Atharva Veda 19.13.3: Kanda 19, Anuvaka 2, Sukta 13, Mantra 3

Sukta 13

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सं॒क्रन्द॑नेनानिमि॒षेण॑ जि॒ष्णुना॑ऽयो॒ध्येन॑ दुश्च्यव॒नेन॑ धृ॒ष्णुना॑ । तदिन्द्रे॑ण जयत॒ तत् स॑हध्वं॒ युधो॑ नर॒ इषु॑हस्तेन॒ वृष्णा॑

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 19.13.3

IAST Transliteration

saṃkrándanena animíṣeṇa jiṣṇúnā ’yódhyena duścyavanéna dhṛṣṇúnā | tád índreṇa jayata tát sahadhvaṃ yúdhō nara íṣuhastena vṛ́ṣṇā

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

By the battle-roarer, by the unblinking, by the victorious; by the unconquerable, the hard-to-dislodge, the bold—by Indra conquer that; to that unite ye, O men, in the battles, with the bull, the arrow-handed.

Translation

यह मंत्र इंद्र की ताकत बताता है। वो युद्ध में ज़ोर से चिल्लाता है और आँखें नहीं झपकाता। वो जीतता है और कोई उसे हरा नहीं सकता। वो दुश्मन को हटा नहीं सकता और बहुत बहादुर है। इंद्र के साथ तुम भी जीतो। युद्ध में इंद्र के साथ रहो, वो तीर चलाता है और बैल जैसा है।

The meaning

What it says

An exhortation: “By Indra the battle-roarer, unblinking, victorious, unconquerable, hard-to-dislodge, bold—conquer that; unite to that, O men, in battles, with the bull, the arrow-handed.”

The inner meaning

The mantra is a group-binding technology: it names qualities (unblinking, victorious, immovable) and commands collective synchronization (sahadhvam). It trains a shared mind that advances without internal fracture.

The truth in it

Strength multiplies through unity and shared focus. When individuals align under a coherent principle, even entrenched obstacles become movable.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Abhicarika (martial/victory incantation)

Its aim

To induce collective cohesion and irresistible advance, transferring Indra’s ‘unshakable’ qualities to the troop.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

संक्रन्दनेन । अनिमिषेण । जिष्णुना । अयोध्येन । दुश्च्यवनेन । धृष्णुना । तत् । इन्द्रेण । जयत । तत् । सहध्वम् । युधः । नरः । इषुहस्तेन । वृष्णा ।

संक्रन्दनेन

with the war-cry / with the roarwith the battle-roar; by Indra’s war-cry powerNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचनRole करणRoot संक्रन्दन (प्रातिपदिक; सं-√क्रन्द ‘to cry out/roar’)

अनिमिषेण

with the unblinking (one)with the unblinking (one); with unwavering vigilanceAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot अनिमिष (प्रातिपदिक; a-nimiṣa ‘unblinking’)

जिष्णुना

with the victorious (one)with the victorious; possessing the habit of winningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot जिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक; from √जि ‘to conquer’)

अयोध्येन

with the invincible (one)with the unconquerable/unfightable; not to be met in battleAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot अयोध्य (प्रातिपदिक; a-yodhya ‘unassailable/not to be fought’)

दुश्च्यवनेन

with the hard-to-dislodge (one)with the hard-to-dislodge; immovable from positionAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot दुश्च्यवन (प्रातिपदिक; dus- + √च्यु ‘to move/fall’)

धृष्णुना

with the bold/daring (one)with the bold/daring; audacious in onsetAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot धृष्णु (प्रातिपदिक; from √धृष ‘to dare/be bold’)

तत्

that (power/aid)that (victory/that power); the aforesaid conquering forcePronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

इन्द्रेण

with Indrawith Indra; by Indra as instrument/agentNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)

जयत

win! / conquer!conquer ye; win (imperative plural)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole मुख्य क्रियाRoot √जि (जयति)

तत्

thatthat; the same victorious mightPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

सहध्वम्

join together / act in concertjoin in, unite; act in concert (battle solidarity)Verbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदRole मुख्य क्रियाRoot सह (अव्यय) + √धा (धत्ते/धत्त)

युधः

of battle / of the fightin battles; in the combatsNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन (collective/genitive of ‘battle’ also possible by context)Role सम्बन्धRoot युध् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘fighter/warrior’)

नरः

O men / menO men; addressed to the fighting companyNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन/प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)

इषुहस्तेन

with (his) arrow-in-handwith the arrow-in-hand; the archer aspect (weapon-bearing)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot इषुहस्त (प्रातिपदिक; इषु ‘arrow’ + हस्त ‘hand’)

वृष्णा

with the mighty/bull-like (one)with the bull/strong one; with the virile champion (Indra)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; एकवचनRole करणRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bull, mighty one’)

Sandhi Notes

• जिष्णुनाऽयोध्येन → जिष्णुना + अयोध्येन (avagraha marks a+ a- hiatus)
• Other forms are already padapāṭha-like
• The opening series of instrumentals (…-नेन/…-ेण/…-ना) are coordinated karaṇa-expressions describing the empowering aid (primarily Indra) with which the addressees are urged to conquer

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic tradition (victory-hymn complex)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh-like (exhortative martial register)

Rasa

Vira and Raudra

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