṃ te śocis tapatu taṃ te arciḥ ।
yās te śivās tanvo jātavedas tābhir vahainaṃ sukṛtām u lokam ॥
O Jataveda, that part of human personality which is unborn and eternal, i.e., the soul, pray purify and season to its original purity by the heat of your divine discipline. May your light and fire purify and shine it to its original lustre beyond the dross. And by those divine natural potentials of yours which are holy and blissful, pray lead this soul to noble states of life in the blessed regions of meritorious souls.
18.2.9
यास् ते शोचयो रंहयो जातवेदो याभिर् आपृणासि दिवम् अन्तरिक्षम् ।
अजं यन्तम् अनु ताः सम् ऋण्वताम् अथेतराभिः शिवतमाभिः शृतं कृधि ॥
yās te śocayo raṃhayo jātavedo yābhir āpṛṇāsi divam antarikṣam ।
ajaṃ yantam anu tāḥ sam ṛṇvatām athetarābhiḥ śivatamābhiḥ śṛtaṃ kṛdhi ॥
O Jataveda, let all those flames of light with which you radiate and pervade the heavens, the firmament and all spaces, follow and abide by this dynamic immortal soul on its onward journey, and by other holy and blissful powers and disciplines, purify and season it to perfection.
18.2.10
अव सृज पुनर् अग्ने पितृभ्यो यस् त आहुतश् चरति स्वधावान् ।
आयुर् वसान उप यातु शेषः सं गछतां तन्वा सुवर्चाः ॥
ava sṛja punar agne pitṛbhyo yas ta āhutaś carati svadhāvān ।
āyur vasāna upa yātu śeṣaḥ saṃ gachatāṃ tanvā suvarcāḥ ॥
O Agni, form, shape out and release once again what, having been given to you, roams around with its own potential and identity so that, surviving, the soul may come to earthly parents and go round with its body and mind, wearing the vestments of life with new lustre and dignity.
18.2.11
अति द्रव श्वानौ सारमेयौ चतुरक्षौ शबलौ साधुना पथा ।
अधा पितॄन्त् सुविदत्रां अपीहि यमेन ये सधमादं मदन्ति ॥
ati drava śvānau sārameyau caturakṣau śabalau sādhunā pathā ।
adhā pitṝnt suvidatrāṃ apīhi yamena ye sadhamādaṃ madanti ॥
O soul, go forward by paths of divine law and rectitude to a life of day-night cycle, each being of twelve hour duration of colourful beauty, both children of dynamic energy, alert and on the move, lighted by the sun and moon, go past and come back to the auspicious enlightened parents who rejoice in the yajnic home with the lord of time and divine laws, Yama.
18.2.12
यौ ते श्वानौ यम रक्षितारौ चतुरक्षौ पथिषदी नृचक्षसा ।
ताभ्यां राजन् परि धेह्य् एनं स्वस्त्य् अस्मा अनमीवं च धेहि ॥
yau te śvānau yama rakṣitārau caturakṣau pathiṣadī nṛcakṣasā ।
tābhyāṃ rājan pari dhehy enaṃ svasty asmā anamīvaṃ ca dhehi ॥
O Yama, lord of time and laws of divine nature, those two, day and night, are your guardian sentinels of twelve hour duration each, all watching protective companions of humanity on way. O ruling lord of light, to their care entrust this soul. Let there be peace and well being for it all round, and bless it with good health and freedom from sin and ailment.
18.2.13
उरूणसाव् असुतृपाव् उदुम्बलौ यमस्य दूतौ चरतो जनां अनु ।
ताव् अस्मभ्यं दृशये सूर्याय पुनर् दाताम् असुम् अद्येह भद्रम् ॥
urūṇasāv asutṛpāv udumbalau yamasya dūtau carato janāṃ anu ।
tāv asmabhyaṃ dṛśaye sūryāya punar dātām asum adyeha bhadram ॥
Those two, night and day, are the most perceptive, abundant and alert, mighty strong and relentless watch dogs of Yama, lord of time and karmic dispensation, immediately close ahead and on the heels of people. Let them now, again, give us happiness and well-being full of bubbling energy so that we may see the light of the sun, giver of life and light.
18.2.14
सोम एकेभ्यः पवते घृतम् एक उपासते ।
येभ्यो मधु प्रधावति तांश् चिद् एवापि गछतात् ॥
soma ekebhyaḥ pavate ghṛtam eka upāsate ।
yebhyo madhu pradhāvati tāṃś cid evāpi gachatāt ॥
Soma flows for many and purifies, they chant the Samans. Many love ghrta and offer it to the yajna fire, they chant the Yajus. Honey flows for those who chant the Atharva verses, and knowledge for the lovers of Rks. The spirit of life flows for all of them, universally. O soul you too be with them.
18.2.15
ये चित् पूर्व ऋतसाता ऋतजाता ऋतावृधः ।
ऋषीन् तपस्वतो यम तपोजां अपि गछतात् ॥
ye cit pūrva ṛtasātā ṛtajātā ṛtāvṛdhaḥ ।
ṛṣīn tapasvato yama tapojāṃ api gachatāt ॥
Those ancients and parental seniors who are committed to the eternal truth of law, who by nature and character are established in the self-sacrificing discipline of eternal law and yajna, and who are constant observers of divine law and performers of yajna, to those sages and seers, dedicated to austerity and relentless discipline and seasoned in divine yajnic duty and discipline, O soul, you too go and join. The spirit of life flows universally.
18.2.16
तपसा ये अनाधृष्यास् तपसा ये स्वर् ययुः ।
तपो ये चक्रिरे महस् तांश् चिद् एवापि गछतात् ॥
tapasā ye anādhṛṣyās tapasā ye svar yayuḥ ।
tapo ye cakrire mahas tāṃś cid evāpi gachatāt ॥
Those who rise by tapas undaunted, those who by tapas rise to the heaven of bliss, and those who perform tapas of high order, to those, O soul, you too go and join, the spirit of life flows universally.
18.2.17
ये युध्यन्ते प्रधनेषु शूरासो ये स्वर् तनूत्यजः ।
ये वा सहस्रदक्षिणास् तां चिद् एवापि गछतात् ॥
ye yudhyante pradhaneṣu śūrāso ye svar tanūtyajaḥ ।
ye vā sahasradakṣiṇās tāṃ cid evāpi gachatāt ॥
Those brave who fight to the end in battles, who give up even their life of body for a cause, and those who give in charity a thousand ways, to those, O soul, you too go and join, the spirit of life flows universally.
18.2.18
सहस्रणीथाः कवयो ये गोपायन्ति सूर्यम् ।
ऋषीन् तपस्वतो यम तपोजां अपि गछतात् ॥
sahasraṇīthāḥ kavayo ye gopāyanti sūryam ।
ṛṣīn tapasvato yama tapojāṃ api gachatāt ॥
Poets, seers and sages of a thousandfold vision and virtue who adhere to the light of eternity at heart and the Rshis established in tapas, O soul on the sojourn of existence, to them you go and join, the spirit of life flows to all and through all, eternally.
18.2.19
स्योनास्मै भव पृथिव्य् अनृक्षरा निवेशनी ।
यछास्मै शर्म सप्रथाः ॥
syonāsmai bhava pṛthivy anṛkṣarā niveśanī ।
yachāsmai śarma saprathāḥ ॥
Mother Earth, be good and gracious, free from thorny want and suffering, wide and hospitable for this humanity, and provide us a home of peace, progress and happiness.
18.2.20
असंबाधे पृथिव्या उरौ लोके नि धीयस्व ।
स्वधा याश् चकृषे जीवन् तास् ते सन्तु मधुश्चुतः ॥
asaṃbādhe pṛthivyā urau loke ni dhīyasva ।
svadhā yāś cakṛṣe jīvan tās te santu madhuścutaḥ ॥
O man, settle yourself on the open and equal plains of the vast and beautiful bosom of the earth, and while you live and do noble deeds worthy of your own potential, may they bring you showers of honey sweets.
18.2.21
ह्वयामि ते मनसा मन इहेमान् गृहाम् उप जुजुषाण एहि ।
सं गछस्व पितृभिः सं यमेन स्योनास् त्वा वाता उप वान्तु शग्माः ॥
hvayāmi te manasā mana ihemān gṛhām upa jujuṣāṇa ehi ।
saṃ gachasva pitṛbhiḥ saṃ yamena syonās tvā vātā upa vāntu śagmāḥ ॥
O man, I exhort your mind with all my heart and soul that you come and settle and enjoy yourself in this earthly home in the company of these people with your parents and seniors, in communion with Yama, lord of life and law of time, and may gentle breezes fan you to peace and freedom of joy.
18.2.22
उत् त्वा वहन्तु मरुत उदवाहा उदप्रुतः ।
अजेन कृण्वन्तः शीतं वर्षेणोक्षन्तु बाल् इति ॥
ut tvā vahantu maruta udavāhā udaprutaḥ ।
ajena kṛṇvantaḥ śītaṃ varṣeṇokṣantu bāl iti ॥
Let winds laden with vapour, rising from the oceans, raise you high up, soothing you to cool comfort of the soul and bless you with showers of rain.
18.2.23
उद् अह्वम् आयुर् आयुषे क्रत्वे दक्षाय जीवसे ।
स्वान् गछतु ते मनो अधा पितॄंर् उप द्रव ॥
ud ahvam āyur āyuṣe kratve dakṣāya jīvase ।
svān gachatu te mano adhā pitṝṃr upa drava ॥
O man, I exhort you to live a full age of hundred years for life’s fulfilment, for good health, for karma and for knowledge, power and expertise for good action. Let your mind reach out to people, all your own, and then, having lived a full life, join with parental seniors and sages.
18.2.24
मा ते मनो मासोर् माङ्गानां मा रसस्य ते ।
मा ते हास्त तन्वः किं चनेह ॥
mā te mano māsor māṅgānāṃ mā rasasya te ।
mā te hāsta tanvaḥ kiṃ caneha ॥
Let nothing of your mind, pranas, limbs, body, or of the essence of your joy of being be lost or wasted here (in Grhastha).
18.2.25
मा त्वा वृक्षः सं बाधिष्ट मा देवी पृथिवी मही ।
लोकं पितृषु वित्त्वैधस्व यमराजसु ॥
mā tvā vṛkṣaḥ saṃ bādhiṣṭa mā devī pṛthivī mahī ।
lokaṃ pitṛṣu vittvaidhasva yamarājasu ॥
Let the tree of worldly jungle not obstruct you in your search for life, nor the vast divine and generous earth (in Vanaprastha). Having found your place among the parental protective seniors under the rules and discipline of Yama, the laws of life and time, go forward on your way.
18.2.26
यत् ते अङ्गम् अतिहितं पराचैर् अपानः प्राणो य उ वा ते परेतः ।
तत् ते संगत्य पितरः सनीडा घासाद् घासं पुनर् आ वेशयन्तु ॥
yat te aṅgam atihitaṃ parācair apānaḥ prāṇo ya u vā te paretaḥ ।
tat te saṃgatya pitaraḥ sanīḍā ghāsād ghāsaṃ punar ā veśayantu ॥
If some part of your body system has been wasted away, your prana and apana energies expended, by over-strain to exhaustion, let your parental seniors in residence together rejuvenate it bit by bit from consumption to recuperation like grass regrown from grass.
18.2.27
अपेमं जीवा अरुधन् गृहेभ्यस् तं निर् वहत परि ग्रामाद् इतः ।
मृत्युर् यमस्यासीद् दूतः प्रचेता असून् पितृभ्यो गमयां चकार ॥
apemaṃ jīvā arudhan gṛhebhyas taṃ nir vahata pari grāmād itaḥ ।
mṛtyur yamasyāsīd dūtaḥ pracetā asūn pitṛbhyo gamayāṃ cakāra ॥
Living ones have released him from the home and the inmates, Take him away from the village here. Death, messenger of Yama, lord of life and time, as universal warner and notifier has sent his life breath away to the sun rays.
18.2.28
ये दस्यवः पितृषु प्रविष्टा ज्ञातिमुखा अहुतादश् चरन्ति ।
परापुरो निपुरो ये भरन्त्य् अग्निष् टान् अस्मात् प्र धमाति यज्ञात् ॥
ye dasyavaḥ pitṛṣu praviṣṭā jñātimukhā ahutādaś caranti ।
parāpuro nipuro ye bharanty agniṣ ṭān asmāt pra dhamāti yajñāt ॥
Those negative elements and personalities who live in the garb of close-knit relations, eat without offering anything for yajna but proudly roam around and join the company of our parental seniors, who bear heavy or smart figures and strain our children and grand children, all these, let Agni, leading light of life and knowledge, eliminate from our yajna and yajnic community.
18.2.29
सं विशन्त्व् इह पितरः स्वा नः स्योनं कृण्वन्तः प्रतिरन्त आयुः ।
तेभ्यः शकेम हविषा नक्षमाणा ज्योग् जीवन्तः शरदः पुरूचीः ॥
saṃ viśantv iha pitaraḥ svā naḥ syonaṃ kṛṇvantaḥ pratiranta āyuḥ ।
tebhyaḥ śakema haviṣā nakṣamāṇā jyog jīvantaḥ śaradaḥ purūcīḥ ॥
May our parental seniors, one with us, join our yajna here doing us good and promoting our life and health. And may we too, joining them with love and devotion, serving them with liberal hospitality, be able to live a full hundred years of life.
18.2.30
यां ते धेनुं निपृणामि यम् उ क्षीर ओदनम् ।
तेना जनस्यासो भर्ता यो ऽत्रासद् अजीवनः ॥
yāṃ te dhenuṃ nipṛṇāmi yam u kṣīra odanam ।
tenā janasyāso bhartā yo 'trāsad ajīvanaḥ ॥
O father figure, by the cow that I give you, and by the food cooked in milk that I offer you, pray be the sustainer and life giver with nourishment for the person who lacks the means of living, here. Asvdvatim pra tara yd susevdrksdkam vd pratararh naviyah. Yastvd jaghdna vadhyah so astu md so anyadvidata bhdgadheyam. O man, win over the world of existence which is full of worldly attainments and thus satisfying. And thus with renewed energy, cross over the jungle infested with bear and boar. And whoever hurts you, thus free from fluctuations of pleasure and pain, deserves terrible punishment and forfeits all his share from life.
18.2.31
अश्वावतीं प्र तर या सुशेवा र्क्षाकं वा प्रतरं नवीयः ।
यस् त्वा जघान वध्यः सो अस्तु मा सो अन्यद् विदत भागधेयम् ॥
aśvāvatīṃ pra tara yā suśevā rkṣākaṃ vā prataraṃ navīyaḥ ।
yas tvā jaghāna vadhyaḥ so astu mā so anyad vidata bhāgadheyam ॥
18.2.32
यमः परो ऽवरो विवस्वान् ततः परं नाति पश्यामि किं चन ।
यमे अध्वरो अधि मे निविष्टो भुवो विवस्वान् अन्वाततान ॥
yamaḥ paro 'varo vivasvān tataḥ paraṃ nāti paśyāmi kiṃ cana ।
yame adhvaro adhi me niviṣṭo bhuvo vivasvān anvātatāna ॥
Yama is far, very far indeed. Vivasvan, the sun, relatively, is close. Beyond Yama, I see nothing, nothing that I know. My yajna of love, devotion and non-violent self-sacrifice is established in Yama, and really it is the self-refulgent Yama who has spread the light of the sun also over the regions of the universe.
18.2.33
अपागूहन्न् अमृतां मर्त्येभ्यः कृत्वा सवर्णाम् अदधुर् विवस्वते ।
उताश्विनाव् अभरद् यत् तद् आसीद् अजहाद् उ द्वा मिथुना सरण्यूः ॥
apāgūhann amṛtāṃ martyebhyaḥ kṛtvā savarṇām adadhur vivasvate ।
utāśvināv abharad yat tad āsīd ajahād u dvā mithunā saraṇyūḥ ॥
Hiding the original immortal constant Prakrti by transforming it into the mutable for the mortal forms of existence, the evolutionary powers of Divinity, i.e., the creative and dynamic Prakrti with the immant will of divinity, offers this form of itself to the self-refulgent creator and master Vivasvan, Savita, and then that dynamic state as it is then, bears a twin pair of evolved existence, the Ashvins, and thus delivers the positive and negative complementarities of the evolutionary circuit of nature’s creative dynamics: Agni and Soma, energy and matter, prana and rayi (as the two are described from different points of view).
