Atharva Veda 3.17.1: Kanda 3, Anuvaka 2, Sukta 17, Mantra 1

Sukta 17

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

कृषिः। ३ पथ्यापङ्क्तिः, ७ विराट् पुर उष्णिक्, ८ निचृत्। सीरा॑ युञ्जन्ति क॒वयो॑ यु॒गा वि त॑न्वते॒ पृथ॑क्। धीरा॑ दे॒वेषु॑ सुम्न॒यौ

IAST Transliteration

sīrā́ yuñjanti kaváyo yugā́ ví tanvate pṛ́thak | dhīrā́ devéṣu sumnayáu

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

The skilful yoke the ploughs; the yokes they stretch forth, each apart. The steadfast, seeking favor, set their work in the gods.

Translation

Die Kundigen spannen die Pflüge an; die Joche strecken sie aus, jedes für sich. Die Standhaften, nach Gunst verlangend, gründen ihr Werk in den Göttern.

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Word by Word

• सीराः: ploughs (plough-shares)
• सीराः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीरा (प्रातिपदिक)

• युञ्जन्ति: they yoke / harness
• युञ्जन्ति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (युजँ योगे) धातु

• कवयः: sages / skilled men
• कवयः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)

• युगानि: yokes
• युगानि: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक)

• वि: apart; asunder; forth
• वि: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

• तन्वते: they stretch out / extend
• तन्वते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: तन् (तनुँ विस्तारे) धातु

• पृथक्: separately; apart
• पृथक्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)

• धीराः: the steadfast / wise (ones)
• धीराः: कर्तृ
• Type: Adjective (substantive use)
• Root: धीरा (प्रातिपदिक) < धीर (विशेषण)

• देवेषु: among the gods; in the gods
• देवेषु: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)

• सुम्नयौ: (two) favors / blessings
• सुम्नयौ: कर्म (अर्थानुसार: ‘सुम्ने’ इति प्रार्थ्ये)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुम्न (प्रातिपदिक)

Attribution

Rishi: Kṛṣi-sūkta tradition (seer attribution varies in anukramaṇī lists for AVŚ 3.17).

Devata: Kṛṣi/field-work sacralized; implicitly deities overseeing fertility

Chandas: Mixed; short pādas consistent with anuṣṭubh-family adaptation

Mantra Rasa

Primary: shanta

Secondary: vira