Atharva Veda 20.21.11: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 11
Sukta 21
य उ॒दृची॑न्द्र दे॒वगो॑पाः॒ सखा॑यस्ते शि॒वत॑मा॒ असा॑म । त्वां स्तो॑षाम॒ त्वया॑ सु॒वीरा॒ द्राघी॑य॒ आयुः॑ प्रत॒रं दधा॑नाः
yé udṛ́cīndra devágopāḥ sákhāyas te śivátamā́ asáma | tvā́ṃ stóṣāmi tváyā suvī́rā drā́ghīya ā́yuḥ prataráṃ dádhānāḥ
We, who are in the northern quarter, god-guarded—thy comrades—would be most graciously befriended, O Indra. Thee will I praise; with thee for our companion, rich in good heroes, bearing onward a longer life and better fortune.
हे इन्द्र! हम जो उत्तर दिशा में हैं—देव-रक्षित, तेरे सखा—हम पर तू अत्यन्त शुभ मैत्री रख। मैं तेरा स्तवन करूँ; तू हमारे साथ रहे—सुवीर (उत्तम वीरों से युक्त) बनाते हुए, दीर्घ आयु और आगे बढ़ती उत्तम समृद्धि/भाग्य धारण कराते हुए।
Rishi: Ṛgvedic provenance; not determinable from excerpt alone.
Devata: Indra
Chandas: Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-type (requires scansion).
Primary: vira
Secondary: shanta
Sāyaṇa emphasizes ‘udṛcī’ as the auspicious northern direction (also the quarter of increase), and ‘devagopāḥ’ as those protected by divine powers through Indra. The verse is read as a self-identification of the ritual community as Indra’s allies, seeking longevity (āyus) and heroic progeny/retainers (suvīra).
To obtain longevity, forward success, and ‘good heroes’ (sons/warriors) under Indra’s companionship.
Indirectly āyuḥ-extension and vīrya/ojas enhancement (longevity and ‘good heroes’).
Resilience/mental fortitude practices supporting longevity outcomes (stress reduction via devotional orientation).
paustika
Householder/patron and lineage.
Longevity, prosperous forward success, and heroic progeny under Indra’s companionship; auspicious befriending and protection.
Directional technology (udīcī orientation) + stuti (praise) as binding of alliance; invoking ‘companionship’ as protective contract.
Misfortune, decline, loss of vitality, adverse turns of fate.
Longevity, lineage, royal/heroic success.
The speakers, situated in the northern quarter (udīcī), identify as Indra’s god-guarded comrades and ask to be most auspiciously befriended. They praise Indra and seek, with Indra as companion, heroic offspring/warriors (suvīra), longer life (drāghīya āyuḥ), and forward-moving success (prataram).
Orientation to the “north” symbolizes turning the psyche toward steadiness, clarity, and protective order. Praise (stuti) is a self-aligning act: by choosing Indra as ‘inner companion,’ the practitioner strengthens will, courage, and life-affirming momentum, loosening fear of decline and misfortune.
Human flourishing increases when one consciously allies with a principle of strength and protection; disciplined praise, gratitude, and right orientation convert anxiety into forward movement, longevity, and generational continuity.
- उदृची (udīcī)
- auspicious orientation; protective direction; turning toward stability and higher order
- देवगोपाः (devagopāḥ)
- being held within a sacral ‘shield’—communal and cosmic protection
- सखायः (sakhāyaḥ)
- covenant of reciprocity with the deity; inner alliance with courage
- शिवतम (śivatama)
- the ‘best-case’ protective outcome; benevolence that averts harm
- सुवीर (suvīra)
- vital potency; capable progeny; courageous faculties
- द्राघीय आयुः (drāghīya āyuḥ)
- life-force continuity; resilience; extended vitality
- प्रतरम् (prataram)
- progress, successful passage through obstacles; favorable trajectory
Indra as inner companion: cultivate decisive courage and forward movement without agitation.
Manipura (will/tejas)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for steadiness; then 4–6 slow breaths while facing north.
A protective northern light behind the spine ‘lengthening’ life-breath (āyuḥ) and strengthening lineage-energy (suvīra).
Steady, confident, future-oriented clarity.
Chant with upright posture; after each recitation, pause in silence imagining obstacles loosening and the life-path extending forward.
RV-style udātta/anudātta/svarita pattern; keep udātta lifts on key vocatives (indra) and boons (āyuḥ).
Sustain the cadence through each pāda; avoid flattening the long-line close on ‘dadhānāḥ’.
udṛcī: clear retroflex ṛ and long ī, śivatamāḥ: distinguish ś (palatal) from s, drāghīya: lengthen ā and ī, prataram: crisp tr cluster
Firm, companion-invoking tone; not harsh—protective confidence.
Face north (udīcī) as a deliberate ritual ‘technology’; treat orientation as part of the mantra’s efficacy.
11
Seeking longevity, stable fortune, and strength in family/leadership roles; before important undertakings.
At dawn; before travel, exams, negotiations, or household decisions; during longevity vows.
Greater confidence and steadiness; sense of protection; intention-setting for long life and successful outcomes.
Not a substitute for medical care; avoid using to justify reckless risk-taking.
Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): य उ॒दृची॑न्द्र → ये + उदृची + इन्द्र (इ/ई-सन्धिः: उदृची + इन्द्र = उदृचीन्द्र). सखा॑यस्ते → सखायः + ते (विसर्ग-लोपः/सन्धिः). शिवतमा॒ असा॑म → शिवतमाः + असाम (विसर्गः → अ-पूर्वे लोपः). स्तो॑षाम॒ त्वया॑ → स्तोषाम + त्वया (पदसन्धिः). सु॒वीरा॒ द्राघी॑य॒ आयुः॑ → सुवीराः + द्राघीय + आयुः (विसर्ग-लोपः). प्रत॒रं दधा॑नाः → प्रतरम् + दधानाः (अनुस्वार/विसर्ग-निरपेक्षः).
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Atharva Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