18.2.34
ये निखाता ये परोप्ता ये दग्धा ये चोद्धिताः ।
सर्वांस् तान् अग्न आ वह पितॄन् हविषे अत्तवे ॥
ye nikhātā ye paroptā ye dagdhā ye coddhitāḥ ।
sarvāṃs tān agna ā vaha pitṝn haviṣe attave ॥
Those who are deep in their knowledge, those who are highly self-developed, those who are tempered in the fire of experience and discipline, and those who are raised to high eminence, O Agni, high priest of yajna, invite and bring all these parental seniors and scholars to our yajna so that they may join and enjoy the yajnic delicacies.
18.2.35
ये अग्निदग्धा ये अनग्निदग्धा मध्ये दिवः स्वधया मादयन्ते ।
त्वं तान् वेत्थ यदि ते जातवेदः स्वधया यज्ञं स्वधितिं जुषन्ताम् ॥
ye agnidagdhā ye anagnidagdhā madhye divaḥ svadhayā mādayante ।
tvaṃ tān vettha yadi te jātavedaḥ svadhayā yajñaṃ svadhitiṃ juṣantām ॥
Those who are specialists of the science of heat and light, and those who are not specialists of heat and light but are specialists of other sciences, those who light the fire and those who do not, such as sanyasis, all those that rejoice in the light of knowledge with their own merit, all those, O Agni, if you know them and they know you, pray bring to yajna so that they may join the eassential splendour of the yajna and enjoy the sacred offerings in honour of the parental seniors.
18.2.36
शं तप माति तपो अग्ने मा तन्वं तपः ।
वणेषु शुष्मो अस्तु ते पृथिव्याम् अस्तु यद् धरः ॥
śaṃ tapa māti tapo agne mā tanvaṃ tapaḥ ।
vaṇeṣu śuṣmo astu te pṛthivyām astu yad dharaḥ ॥
Agni, temper us for peace, do not heat to excess, do not mortify the body. O Agni, O sage, O scholar, O grhasthi, let your light and passion shine in the daily businesses of life, let it shine on earth, let it shine to alleviate the pain and suffering of life.
18.2.37
ददाम्य् अस्मा अवसानम् एतद् य एष आगन् मम चेद् अभूद् इह ।
यमश् चिकित्वान् प्रत्य् एतद् आह ममैष राय उप तिष्ठताम् इह ॥
dadāmy asmā avasānam etad ya eṣa āgan mama ced abhūd iha ।
yamaś cikitvān praty etad āha mamaiṣa rāya upa tiṣṭhatām iha ॥
I give this space and time to this seeker who has come here and has become my disciple, mine: So said Yama, lord omniscient, and continued that he may stay here and share the lord’s wealth and knowledge.
18.2.38
इमां मात्रां मिमीमहे यथापरं न मासातै ।
शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
imāṃ mātrāṃ mimīmahe yathāparaṃ na māsātai ।
śate śaratsu no purā ॥
This model and measure of life (in both quantity and quality) we work out (in the Vedic way) so that none other may have to do it any other way, and we work it out for a full hundred years, not less than that.
18.2.39
प्रेमां मात्रां मिमीमहे यथापरं न मासातै ।
शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
premāṃ mātrāṃ mimīmahe yathāparaṃ na māsātai ।
śate śaratsu no purā ॥
This model and measure of life we project, none other might do so in any other way, for a full hundred years, no less.
18.2.40
अपेमां मात्रां मिमीमहे यथापरं न मासातै ।
शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
apemāṃ mātrāṃ mimīmahe yathāparaṃ na māsātai ।
śate śaratsu no purā ॥
This model and measure of life, we plan to accomplish, none other might do so any other way, for a full hundred years, no less.
18.2.41
वीमां मात्रां मिमीमहे यथापरं न मासातै ।
शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
vīmāṃ mātrāṃ mimīmahe yathāparaṃ na māsātai ।
śate śaratsu no purā ॥
This model and measure of life we define in all details, none other might do so any other way, for a full hundred years, no less.
18.2.42
निर् इमां मात्रां मिमीमहे यथापरं न मासातै ।
शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
nir imāṃ mātrāṃ mimīmahe yathāparaṃ na māsātai ।
śate śaratsu no purā ॥
This model and measure of life, so defined, we plan and organise to fullness, none else might be able to do so any other way, for a full hundred years, no less.
18.2.43
उद् इमां मात्रां मिमीमहे यथापरं न मासातै ।
शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
ud imāṃ mātrāṃ mimīmahe yathāparaṃ na māsātai ।
śate śaratsu no purā ॥
This model of life we live in full measure enthusiastically, so well that none other may do so any other way, for a full hundred years, no less.
18.2.44
सम् इमां मात्रां मिमीमहे यथापरं न मासातै ।
शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
sam imāṃ mātrāṃ mimīmahe yathāparaṃ na māsātai ।
śate śaratsu no purā ॥
This model of life we live in full measure enthusiastically and thus exemplify and define for a full hundred years, not less, and we do so in such a manner that none may define it in any other way.
18.2.45
अमासि मात्रां स्वर् अगाम् आयुष्मान् भूयासम् ।
यथापरं न मासातै शते शरत्सु नो पुरा ॥
amāsi mātrāṃ svar agām āyuṣmān bhūyāsam ।
yathāparaṃ na māsātai śate śaratsu no purā ॥
I have lived and defined this model of life in full measure. I have fully realised happiness, a very paradise on earth. May I be blest with life and health more and even more. Let none have anything less or otherwise than this, not less than a full hundred years.
18.2.46
प्राणो अपानो व्यान आयुश् चक्षुर् दृशये सूर्याय ।
अपरिपरेण पथा यमराज्ञः पितॄन् गछ ॥
prāṇo apāno vyāna āyuś cakṣur dṛśaye sūryāya ।
aparipareṇa pathā yamarājñaḥ pitṝn gacha ॥
Let pranic energy for inhalation, exhalation, systemic efficiency and good health for full age, and the eye for the vision of divine sun, be with you. And living thus, go by the simple and clear path free from crookedness to be with parental seniors and sages who abide by the laws of Yama, lord divine of life and law over time.
18.2.47
ये अग्रवः शशमानाः परेयुर् हित्वा द्वेषांस्य् अनपत्यवन्तः ।
ते द्याम् उदित्याविदन्त लोकं नाकस्य पृष्ठे अधि दीध्यानाः ॥
ye agravaḥ śaśamānāḥ pareyur hitvā dveṣāṃsy anapatyavantaḥ ।
te dyām udityāvidanta lokaṃ nākasya pṛṣṭhe adhi dīdhyānāḥ ॥
Those pioneers of peace and enlightenment, who were free from the pitfalls of ordinary humanity, gave up hate and enmity and rose to the light of heaven, they all, shining with the light of divinity, attained to the top of the regions of bliss.
18.2.48
उदन्वती द्यौर् अवमा पीलुमतीति मध्यमा ।
तृतीया ह प्रद्यौर् इति यस्यां पितर आसते ॥
udanvatī dyaur avamā pīlumatīti madhyamā ।
tṛtīyā ha pradyaur iti yasyāṃ pitara āsate ॥
This lowest region of the heaven of light is Dyau, full of water vapour, the middle region of heaven, Madhyama, is full of molecules, and the third and highest region of light is Pradyau where abide the blessed souls and the original creative pranic energies.
18.2.49
ये न पितुः पितरो ये पितामहा य आविविशुर् उर्व् अन्तरिक्षम् ।
य आक्षियन्ति पृथिवीम् उत द्यां तेभ्यः पितृभ्यो नमसा विधेम ॥
ye na pituḥ pitaro ye pitāmahā ya āviviśur urv antarikṣam ।
ya ākṣiyanti pṛthivīm uta dyāṃ tebhyaḥ pitṛbhyo namasā vidhema ॥
To those senior souls who are our father’s parents and grand parents, those who sojourn in the vast skies, and those who live on earth and have reached the regions of light, to all these parental souls, we offer our homage of reverence.
18.2.50
इदम् इद् वा उ नापरं दिवि पश्यसि सूर्यम् ।
माता पुत्रं यथा सिचाभ्य् एनं भूम ऊर्णुहि ॥
idam id vā u nāparaṃ divi paśyasi sūryam ।
mātā putraṃ yathā sicābhy enaṃ bhūma ūrṇuhi ॥
O man, soul born on earth, this now is your haven and home in life, no other. Being here, see the Sun in heaven. O Mother Earth, just as a mother covers her baby with the hem of her shawl, so pray cover this child with your motherly protection.
18.2.51
इदम् इद् वा उ नापरं जरस्य् अन्यद् इतो ऽपरम् ।
जाया पतिम् इव वाससाभ्य् एनं भूम ऊर्णुहि ॥
idam id vā u nāparaṃ jarasy anyad ito 'param ।
jāyā patim iva vāsasābhy enaṃ bhūma ūrṇuhi ॥
O man, soul born on earth, this now is your haven and home, no other. In old age there is another from this home life of Grhastha. O Mother Earth, just as the wife covers her husband with her garment, so pray cover this child with your love and caress.
18.2.52
अभि त्वोर्णोमि पृथिव्या मातुर् वस्त्रेण भद्रया ।
जीवेषु भद्रं तन् मयि स्वधा पितृषु सा त्वयि ॥
abhi tvorṇomi pṛthivyā mātur vastreṇa bhadrayā ।
jīveṣu bhadraṃ tan mayi svadhā pitṛṣu sā tvayi ॥
O child born on earth, I protect you happily all round with the earthly vestments of mother nature. May all that what is in living beings be in me, and may all the essential power and potential that is in parents and seniors be in you.
18.2.53
अग्नीषोमा पथिकृता स्योनं देवेभ्यो रत्नं दधथुर् वि लोकम् ।
उप प्रेष्यन्तं पूषणं यो वहात्य् अञ्जोयानैः पथिभिस् तत्र गछतम् ॥
agnīṣomā pathikṛtā syonaṃ devebhyo ratnaṃ dadhathur vi lokam ।
upa preṣyantaṃ pūṣaṇaṃ yo vahāty añjoyānaiḥ pathibhis tatra gachatam ॥
Agni-Soma, passion and peace of nature’s divine energies, men and women, teachers and parents, who carve out simple and clear paths of life, bring auspicious jewels and create a beautiful environment on earth for noble souls in the world. You too, O man and wife, move by simple and clear paths further and join that divine process of lord creator which directs and brings auspicious nutriments for the growth and enlightenment of the rising generation.
18.2.54
पूषा त्वेतश् च्यावयतु प्र विद्वान् अनष्टपशुर् भुवनस्य गोपाः ।
स त्वैतेभ्यः परि ददत् पितृभ्यो ऽग्निर् देवेभ्यः सुविदत्रियेभ्यः ॥
pūṣā tvetaś cyāvayatu pra vidvān anaṣṭapaśur bhuvanasya gopāḥ ।
sa tvaitebhyaḥ pari dadat pitṛbhyo 'gnir devebhyaḥ suvidatriyebhyaḥ ॥
O man on the rising path of life, may the omniscient lord of life, protector of the world, Pusha, giver of nourishment, who promotes life and never destroys any living being, move you forward to advancement from here, and may Agni, lord and leader of advancement, hand you over to these parental, enlightened and gracious masters of the wealth of noble knowledge.
18.2.55
आयुर् विश्वायुः परि पातु त्वा पूषा त्वा पातु प्रपथे पुरस्तात् ।
यत्रासते सुकृतो यत्र त ईयुस् तत्र त्वा देवः सविता दधातु ॥
āyur viśvāyuḥ pari pātu tvā pūṣā tvā pātu prapathe purastāt ।
yatrāsate sukṛto yatra ta īyus tatra tvā devaḥ savitā dadhātu ॥
O man on the forward journey of life, may good health and universal life energy protect and promote you all round. May Pusha, lord of universal growth and advancement, protect and promote you upfront on the way forward. And may self-refulgent Savita, lord of light and life’s inspiration, establish you there where men of noble action reach and abide in peace and joy.
18.2.56
इमौ युनज्मि ते वह्नी असुनीताय वोढवे ।
ताभ्यां यमस्य सादनं समितिश् चाव गछतात् ॥
imau yunajmi te vahnī asunītāya voḍhave ।
tābhyāṃ yamasya sādanaṃ samitiś cāva gachatāt ॥
O man, I appoint and engage these two, Agni and Soma, mother and father, parent and teacher, prana and apana, as your guides, leaders and carriers in order to lead you to the house of Yama, lord of life and time, freedom and justice, so that you learn new knowledge and training in moral, social and spiritual discipline and join the assemblies in which you will have to take part later.
18.2.57
एतत् त्वा वासः प्रथमं न्व् आगन्न् अपैतद् ऊह यद् इहाबिभः पुरा ।
इष्टापूर्तम् अनुसंक्राम विद्वान् यत्र ते दत्तं बहुधा विबन्धुषु ॥
etat tvā vāsaḥ prathamaṃ nv āgann apaitad ūha yad ihābibhaḥ purā ।
iṣṭāpūrtam anusaṃkrāma vidvān yatra te dattaṃ bahudhā vibandhuṣu ॥
This is your new attire, prime seat and abode now come to you. Give up that you wore before. And move on, knowing well, in accordance with your desired and contributive acts and policies, performed and yet to be performed, wherever you be in various roles among your people and others.
18.2.58
अग्नेर् वर्म परि गोभिर् व्ययस्व सं प्रोर्णुष्व मेदसा पीवसा च ।
नेत् त्वा धृष्णुर् हरसा जर्हृषाणो दधृग् विधक्षन् परीङ्खयातै ॥
agner varma pari gobhir vyayasva saṃ prorṇuṣva medasā pīvasā ca ।
net tvā dhṛṣṇur harasā jarhṛṣāṇo dadhṛg vidhakṣan parīṅkhayātai ॥
Put on the armour of fire with lazer beams of Vedic voice, cover yourself with intense force and graces of plenty so that no ambitious adventurer, mad with passion for victory, may suddenly rise and try to shake you all around.
18.2.59
दण्डं हस्ताद् आददानो गतासोः सह श्रोत्रेण वर्चसा बलेन ।
अत्रैव त्वम् इह वयं सुवीरा विश्वा मृधो अभिमातीर् जयेम ॥
daṇḍaṃ hastād ādadāno gatāsoḥ saha śrotreṇa varcasā balena ।
atraiva tvam iha vayaṃ suvīrā viśvā mṛdho abhimātīr jayema ॥
Take away the power from the hands of the weak and the enervated along with their strength and splendour and the power to hear and adjudicate, and be here strong at the centre, and let us all, brave and well provided with the brave, win over our rivals and adversaries and achieve the goals of all battles of life.
18.2.60
धनुर् हस्ताद् आददानो मृतस्य सह क्षत्रेण वर्चसा बलेन ।
समागृभाय वसु भूरि पुष्टम् अर्वाङ् त्वम् एह्य् उप जीवलोकम् ॥
dhanur hastād ādadāno mṛtasya saha kṣatreṇa varcasā balena ।
samāgṛbhāya vasu bhūri puṣṭam arvāṅ tvam ehy upa jīvalokam ॥
Taking over the power and defence forces from the possession of the dead along with the dominion, strength and splendour, taking over fully and appropriately the wealth and finance of the nation, well built, managed and preserved, come forward and move ahead with the people for the welfare of the living world.
Sūkta 3 — Yama, Agni (5-6), Indu (54), Apah (56), mantrawise (44-46) Devatah, Atharva Rshi (mantras 1–57)
Atharvaveda 18.3 · mantras 1–57 of 73 · part 1 of 2
18.3.1
इयं नारी पतिलोकं वृणाना नि पद्यत उप त्वा मर्त्य प्रेतम् ।
धर्मं पुराणम् अनुपालयन्ती तस्यै प्रजां द्रविणं चेह धेहि ॥
iyaṃ nārī patilokaṃ vṛṇānā ni padyata upa tvā martya pretam ।
dharmaṃ purāṇam anupālayantī tasyai prajāṃ draviṇaṃ ceha dhehi ॥
O man, this woman, having lost her husband, has chosen to live on the house-hold life of a married woman under the care of a husband and, in conformity with the ancient Dharma of house-hold and matrimony, she comes to you for succour and support. O man, accept her and provide her the life and wealth of the house-hold with the joy of progeny.
18.3.2
उद् ईर्ष्व नार्य् अभि जीवलोकं गतासुम् एतम् उप शेष एहि ।
हस्तग्राभस्य दधिषोस् तवेदं पत्युर् जनित्वम् अभि सं बभूथ ॥
ud īrṣva nāry abhi jīvalokaṃ gatāsum etam upa śeṣa ehi ।
hastagrābhasya dadhiṣos tavedaṃ patyur janitvam abhi saṃ babhūtha ॥
Rise, O woman, toward the world of the living, leave the dead where you lie, come and join the state of conjugality with this man who offers to hold your hand as your second husband and life partner.
