Atharva Veda 13.2.44: Kanda 13, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 2, Mantra 44

Sukta 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

पृ॒थि॒वी॒प्रो म॑हि॒षो नाध॑मानस्य गा॒तुरद॑ब्धचक्षुः॒ परि॒ विश्वं॑ ब॒भूव॑ । विश्वं॑ सं॒पश्य॑न्त्सुवि॒दत्रो॒ यज॑त्र इ॒दं शृ॑णोतु॒ यद॒हं ब्रवी॑मि

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 13.2.44

IAST Transliteration

pṛthivīpró mahiṣó nā́dhamānasya gātúr adábhda-cakṣuḥ párí víśvaṃ babhū́va | víśvaṃ saṃpáśyan suvidátró yájatra idáṃ śṛṇotu yád aháṃ bravī́mi

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Earth-pervading, the mighty Bull is the needy man’s way; with eye unbaffled he hath encompassed all. Beholding all, the good bestower, worship-worthy—let him hear this which I speak.

Translation

यह महान बैल पूरी धरती पर फैला है। ज़रूरत वाले लोगों के लिए वो रास्ता बन जाता है। उसकी नज़र कभी धोखा नहीं खाती, वो सब कुछ देख सकता है। वो सबको देख के अच्छा देता है, उसकी पूजा होती है। जो मैं बोल रहा हूँ वो सुन ले।

The meaning

What it says

The all-pervading “Bull” (Sūrya/Āditya) becomes the needy person’s sure “path,” circling the whole world with un-deceived sight; as the all-seeing, generous, worship-worthy power, he is invoked to hear the speaker’s words.

The inner meaning

When one is in need (nādhāman), the psyche seeks a reliable orientation (gātu). The “unbaffled eye” is lucid awareness that cannot be fooled by fear, rumor, or self-deception; speech is placed under the witness of truth so intention and utterance align.

The truth in it

Enduring success depends on truthful seeing and accountable speech: when one’s words are offered before an all-seeing witness, the ‘way’ becomes clear and obstacles born of deception lose power.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Apotropaic / Paustika (truth-seeing, guidance, sanction of speech)

Its aim

To secure divine attention and oversight so that the patron’s undertaking proceeds by a safe and truthful ‘way’ (gātu), free from deception and obstruction.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

Pada patha

पृ॒थि॒वी॒-प्रः । म॒हि॒षः । नाध॑मानस्य । गा॒तुः । अद॑ब्ध-चक्षुः । परि॑ । विश्व॑म् । ब॒भूव॑ । विश्व॑म् । सं॒-पश्य॑न् । सु॒-विद॑त्रः । यज॑त्रः । इ॒दम् । शृ॒णो॒तु॒ । यत् । अ॒हम् । ब्रवी॑मि

पृथिवीप्रः

the earth-going/earthward (one); (epithet)earth-filling/earth-pervading; extending over the earth (cosmic pervasion)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot पृथिवी-प्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘पृथिवी’ + ‘प्र’ उपसर्गवत्/अव्यय)

महिषः

the buffalo/bull (mighty one)mighty Bull (Sun as potent sovereign)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot महिष (प्रातिपदिक)

नाधमानस्य

of (him) roaring/bellowingof the needy/suppliant (one under distress seeking aid)Participle (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सम्बन्धे), षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot नाध् (धातु) → नाधमान (वर्तमानकृदन्त)

गातुः

of the path/way; of the coursepath, access, means; the way granted (ritual and practical passage)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role SambandhaRoot गातु (प्रातिपदिक)

अदब्धचक्षुः

having uninjured/unfailing sightunbaffled-eyed; whose sight is not deceived (infallible witness)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अ-दब्ध-चक्षुस् (समास; दभ् ‘to harm/deceive’ + चक्षुस्)

परि

around, all aboutaround, encompassing; encircling protectionIndeclinableRoot परि (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)

विश्वम्

the whole (universe), everythingall, the whole; totality of beings/thingsAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)

बभूव

became; has come to behas become; has come to be (established as encompassing)Verbलिट् (परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root भू (धातु)

विश्वम्

everything; the wholeall; everything (repeated for totalizing emphasis)Adjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)

संपश्यन्

seeing completely; beholdingParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सम् + पश्य् (धातु) → पश्यन्त् (वर्तमानकृदन्त)

सुविदत्रः

very wise; good knowergood giver/finder; bestower of good finding (successful acquisition, right discovery)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सु-विदत्र (समास; सु + विदत्र ‘knower/finder/wise’)

यजत्रः

worthy of sacrifice/worshipworthy of worship; fit to be invoked with offeringsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यजत्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘worthy of worship’)

इदम्

thisPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम)

शृणोतु

let (him) hearlet him hear; may he heed (granting efficacy by attention)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root श्रु (धातु)

यत्

what/that whichwhat/that which; the content of the priest’s speechRelative pronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम)

अहम्

IPronounउत्तमपुरुषार्थे, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot अहम् (सर्वनाम)

ब्रवीमि

I speak; I sayI speak, utter (performative speech-act)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root ब्रू (धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• पृथिवी + प्रः/प्रो (अन्त्य-ई + प्र- आरम्भे ओ-प्रयोगः; संहितायां ‘प्रो’ रूपम्)
• ‘गातुरदब्धचक्षुः’ = गातुः + अदब्धचक्षुः (विसर्ग-लोपः/रुत्व-प्रभावः संहितायाम्)
• ‘परि विश्वं’ इत्यत्र पदच्छेदे परि | विश्वम्
• ‘संपश्यन्त्सुविदत्रो’ = संपश्यन् + सुविदत्रः (न् + स् → न्स्; विसर्गः ओ-प्रयोगः संहितायाम् ‘त्रो’)
• ‘यदहं’ = यत् + अहम् (त् + अ → द्-अनुनासिक/संध्यादेशः: यदहम्)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Solar complex attribution (variable by index).

Devata

Sūrya/Āditya as omniscient witness

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Rasa

Shanta 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