Atharva Veda 19.9.8: Kanda 19, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 9, Mantra 8
Sukta 9
शं नो॒ भूमि॑र्वेप्यमा॒ना शमु॒ल्का निर्ह॑तं च॒ यत्। शं गावो॒ लोहि॑तक्षीराः॒ शं भूमि॒रव॑ तीर्य॒तीः॥८ नक्ष॑त्रमु॒ल्काभिह॑तं॒ शम॑स्तु नः॒ शं नो॑ऽभिचा॒राः शमु॑ सन्तु कृ॒त्याः । शं नो॒ निखा॑ता व॒ल्गाः शमु॒ल्का दे॑शोपस॒र्गाः शमु॑ नो भवन्तु
śáṃ no bhū́mir vépyamānā śám ulkā́ nírhatam ca yát | śáṃ gā́vo lóhitakṣīrāḥ śáṃ bhū́mir áva tīryatī́ḥ || nákṣatram ulkā́bhihatáṃ śám astu naḥ śáṃ no ’bhicārā́ḥ śám u santu kṛtyā́ḥ | śáṃ no níkhātā valgā́ḥ śám ulkā́ deśopasargā́ḥ śám u no bhavantu
Weal to us be Earth when she is trembling; weal the meteor, and whatever is smitten down. Weal be the cows with ruddy milk; weal be Earth, safely to be crossed. The constellation struck by a meteor—let it be weal to us; weal to us be hostile sorceries, and weal indeed be the kṛtyā-spells. Weal to us be the buried stakes; weal the meteor; the region’s visitations—let them be weal to us.
जब धरती काँपे तो वो भी हमारे लिए अच्छी हों। आसमान से जो पत्थर गिरे या कुछ टकराये वो भी ठीक हों। गायें जो लाल दूध देती हैं वो भी अच्छी हों। धरती हमें साफ पार कराये। तारों को जो टकराये वो भी हमारे लिए अच्छा हो। बुरी हरकतें और जादू-टोना भी हमारे काम आये। ज़मीन में गाड़े हुए लकड़ियाँ भी अच्छी हों। आसमान से गिरी चीज़ें और किसी जगह का आना भी हमारे लिए सही हो।
The meaning
What it says
May Earth be weal to us when she trembles; may the meteor and what is struck down be weal. May cows with ruddy milk be weal; may Earth be safely crossed. May the constellation struck by a meteor be weal; may hostile sorceries and kṛtyā-spells be weal. May buried stakes be weal; may meteors and regional visitations be weal to us.
The inner meaning
The verse faces cascading anxieties—earthquake, sky-fire, abnormal cattle signs, astral disturbance, sorcery, hidden devices—and applies one unifying operation: śam. It trains the psyche to move from panic to integration and practical vigilance.
The truth in it
When many threats converge, the most powerful response is coherent pacification: naming, containing, and transforming fear into grounded action and communal steadiness.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Śānti + Abhicārika-counteraction (Utpāta-śānti; Kṛtyā-pratiṣedha)
Its aim
To pacify earthquakes, meteors, astral anomalies, abnormal cattle signs, regional calamities, and to nullify hostile sorcery and buried harmful devices.