18.3.3
अपश्यं युवतिं नीयमानां जीवां मृतेभ्यः परिणीयमानाम् ।
अन्धेन यत् तमसा प्रावृतासीत् प्राक्तो अपाचीम् अनयं तद् एनाम् ॥
apaśyaṃ yuvatiṃ nīyamānāṃ jīvāṃ mṛtebhyaḥ pariṇīyamānām ।
andhena yat tamasā prāvṛtāsīt prākto apācīm anayaṃ tad enām ॥
I have seen the young woman, lover of life, being led away from the dead (husband) and getting married. When she was deeply sunk in darkness, I brought her back to the world of life from that former state of despair.
18.3.4
प्रजानत्य् अघ्न्ये जीवलोकं देवानां पन्थाम् अनुसंचरन्ती ।
अयं ते गोपतिस् तं जुषस्व स्वर्गं लोकम् अधि रोहयैनम् ॥
prajānaty aghnye jīvalokaṃ devānāṃ panthām anusaṃcarantī ।
ayaṃ te gopatis taṃ juṣasva svargaṃ lokam adhi rohayainam ॥
O woman, you are inviolable, never to be hurt in any way. You know the ways and mores of the living world, and you follow the paths of the divinities. This man (who offered his hand in marriage to you) is now the protector of your person, mind and senses. He is your husband, love him, and with your love, rise and raise him to the heights of happiness in the world.
18.3.5
उप द्याम् उप वेतसम् अवत्तरो नदीनाम् ।
अग्ने पित्तम् अपाम् असि ॥
upa dyām upa vetasam avattaro nadīnām ।
agne pittam apām asi ॥
O Agni, you pervade in the heaven of light, you vibrate in the reeds, and you flow in the currents of rivers. O Agni, you are the life and energy of waters too.
18.3.6
यं त्वम् अग्ने समदहस् तम् उ निर् वापय पुनः ।
क्याम्बूर् अत्र रोहतु शाण्डदूर्वा व्यल्कशा ॥
yaṃ tvam agne samadahas tam u nir vāpaya punaḥ ।
kyāmbūr atra rohatu śāṇḍadūrvā vyalkaśā ॥
O Agni, whatever you have burnt, bring back to fertility again. Let kyambu, shanda vyalkasha, soothing, beautiful and ornamental plants and grasses grow there.
18.3.7
इदं त एकम् पुर ऊ त एकं तृतीयेन ज्योतिषा सं विशस्व ।
संवेशने तन्वा चारुर् एधि प्रियो देवानां परमे सधस्थे ॥
idaṃ ta ekam pura ū ta ekaṃ tṛtīyena jyotiṣā saṃ viśasva ।
saṃveśane tanvā cārur edhi priyo devānāṃ parame sadhasthe ॥
O man, this body with perceptions is one light of yours. Beyond this there is another light, that of the mind. Then there is the third light, that of clear and transparent Buddhi, intelligence with discrimination. With that third light join the presence of Divinity. And when you are joining that, with your causal body, go forward happy, darling of divinities, and reach and abide in the Supreme Presence and divine Bliss.
18.3.8
उत् तिष्ठ प्रेहि प्र द्रवौकः कृणुष्व सलिले सधस्थे ।
तत्र त्वं पितृभिः संविदानः सं सोमेन मदस्व सं स्वधाभिः ॥
ut tiṣṭha prehi pra dravaukaḥ kṛṇuṣva salile sadhasthe ।
tatra tvaṃ pitṛbhiḥ saṃvidānaḥ saṃ somena madasva saṃ svadhābhiḥ ॥
Rise, O soul, move forward, go fast, find a home in the living waters in the mother’s womb, and then there in the parental home, one with mother, father and others, enjoy yourself with soma delicacies and gifts of love and affection.
18.3.9
प्र च्यवस्व तन्वं सं भरस्व मा ते गात्रा वि हायि मो शरीरम् ।
मनो निविष्टम् अनुसंविशस्व यत्र भूमेर् जुषसे तत्र गछ ॥
pra cyavasva tanvaṃ saṃ bharasva mā te gātrā vi hāyi mo śarīram ।
mano niviṣṭam anusaṃviśasva yatra bhūmer juṣase tatra gacha ॥
Move on and grow, develop and strengthen your body, let not your limbs weaken, let not your body weaken, fall down and forsake you. Wherever your mind is inclined, there go, wherever you wish and love to be on earth, there go.
18.3.10
वर्चसा मां पितरः सोम्यासो अञ्जन्तु देवा मधुना घृतेन ।
चक्षुषे मा प्रतरं तारयन्तो जरसे मा जरदष्टिं वर्धन्तु ॥
varcasā māṃ pitaraḥ somyāso añjantu devā madhunā ghṛtena ।
cakṣuṣe mā prataraṃ tārayanto jarase mā jaradaṣṭiṃ vardhantu ॥
May my parents, seniors and divinities of nature and humanity, all lovers of peace, honour and excellence of life, develop, educate and refine me with culture, sweetness and graces of life. Advancing me over the streams of life, blessing me with fine vision for a full life of thankfulness and gratitude, may they Strengthen and exalt me to live happy and healthy till a full ripe old age.
18.3.11
वर्चसा मां सम् अनक्त्व् अग्निर् मेधां मे विष्णुर् न्य् अनक्त्व् आसन् ।
रयिं मे विश्वे नि यछन्तु देवाः स्योना मापः पवनैः पुनन्तु ॥
varcasā māṃ sam anaktv agnir medhāṃ me viṣṇur ny anaktv āsan ।
rayiṃ me viśve ni yachantu devāḥ syonā māpaḥ pavanaiḥ punantu ॥
May Agni, light of life and fire of yajna, bless me with splendour. May Vishnu, divine spirit of omnipresent omniscience, bless me with genius and the divine Word in my mouth. May divinities of the world bless me with wealth, honour and excellence. And may the sacred waters along with the winds purify and sanctify me.
18.3.12
मित्रावरुणा परि माम् अधाताम् आदित्या मा स्वरवो वर्धयन्तु ।
वर्चो म इन्द्रो न्य् अनक्तु हस्तयोर् जरदष्टिं मा सविता कृणोतु ॥
mitrāvaruṇā pari mām adhātām ādityā mā svaravo vardhayantu ।
varco ma indro ny anaktu hastayor jaradaṣṭiṃ mā savitā kṛṇotu ॥
May Mitra and Varuna, divine spirit of love and judgement, parents and teachers, hold, protect and promote me all round. May the Adityas, sun in the zodiacs and Aditya scholars of eloquence promote and exalt me. May Indra, spirit of divine omnipotence, and ruling powers, bring me lustre and splendour of action and achievement in hands, and may Savita, lord creator and inspirer of life, and the sun bless me with health and vitality to live a full life unto completion till old
18.3.13
यो ममार प्रथमो मर्त्यानां यः प्रेयाय प्रथमो लोकम् एतम् ।
वैवस्वतं संगमनं जनानां यमं राजानं हविषा सपर्यत ॥
yo mamāra prathamo martyānāṃ yaḥ preyāya prathamo lokam etam ।
vaivasvataṃ saṃgamanaṃ janānāṃ yamaṃ rājānaṃ haviṣā saparyata ॥
Man is the highest among mortals that dies, and the first that returns to this world of the living and goes forward. O men and women, offer homage with yajna and prayer to Yama, ruling lord of light and time and ordainer of the life and death of the transmigration of humanity.
18.3.14
परा यात पितर आ च यातायं वो यज्ञो मधुना समक्तः ।
दत्तो अस्मभ्यं द्रविणेह भद्रं रयिं च नः सर्ववीरं दधात ॥
parā yāta pitara ā ca yātāyaṃ vo yajño madhunā samaktaḥ ।
datto asmabhyaṃ draviṇeha bhadraṃ rayiṃ ca naḥ sarvavīraṃ dadhāta ॥
O Pitaras, parents, teachers and senior scholars, go to yajna and come back here again. This yajna, rich in honey sweets, is in your honour. Pray give us noble strength and power, auspicious wealth, honour and excellence, and brave children worthy of a noble community.
18.3.15
कण्वः कक्षीवान् पुरुमीढो अगस्त्यः श्यावाश्वः सोभर्य् अर्चनानाः ।
विश्वामित्रो ऽयं जमदग्निर् अत्रिर् अवन्तु नः कश्यपो वामदेवः ॥
kaṇvaḥ kakṣīvān purumīḍho agastyaḥ śyāvāśvaḥ sobhary arcanānāḥ ।
viśvāmitro 'yaṃ jamadagnir atrir avantu naḥ kaśyapo vāmadevaḥ ॥
Kanva, man of steady wisdom, Kakshivan, socially motivated administrator, Purumidha, man of prosperity dedicated to charity, Agastya, challenging destroyer of evil, Shyavashva, dynamic scholar, Sobhari, destroyer of want and suffering, Archanana, man of piety and prayer, Vishvamitra, universal friend, Jamadagni, harbinger of enlightenment, Atri, man of freedom from pain and suffering, Kashyapa, man of acute vision, and Vamadeva, lover of truth, beauty and goodness, may all these protect and promote us.
18.3.16
विश्वामित्र जमदग्ने वसिष्ठ भरद्वाज गोतम वामदेव ।
शर्दिर् नो अत्रिर् अग्रभीन् नमोभिः सुसंशासः पितरो मृडता नः ॥
viśvāmitra jamadagne vasiṣṭha bharadvāja gotama vāmadeva ।
śardir no atrir agrabhīn namobhiḥ susaṃśāsaḥ pitaro mṛḍatā naḥ ॥
O Vishvamitra, loving sage and the faculty of hearing, Jamadagni, visionary sage and the discriminating eye, Vasishtha, brilliant sage, pranic energy and peaceful settlement, Bharadvaja, mind and memory and abundance of food and energy, Gotama, master of the divine Word and highest efficiency of sense and mind, Vamadeva, worshipper and the spirit of the love of Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram, i.e.. Truth, Goodness and Beauty, all noble sages and seers,, pitaras, protectors, promoters and sustainers, celebrated harbingers of discipline, pray bless us with peace and happiness. Indeed, with our prayers, homage and submissions, Attri, divine spirit of freedom from suffering, has stopped and eliminated our disintegration and maintained our integrity with holistic nature and character.
18.3.17
कस्ये मृजाना अति यन्ति रिप्रम् आयुर् दधानाः प्रतरं नवीयः ।
आप्यायमानाः प्रजया धनेनाध स्याम सुरभयो गृहेषु ॥
kasye mṛjānā ati yanti ripram āyur dadhānāḥ prataraṃ navīyaḥ ।
āpyāyamānāḥ prajayā dhanenādha syāma surabhayo gṛheṣu ॥
Cleansed and self-shining through self-examination and self-control, we go forward over and across the world of evil, bearing life and culture ever renewed and elevated. Let us, then, live and move on rising higher with wealth and progeny, more and more refined and fragrant in our life and homes.
18.3.18
अञ्जते व्य् अञ्जते सम् अञ्जते क्रतुं रिहन्ति मधुनाभ्य् अञ्जते ।
सिन्धोर् उच्छ्वासे पतयन्तम् उक्षणं हिरण्यपावाः पशुम् आसु गृह्नते ॥
añjate vy añjate sam añjate kratuṃ rihanti madhunābhy añjate ।
sindhor ucchvāse patayantam ukṣaṇaṃ hiraṇyapāvāḥ paśum āsu gṛhnate ॥
They all, in happy homes, love and adore, refine, intensify, diversify, wholly integrate with culture and sweetness, and openly display their joint creative acts of yajnic development and progress and, themselves refined and purified at heart, receive and experience the joyous vision of divinity emerging and rising in the golden swell of the oceanic depths of their heart through these creative activities.
18.3.19
यद् वो मुद्रं पितरः सोम्यं च तेनो सचध्वं स्वयशसो हि भूत ।
ते अर्वाणः कवय आ शृणोत सुविदत्रा विदथे हुयमानाः ॥
yad vo mudraṃ pitaraḥ somyaṃ ca teno sacadhvaṃ svayaśaso hi bhūta ।
te arvāṇaḥ kavaya ā śṛṇota suvidatrā vidathe huyamānāḥ ॥
O Pitaras, parental seniors, honoured and beatified by these achievements, join us with the gracious joy of your heart and accept the honour and adoration which is your rightful due. Progressive visionaries of the past, present and future, pray listen to our call and, thus invoked and invited, be generous benefactors for us all in our joint creative enterprise for progress and development.
18.3.20
ये अत्रयो अङ्गिरसो नवग्वा इष्टावन्तो रातिषाचो दधानाः ।
दक्षिणावन्तः सुकृतो य उ स्थासद्यास्मिन् बर्हिषि मादयध्वम् ॥
ye atrayo aṅgiraso navagvā iṣṭāvanto rātiṣāco dadhānāḥ ।
dakṣiṇāvantaḥ sukṛto ya u sthāsadyāsmin barhiṣi mādayadhvam ॥
O Pitaras, parental seniors, who are Atris, free from the threefold suffering of body, mind and soul, Angirasas, vibrant scholars and scientists of energy, Navagva, innovative and progressive, Ishtavanta, experts in achieving what is valuable and desirable, Ratishacha, abundant in wealth, knowledge and positive generosity, thereby bearing noble gifts of creativity, sustaining the common human family and deserving deep gratitude, noble masters of holy action, pray come, join our yajna, be seated on this vedi and rejoice with us (in anticipation of still higher achievements).
18.3.21
अधा यथा नः पितरः परासः प्रत्नासो अग्न ऋतम् आशशानाः ।
शुचीद् अयन् दीध्यत उक्थशसः क्षामा भिन्दन्तो अरुणीर् अप व्रन् ॥
adhā yathā naḥ pitaraḥ parāsaḥ pratnāso agna ṛtam āśaśānāḥ ।
śucīd ayan dīdhyata ukthaśasaḥ kṣāmā bhindanto aruṇīr apa vran ॥
O Agni, harbinger of light and leader of humanity, as our forefathers, ancients and later, and our parental seniors, pure and sanctified, dedicated to truth and rectitude, refining, intensifying and expanding yajna, rising and shining, singing songs of divine praise, broke new grounds on the earth and discovered new lights of existence, so should we rise, march forward and shine.
18.3.22
सुकर्मानः सुरुचो देवयन्तो अयो न देवा जनिमा धमन्तः ।
शुचन्तो अग्निं वावृधन्त इन्द्रम् उर्वीम् गव्यां परिषदं नो अक्रन् ॥
sukarmānaḥ suruco devayanto ayo na devā janimā dhamantaḥ ।
śucanto agniṃ vāvṛdhanta indram urvīm gavyāṃ pariṣadaṃ no akran ॥
Brilliant people of noble action deeply committed to holy pursuits and aspiring to rise to the stars, tempering their life to purity in the crucibles of knowledge and experience as they refine gold and temper steel in the furnace, raising the flames of fire and exalting the nation, sitting and discussing in conferences, extend the bounds of terrific energy and knowledge of the earth and skies unto the birth of stars for us.
18.3.23
आ यूथेव क्षुमति पश्वो अख्यद् देवानां जनिमान्त्य् उग्रः ।
मर्तासश् चिद् उर्वशीर् अकृप्रन् वृधे चिद् अर्य उपरस्यायोः ॥
ā yūtheva kṣumati paśvo akhyad devānāṃ janimānty ugraḥ ।
martāsaś cid urvaśīr akṛpran vṛdhe cid arya uparasyāyoḥ ॥
As the master surveys and assesses the material wealth of his house and prosperity, as the commander assesses and declares the forces under his command, so do you, O lustrous ruler, watch and confirm the presence and continuance around you of noble and brilliant scholars and leaders. So do the people, like the rise of dawns, plan and prepare for the rise of the land like the producer master praying for the generous cloud and seeking for the health and age of life’s longevity.
18.3.24
अकर्म ते स्वपसो अभूम ऋतम् अवस्रन्न् उषसो विभातीः ।
विश्वं तद् भद्रं यद् अवन्ति देवा बृहद् वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥
akarma te svapaso abhūma ṛtam avasrann uṣaso vibhātīḥ ।
viśvaṃ tad bhadraṃ yad avanti devā bṛhad vadema vidathe suvīrāḥ ॥
We act in service to you, O lord Agni, by which we can be called good performers. The brilliant dawns, wearing the mantle of light and truth, adorn the fire divine which is the sun. All that is good for humanity and the world, the divinities protect and promote, so that we, brave and blest with the brave, may celebrate your high glory profusely and ecstatically in our acts of yajnic piety.
