Mantra 20
Sukta 4
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
देवा वशामयाचन् मुखं कृत्वा ब्राह्मणम्। तेषां सर्वेषामददद्धेडं न्येऽति मानुषः
IAST Transliteration
devā́ vaśā́m ayācan múkhaṃ kr̥tvā́ brā́hmaṇam | téṣāṃ sárveṣām ádadad héḍaṃ nyèti mā́nuṣaḥ ||
English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)
The Gods a Vashā-cow besought, having made the Brahmin their mouth. Of all those Gods, the mortal who gave not—on him the wrath, the offense, comes down and settles.
Word by Word
देवाःthe gods
देवाः:
कर्तृ
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
वशाम्a barren cow (vashā)
वशाम्:
कर्म
TypeNoun
Rootवशा (प्रातिपदिक)
अयाचन्begged/asked for
अयाचन्:
—
TypeVerb
Rootयाच् (धातु)
मुखम्the mouth/face
मुखम्:
कर्म
TypeNoun
Rootमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
कृत्वाhaving made
कृत्वा:
—
TypeVerb
Rootकृ (धातु)
ब्राह्मणम्a Brāhmaṇa (priest)
ब्राह्मणम्:
कर्म
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
तेषाम्of them
तेषाम्:
सम्बन्ध
TypePronoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
सर्वेषाम्of all (of them)
सर्वेषाम्:
सम्बन्ध
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
अददत्gave
अददत्:
—
TypeVerb
Rootदा (धातु)
हेडम्wrath/anger, hostile intent
हेडम्:
कर्म
TypeNoun
Rootहेड (प्रातिपदिक)
निdown/into; (as preverb)
नि:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootनि (उपसर्ग)
एतिgoes/comes
एति:
—
TypeVerb
Rootइ (धातु)
मानुषःa man/human
मानुषः:
कर्तृ
TypeNoun
Rootमानुष (प्रातिपदिक)
Attribution
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (general for 12.4)
Devata: Brahman as ‘mukha’ of the Devas; Devas as sanctioning authority
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh
Mantra Rasa
{"primary_rasa":"bhayankara","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"From divine request → moral framing → punitive descent of heḍa.","listener_experience":"Awe mixed with fear of consequence; prompts compliance and restoration of harmony.","intensity":7}