Word by Word
Pada patha
शम् । नः । भूमिः । वेप्यमाना । शम् । उल्का । निर्-हतम् । च । यत् । शम् । गावः । लोहित-क्षीराः । शम् । भूमिः । अव । तीर्यतीः । नक्षत्रम् । उल्का-अभिहतम् । शम् । अस्तु । नः । शम् । नः । अभिचाराः । शम् । उ । सन्तु । कृत्याः । शम् । नः । निखाताः । वल्गाः । शम् । उल्का । देश-उपसर्गाः । शम् । नः । भवन्तु ।
- शम्
- auspiciously; for welfare/peaceweal; propitious peace (śānti)Indeclinableअव्यय (मङ्गल/शान्त्यर्थे)Root शम् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) / √शम् (शमुँ उपशमे)
- नः
- for us; to usfor usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी? बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’ = our/to us)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- भूमिः
- the earthEarth; the ground as living power; also the territory of settlementNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेप्यमाना
- trembling; quakingtrembling, quaking (earthquake/ground-shudder as omen)Adjective/Participleस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वर्तमान-कर्मणि कृदन्तः)Role Kartā (भूमेः विशेषणम्)Root √वेप् (वेपँ कम्पने) → वेप्यमान (कृदन्त)
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- उल्का
- meteor; firebrand; falling starmeteor/firebrand; falling star; ominous fiery phenomenonNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अध्याहृत ‘अस्तु/भवतु’)Root उल्का (प्रातिपदिक)
- निःहतम्
- struck down; smittenAdjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (भूतकर्मणि)Role Karma (यत्-सम्बन्धि)Root निः-√हन् (हनँ हिंसागत्योः) → निहत (कृदन्त)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च
- यत्
- whatever; that whichwhatever (omen/evil) that isPronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma/Anubandha (यद्-सम्बन्धः)Root यद्
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- गावः
- cowscows; wealth and social stability; ritual economyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- लोहितक्षीराः
- having reddish milkAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (गावः-विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (गवां विशेषणम्)Root लोहित-क्षीर (समास-प्रातिपदिक; कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-भावः)
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- भूमिः
- the earthEarth/landNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot भूमि
- अव
- down; away; (also) in protectiondown, away; (as preverb) in the sense ‘safely across/through’ with √tṝIndeclinable (preverb) / particleउपसर्ग/निपात (अधः/अप/रक्षणार्थे)Root अव
- तीर्यतीः
- crossing over; passing through (downward/away)crossing over; passing through safely (of dangers/regions)Adjective/Participleस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (वर्तमान-कर्मणि/भावे; ‘तरन्तीः/तीर्यमाणाः’ अर्थे)Role Kartā/Adhikaraṇa (भूमेः/आपदां विशेषण-भावः; सन्दर्भानुसारं)Root √तॄ (तॄ प्लवनतरणयोः) → तीर्यत् (कृदन्त)
- नक्षत्रम्
- star; asterismconstellation/star; astral signNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Kartā/TopicRoot नक्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- उल्काभिहतम्
- struck by a meteorAdjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (नक्षत्रम्-विशेषणम्)Role Karma (हन्-धातोः)Root उल्का-अभि-√हन् → अभिहत (कृदन्त) (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- अस्तु
- may it belet it beVerbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्-भावः), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot √अस् (असँ भुवि)
- नः
- for usPronounचतुर्थी (प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- नः
- for usPronounचतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- अभिचाराः
- sorceries; hostile spellshostile sorceries; malevolent rites directed against oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (अध्याहृत ‘सन्तु/भवन्तु’)Root अभिचार (प्रातिपदिक)
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- उ
- indeed; alsoIndeclinable (particle)निपात (उच्चारण/अनुनासिक-बल/सम्भावनार्थे)Root उ
- सन्तु
- may they belet them beVerbलोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √अस् (असँ भुवि)
- कृत्याः
- harmful witchcraft; evil ritecrafted witchcraft/evil ‘made’ (kṛtyā); personified harmful actNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- नः
- for usPronounचतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- निखाताः
- buried; dug inburied, hidden in the ground (as planted spells/charms)Adjective/Participleस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (वल्गाः-विशेषणम्)Role Karma (खन्-धातोः)Root नि-√खन् (खन् अवदारणे) → निखात (कृदन्त)
- वल्गाः
- charms/amulets (esp. buried magical objects)stakes/pegs; (in Atharvanic usage) buried implements of sorcery or boundary-harmNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वल्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- उल्काः
- meteors; firebrandsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot उल्का
- देशोपसर्गाः
- local afflictions/calamities; regional outbreaksNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देश-उपसर्ग (समास-प्रातिपदिक; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)
- शम्
- for welfareweal; śāntiIndeclinableअव्ययRoot शम् (अव्यय)
- उ
- indeed; alsoIndeclinable (particle)निपातRoot उ
- नः
- for usPronounचतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद्
- भवन्तु
- may they become; may they belet them become (propitious/harmless)Verbलोट्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √भू (भू सत्तायाम्)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठे ‘शं नो॒’ इत्यत्र शम् + नः (निपात + एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम) । ‘नो॑ऽभिचा॒राः’ = नः + अभिचाराः (अ + अ → ’अ’ अवग्रहः) । ‘उल्काभिहतम्’ = उल्का + अभिहतम् (समास; अभि-उपसर्गयुक्त √हन्-कृदन्त) । ‘देशोपसर्गाः’ = देश + उपसर्गाः (समास) । ‘वेप्यमा॒ना’ = वेप्यमाना (वर्तमान-कर्मणि कृदन्त) । ‘निःहतम्’ = निः + हतम् (उपसर्ग-संयोग; निः → निर् उच्चारण-परिवर्तन) ।
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Atharvanic tradition (not explicit in excerpt)
- Devata
- Bhūmi (Earth); Ulkā (meteor); Nakṣatra; Abhicāra/Kṛtyā (personified harms)
- Chandas
- Mixed; largely Anuṣṭubh-like with extended cola
- Rasa
- Shanta and Bhayankara
Sāyaṇa treats trembling earth, meteors, abnormal cow-milk, and astral injury as utpāta classes requiring śānti. ‘Nirhatam’ is read as the evil being ‘beaten off’ by rite. Abhicāra and kṛtyā are explicitly included: the hymn fuses omen-pacification with counter-sorcery. ‘Nikhātā valgāḥ’ are explained as buried instruments/charms placed by enemies; the mantra neutralizes their efficacy and restores territorial safety (deśa-upasarga).