18.3.25
इन्द्रो मा मरुत्वान् प्राच्या दिशः पातु बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
indro mā marutvān prācyā diśaḥ pātu bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Indra, lord of winds and stormy heroes, may protect me from the eastern direction like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by the dynamic complementarities of nature’s divine forces in the cosmic circuit. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay here with us and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.26
धाता मा निरृत्या दक्षिणाया दिशः पातु बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्यां इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
dhātā mā nirṛtyā dakṣiṇāyā diśaḥ pātu bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyāṃ ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
May Dhata, lord sustainer of the universe, protect me from adversity from the southern direction like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by the dynamic complementarities of nature’s divine forces in the cosmic circuit. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay here with us and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.27
अदितिर् मादित्यैः प्रतीच्या दिशः पातु बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
aditir mādityaiḥ pratīcyā diśaḥ pātu bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
May Aditi, mother Infinity with Adityas, lazer beams of the sun in the zodiacs, protect me from the western direction like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by the dynamic complementarities of nature’s divine forces in the cosmic circuit. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay here with us and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.28
सोमो मा विश्वैर् देवैर् उदीच्या दिशः पातु बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
somo mā viśvair devair udīcyā diśaḥ pātu bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
May Soma, lord creator and harbinger of peace and joy, with all divine powers of the world protect me from the northern direction like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by the dynamic complementarities of nature’s divine forces in the cosmic circuit. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.29
धर्ता ह त्वा धरुणो धारयाता ऊर्ध्वं भानुं सविता द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
dhartā ha tvā dharuṇo dhārayātā ūrdhvaṃ bhānuṃ savitā dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
May Dharta, supreme wielder of the universe, centre hold of all world’s diversity, hold you high as Savita, lord creator, holds the sun and heaven above. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.30
प्राच्यां त्वा दिशि पुरा सम्वृतः स्वधायाम् आ दधामि बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
prācyāṃ tvā diśi purā samvṛtaḥ svadhāyām ā dadhāmi bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
In the eastern direction, in cosmic stability, I hold you, as ever before held in protected existence in your own identity in constant motion like the earth and heaven above ever moved in harmony by complementary natural forces of the cosmic cycle. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors, of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.31
दक्षिणायां त्वा दिशि पुरा सम्वृतः स्वधायाम् आ दधामि बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
dakṣiṇāyāṃ tvā diśi purā samvṛtaḥ svadhāyām ā dadhāmi bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
In the southern direction, in cosmic stability, I hold you as ever before in existence, protected in your own essential identity in constant motion like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by complementary natural forces of the cosmic cycle. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.32
प्रतीच्यां त्वा दिशि पुरा संवृतः स्वधायाम् आ दधामि बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
pratīcyāṃ tvā diśi purā saṃvṛtaḥ svadhāyām ā dadhāmi bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
In the western direction, in cosmic stability, I hold you as ever before in existence, protected in your own essential identity in constant motion like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by complementary natural forces of the cosmic cycle. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.33
उदीच्यां त्वा दिशि पुरा सम्वृतः स्वधायाम् आ दधामि बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
udīcyāṃ tvā diśi purā samvṛtaḥ svadhāyām ā dadhāmi bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
In the northern direction, in cosmic stability, I hold you protected as ever before in existence, clad in your own essential identity, in constant motion like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by complementary natural forces of the cosmic cycle. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.34
ध्रुवायां त्वा दिशि पुरा संवृतः स्वधायाम् आ दधामि बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
dhruvāyāṃ tvā diśi purā saṃvṛtaḥ svadhāyām ā dadhāmi bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
In the lower direction, in cosmic stability, I hold you protected as ever before in existence, clad in your own essential identity in constant motion like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by complementary natural forces of the cosmic cycle. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.35
ऊर्ध्वायां त्वा दिशि पुरा सम्वृतः स्वधायाम् आ दधामि बाहुच्युता पृथिवी द्याम् इवोपरि ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
ūrdhvāyāṃ tvā diśi purā samvṛtaḥ svadhāyām ā dadhāmi bāhucyutā pṛthivī dyām ivopari ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
In the higher direction above, in cosmic stability, I place you protected as ever before in existence, clad in your own essential identity in constant motion like the earth and heaven above moved in harmony by complementary natural forces of the cosmic cycle. O divine performers of yajna, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our holy offerings.
18.3.36
धर्तासि धरुनो ऽसि वंसगो ऽसि ॥
dhartāsi dharuno 'si vaṃsago 'si ॥
O lord, you are the sustainer of existence. You are the firm centre-hold of existence. You are the treasure-hold of all that is valuable and worth having.
18.3.37
उदपूर् असि मधुपूर् असि वातपूर् असि ॥
udapūr asi madhupūr asi vātapūr asi ॥
You are the treasure-hold, giver and purifier of the waters of life, you are the treasure-hold, giver and purifier of the honey sweets of life, you are the treasurehold, giver and purifier of prana and pranic energies of life.
18.3.38
इतश् च मामुतश् चावतां यमे इव यतमाने यद् ऐतम् ।
प्र वां भरन् मानुषा देवयन्तो आ सीदतां स्वम् उ लोकं विदाने ॥
itaś ca māmutaś cāvatāṃ yame iva yatamāne yad aitam ।
pra vāṃ bharan mānuṣā devayanto ā sīdatāṃ svam u lokaṃ vidāne ॥
O complementarities of life, nature and existence, men and women, heaven and earth, Prakrti and Pumsha, mother and father, who move together in action like twins, pray save me from the sufferance of life here and there in the other beyond. Let the people dedicated to divinity serve you both together for prosperity and self-fulfilment. You know your own place in the world of existence, pray come and be seated there with us.
18.3.39
स्वासस्थे भवतम् इन्दवे नो युजे वां ब्रह्म पूर्व्यं नमोभिः ।
वि श्लोक एति पथ्येव सूरिः शृण्वन्तु विश्वे अमृतास एतत् ॥
svāsasthe bhavatam indave no yuje vāṃ brahma pūrvyaṃ namobhiḥ ।
vi śloka eti pathyeva sūriḥ śṛṇvantu viśve amṛtāsa etat ॥
Pray be present to our mind and vision in your seat in our heart. I join you with submission and homage of salutations and offer divine songs of ancient and eternal time in homage of adoration to you. This mighty song of adoration rises and reaches you by the straight and clear path of love and adoration, and may all the immortal souls of the world listen and rejoice in this song which shines bright as the sun.
18.3.40
त्रीणि पदानि रुपो अन्व् अरोहच् चतुष्पदीम् अन्व् एतद् व्रतेन ।
अक्षरेण प्रति मिमीते अर्कम् ऋतस्य नाभाव् अभि सं पुनाति ॥
trīṇi padāni rupo anv arohac catuṣpadīm anv etad vratena ।
akṣareṇa prati mimīte arkam ṛtasya nābhāv abhi saṃ punāti ॥
Man through meditation on Aum rises and covers three phases of the existential world and the corresponding three pervasive phases of Supreme Brahma, and moves on to the fourth, Turiya phase, the silent phase of Aum and transcendent phase of Brahma, through continued meditation in relentless discipline. Thus by Akshara, the Word, Aum, he realises the self-refulgent eternal Brahma and ultimately sanctifies himself absolutely at the very centre seed and origin of Rtam, constant existence beyond the mutable. (Reference for four phases of Aum and Brahma may be made to Mandukyopanishad, and to Chhandogyopanishad 1, 1-7 for meditative study of Aum).
18.3.41
देवेभ्यः कम् अवृणीत मृत्युं प्रजायै किम् अमृतं नावृणीत ।
बृहस्पतिर् यज्ञम् अतनुत ऋषिः प्रियां यमस् तन्वम् आ रिरेच ॥
devebhyaḥ kam avṛṇīta mṛtyuṃ prajāyai kim amṛtaṃ nāvṛṇīta ।
bṛhaspatir yajñam atanuta ṛṣiḥ priyāṃ yamas tanvam ā rireca ॥
Brhaspati, lord of the expanding universe, chooses joyous death for the devas, people of enlightenment and piety. Does he not choose, provide for, freedom from death for his children? Brhaspati, all seeing visionary creator, laid out the provision and process for all, and thereby Yama, lord of life and law, releases all from the dear mortal body and supplants the mortal body with freedom of the soul.
18.3.42
त्वम् अग्न ईडितो जातवेदो ऽवाड् ढव्यानि सुरभीणि कृत्वा ।
प्रादाः पितृभ्यः स्वधया ते अक्षन्न् अद्धि त्वं देव प्रयता हवींषि ॥
tvam agna īḍito jātavedo 'vāḍ ḍhavyāni surabhīṇi kṛtvā ।
prādāḥ pitṛbhyaḥ svadhayā te akṣann addhi tvaṃ deva prayatā havīṃṣi ॥
Leading light of life, Agni, harbinger of fresh life and energy, all pervasive, all knowing, invoked and adored, you receive the holy materials offered in yajnic oblations, convert and intensify them to fragrant refinement and catalytic efficacy and send them on to life nourishing divinities of nature and humanity. Let the pranic energies feed upon these offerings by their own nature and character and be replenished and energised, and you too, O refulgent divinity, consume your share in the natural process for life sustenance.
18.3.43
आसीनासो अरुणीनाम् उपस्थे रयिं धत्त दाशुषे मर्त्याय ।
पुत्रेभ्यः पितरस् तस्य वस्वः प्र यछत त इहोर्जं दधात ॥
āsīnāso aruṇīnām upasthe rayiṃ dhatta dāśuṣe martyāya ।
putrebhyaḥ pitaras tasya vasvaḥ pra yachata ta ihorjaṃ dadhāta ॥
O Pitaras, parental seniors and life giving natural powers of vital sustenance, abiding close by the flames of fire and morning rays of the dawn, pray bear and bring wealth, honour and excellence for the generous human performer of yajna. Bear and bring wealth peace and settlement in happiness for his children and bless them with food and energy for body, mind and soul in happy homes here.
18.3.44
अग्निष्वात्ताः पितर एह गछत सदःसदः सदत सुप्रणीतयः ।
अत्तो हवींषि प्रयतानि बर्हिषि रयिं च नः सर्ववीरं दधात ॥
agniṣvāttāḥ pitara eha gachata sadaḥsadaḥ sadata supraṇītayaḥ ।
atto havīṃṣi prayatāni barhiṣi rayiṃ ca naḥ sarvavīraṃ dadhāta ॥
O Pitaras, parental seniors and divinities of nature’s pranic energies, leading lights of life and harbingers of love and advancement, performers of yajna and recipients of the gifts of fire and the dawns, pray come here, visit and be seated in every home, partake of the holy offerings here on the vedi, and bear and bring for us wealth, honour and excellence with progeny worthy of the brave.
18.3.45
उपहूता नः पितरः सोम्यासो बर्हिष्येषु निधिषु प्रियेषु ।
त आ गमन्तु त इह श्रुवन्त्व् अधि ब्रुवन्तु ते ऽवन्त्व् अस्मान् ॥
upahūtā naḥ pitaraḥ somyāso barhiṣyeṣu nidhiṣu priyeṣu ।
ta ā gamantu ta iha śruvantv adhi bruvantu te 'vantv asmān ॥
May our Pitaras, parental seniors, lovers of soma, peace and joy, invited with reverence to our yajnic programmes of prosperity in knowledge, joint action and valuable achievements, come here to our vedi, listen to us patiently and sympathetically, speak to us and advise us from their high position, and thus save, protect and advance us in life.
18.3.46
ये नः पितुः पितरो ये पितामहा अनूजहिरे सोमपीथं वसिष्ठाः ।
तेभिर् यमः सम्रराणो हवींष्य् उशन्न् उशद्भिः प्रतिकामम् अत्तु ॥
ye naḥ pituḥ pitaro ye pitāmahā anūjahire somapīthaṃ vasiṣṭhāḥ ।
tebhir yamaḥ samrarāṇo havīṃṣy uśann uśadbhiḥ pratikāmam attu ॥
Great and most brilliant, Vasishthas, are our Pitaras, parental seniors, parents and grand parents of our parents, lovers and creators of soma, peace, prosperity and joy, who come and join our soma-yajna. With those loving and enthusiastic pitaras, may Yama, lord ordainer of life and time, and the keeper of individual and social discipline, too, happy, loving and rejoicing with them all, we pray, come and partake of the delicacies of yajna as he pleases in every aspect of our yajna.
18.3.47
ये तातृषुर् देवत्रा जेहमाना होत्राविदः स्तोमतष्टासो अर्कैः ।
आग्ने याहि सहस्रं देववन्दैः सत्यैः कविभिर् ऋषिभिर् घर्मसद्भिः ॥
ye tātṛṣur devatrā jehamānā hotrāvidaḥ stomataṣṭāso arkaiḥ ।
āgne yāhi sahasraṃ devavandaiḥ satyaiḥ kavibhir ṛṣibhir gharmasadbhiḥ ॥
Those who thirst for and strive after love of the divinities, who know the hymns and processes of yajna, who are shaped in mind and character by Vedic hymns and yajnic discipline with prayers and worship of divinities, and who are honoured a thousandfold by the divines, with such poets, sages and seers, O leading light of life, Agni, come, they are dedicated to truth and steeped in the science of yajna, heat and light.
18.3.48
ये सत्यासो हविरदो हविष्पा इन्द्रेण देवैः सरथं तुरेण ।
आग्ने याहि सुविदत्रेभिर् अर्वाङ् परैः पूर्वैर् ऋषिभिर् घर्मसद्भिः ॥
ye satyāso havirado haviṣpā indreṇa devaiḥ sarathaṃ tureṇa ।
āgne yāhi suvidatrebhir arvāṅ paraiḥ pūrvair ṛṣibhir gharmasadbhiḥ ॥
Those who are dedicated to the pursuit of truth, receive and consume holy offerings of yajnic inputs and develop, refine, protect and further promote the holy inputs, and move along with Indra, divine omnipotence and energies of nature at a velocity faster than anything else, with these generous performers and pioneers, sages and seers, and visionary creators ancient and modem steeped in the science of yajna, heat and light, O Agni, leading light of life and path maker of the future, come to us.
18.3.49
उप सर्प मातरं भूमिम् एताम् उरुव्यचसं पृथिवीं सुशेवाम् ।
ऊर्णम्रदाः पृथिवी दक्षिणावत एषा त्वा पातु प्रपथे पुरस्तात् ॥
upa sarpa mātaraṃ bhūmim etām uruvyacasaṃ pṛthivīṃ suśevām ।
ūrṇamradāḥ pṛthivī dakṣiṇāvata eṣā tvā pātu prapathe purastāt ॥
O soul, go close to this seat of your existence, vast, auspicious and comfortable Mother Earth. And may this earth, silken soft for the man of generosity, nurse, nourish, protect and promote you forward on the path of life in the front direction.
18.3.50
उच् छ्वञ्चस्व पृथिवि मा नि बाधथाः सूपायनास्मै भव सूपसर्पणा ।
माता पुत्रं यथा सिचाभ्य् एनं भूम ऊर्णुहि ॥
uc chvañcasva pṛthivi mā ni bādhathāḥ sūpāyanāsmai bhava sūpasarpaṇā ।
mātā putraṃ yathā sicābhy enaṃ bhūma ūrṇuhi ॥
O Mother Earth, wax and bloom and swell for this soul, pray do not suppress it, be kind as mother for the child, pleasant for it to walk upon and move forward. O Mother Earth, cover him with your protection as a mother covers the child with the hem of her sari.
18.3.51
उच्छ्वञ्चमाना पृथिवी सु तिष्ठतु सहस्रं मित उप हि श्रयन्ताम् ।
ते गृहासो घृतश्चुतः स्योना विश्वाहास्मै शरणाः सन्त्व् अत्र ॥
ucchvañcamānā pṛthivī su tiṣṭhatu sahasraṃ mita upa hi śrayantām ।
te gṛhāso ghṛtaścutaḥ syonā viśvāhāsmai śaraṇāḥ santv atra ॥
Waxing and blooming, let the earth be stable and peaceful. Let a thousand homes and people abide at peace and observe measured ways of life. And let those homes, abundant in ghrta and prosperity, full of comfort and joy, be a happy haven for this man for all time.
18.3.52
उत् ते स्तभ्नामि पृथिवीं त्वत् परीमं लोगं निदधन् मो अहम् रिषम् ।
एतां स्थूणां पितरो धारयन्ति ते तत्र यमः सादना ते कृणोतु ॥
ut te stabhnāmi pṛthivīṃ tvat parīmaṃ logaṃ nidadhan mo aham riṣam ।
etāṃ sthūṇāṃ pitaro dhārayanti te tatra yamaḥ sādanā te kṛṇotu ॥
O man, I hold up, support and sustain this earth for you. Bearing this house of clay all around for you. let me never feel embarrassed (on your account). The Pitaras, parental seniors and natural energies, bear this central column firm, and there may Yama, ruler of time and law, build the house for you. (This mantra is highly and variously open ended: Who speaks the first sentence? Supreme Divinity. What is the house of clay? Could be the earth itself, could be the family home built over generations, could be the body itself built and given over successive births in the cycle of existence.)
