Mantra 15

Sukta 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

प्राणमाहुर्मातरिश्वानं वातो ह प्राण उच्यते । प्राणे ह भूतं भव्यं च प्राणे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

IAST Transliteration

prā́ṇam āhur mātáriśvānaṃ vā́to ha prā́ṇa ucyate | prā́ṇe ha bhū́taṃ bhávyam ca prā́ṇe sárvaṃ pratíṣṭhitam ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

They call the Breath Mātariśvan; the Wind, forsooth, is called the Breath. In Breath are set what hath been and what shall be; in Breath is all established fast.

Translation

प्राण को मातरिश्वा (मातरिश्वन्) कहते हैं; और निश्चय ही वायु को ही ‘प्राण’ कहा जाता है। प्राण में ही भूत और भविष्य स्थित हैं; प्राण में ही सब कुछ दृढ़तापूर्वक प्रतिष्ठित है।

Word by Word

प्राणम्breath; vital force (as object)

आहुःthey have said / call

मातरिश्वानम्Mātariśvan (name/epithet of Vāyu/Agni)

वातःwind

हindeed; surely

प्राणःPrāṇa; vital breath

उच्यतेis called

प्राणेin/within prāṇa

हindeed

भूतम्what has been; the past

भव्यम्what will be; the future

चand

प्राणेin prāṇa

सर्वम्all; everything

प्रतिष्ठितम्established; founded; resting

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Prāṇa hymn cycle)

Devata: Prāṇa (identified with Vāta/Mātariśvan)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like / mixed

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From naming and recognition to firm establishment; anxiety gives way to grounded awe.","listener_experience":"A sense of being held by something vast and steady; breath becomes a sacred anchor.","intensity":4}