Not explicit in excerpt (Atharvanic śānti/utpāta corpus)
Multi-threat pacification: utpāta-śānti, anti-kṛtyā, and neutralization of hidden harmful devices; domestic protection during anomalies.
A quintessential Atharvan ‘total defense’ text: natural disaster + astral anomaly + social malice + hidden sabotage are treated within one pacifying frame.
Bhūmi; Ulkā; Nakṣatra; Abhicāra/Kṛtyā (as personified harms)
Bhūmi is the ground of life and stability; Ulkā and Nakṣatra represent celestial anomaly; Abhicāra/Kṛtyā represent human-made malefic forces; the mantra seeks to harmonize all into śam.
Indirect: reduces fear and ‘seizing’ stress; counters kṛtyā as a psychosocial and ritual affliction.
Strong apotropaic coverage: earthquakes, meteors, astral disturbances, abnormal cattle signs, sorcery, and hidden planted harms.
Multiple cola; first portion anuṣṭubh-like, then expanded lines with enumerations; resembles Atharvanic ‘litany’ structure.
Enumerative śānti litanies often break strict metrical bounds to include threat-catalogs; cadence is driven by repeated śam.
Incantatory catalog with repetitive pacification; momentum builds as threats accumulate.
Creates containment through repetition; the mind experiences ‘coverage’—nothing left unaddressed.
Survey the affected space (house/village boundary); identify suspected buried objects.
Perform protective prokṣaṇa with mantra-recitation; offer ājya into fire for śānti.
If ‘buried stakes’ are suspected, dig at liminal points (thresholds, crossroads, boundary lines), remove the objects, and dispose of them in running water or a pit outside the settlement.
Recite the mantra over cattle (esp. if abnormal milk is observed) and sprinkle them; then recite over the land while circumambulating the perimeter.
Close with bali to quarters and a final śānti recitation.
Kauśika Sūtra: combined śānti for utpāta and counter-kṛtyā procedures (edition-dependent numbering).
Atharvan priest as diagnostician of omens and sorcery (kṛtyā/abhicāra), directing excavation/removal and performing śānti offerings.
Recite during earthquakes, meteor sightings, eclipses/astral fears, abnormal cattle events, suspicion of malefic rites, or when finding strange buried objects near home/field.
Immediately upon noticing the event; repeated over 3 nights if fear persists; also at dawn for regional pacification.
Atharvan priest may perform śānti homa and sprinkling; householders can do threshold sprinkling and lamp-circling with recitation.
Kauśika: utpāta-śānti and kṛtyā-pratiṣedha procedures (general; specific numbering edition-dependent).
Used as a ‘calamity + negativity clearing’ chant during crisis periods; can accompany practical safety checks (structural, veterinary, community alerts).
Water for sprinkling (implied śānti practice); Ghee oblation (implied); Buried stakes/pegs (valgāḥ) as sorcery-objects
Implied in śānti praxis (sprinkling to cool/pacify), though not stated.
Explicit via ulkā (fiery meteor) and implicit homa usage.
Fire-from-sky (ulkā) is cooled by śam; Earth as foundation is made ‘crossable’; cattle signs represent livelihood-omens; buried stakes represent hidden malice—bringing them into speech makes them tractable.
Kṛtyā/abhicāra affliction (ritual-psychic harm), fear reactions to disasters/omens; possibly community stress during calamities.