18.3.53
इमम् अग्ने चमसं मा वि जिह्वरः प्रियो देवानाम् उत सोम्यानाम् ।
अयं यश् चमसो देवपानस् तस्मिन् देवा अमृता मादयन्ताम् ॥
imam agne camasaṃ mā vi jihvaraḥ priyo devānām uta somyānām ।
ayaṃ yaś camaso devapānas tasmin devā amṛtā mādayantām ॥
Agni, leading light of life, pray do not distort and vitiate this chamas, ladle of life’s yajna (full of exciting gifts for the fire of life). It is the darling of Devas and lovers of soma, those who create as well as enjoy the ecstasy of yajnic living. It is the ladle in which and from which the divinities receive the nectar of life. Let the immortal Devas here in this life rejoice in their acts of creativity and the consequent fruits.
18.3.54
अथर्वा पूर्णम् चमसम् यम् इन्द्रायाबिभर् वाजिनीवते ।
तस्मिन् कृणोति सुकृतस्य भक्षं तस्मिन् इन्दुः पवते विश्वदानिम् ॥
atharvā pūrṇam camasam yam indrāyābibhar vājinīvate ।
tasmin kṛṇoti sukṛtasya bhakṣaṃ tasmin induḥ pavate viśvadānim ॥
The ladle of life which Atharva, eternal lord of constancy, fills and provides for the vibrant, energetic and winsome soul is full, in which the lord provides the man’s share of potential food and joy for noble action, and therein flows the nectar of life constantly in the state of purity (unless it is polluted through ignorance or by one’s own negative choice).
18.3.55
यत् ते कृष्णः शकुन आतुतोद पिपीलः सर्प उत वा श्वापदः ।
अग्निष् टद् विश्वाद् अगदं कृणोतु सोमश् च यो ब्राह्मणां आविवेश ॥
yat te kṛṣṇaḥ śakuna ātutoda pipīlaḥ sarpa uta vā śvāpadaḥ ।
agniṣ ṭad viśvād agadaṃ kṛṇotu somaś ca yo brāhmaṇāṃ āviveśa ॥
O soul, in the course of life, whatever fear, harm or injury, ignorance, or the dark ones, birds, beasts, insects or reptiles may do to your person, all these, may Agni, all purifying, and soma, and soma science known to experts, heal and restore, back to your good health.
18.3.56
पयस्वतीर् ओषधयः पयस्वन् मामकं पयः ।
अपां पयसो यत् पयस् तेन मा सह शुम्भतु ॥
payasvatīr oṣadhayaḥ payasvan māmakaṃ payaḥ ।
apāṃ payaso yat payas tena mā saha śumbhatu ॥
Let the herbs and trees be full of nectar. Let the nectar vested in me be full of its own divine purity through the life time. May the nectar which is the essence of the purity of life’s divine flow, with all the purity of nature’s constancy, purify me.
18.3.57
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 with 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.
Sūkta 3 — Yama, Agni (5-6), Indu (54), Apah (56), mantrawise (44-46) Devatah, Atharva Rshi (mantras 58–73)
Atharvaveda 18.3 · mantras 58–73 of 73 · part 2 of 2
18.3.58
सं गछस्व पितृभिः सं यमेनेष्टापूर्तेन परमे व्योमन् ।
हित्वावद्यं पुनर् अस्तम् एहि सं गछतां तन्वा सुवर्चाः ॥
saṃ gachasva pitṛbhiḥ saṃ yameneṣṭāpūrtena parame vyoman ।
hitvāvadyaṃ punar astam ehi saṃ gachatāṃ tanvā suvarcāḥ ॥
O soul, join with pitrpranic energies and go forward, join with another life time for future existence and go forward, join with your acts of choice and obligation and go forward to the highest space. Having left the imperfect and exhausted life, go to a new home, join with another vigorous bright body full of fresh life again.
18.3.59
ये नः पितुः पितरो ये पितामहा य आविविशुर् उर्व् अन्तरिक्षम् ।
तेभ्यः स्वराद् असुनीतिर् नो अद्य वथावशं तन्वः कल्पयाति ॥
ye naḥ pituḥ pitaro ye pitāmahā ya āviviśur urv antarikṣam ।
tebhyaḥ svarād asunītir no adya vathāvaśaṃ tanvaḥ kalpayāti ॥
Those who are our parents’ parents and grand parents, who have gone forward and entered into the wide space, for those forefathers of ours, the self-refulgent ordainer of the cycle of life and pranic energy creates new bodies always according to their inner desires recorded in the mind.
18.3.60
शं ते नीहारो भवतु शं ते प्रुष्वाव शीयताम् ।
शीतिके शीतिकावति ह्लादिके ह्लादिकावति ।
मण्डूक्य् अप्सु शं भुव इमं स्व् अग्निं शमय ॥
śaṃ te nīhāro bhavatu śaṃ te pruṣvāva śīyatām ।
śītike śītikāvati hlādike hlādikāvati ।
maṇḍūky apsu śaṃ bhuva imaṃ sv agniṃ śamaya ॥
Let the fog and mists be cool and comfortable to you. Let rain showers come cool and refreshing to you for peace. O cool and refreshing herbs and plants, O happy and delightful people in quality of mind and in response and vibrations, be calm, happy and comfortable in home life as a frog in cool comfortable water and calm this heat and fire of the mind and body.
18.3.61
विवस्वान् नो अभयं कृणोतु यः सुत्रामा जीरदानुः सुदानुः ।
इहेमे वीरा बहवो भवन्तु गोमद् अश्ववन् मय्य् अस्तु पुष्टम् ॥
vivasvān no abhayaṃ kṛṇotu yaḥ sutrāmā jīradānuḥ sudānuḥ ।
iheme vīrā bahavo bhavantu gomad aśvavan mayy astu puṣṭam ॥
Let the self-refulgent lord of the world who is all-protective, giver of life energy, and all beneficent, grant us freedom from fear. Let all these brave heroes be many and for me, and may there be growth and progress in lands, cows and horses, and culture, and let there be great achievements of health and prosperity
18.3.62
विवस्वान् नो अमृतत्वे दधातु परैतु मृत्युर् अमृतं न ऐतु ।
इमान् रक्षतु पुरुषान् आ जरिम्णो मो स्व् एषाम् असवो यमं गुः ॥
vivasvān no amṛtatve dadhātu paraitu mṛtyur amṛtaṃ na aitu ।
imān rakṣatu puruṣān ā jarimṇo mo sv eṣām asavo yamaṃ guḥ ॥
May the lord self-refulgent establish us in the nectar sweetness of immortality. Let death and adversity go off, let immortality come and bless us. May the lord protect these mature men against old age and infirmity. Let pranic energies protect these old people, and may their pranic energies never forsake them and fly to Yama, lord of time and death.
18.3.63
यो दध्रे अन्तरिक्षे न मह्ना पितॄणां कविः प्रमतिर् मतीनाम् ।
तम् अर्चत विश्वमित्रा हविर्भिः स नो यमः प्रतरं जीवसे धात् ॥
yo dadhre antarikṣe na mahnā pitṝṇāṃ kaviḥ pramatir matīnām ।
tam arcata viśvamitrā havirbhiḥ sa no yamaḥ prataraṃ jīvase dhāt ॥
O men and women, friends of the world of life, worship him, with homage of faith, love and havi, who is the creative visionary and wisest of the wise and parental powers of nature and humanity, and who, surely with his sole omnipotence, holds and sustains the stars and planets in space. May he, Yama, lord ordainer of life and time, sustain us too unto a long and full life of high quality beyond sorrow and suffering.
18.3.64
आ रोहत दिवम् उत्तमाम् ऋषयो मा बिभीतन ।
सोमपाः सोमपायिन इदं वः क्रियते हविर् अगन्म ज्वोतिर् उत्तमम् ॥
ā rohata divam uttamām ṛṣayo mā bibhītana ।
somapāḥ somapāyina idaṃ vaḥ kriyate havir aganma jvotir uttamam ॥
O saintly seers of Vedic mantras, lovers, protectors and developers of the science of soma and the health and happiness of life, fear not, rise to the best and highest light of life, knowledge and bliss. This homage of faith and reverence is prepared and offered to you. Let us all rise and reach the highest light of bliss in the presence of Divinity.
18.3.65
प्र केतुना बृहता भात्य् अग्निर् आ रोदसी वृषभो रोरवीति ।
दिवश् चिद् अन्ताद् उपमाम् उद् आनड् अपाम् उपस्थे महिषो ववर्ध ॥
pra ketunā bṛhatā bhāty agnir ā rodasī vṛṣabho roravīti ।
divaś cid antād upamām ud ānaḍ apām upasthe mahiṣo vavardha ॥
Self-refulgent Agni, light and fire of life, blazes and rises by topless banners of flame and, like a mighty mountainous cloud, roars over heaven and earth. Unto the ends of earth and heaven it assumes and reveals its presence in the semblance of stars and planets and waxes mighty and mightier at the heart of cosmic oceans.
18.3.66
नाके सुपर्णम् उप यत् पतन्तं ह्र्दा वेनन्तो अभ्यचक्षत त्वा ।
हिरण्यपक्षं वरुणस्य दूतं यमस्य योनौ शकुनं भुरन्युम् ॥
nāke suparṇam upa yat patantaṃ hrdā venanto abhyacakṣata tvā ।
hiraṇyapakṣaṃ varuṇasya dūtaṃ yamasya yonau śakunaṃ bhuranyum ॥
O Agni, saints and sages loving you with their heart and soul, realise and see you in meditation, flying like a bird of golden wings in the heaven of light and bliss, the messenger and harbinger of the oceanic waters of Vamna in space, and a blazing bird at the centre of Yama, sustaining omnipotence wielding and ordaining the world of cosmic existence with love and justice.
18.3.67
इन्द्र क्रतुं न आ भर पिता पुत्रेभ्यो यथा ।
शिक्षा णो अस्मिन् पुरुहूत यामनि जीवा ज्योतिर् अशीमहि ॥
indra kratuṃ na ā bhara pitā putrebhyo yathā ।
śikṣā ṇo asmin puruhūta yāmani jīvā jyotir aśīmahi ॥
Indra, bring us the divine vision, will and intelligence as does the father for his children. O lord universally invoked and worshipped, instruct us as a teacher at this modem time so that we, ordinary souls, may have the light of life and living experience of Divinity in the prevailing darkness.
18.3.68
अपूपापिहितान् कुम्भान् यांस् ते देवा अधारयन् ।
ते ते सन्तु स्वधावन्तो मधुमन्तो घृतश्चुतः ॥
apūpāpihitān kumbhān yāṃs te devā adhārayan ।
te te santu svadhāvanto madhumanto ghṛtaścutaḥ ॥
O lord, those generous and brilliant people, saints, sages and performers of yajna, bear, hold and offer jars full of rich delicacies for yajnic worship and hospitality to you, may those jars, we pray, be rich in their own essential yajnic wealth, honey sweets and abundance of ghrta.
18.3.69
यास् ते धाना अनुकिरामि तिलमिश्रा स्वधावतीः ।
तास् ते सन्तु विभ्वीः प्रभ्वीस् तास् ते यमो राजानु मन्यताम् ॥
yās te dhānā anukirāmi tilamiśrā svadhāvatīḥ ।
tās te santu vibhvīḥ prabhvīs tās te yamo rājānu manyatām ॥
O man, whatever grains of rice mixed with sesamum seeds I sow, raise and give you according to the seasons, may they be abundantly sufficient and nourishing for you, and may Yama, master ordainer of time, health and age, approve for you.
18.3.70
पुनर् देहि वनस्पते य एष निहितस् त्वयि ।
यथा यमस्य सादन आसातौ विदथा वदन् ॥
punar dehi vanaspate ya eṣa nihitas tvayi ।
yathā yamasya sādana āsātau vidathā vadan ॥
Vanaspate, lord of love, beauty and goodness, give us this love and dedication again which abides deep and safe at heart in you so that man may abide in the house of Yama, the world of justice and noble action, knowing, pursuing and also speaking of knowledge and karma to others.
18.3.71
आ रभस्व जातवेदस् तेजस्वद् धरो अस्तु ते ।
शरीरम् अस्य सं दहाथैनं देहि सुकृताम् उ लोके ॥
ā rabhasva jātavedas tejasvad dharo astu te ।
śarīram asya saṃ dahāthainaṃ dehi sukṛtām u loke ॥
O Jataveda, leading light of life and the ways of life and action in active life, pray begin the process of teaching and discipline. Let your heat of discipline and light of knowledge be impressive and powerfully attractive. Pray heat up and temper the body and mind of this initiate and help him settle in the world of noble house-holders dedicated to knowledge and holy action.
18.3.72
ये ते पूर्वे परागता अपरे पितरश् च ये ।
तेभ्यो घृतस्य कुल्यैतु शतधारा व्युन्दती ॥
ye te pūrve parāgatā apare pitaraś ca ye ।
tebhyo ghṛtasya kulyaitu śatadhārā vyundatī ॥
O man of knowledge and yajnic action, for all those parental seniors and ancestors of yours, ancient and later ones, who have gone before, let the streams of ghrta overflow abundant in a hundred ways of yajna in their honour.
18.3.73
एतद् आ रोह वय उन्मृजानः स्वा इह बृहद् उ दीदयन्ते ।
अभि प्रेहि मध्यतो माप हास्थाः पितॄनां लोकं प्रथमो यो अत्र ॥
etad ā roha vaya unmṛjānaḥ svā iha bṛhad u dīdayante ।
abhi prehi madhyato māpa hāsthāḥ pitṝnāṃ lokaṃ prathamo yo atra ॥
O man, mount and rise high on this life’s ladder, cleansing and raising yourself in knowledge, morals and yajnic action. Your own qualities of character and your own people here highly shine. Go forward and rise in their midst. Do not forsake the world of your parents and seniors which is of the first importance and value to you here.
Sūkta 4 — Atharva Rshi (mantras 1–60)
Atharvaveda 18.4 · mantras 1–60 of 89 · part 1 of 2
18.4.1
आ रोहत जनित्रीं जातवेदसः पितृयानैः सं व आ रोहयामि ।
अवाड् ढव्येषितो हव्यवाह ईजानं युक्ताः सुकृतां धत्त लोके ॥
ā rohata janitrīṃ jātavedasaḥ pitṛyānaiḥ saṃ va ā rohayāmi ।
avāḍ ḍhavyeṣito havyavāha ījānaṃ yuktāḥ sukṛtāṃ dhatta loke ॥
O jatavedas, intelligent men and women self-aware of all that is born, lives and completes its existential life cycle, arise, move forward by the paths shown by seniors and ancestral traditions and reach the universal mother spirit of existence. I help you all together and show the path to the ascent. Agni, leading light of life, receiver and carrier of your offerings, loved, invoked and adored, has accepted your offerings. O men and women dedicated to Divinity, O mother powers of divine nature, establish the performer of yajna in the state of earthly paradise created by people of noble action.
18.4.2
देवा यज्ञम् ऋतवः कल्पयन्ति हविः पुरोडाशं स्रुचो यज्ञायुधानि ।
तेभिर् याहि पथिभिर् देवयानैर् यैर् ईजानाः स्वर्गं यन्ति लोकम् ॥
devā yajñam ṛtavaḥ kalpayanti haviḥ puroḍāśaṃ sruco yajñāyudhāni ।
tebhir yāhi pathibhir devayānair yair ījānāḥ svargaṃ yanti lokam ॥
Noble, generous and brilliant people of creative mind and the seasons in harmony design and structure the yajnic programmes, they prepare the yajnic inputs, the holy food, the ladles for offering and the entire infrastructure of yajna. With them, by their programmes, and by the paths shown by divinities of nature and humanity, the people who perform yajna rise to the state of peace and paradisal bliss on earth. O man, you too perform yajna and rise.
18.4.3
ऋतस्य पन्थाम् अनु पश्य साध्व् अङ्गिरसः सुकृतो येन यन्ति ।
तेभिर् याहि पथिभिः स्वर्गं यत्रादित्या मधु भक्षयन्ति तृतीये नाके अधि वि श्रयस्व ॥
ṛtasya panthām anu paśya sādhv aṅgirasaḥ sukṛto yena yanti ।
tebhir yāhi pathibhiḥ svargaṃ yatrādityā madhu bhakṣayanti tṛtīye nāke adhi vi śrayasva ॥
O man, watch the path of nature’s divine law and yajnic performance by which Angirasas, vibrant leaders of science and holy action, go forward in life to the state of paradisal bliss. By those very paths of knowledge, law and yajna, you too go forward and reach the state of bliss where Adityas, brilliant sages of the highest order of knowledge and disciplined performance, feed on the honey sweets of bliss in the third and highest state of heaven. Go and be established there.
