Atharva Veda 5.2.3: Kanda 5, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 2, Mantra 3

Sukta 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

त्वे क्रतु॒मपि॑ पृञ्चन्ति॒ भूरि॒ द्विर्यदे॒ते त्रिर्भव॒न्त्यूमाः॑ । स्वा॒दोः स्वा॒दीयः॑ स्वा॒दुना॑ सृजा॒ सम॒दः सु मधु॒ मधु॑ना॒भि यो॑धीः

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 5.2.3

IAST Transliteration

tvé krátum ápi pṛñcanti bhū́ri dvír yád eté trír bhávanty ū́māḥ | svādóḥ svādī́yaḥ svādúnā sṛjá samadáḥ sú mádhu mádhunā́bhi yódhīḥ

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

In thee they blend resolve in abundance, when these effusions come to be thrice, yea twice again. Sweeter than sweet, send forth with sweetness: exhilarate, and with honey—honeyed—do thou join battle against them.

Translation

In dir mischen sie krátu, den Entschluss, in Fülle, wenn diese Ausströmungen dreifach werden, ja noch zweimal dazu. Süßer als süß: sende mit Süße hervor; erquicke, und mit Honig – honiggetränkt – tritt gegen sie in den Kampf.

The meaning

What it says

In you they mix resolve (kratu) abundantly, when these effusions/pressings (ūmāḥ) occur thrice, and twice again. Sweeter than sweet, send forth with sweetness: exhilarate, and with honey—honeyed—join battle against them.

The inner meaning

Resolve is ‘blended’ like a drink: intention (kratu) is compounded and intensified through repeated arousal cycles (pressings). Honey symbolizes attractive potency—winning strength that is not merely bitter aggression but compelling, confidence-giving sweetness.

The truth in it

Sustained resolve is cultivated through repeated practice cycles; power that carries ‘sweetness’—coherence, morale, meaning—often outlasts brute force.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika (Prosperity/Strengthening) within Jayakarma (Victory)

Its aim

To intensify resolve (kratu), generate exhilaration, and empower successful combat through honeyed potency.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

त्वे । क्रतुम् । अपि । पृञ्चन्ति । भूरि । द्विः । यत् । एते । त्रिः । भवन्ति । ऊमाः । स्वादोः । स्वादीयः । स्वादुना । सृज । समदः । सु । मधु । मधुना । अभि । योधीः ।

त्वे

in youin thee, upon thee (as the locus of power)Pronounसप्तमी एकवचन (स्थानवाचक/अधिकरण)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

क्रतुम्

resolve, power of willresolve, ritual-intelligence, effective will (krátu as operative power)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)

अपि

also, evenalso, moreover; in additionIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अपि

पृञ्चन्ति

they mix, they blendthey mix in, they sprinkle/infuse (as one blends potency)Verbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot पृच् (पृञ्चति) / पृञ्ज् (मिश्रणे/संयोगे)

भूरि

much, abundantlymuch, abundant(ly)Adjective (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्ग/अव्ययीभाववत्, एकवचन (अव्ययार्थे)Root भूरि (प्रातिपदिक)

द्विः

twiceIndeclinableअव्ययRoot द्विस्

यत्

when/that whichwhen, inasmuch asPronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

एते

thesePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

त्रिः

thriceIndeclinableअव्ययRoot त्रिस्

भवन्ति

they becomebecome, come to be; are performedVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot भू

ऊमाः

flax/linum fibres (ūmā-plants)pressings/effusions (often interpreted as soma-pressings or their analogues; ‘waves/flows’ by some)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot ऊमा (प्रातिपदिक)

स्वादोः

of the sweetthan the sweet (gen.-abl. of comparison)Adjective (comparative base in genitive)पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी एकवचनRoot स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक)

स्वादीयः

sweetersweeter, more sweet; more delightful (more efficacious)Adjective (comparative)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक); प्रत्यय: ईयसुँ (तुलनार्थ)

स्वादुना

with the sweet (thing)with sweetness; with the sweet draught (honeyed potency)Adjective (instrumental)पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot स्वादु (प्रातिपदिक)

सृज

release, let flow, producesend forth, let flow, emit (release the sweet power)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot सृज्

समदः

intoxication/rapture; exhilarationO exhilarated one; or ‘in exhilaration’ (madá-state personified)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot समद (प्रातिपदिक)

सु

well, verywell, excellently; auspiciouslyIndeclinable (prefix/adverb)अव्ययRoot सु

मधु

honey; sweethoney; sweetness; mead (a ritual sweetener/potency)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनRoot मधु (प्रातिपदिक)

मधुना

with honeywith honey; by honeyed meansNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot मधु (प्रातिपदिक)

अभि

towards, upontoward, against; in confrontationIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अभि

योधीः

fight, contend (against/for)thou shalt fight; do battle (2nd sg. injunctive/imperative sense)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot युध्

Sandhi Notes

• त्वे | क्रतुम् | अपि | पृञ्चन्ति | भूरि | द्विः | यत् | एते | त्रिः | भवन्ति | ऊमाः || स्वादोः | स्वादीयः | स्वादुना | सृज | समदः | सु | मधु | मधुना | अभि | योधीः । मुख्य सन्धि-विच्छेद:
• (1) द्विर्यद् → द्विः + यत् (विसर्ग-लोप/रकारादेशः पदसंहितायाम्) ।
• (2) त्रिर्भवन्ति → त्रिः + भवन्ति (विसर्ग-लोप/रकारादेशः) ।
• (3) भवन्त्यूमाः → भवन्ति + ऊमाः (इ-उ स्वर-सन्धिः: इ + ऊ → यू) ।
• (4) मधुनाभि → मधुना + अभि (अ + अ → आ) ।

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (attribution varies by anukramaṇī)

Devata

Indra/warrior-power with madá (exhilaration) and madhu (sweet potency)

Chandas

Jagatī/triṣṭubh-mixed (AV metrical irregularity likely)

Rasa

Vira and Adbhuta

Sayana's Commentary

The Seer

The Deity

The Metre

The Rite

In the Home

Substances

Healing Context

Magic Charm Layer

Symbols in this Mantra

Yogic Application

Chanting Notes

Practical Application

Scholarly Questions