Śānti recoding + apotropaic naming; restores sense of safety and order; ritually ‘disarms’ hidden harms (nikhātā valgāḥ).
Calming manas and prāṇa under bhaya/udvega; aligns with śamana and rakṣoghna (protective) orientation though no specific dravya is named.
Disaster anxiety coping; community resilience rituals; ‘threat inventory’ followed by calming reframing.
Household/community and locality (deśa)
To pacify calamities and ominous signs (earthquake, meteor, astral strike, abnormal cattle signs), and to neutralize hostile sorcery, kṛtyā, and hidden planted devices; to render the region’s visitations harmless.
Śam-litany (pacification by repetitive blessing) + identification of hidden objects (valgāḥ) to bring them under ritual control; often paired with sprinkling/oblation in practice.
Utpāta events, astral anomalies, abhicāra, kṛtyā, hidden stakes, regional afflictions
Cattle well-being and safe ‘crossing’ of Earth (stability, safe movement)
- भूमिः वेप्यमाना (bhūmiḥ vepyamānā)
- instability of foundations—personal and communal
- उल्का (ulkā)
- sudden disruptive descent; crisis-event from ‘above’
- लोहितक्षीराः (lohitakṣīrāḥ)
- abnormal signs in livelihood; anxiety about sustenance and omen-reading
- नक्षत्रम् (nakṣatram)
- cosmic order; when ‘struck’, meaning-systems feel threatened
- अभिचाराः (abhicārāḥ)
- human-caused malice, envy, social aggression
- कृत्याः (kṛtyāḥ)
- manufactured negativity; intrusive patterns created by intent
- निखाताः वल्गाः (nikhātā valgāḥ)
- hidden sabotage, unseen hazards, ‘planted’ harm
- देशोपसर्गाः (deśopasargāḥ)
- localized calamities—epidemic, drought, unrest, environmental stress
Grounding under instability: ‘Earth is safe to cross; anomalies are pacified.’
muladhara (ground)
Box breathing (4-4-4-4) while repeating śaṃ; soften exhale on ulkā references to ‘cool’ the imagery.
Visualize the ground becoming firm and luminous; meteors turning into gentle lamps; hidden stakes dissolving into harmless earth; a calm field with healthy cows.
Grounded alertness; fear transformed into steady presence.
If anxious after a disaster, chant slowly 9 times, then do a practical safety action (check home, contact family), integrating mantra with responsible conduct.
Maintain the śaṃ no refrain as the anchor; slight pause after each threat-item; keep enumerations clear.
Differentiate ulkā and nakṣatra; do not blur compounds: lohita-kṣīrāḥ, deśa-upasargāḥ.
Firm but calming; ‘protective litany’ tone.
Traditionally effective with cooling/pacifying acts: water sprinkling, lamp-circling, and (if guided) small śānti homa—speech + act.
3 times
After earthquakes/meteor sightings, during fear of omens, suspicion of negativity/sorcery, or discovery of strange buried objects near home/field.
Immediately during/after the event; at dawn for ongoing regional unease; before re-entering a shaken home (after safety check).
Calmer nervous system, sense of comprehensive protection, restored confidence in moving forward (‘Earth safely crossed’).
Always prioritize real-world safety (evacuation, structural checks, medical care); do not handle suspicious buried items unsafely—seek local help if needed.
No herb is named; instead the ‘substance’ is the landscape itself (bhūmi), cattle as economic-ritual capital, and the materiality of sorcery (buried valgāḥ). The mantra’s technology is forensic-apotropaic: it authorizes physical search/removal and ritually reclassifies anomalies as harmless.
It presupposes communal dependence on priestly expertise to interpret abnormal natural/cattle signs and to adjudicate suspicion of enemy sorcery. The Atharvan becomes a crisis-manager for territory, livestock, and social conflict.
The explicit pairing of abhicāra and kṛtyā is characteristically Atharvanic (specialized counter-magic lexicon). Deśopasarga (‘regional visitation/affliction’) reflects a more administrative-territorial framing than typical RV diction.
Gopatha tends to validate Atharvanic rites as protective governance of the settled world: anomalies (adbhuta) and hostile acts are neutralized by brahman (mantra) plus correct karman (sprinkling, offerings, removal). This verse exemplifies that combined semiotic (omen) and juridical (counter-sorcery) logic.
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