18.4.4
त्रयः सुपर्णा उपरस्य मायू नाकस्य पृष्ठे अधि विष्टपि श्रिताः ।
स्वर्गा लोका अमृतेन विष्ठा इषम् ऊर्जं यजमानाय दुह्राम् ॥
trayaḥ suparṇā uparasya māyū nākasya pṛṣṭhe adhi viṣṭapi śritāḥ ।
svargā lokā amṛtena viṣṭhā iṣam ūrjaṃ yajamānāya duhrām ॥
Three ‘Birds’ of golden wing, that is, Ishvara, Jiva, and Prakrti, or heaven, firmament and the earth, or sun, moon and the earth, or Adityas, Angirasas and the yajnic people going by Devayana and Pitryana paths of living, and thunder and lightning of the rain bearer cloud, all these are sustained by the Lord Supreme on top of heaven over the middle regions. All these, by the laws of Rtam and yajnic performance, are ‘regions’, natural and human, replete with immortal nectar, leading to the state of joy and divine bliss. May all these bear and bring food and energy of body, mind and soul for the yajamana.
18.4.5
जुहूर् दाधार द्याम् उपभृद् अन्तरिक्षं ध्रुवा दाधार पृथिवीं प्रतिष्ठाम् ।
प्रतीमां लोका घृतपृष्ठाः स्वर्गाः कामंकामं यजमानाय दुह्राम् ॥
juhūr dādhāra dyām upabhṛd antarikṣaṃ dhruvā dādhāra pṛthivīṃ pratiṣṭhām ।
pratīmāṃ lokā ghṛtapṛṣṭhāḥ svargāḥ kāmaṃkāmaṃ yajamānāya duhrām ॥
Juhu, the ladle that holds the havi for the fire, the cosmic process of giving, sustains the high region of light. Upabhrt, the vessel that holds the havi for the Juhu, the process of nature that holds the wealth of abundance for release towards the process of offering, sustains the middle region of the firmament. And Dhruva, the fixed and settled container of havi, nature’s process of divine stability, sustains the earth. May all regions bright with the shine of ghrta, which lead to paradisal joy, bear and bring to the stable earth fulfilment of desire for the yajamana. (The cosmic process of sustenance is a circuitous balance of centrifugal and centripetal forces, the centre being the lord Supreme, dimensionless Infinity, smaller than the smallest, greater than the greatest. Reference may be made to Rgveda 1, 164, 35 and Atharva-veda 9, 10, 13-14, and to Kathopanishad is a symbol of the universe and the structure and process of yajna, a symbol of the structure and process of the universe.)
18.4.6
ध्रुव आ रोह पृथिवीं विश्वभोजसम् अन्तरिक्षम् उपभृद् आ क्रमस्व ।
जुहु द्यां गछ यजमानेन साकं स्रुवेण वत्सेन दिशः प्रपीनाः सर्वा धुक्ष्वाहृण्यमानः ॥
dhruva ā roha pṛthivīṃ viśvabhojasam antarikṣam upabhṛd ā kramasva ।
juhu dyāṃ gacha yajamānena sākaṃ sruveṇa vatsena diśaḥ prapīnāḥ sarvā dhukṣvāhṛṇyamānaḥ ॥
Come, O Dhruva, divine stability of Nature, rise and rule the earth which provides food and sustenance to all forms of life. O Upabhrt, come, rise and take over the middle regions. O Juhu, rise and go to the heavenly regions of light along with the yajamana. O Yajamana, come up without hesitation and, with the ladle of ghrta which is the calf of Mother Nature, distil the milky wealth of all abundant directions of space. (The yajna thus is a symbol of cosmic economy which is boundlessly creative and infinitely beneficent.)
18.4.7
तीर्थैस् तरन्ति प्रवतो महीर् इति यज्ञकृतः सुकृतो येन यन्ति ।
अत्रादधुर् यजमानाय लोकं दिशो भूतानि यद् अकल्पयन्त ॥
tīrthais taranti pravato mahīr iti yajñakṛtaḥ sukṛto yena yanti ।
atrādadhur yajamānāya lokaṃ diśo bhūtāni yad akalpayanta ॥
Bold pioneers cross mighty seas with boats they design. They are mighty men of yajna, heroic doing and great achievement, and, by the ways they perform, others learn and they too cross the hurdles. And when the natural processes of divine evolution create the spaces and forms of existence, they assign a place of prominence to the yajamana in life.
18.4.8
अङ्गिरसाम् अयनं पूर्वो अग्निर् आदित्यानाम् अयनं गार्हपत्यो दक्षिणानाम् अयनं दक्षिणाग्निः ।
महिमानम् अग्नेर् विहितस्य ब्रह्मणा समङ्गः सर्व उप याहि शग्मः ॥
aṅgirasām ayanaṃ pūrvo agnir ādityānām ayanaṃ gārhapatyo dakṣiṇānām ayanaṃ dakṣiṇāgniḥ ।
mahimānam agner vihitasya brahmaṇā samaṅgaḥ sarva upa yāhi śagmaḥ ॥
The original and primeval fire of cosmic yajna, Purvagni, is the love and ambition of Angirasas, vibrant scholars. Garhapatyagni, home fire of yajna, is the way of the Adityas, brilliant Brahmacharis settled as Grhasthis. And Dakshinagni, fire for pure being and creative generosity, is the way of generous people of knowledge, creative action and wide experience as on way to Vanaprastha. O man, grow whole, full and perfect, attain to the power and grandeur of Agni prescribed in the Veda, and realise the ultimate peace and freedom of life.
18.4.9
पूर्वो अग्निष् ट्वा तपतु शं पुरस्ताच् छं पश्चात् तपतु गार्हपत्यः ।
दक्षिणाग्निष् टे तपतु शर्म वर्मोत्तरतो मध्यतो अन्तरिक्षाद् दिशोदिशो अग्ने परि पाहि घोरात् ॥
pūrvo agniṣ ṭvā tapatu śaṃ purastāc chaṃ paścāt tapatu gārhapatyaḥ ।
dakṣiṇāgniṣ ṭe tapatu śarma varmottarato madhyato antarikṣād diśodiśo agne pari pāhi ghorāt ॥
Let Purvagni heat, shine and temper you to peace and perfection from the front. Let Garhapatyagni shine and temper you to sobriety, peace and perfection from behind, and let Dakshinagni temper and sober you to peace, perfection and protective fearlessness from above, middle and the space on all sides from all directions. O Agni, leading light of life, pray protect him all round against the violence, cruelty, awe and terrors of existence.
18.4.10
यूयम् अग्ने शंतमाभिस् तनूभिर् ईजानम् अभि लोकं स्वर्गम् ।
अश्वा भूत्वा पृष्टिवाहो वहाथ यत्र देवैः सधमादं मदन्ति ॥
yūyam agne śaṃtamābhis tanūbhir ījānam abhi lokaṃ svargam ।
aśvā bhūtvā pṛṣṭivāho vahātha yatra devaiḥ sadhamādaṃ madanti ॥
O saints and sages, O holy fire of yajna, with the expansive powers and persuasion of your knowledge and action, be like strong pioneers, leaders and guides of unbreakable strength and, with his physical, subtle and causal bodies, take the yajamana to the most happy and paradisal state of bliss and freedom where noble souls celebrate and enjoy themselves with the divinities.
18.4.11
शम् अग्ने पश्चात् तप शं पुरस्ताच् छम् उत्तराच् छम् अधरात् तपैनम् ।
एकस् त्रेधा विहितो जातवेदः सम्यग् एनं धेहि सुकृताम् उ लोके ॥
śam agne paścāt tapa śaṃ purastāc cham uttarāc cham adharāt tapainam ।
ekas tredhā vihito jātavedaḥ samyag enaṃ dhehi sukṛtām u loke ॥
O Jataveda Agni, lord omnipresent and omniscient, leading light and fire of life, though One, you are three-way self-manifestive (As Agni on earth. as Vayu in the firmament, and as Aditya in the regions of light, as Vishva, Taijas and Prajna, as Virat, Hiranyagarbha and Ishvara, as Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha, and as A, U, M of Aum). Pray heat, temper and shine this yajamana to peace, purity and sanctity from the back, from front, from above and from below (in meditation on Sushumna, in watchful perception upfront, in thought and intelligence in the brain and lower senses and emotions in the lowers regions), and thus secure him in the world of noble action and noble fruit with people of noble action and integrity.
18.4.12
शम् अग्नयः समिद्धा आ रभन्तां प्राजापत्यं मेध्यं जातवेदसः ।
शृतं कृण्वन्त इह माव चिक्षिपन् ॥
śam agnayaḥ samiddhā ā rabhantāṃ prājāpatyaṃ medhyaṃ jātavedasaḥ ।
śṛtaṃ kṛṇvanta iha māva cikṣipan ॥
O Jatavedas, three-way manifestive and functional fires, i.e., Ahavaniya, Garhapatya and Dakshina fires, kindled and raised by the yajamana, start the new holy Prajapatya yajna of the wedded couple and bring peace and security into the home. Confirm the house-holder in the performance of social and spiritual obligations, and let the yajamana never suffer remiss, abuse or disrepute while you bless him with peace and prosperity.
18.4.13
यज्ञ एति विततः कल्पमान ईजानम् अभि लोकं स्वर्गम् ।
तम् अग्नयः सर्वहुतं जुषन्तां प्राजापत्यं मेध्यं जातवेदसः ॥
yajña eti vitataḥ kalpamāna ījānam abhi lokaṃ svargam ।
tam agnayaḥ sarvahutaṃ juṣantāṃ prājāpatyaṃ medhyaṃ jātavedasaḥ ॥
Prajapatya yajna, organised, expanded and elevated by the house-holder according to time and seasons, leads the yajamana towards paradisal regions of life and bliss. May the sacred fires love and favour that yajamana and accept his prajapatya yajna. And thereby, may the fires love and favour, temper and shine the yajamana and never allow him to be insulted, abused and disreputed.
18.4.14
ईजानश् चितम् आरुक्षद् अग्निं नाकस्य पृष्ठाद् दिवम् उत्पतिष्यन् ।
तस्मै प्र भाति नभसो ज्योतिषीमान्त् स्वर्गः पन्थाः सुकृते देवयानः ॥
ījānaś citam ārukṣad agniṃ nākasya pṛṣṭhād divam utpatiṣyan ।
tasmai pra bhāti nabhaso jyotiṣīmānt svargaḥ panthāḥ sukṛte devayānaḥ ॥
The yajamana dedicated to Prajapatya yajna raises the sacred fire in the vedi and rises by the flames of fire wishing to reach the light of heaven from the top of paradisal joy, and then for that man of pious action, from the depth of his clairvoyant mind, arises the light divine, jyotishmati, and the path to the light and bliss of Svah, Light Divine, worthy of divinities, shines bright and clear.
18.4.15
अग्निर् होताध्वर्युष् टे बृहस्पतिर् इन्द्रो ब्रह्मा दक्षिणतस् ते अस्तु ।
हुतो ऽयं संस्थितो यज्ञ एति यत्र पूर्वम् अयनं हुतानाम् ॥
agnir hotādhvaryuṣ ṭe bṛhaspatir indro brahmā dakṣiṇatas te astu ।
huto 'yaṃ saṃsthito yajña eti yatra pūrvam ayanaṃ hutānām ॥
O yajamana of Prajapatya yajna, let the man of enlightenment, like Agni, be the Hota, giver of oblations, let the scholar of holy speech and Veda, like Brhaspati, be the Adhvaryu, chief organiser, let the man of Vedic vision and power, like Indra, be the Brahma, the high priest on your right, and this yajna, the offerings made and the process properly completed, reaches there for you where there is the prime entry gate of the great performers and achievers.
18.4.16
अपूपवान् क्षीरवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān kṣīravāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with milk and ghrta be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay here with us and partake of our offerings.
18.4.17
अपूपवान् दधिवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān dadhivāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with butter and curd be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay here with us and partake of our offerings.
18.4.18
अपूपवान् द्रप्सवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān drapsavāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with butter and liquid curds be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay here with us and partake of our offerings.
18.4.19
अपूपवान् घृतवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān ghṛtavāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with ghrta and ghrta itself be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay here with us and partake of our offerings.
18.4.20
अपूपवान् मांसवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān māṃsavāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with ghrta and cheese and fruit pulp be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our offerings.
18.4.21
अपूपवान् अन्नवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān annavāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with butter and food and food grains be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our offerings.
18.4.22
अपूपवान् मधुमांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān madhumāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with butter and honey be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our offerings.
18.4.23
अपूपवान् रसवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān rasavāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with butter and delicious juice be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our offerings.
18.4.24
अपूपवान् अपवांश् चरुर् एह सीदतु ।
लोककृतः पथिकृतो यजामहे ये देवानां हुतभागा इह स्थ ॥
apūpavān apavāṃś carur eha sīdatu ।
lokakṛtaḥ pathikṛto yajāmahe ye devānāṃ hutabhāgā iha stha ॥
Let the holy vessel full of delicacies prepared with butter and delicious waters and other liquids be here on the vedi. O divine performers of yajna for the divinities, benefactors of the world and path makers of humanity, we invoke and adore you who stay with us here and partake of our offerings.
18.4.25
अपूपापिहितान् कुम्भान् यांस् ते देवा अधारयन् ।
ते ते सन्तु स्वधावन्तो मधुमन्तो घृतश्चुतः ॥
apūpāpihitān kumbhān yāṃs te devā adhārayan ।
te te santu svadhāvanto madhumanto ghṛtaścutaḥ ॥
O yajamana, all those jars full of rich delicacies for yajnic worship and hospitality which generous and brilliant divinities hold, bear and offer to you may, we pray, be ever full, abundant in food, honey and ghrta.
18.4.26
यास् ते धाना अनुकिरामि तिलमिश्राः स्वधावतीः ।
तास् ते सन्तूद्भ्वीः प्रभ्वीस् तास् ते यमो राजानु मन्यताम् ॥
yās te dhānā anukirāmi tilamiśrāḥ svadhāvatīḥ ।
tās te santūdbhvīḥ prabhvīs tās te yamo rājānu manyatām ॥
O yajamana, whatever rice mixed with sesamum I sow, raise and give for you may be full of nourishment, promotive and ever more and more abundant, and may Yama, master ordainer of time, health and age, approve and grant for you.
18.4.27
अक्षितिं भूयसीम् ॥
akṣitiṃ bhūyasīm ॥
May there be nothing wanting, may there be inexhaustible abundance, more and ever more, by the grace of Yama.
18.4.28
द्रप्सश् चस्कन्द पृथिवीम् अनु द्याम् इमं च योनिम् अनु यश् च पूर्वः ।
समानं योनिम् अनु सम्चरन्तं द्रप्सम् जुहोम्य् अनु सप्त होत्राः ॥
drapsaś caskanda pṛthivīm anu dyām imaṃ ca yonim anu yaś ca pūrvaḥ ।
samānaṃ yonim anu samcarantaṃ drapsam juhomy anu sapta hotrāḥ ॥
That eternal, perfect and primordial divine presence and joy (Ananda) which pervades and blesses the earth, the heaven and the original cause of existence. Prakrti, the same joy which universally subsists with its origin, the Sole Creator, I adore with all my life breath, sense and mind, the seven priests, five pranas, mind and senses.
18.4.29
शतधारं वायुम् अर्कं स्वर्विदं नृचक्षसस् ते अभि चक्षते रयिम् ।
ये पृनन्ति प्र च यछन्ति सर्वदा ते दुह्रते दक्षिणां सप्तमातरम् ॥
śatadhāraṃ vāyum arkaṃ svarvidaṃ nṛcakṣasas te abhi cakṣate rayim ।
ye pṛnanti pra ca yachanti sarvadā te duhrate dakṣiṇāṃ saptamātaram ॥
Men of vision and discrimination who watch life and humanity have a vision of the eternal wealth of Divinity, omnipresent as Vayu, self-refulgent as Sun, and Infinite Bliss Itself, which bears all a thousand ways, and radiates and flows in a thousand streams into human consciousness. Those distill this sublime gift of Divinity, mother of seven worlds, Bhu, Bhuvah, Svah, Mahah, Janah, Tapah, Satyam, who always fill their consciousness with this presence and express it as a gift for others.
