Atharva Veda 18.4.32: Kanda 18, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 4, Mantra 32
Sukta 4
धा॒ना धे॒नुर॑भवद् व॒त्सो अ॑स्यास्ति॒लोऽभवत्। तां वै य॒मस्य॒ राज्ये॒ अक्षि॑ता॒मुप॑ जीवति
dhānā́ dhenúr abhavad vatsó asyās tiló ’bhavat | tā́ṁ váí yámasya rā́jye ákṣitām úpa jīvati ||
Parched grain became a Cow, and sesame of her became the Calf. By her, in Yama’s kingdom, verily he liveth on—on her that wasteth not.
भुना हुआ अनाज एक गाय बन गया और उसका तिल उसका बछड़ा बन गया। यम के राज्य में उस गाय के सहारे इंसान जिंदा रहता है। वो गाय कभी खत्म नहीं होती।
Rishi: Pitṛmedha tradition (Atharvanic ancestral seers)
Devata: Pitṛs/Yama; the offering-substance personified as sustaining ‘cow’
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh
Primary: shanta
Secondary: karuna
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