Atharva Veda 12.3.2: Kanda 12, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 3, Mantra 2

Sukta 3

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

ताव॑द् वां॒ चक्षु॒स्तति॑ वी॒र्याऽणि॒ ताव॒त् तेज॑स्तति॒धा वाजि॑नानि । अ॒ग्निः शरी॑रं सचते य॒दैधोऽधा॑ प॒क्वान्मि॑थुना॒ सं भ॑वाथः

IAST Transliteration

tā́vad vāṃ cákṣus táti vīryā̀ṇi tā́vat téjas tatidhā́ vājínāni | agníḥ śarī́raṃ sacate yadā́ ídhaḥ athā́ pakvā́n mithunā́ sáṃ bhavāthaḥ

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

So far as yours is sight extended, so far are powers extended; so far is splendour spread abroad, so far the strengths of the vigorous. Agni cleaves to the body when fuel is there: then, ripened, as a pair ye wholly come to be conjoined.

Translation

Soweit sich euer Sehen erstreckt, so weit erstrecken sich die Kräfte; so weit sich der Glanz ausbreitet, so weit die Stärken der Tatkräftigen. Agni haftet am Körper, wenn Brennstoff da ist; dann, gereift, werdet ihr zwei als Paar ganz und gar vereint.

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Word by Word

• तावत्: so much; to that extent
• तावत्: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक) अव्यय-प्रयोग

• वाम्: of you two / you two
• वाम्: Sampradāna
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• चक्षुः: eye; sight
• चक्षुः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: चक्षुस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• तति: stretching; extension; spreading
• तति: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन् (धातु) → तति (नाम/क्रियानाम)

• वीर्याणि: powers; strengths
• वीर्याणि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• तावत्: so much; to that extent
• तावत्: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक) अव्यय-प्रयोग

• तेजः: splendour; vigor; brilliance
• तेजः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• तति: stretching; extension; spreading
• तति: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन् (धातु) → तति (नाम/क्रियानाम)

• धा: indeed; in place; as/so
• धा: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धा (अव्यय/निपात; वैदिक)

• वाजिनानि: prizes; winning powers; (things) of strength
• वाजिनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाजिन (प्रातिपदिक) → वाजिनानि

• अग्निः: Agni; fire
• अग्निः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)

• शरीरम्: body
• शरीरम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)

• सचते: attends; accompanies; clings to
• सचते: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: सच् (धातु) / सञ्ज्-सच् (वैदिक: ‘सह गच्छति/अनुगच्छति, संलग्नो भवति’)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)

• इधः: fuel; kindling
• इधः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: इध् (धातु) → इधः (कृदन्त/नाम)

• अधा: then; thereafter
• अधा: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधा (अव्यय; वैदिक)

• पक्वान्: ripe; matured
• पक्वान्: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पक्व (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)

• मिथुना: as a pair; together
• मिथुना: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: मिथुन (प्रातिपदिक)

• सम्: together; completely
• सम्: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

• भवाथः: you two become; you two come to be
• भवाथः: Kriyā
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic/anonymous (not explicit in the provided excerpt)

Devata: Agni (transformative agent); secondarily the paired couple as beneficiary

Chandas: Likely Triṣṭubh-like (requires full syllable verification)

Mantra Rasa

Primary: shringara

Secondary: adbhuta