18.4.30
कोशं दुहन्ति कलशं चतुर्बिलम् इडां धेनुं मधुमतीं स्वस्तये ।
ऊर्जं मदन्तीम् अदितिं जनेष्व् अग्ने मा हिंसीः परमे व्योमन् ॥
kośaṃ duhanti kalaśaṃ caturbilam iḍāṃ dhenuṃ madhumatīṃ svastaye ।
ūrjaṃ madantīm aditiṃ janeṣv agne mā hiṃsīḥ parame vyoman ॥
People milk the treasure trove of life-giving mi lk for their well being all round: It is the Cow with four udders, giving life energy. It is Ida, Eternal Speech of Divinity with knowledge of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. It is Aditi, Eternal Nature, indivisible, imperishable, indestructible. It is Energy Itself abiding in the highest space, rejoicing among people. O Agni, leading light of life and ruler of the earth, do not kill, do not even hurt the Cow, the Ida, the Aditi, the Energy.
18.4.31
एतत् ते देवः सविता वासो ददाति भर्तवे ।
तत् त्वं यमस्य राज्ये वसानस् तार्प्यं चर ॥
etat te devaḥ savitā vāso dadāti bhartave ।
tat tvaṃ yamasya rājye vasānas tārpyaṃ cara ॥
O man, this is your vestment, this body, this wear, this home, this earth, which Savita, lord creator and giver of life and light, the ruler and sustainer, gives you for your sustenance and well being. Wearing that vestment for self-fulfilment, live, move around and enjoy yourself in the dominion of Yama, lord ruler of time and the law of life.
18.4.32
धाना धेनुर् अभवद् वत्सो अस्यास् तिलो ऽभवत् ।
तां वै यमस्य राज्ये अक्षिताम् उप जीवति ॥
dhānā dhenur abhavad vatso asyās tilo 'bhavat ।
tāṃ vai yamasya rājye akṣitām upa jīvati ॥
Erom this Aditi, Nature, the cows are born, of this, the calf was born, there is the rice grain, there is the sesamum grain. All sacred. Thus in the dominion of the Ruling Yama, man lives by that Aditi Cow, unhurt, undiminished, unexhausted, unpolluted mother source.
18.4.33
एतास् ते असौ धेनवः कामदुघा भवन्तु ।
एनीः श्येनीः सरूपा विरूपास् तिलवत्सा उप तिष्ठन्तु त्वात्र ॥
etās te asau dhenavaḥ kāmadughā bhavantu ।
enīḥ śyenīḥ sarūpā virūpās tilavatsā upa tiṣṭhantu tvātra ॥
Then, and thus, O man, these are your cows, let these be your givers of the fulfilment of desire : variegated, white, samely, different, with little calves having sesamum mole on the forehead. Let these be by you here in the home.
18.4.34
एनीर् धाना हरिणीः श्येनीर् अस्य कृष्णा धाना रोहिणीर् धेनवस् ते ।
तिलवत्सा ऊर्जम् अस्मै दुहाना विश्वाहा सन्त्व् अनपस्फुरन्तीः ॥
enīr dhānā hariṇīḥ śyenīr asya kṛṣṇā dhānā rohiṇīr dhenavas te ।
tilavatsā ūrjam asmai duhānā viśvāhā santv anapasphurantīḥ ॥
Variegated, yellow, white, black, ruddy, those with little calves having sesamum moles on the forehead, bearing and yielding nourishing milk and energy for this man always without any disturbance, let these be by him without any break.
18.4.35
वैश्वानरे हविर् इदं जुहोमि साहस्रं शतधारम् उत्सम् ।
स बिभर्ति पितरं पितामहान् प्रपितामहान् बिभर्ति पिन्वमानः ॥
vaiśvānare havir idaṃ juhomi sāhasraṃ śatadhāram utsam ।
sa bibharti pitaraṃ pitāmahān prapitāmahān bibharti pinvamānaḥ ॥
I raise and offer this havi, sacred milk and the wealth of cows and their milky treasure of a hundred and thousandfold streams of energy and nourishment in the service of Vaishvanara, divine heat and vitality of the life of world humanity. This Vaishvanara, waxing and rising strong by the inputs of milk, protects and sustains our parents and grand parents and it protects and sustains our great grand parents.
18.4.36
सहस्रधारं शतधारम् उत्सम् अक्षितं व्यच्यमानं सलिलस्य पृष्ठे ।
ऊर्जं दुहानम् अनपस्फुरन्तम् उपासते पितरः स्वधाभिः ॥
sahasradhāraṃ śatadhāram utsam akṣitaṃ vyacyamānaṃ salilasya pṛṣṭhe ।
ūrjaṃ duhānam anapasphurantam upāsate pitaraḥ svadhābhiḥ ॥
Parents, people, social organisations and government agencies, with their own inputs, serve, augment and benefit from the hundred and thousand-streamed, undiminishing and expanding milky spring of food and energy, undisturbed and steady in the midst of the green, plenteous world on the earth, among flowing waters.
18.4.37
इदं कसाम्बु चयनेन चितं तत् सजाता अव पश्यतेत ।
मर्त्यो ऽयम् अमृतत्वम् एति तस्मै गृहान् कृणुत यावत्सबन्धु ॥
idaṃ kasāmbu cayanena citaṃ tat sajātā ava paśyateta ।
martyo 'yam amṛtatvam eti tasmai gṛhān kṛṇuta yāvatsabandhu ॥
This kasambu, shining beaming liquid energy, distilled, developed and collected through natural process and human efforts, O friends and relatives, watch carefully and realise. Thereby, from here, the mortal man moves toward immortal joy through food and yajna. O kinsmen, build homes for that as far as you can for further development.
18.4.38
इहैवैधि धनसनिर् इहचित्त इहक्रतुः ।
इहैधि वीर्यवत्तरो वयोधा अपराहतः ॥
ihaivaidhi dhanasanir ihacitta ihakratuḥ ।
ihaidhi vīryavattaro vayodhā aparāhataḥ ॥
O man, seeker of immortal wealth as you are, abide here in life, well aware of yourself and busy with noble yajnic action. Here itself grow from strength to higher strength, bearing and enjoying good health, ample wealth and long age, unhurt, unconquered by anyone.
18.4.39
पुत्रं पौत्रम् अभितर्पयन्तीर् आपो मधुमतीर् इमाः ।
स्वधां पितृभ्यो अमृतं दुहाना आपो देवीर् उभयांस् तर्पयन्तु ॥
putraṃ pautram abhitarpayantīr āpo madhumatīr imāḥ ।
svadhāṃ pitṛbhyo amṛtaṃ duhānā āpo devīr ubhayāṃs tarpayantu ॥
These honey sweet waters, milk, honey and water leading to noble action, pleasing, satisfying and energising children and grand children, giving immortal energy and fulfilment to parents and grand parents, may, we pray, bring total fulfilment and salvation to both parents and children, all past, present and future generatious - divine flow of energy and joy as they are.
18.4.40
आपो अग्निं प्र हिणुत पितॄंर् उपेमं यज्ञं पितरो मे जुषन्ताम् ।
आसीनाम् ऊर्जम् उप ये सचन्ते ते नो रयिं सर्ववीरं नि यछान् ॥
āpo agniṃ pra hiṇuta pitṝṃr upemaṃ yajñaṃ pitaro me juṣantām ।
āsīnām ūrjam upa ye sacante te no rayiṃ sarvavīraṃ ni yachān ॥
Let the people and their noble actions kindle, raise and set in continuous motion this holy fire of yajna for the honour and self-fulfilment of our parents and forefathers. May our parents and seniors join and approve of this yajna closely and happily. And may those parents and seniors who share and enjoy that food and energy created and presented to them bless us with wealth, honour and excellence and progeny worthy of the brave.
18.4.41
सम् इन्धते अमर्त्यं हव्यवाहं घृतप्रियम् ।
स वेद निहितान् निधीन् पितॄन् परावतो गतान् ॥
sam indhate amartyaṃ havyavāhaṃ ghṛtapriyam ।
sa veda nihitān nidhīn pitṝn parāvato gatān ॥
People of piety and devotion light the fire which is the lover, receiver, carrier and disseminator of the havi offered into the vedi and thus worship the immortal Agni which knows and begets the hidden treasures, also those which were known to our forefathers now gone far away.
18.4.42
यं ते मन्थं यम् ओदननं यन् मांसं निपृणामि ते ।
ते ते सन्तु स्वधावन्तो मधुमन्तो घृतश्चुतः ॥
yaṃ te manthaṃ yam odananaṃ yan māṃsaṃ nipṛṇāmi te ।
te te santu svadhāvanto madhumanto ghṛtaścutaḥ ॥
What barley meal mixed and stirred with milk, what rice meal or cheese or fruit pulp I offer to you, may all those be full of energy, honey sweet and abundant in ghrta.
18.4.43
यास् ते धाना अनुकिरामि तिलमिश्राः स्वधावतीः ।
तास् ते सन्तूद्भ्वीः प्रभ्वीस् तास् ते यमो राजानु मन्यताम् ॥
yās te dhānā anukirāmi tilamiśrāḥ svadhāvatīḥ ।
tās te santūdbhvīḥ prabhvīs tās te yamo rājānu manyatām ॥
O man, whatever rice mixed with sesamum I sow, raise and give for you may be full of nourishment, promotive and more and more abundant, and may Yama, master ordainer of time, health and age, approve and grant you the same in plenty.
18.4.44
इदं पूर्वम् अपरं नियानं येना ते पूर्वे पितरः परेताः ।
पुरोगवा ये अभिसाचो अस्य ते त्वा वहन्ति सुकृताम् उ लोकम् ॥
idaṃ pūrvam aparaṃ niyānaṃ yenā te pūrve pitaraḥ paretāḥ ।
purogavā ye abhisāco asya te tvā vahanti sukṛtām u lokam ॥
This is your path ancient and modem by which your ancient forefathers have gone, those that were pioneers as well as those who were admirers and followers of it. May they lead you too to the world of the noble performers of pious action.
18.4.45
सरस्वतीं देवयन्तो हवन्ते सरस्वतीम् अध्वरे तायमाने ।
सरस्वतीं सुकृतो हवन्ते सरस्वती दाशुषे वार्यं दात् ॥
sarasvatīṃ devayanto havante sarasvatīm adhvare tāyamāne ।
sarasvatīṃ sukṛto havante sarasvatī dāśuṣe vāryaṃ dāt ॥
Lovers of Divinity invoke and adore Sarasvati, ever vibrant and flowing mother stream of knowledge from the Veda onward. They invoke and worship her in their expansive yajna of love and non-violence for the advancement of knowledge. Men of noble action invoke and adore Sarasvati for constant improvement and advancement of their skill and knowledge. May mother Sarasvati, we pray, give gifts of knowledge and expertise to the generous yajamana in the field of his choice.
18.4.46
सरस्वतीं पितरो हवन्ते दक्षिणा यज्ञम् अभिनक्षमाणाः ।
आसद्यास्मिन् बर्हिषि मादयध्वम् अनमीवा इष आ धेह्य् अस्मे ॥
sarasvatīṃ pitaro havante dakṣiṇā yajñam abhinakṣamāṇāḥ ।
āsadyāsmin barhiṣi mādayadhvam anamīvā iṣa ā dhehy asme ॥
Pitaras, parental seniors, invoke and adore Sarasvati when they organise and accomplish Dakshina yajna for simple and natural gifts of skill, knowledge and expertise. O lovers of yajna and knowledge, come, sit on this vedi and enjoy, and spread the joy of learning all round. O Mother, bless us with pure, uncontaminated, nourishing gifts of food and energy for body, mind and soul.
18.4.47
सरस्वति या सरथं ययाथोक्थैः स्वधाभिर् देवि पितृभिर् मदन्ती ।
सहस्रार्घम् इडो अत्र भागं रायस् पोषं यजमानाय धेहि ॥
sarasvati yā sarathaṃ yayāthokthaiḥ svadhābhir devi pitṛbhir madantī ।
sahasrārgham iḍo atra bhāgaṃ rāyas poṣaṃ yajamānāya dhehi ॥
Mother Sarasvati, refulgent spirit of divine light and knowledge, who move with essential powers and cosmic hymns, rejoicing with veteran souls of creative vision on the same clairvoyant medium of imagination as they, like a goddess on chariot, pray bring and vest the yajamana here with his characteristic share of universal wealth, honour, excellence and living energy of infinite vision and inspiration flowing in a thousand streams of divinity.
18.4.48
पृथिवीं त्वा पृथिव्याम् आ वेशयामि देवो नो धाता प्र तिरात्य् आयुः ।
परापरैता वसुविद् वो अस्त्व् अधा मृताः पितृषु सं भवन्तु ॥
pṛthivīṃ tvā pṛthivyām ā veśayāmi devo no dhātā pra tirāty āyuḥ ।
parāparaitā vasuvid vo astv adhā mṛtāḥ pitṛṣu saṃ bhavantu ॥
O vedi, I place and establish you on the earth, and may Dhata, generous and self-refulgent sustainer of the world, protect and promote our life. May the Supreme Lord Divine, farther than the farthest, be the treasure-hold and giver of wealth, honour and excellence for us so that the dead also may reincarnate and come to life again among the parents and live.
18.4.49
आ प्र च्यवेथाम् अप तन् मृजेथां यद् वाम् अभिभा अत्रोचुः ।
अस्माद् एतम् अघ्न्यौ तद् वशीयो दातुः पितृष्व् इहभोजनौ मम ॥
ā pra cyavethām apa tan mṛjethāṃ yad vām abhibhā atrocuḥ ।
asmād etam aghnyau tad vaśīyo dātuḥ pitṛṣv ihabhojanau mama ॥
Arise, O men and women, move forward, give up all that which the brilliant wise advise you should, and having left that, come both of you, sinless and inviolable, to this better way and, among parents and seniors, be sharers with me of the gifts and joy of the
18.4.50
एयम् अगन् दक्षिणा भद्रतो ना अनेन दत्ता सुदुघा वयोधाः ।
यौवने जीवान् उपपृञ्चती जरा पितृभ्य उपसंपराणयाद् इमान् ॥
eyam agan dakṣiṇā bhadrato nā anena dattā sudughā vayodhāḥ ।
yauvane jīvān upapṛñcatī jarā pitṛbhya upasaṃparāṇayād imān ॥
This gift of life and joy at the full has come to us from the noble treasure-hold, given by this divine giver. During the period of youth, maturity approaches people, slow but sure, which may, we pray, take them close to the parental seniors (in wisdom and vision).
18.4.51
इदं पितृभ्यः प्र भरामि बर्हिर् जीवं देवेभ्य उत्तरं स्तृणामि ।
तद् आ रोह पुरुष मेध्यो भवन् प्रति त्वा जानन्तु पितरः परेतम् ॥
idaṃ pitṛbhyaḥ pra bharāmi barhir jīvaṃ devebhya uttaraṃ stṛṇāmi ।
tad ā roha puruṣa medhyo bhavan prati tvā jānantu pitaraḥ paretam ॥
I bear and bring this holy seat for the parental seniors, this life itself made better and higher, which I spread as an open book for the divines on the vedi. O man, raising yourself and being thus sacred and revered, rise and occupy this holy position, and, in response, let the parents and seniors know and recognise you rising to the highest sanctity of your being.
18.4.52
एदं बर्हिर् असदो मेध्यो ऽभूः प्रति त्वा जानन्तु पितरः परेतम् ।
यथापरु तन्वं सं भरस्व गात्राणि ते ब्रह्मणा कल्पयामि ॥
edaṃ barhir asado medhyo 'bhūḥ prati tvā jānantu pitaraḥ paretam ।
yathāparu tanvaṃ saṃ bharasva gātrāṇi te brahmaṇā kalpayāmi ॥
O man, self-raised and sanctified, you now occupy this holy seat. Let the parental seniors know and recognise you thus rising higher and higher. Fill in and accomplish your body and mind part by part completely. I order and sanctify the parts and systems of your personality with Vedic mantras and initiate you into higher life.
18.4.53
पर्णो राजापिधानं चरूणाम् ऊर्जो बलं सह ओजो न आगन् ।
आयुर् जीवेभ्यो विदधद् दीर्घायुत्वाय शतशारदाय ॥
parṇo rājāpidhānaṃ carūṇām ūrjo balaṃ saha ojo na āgan ।
āyur jīvebhyo vidadhad dīrghāyutvāya śataśāradāya ॥
Self-refulgent ruling lord of the universe is the ultimate treasure-hold of the sustenance and security of the regions of life (which is nothing short of the cosmic yajna). From there strength and energy, courage and lustre comes to us. May the lord bring us health and vitality for all living people for a long and healthy life of full hundred years.
18.4.54
ऊर्जो भागो य इमं जजानाश्मान्नानाम् आधिपत्यं जगाम ।
तम् अर्चत विश्वमित्रा हविर्भिः स नो यमः प्रतरं जीवसे धात् ॥
ūrjo bhāgo ya imaṃ jajānāśmānnānām ādhipatyaṃ jagāma ।
tam arcata viśvamitrā havirbhiḥ sa no yamaḥ prataraṃ jīvase dhāt ॥
He that is the giver of food and energy, who has created this world of life, He that is pervasive and holds control over all life-giving food substances, Him alone, O friends of all the world, worship with offers of havi in yajnic oblations, and pray that He, Yama, lord of time, life and law, may bless us with higher and saviour food and energy for body, mind and soul so that we may live a long and full life of health and joy.
18.4.55
यथा यमाय हर्म्यम् अवपन् पञ्च मानवाः ।
एवा वपामि हर्म्यं यथा मे भूरयो ऽसत ॥
yathā yamāya harmyam avapan pañca mānavāḥ ।
evā vapāmi harmyaṃ yathā me bhūrayo 'sata ॥
As all five classes of people over the world join, form and found the house of Yama, lord of time, life and age, so do I found the house for the family so that there may be plenty and prosperity for us.
18.4.56
इदं हिरण्यं बिभृहि यत् ते पिताबिभः पुरा ।
स्वर्गं यतः पितुर् हस्तं निर् मृड्ढि दक्षिणम् ॥
idaṃ hiraṇyaṃ bibhṛhi yat te pitābibhaḥ purā ।
svargaṃ yataḥ pitur hastaṃ nir mṛḍḍhi dakṣiṇam ॥
Bear this golden gift of life as your father bore it before. Thereby you would glorify the right hand expertise and performance of your father leading to paradisal bliss.
18.4.57
ये च जीवा ये च मृता ये जाता ये च यज्ञियाः ।
तेभ्यो घृतस्य कुल्यैतु मधुधारा व्युन्दती ॥
ye ca jīvā ye ca mṛtā ye jātā ye ca yajñiyāḥ ।
tebhyo ghṛtasya kulyaitu madhudhārā vyundatī ॥
All those people who are living, who are dead, who are born and who are worthy of homage and company, for all of them, I pray, the stream of ghrta, abundant and overflowing with honey, may run incessantly.
18.4.58
वृषा मतीनां पवते विचक्षणः सूरो अह्नां प्रतरीतोषसां दिवः ।
प्राणः सिन्धूनां कलशां अचिक्रदद् इन्द्रस्य हार्दिम् आविशन् मनीषया ॥
vṛṣā matīnāṃ pavate vicakṣaṇaḥ sūro ahnāṃ pratarītoṣasāṃ divaḥ ।
prāṇaḥ sindhūnāṃ kalaśāṃ acikradad indrasya hārdim āviśan manīṣayā ॥
Lord Almighty, giver of showers of the wealth and knowledge of existence, all watching guard and protector, light of the days, augmentor of the light of dawns and heavens, life energy of flowing floods, makes the clouds roar and, having entered the heart core of the soul with the light of intelligence and awareness, vibrates, sanctifies and volubly enlivens the five koshas of the soul.
18.4.59
त्वेषस् ते धूम ऊर्णोतु दिवि षं छुक्र आततः ।
सूरो न हि द्युता त्वं कृपा पावक रोचसे ॥
tveṣas te dhūma ūrṇotu divi ṣaṃ chukra ātataḥ ।
sūro na hi dyutā tvaṃ kṛpā pāvaka rocase ॥
O lord all pervasive, your divine refulgence, vibrant fragrance, pure and powerful, pervading extensively over the heavens may, we pray, cover and protect us as an umbrella. Like the sun, with light and grace, O lord purifier and sanctifier, you shine and bless.
18.4.60
प्र वा एतीन्दुर् इन्द्रस्य निष्कृतिं सखा सख्युर् न प्र मिनाति संगिरः ।
मर्य इव योषाः सम् अर्षसे सोमः कलशे शतयामना पथा ॥
pra vā etīndur indrasya niṣkṛtiṃ sakhā sakhyur na pra mināti saṃgiraḥ ।
marya iva yoṣāḥ sam arṣase somaḥ kalaśe śatayāmanā pathā ॥
Indu, the human soul which is enlightened, goes forward and rises to attain to the light of the grace of Indra. Neither the soul nor Indra violates the covenant of love between the human and the divine as a friend never violates the love and trust with another friend. Just as a man abides faithfully by the love of his beloved, so do you, O Soma, lord of peace and inspiration, proceed and emerge in the heart core of the devotee in a hundred ways.
Sūkta 4 — Atharva Rshi (mantras 61–89)
Atharvaveda 18.4 · mantras 61–89 of 89 · part 2 of 2
18.4.61
अक्षन्न् अमीमदन्त ह्य् अव प्रियां अधूषत ।
अस्तोषत स्वभानवो विप्रा यविष्ठा ईमहे ॥
akṣann amīmadanta hy ava priyāṃ adhūṣata ।
astoṣata svabhānavo viprā yaviṣṭhā īmahe ॥
Vibrant sages and enlightened seniors have come, they enjoy themselves, they inspire and enlighten us, their dear ones. They approve and appreciate our courtesy, reverence and hospitality. We, most youthful and enthusiastic citizens, invite and adore them.
18.4.62
आ यात पितरः सोम्यासो गम्भीरैः पथिभिः पितृयाणैः ।
आयुर् अस्मभ्यं दधतः प्रजां च रायश् च पोषैर् अभि नः सचध्वम् ॥
ā yāta pitaraḥ somyāso gambhīraiḥ pathibhiḥ pitṛyāṇaiḥ ।
āyur asmabhyaṃ dadhataḥ prajāṃ ca rāyaś ca poṣair abhi naḥ sacadhvam ॥
O parental seniors and sages, lovers of peace dedicated to soma and divine inspiration, come by the serious and awesome paths carved out by forefathers. Bear and bring us good health and full age, wealth, honour and excellence, bless us and our children and help us with progress and prosperity.
18.4.63
परा यात पितरः सोम्यासो गम्भीरैः पथिभिः पूर्याणैः ।
अधा मासि पुनर् आ यात नो गृहान् हविर् अत्तुं सुप्रजसः सुवीराः ॥
parā yāta pitaraḥ somyāso gambhīraiḥ pathibhiḥ pūryāṇaiḥ ।
adhā māsi punar ā yāta no gṛhān havir attuṃ suprajasaḥ suvīrāḥ ॥
O parental seniors and sages, pitaras, lovers of peace and soma of good cheer, go far by great and awesome paths and highways leading to cities and citadels, and then at the end of the month come again and visit our homes to partake of our hospitality and meet your noble people and their progeny, your own, worthy of the brave.
18.4.64
यद् वो अग्निर् अजहाद् एकम् अङ्गं पितृलोकं गमयं जातवेदाः ।
तद् व एतत् पुनर् आ प्याययामि साङ्गाः स्वर्गे पितरो मादयध्वम् ॥
yad vo agnir ajahād ekam aṅgaṃ pitṛlokaṃ gamayaṃ jātavedāḥ ।
tad va etat punar ā pyāyayāmi sāṅgāḥ svarge pitaro mādayadhvam ॥
O pitaras, if Jataveda Agni, leading light of life and duty, while leading you to the stage of retirement, i.e., Vanaprastha or Sanyasa, left over some part of your obligations towards the seniors and sages, unaccomplished, I would complete and fulfil those for you so that you be happy at peace at your full and best in that state of life leading you to heavenly joy.
18.4.65
अभूद् दूतः प्रहितो जातवेदाः सायं न्यह्न उपवन्द्यो नृभिः ।
प्रादाः पितृभ्यः स्वधया ते अक्षन्न् अद्धि त्वं देव प्रयता हवींषि ॥
abhūd dūtaḥ prahito jātavedāḥ sāyaṃ nyahna upavandyo nṛbhiḥ ।
prādāḥ pitṛbhyaḥ svadhayā te akṣann addhi tvaṃ deva prayatā havīṃṣi ॥
Jataveda Agni, that is, the Ahavaniya, Garhapatya and Dakshinagni, yajnic fires of the householder, are a messenger, an agent on natural and divine duty, and this yajnic fire is sacred, worthy of adoration and service every morning and evening by the householders. O Jataveda Agni, sacred messenger, take to the pitaras the homage offered, let them share and consume it as their own rightful share, and you too have and consume your share of the offerings, O divine and refulgent fire.
18.4.66
असौ हा इह ते मनः ककुत्सलम् इव जामयः ।
अभ्य् एनं भूम ऊर्णुहि ॥
asau hā iha te manaḥ kakutsalam iva jāmayaḥ ।
abhy enaṃ bhūma ūrṇuhi ॥
O father figure, let your mind be here at peace in the hermitage. O mother land, just as women of the home wrap a dear child in soft clothes, you too keep this hermit here and cover him with protection and sustenance and provide a soft and comfortable
18.4.67
शुम्भन्तां लोकाः पितृषदनाः पितृषदने त्वा लोक आ सादयामि ॥
śumbhantāṃ lokāḥ pitṛṣadanāḥ pitṛṣadane tvā loka ā sādayāmi ॥
Let the hermitages for the residence of parental seniors and sages be bright and beautiful places. O father figure, I honour your Reverence in this beautiful hermitage with all the comfort and care you need.
18.4.68
ये अस्माकं पितरस् तेषां बर्हिर् असि ॥
ye asmākaṃ pitaras teṣāṃ barhir asi ॥
All those our father figures, seniors and sages who are among us, here is the seat and sustenance for them.
18.4.69
उद् उत्तमं वरुण पाशम् अस्मद् अवाधमं श्रथाय ।
अधा वयम् आदित्य व्रते तवानागसो अदितये स्याम ॥
ud uttamaṃ varuṇa pāśam asmad avādhamaṃ śrathāya ।
adhā vayam āditya vrate tavānāgaso aditaye syāma ॥
O Varuna, lord of freedom and justice, loosen and untie our chains of bondage of the highest, medium and lowest order and let them drop from us. And then, O Aditya, lord of refulgent majesty, we shall be free from sin and crime, and, dedicated to your law and discipline, we shall be all for the service of mother Aditi, the lord’s inviolable creation and Nature’s law.
18.4.70
प्रास्मत् पाशान् वरुण मुञ्च सर्वान् यैः समामे बध्यते यैर् व्यामे ।
अधा जीवेम शरदं शतानि त्वया राजन् गुपिता रक्षमाणाः ॥
prāsmat pāśān varuṇa muñca sarvān yaiḥ samāme badhyate yair vyāme ।
adhā jīvema śaradaṃ śatāni tvayā rājan gupitā rakṣamāṇāḥ ॥
O Vamna, remove and shed away all chains of bondage from us, chains by which the soul is tied in space and time, by laws made by man and laws of cosmic justice. And then, O lord self-refulgent, preserved, protected and promoted by you, we would live happy for a full hundred years.
18.4.71
अग्नये कव्यवाहनाय स्वधा नमः ॥
agnaye kavyavāhanāya svadhā namaḥ ॥
Homage and food for Agni, leading light of life and inspirer of reason, imagination and vision.
18.4.72
सोमाय पितृमते स्वधा नमः ॥
somāya pitṛmate svadhā namaḥ ॥
Homage,food and best wishes, for the man blest and dedicated to father, mother and the sagely seniors.
18.4.73
पितृभ्यः सोमवद्भ्यः स्वधा नमः ॥
pitṛbhyaḥ somavadbhyaḥ svadhā namaḥ ॥
Homage, food and reverence, to parents, forefathers and seniors refulgent in peace and soma joy of life.
18.4.74
यमाय पितृमते स्वधा नमः ॥
yamāya pitṛmate svadhā namaḥ ॥
Homage, food and reverence, to Yama, man of law and justice dedicated to parents and seniors.
18.4.75
एतत् ते प्रततामह स्वधा ये च त्वाम् अनु ॥
etat te pratatāmaha svadhā ye ca tvām anu ॥
Homage of food and reverence, is here, O great grandfather, to you and yours with you.
18.4.76
एतत् ते ततामह स्वधा ये च त्वाम् अनु ॥
etat te tatāmaha svadhā ye ca tvām anu ॥
Here is homage of food and reverence, O grandfather, to you and yours with you.
18.4.77
एतत् ते तत स्वधा ॥
etat te tata svadhā ॥
Here is homage of food and reverence, O father, to you.
18.4.78
स्वधा पितृभ्यः पृथिविषद्भ्यः ॥
svadhā pitṛbhyaḥ pṛthiviṣadbhyaḥ ॥
Homage of food and reverence, to parents and parental seniors on earth.
18.4.79
स्वधा पितृभ्यो अन्तरिक्षसद्भ्यः ॥
svadhā pitṛbhyo antarikṣasadbhyaḥ ॥
Homage of food and reverence, to parents and parental veterans, sojourners of the skies and intermediate space.
18.4.80
स्वधा पितृभ्यो दिविषद्भ्यः ॥
svadhā pitṛbhyo diviṣadbhyaḥ ॥
Homage of food and reverence, to parents and parental veterans, sojourners of the light of heaven and the solar system.
18.4.81
नमो वः पितर ऊर्जे नमो वः पितरो रसाय ॥
namo vaḥ pitara ūrje namo vaḥ pitaro rasāya ॥
Homage and salutations to you, parents and parental seniors, for energy. Homage to you, parents and parental seniors, for the beauty, pleasure and flavour of life.
18.4.82
नमो वः पितरो भामाय नमो वः पितरो मन्यवे ॥
namo vaḥ pitaro bhāmāya namo vaḥ pitaro manyave ॥
Homage and salutations to you, for blazing grandeur, homage and salutations to you, pitaras, for fiery passion.
18.4.83
नमो वः पितरो यद् घोरं तस्मै नमो वः पितरो यत् क्रूरं तस्मै ॥
namo vaḥ pitaro yad ghoraṃ tasmai namo vaḥ pitaro yat krūraṃ tasmai ॥
Homage to you, O Pitaras, for all that was awesome about you, for all that was terrible and sublime.
18.4.84
नमो वः पितरो यच् छिवं तस्मै नमो वः पितरो यत् स्योनं तस्मै ॥
namo vaḥ pitaro yac chivaṃ tasmai namo vaḥ pitaro yat syonaṃ tasmai ॥
Homage to you, O Pitaras, for all that is gracious and blissful about you, for all that is beautiful and
18.4.85
नमो वः पितरः स्वधा वः पितरः ॥
namo vaḥ pitaraḥ svadhā vaḥ pitaraḥ ॥
Homage to you, O Pitaras, sustainers of life. Food and reverence to you for replenishment, O pranic powers.
18.4.86
ये ऽत्र पितरः पितरो ये ऽत्र यूयं स्थ युष्मांस् ते ऽनु यूयं तेषां श्रेष्ठा भूयास्थ ॥
ye 'tra pitaraḥ pitaro ye 'tra yūyaṃ stha yuṣmāṃs te 'nu yūyaṃ teṣāṃ śreṣṭhā bhūyāstha ॥
All those pitaras that are and have been here on earth, and all of you, pitaras that are here right now, may they, be in harmony with you, and may you all be in harmony with them, and the best of them, and stay so too.
18.4.87
य इह पितरो जीवा इह वयं स्मः ।
अस्मांस् ते ऽनु वयं तेषां श्रेष्ठा भूयास्म ॥
ya iha pitaro jīvā iha vayaṃ smaḥ ।
asmāṃs te 'nu vayaṃ teṣāṃ śreṣṭhā bhūyāsma ॥
All those pitaras that are and have been here on earth, and all of us alive here right now, may they be in harmony with us, and may we be in harmony with them, and the best of them, and stay so too.
18.4.88
आ त्वाग्न इधीमहि द्युमन्तं देवाजरम् ।
यद् घ सा ते पनीयसी समिद् दीदयति द्यवि ।
इषं स्तोतृभ्य आ भर ॥
ā tvāgna idhīmahi dyumantaṃ devājaram ।
yad gha sā te panīyasī samid dīdayati dyavi ।
iṣaṃ stotṛbhya ā bhara ॥
O light and fire divine of cosmic yajna, may we kindle and raise you here on earth and in the heart, bright, radiant, unaging and generous. And may that admirable fuel fire of yours, wondrous more and ever more, that shines and blazes in heaven as the sun, bring us food, energy and enlightenment to the celebrants.
18.4.89
चन्द्रमा अप्स्व् अन्तर् आ सुपर्णो धावते दिवि ।
न वो हिरण्यनेमयः पदं विन्दन्ति विद्युतो वित्तं मे अस्य रोदसी ॥
candramā apsv antar ā suparṇo dhāvate divi ।
na vo hiraṇyanemayaḥ padaṃ vindanti vidyuto vittaṃ me asya rodasī ॥
The moon, celestial bird of golden wings, flies in the midst of spatial waters in the light of heaven. O lights and lightnings of heaven, O worlds of golden rings revolving in Infinite Divinity, mortals reach not the bounds of the Boundless. Let heaven and earth know of this, know this of me.