Atharva Veda 20.126.17: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 13, Sukta 126, Mantra 17
Sukta 126
न सेशे॒ यस्य॑ रोम॒शं नि॑षे॒दुषो॑ वि॒जृम्भ॑ते । सेदी॑शे॒ यस्य॒ रम्ब॑तेऽन्त॒रा स॒क्थ्या॒३ कपृ॑द् विश्व॑स्मा॒दिन्द्र॒ उत्त॑रः
ná séśe yásya rómaśaṃ niṣédúṣo vijṛ́mbhate | sédīśe yásya rámbate ’ntárā sákthyā́ kapṛ́d víśvasmā́d índra úttaraḥ
He lieth not at ease whose shaggy one, when he is seated, stretches wide. He sitteth—whose member sports betwixt the thighs. Indra is higher than all.
वो आराम नहीं कर सकता जिसका बैठने पर बाल वाला हिस्सा फैलता है। वो बैठता है जिसका लिंग टांगों के बीच में हिलता है। इंद्र सबसे बड़ा है।
Rishi: Indra-stuti tradition (uncertain r̥ṣi attribution)
Devata: Indra
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh
Primary: vira
Secondary: shringara
Sayana treats this as a stylistic inversion of the preceding verse: the two erotic images are exchanged in order, but the sense remains the same—unceasing virility and readiness, culminating in Indra’s universal superiority.
To reinforce virility and dominance by reiteration and variation (paryāya) of the potency-image
Genitals
Empowerment and confidence-conditioning; not a direct bhaiṣajya cure.
Śukra/ojas support in a symbolic sense; regulation of rajas into tejas.
Affirmation + posture/breath anchoring for sexual confidence and performance anxiety.
paustika
Self
Reinforce virility and dominance through reiterated imagery and Indra-supremacy refrain.
Paryāya-repetition (reordered lines) + refrain sealing (uttaraḥ).
Loss of vigor, intimidation, social defeat
Virility, competitive success
A near-repetition with swapped halves: the shaggy organ stretches when seated; the member plays between the thighs; the refrain again declares Indra higher than all.
Paryāya (variation) works as reinforcement: the mind is ‘re-imprinted’ from two angles—arousal and posture—so potency becomes stable capacity rather than fleeting excitement.
Repetition with slight variation is a technology of transformation: it re-patterns attention and makes power dependable.
- पaryāya (implicit)
- ritual reinforcement; cognitive reconditioning
- रोमशम् / कपृत्
- raw vitality / directed generativity
- निषेदुषः
- containment, discipline, readiness
- विश्वस्माद् इन्द्र उत्तरः
- supremacy mantra sealing the charm
Contain and elevate life-force under the ‘higher’ principle (uttara).
Svādhiṣṭhāna ↔ Maṇipūra
Box-breath 4-4-4-4; release on the refrain.
A red-gold ember at navel stabilized by a blue-gold Indra-sky above the head.
Steady vigor; non-compulsive energy.
Sit upright; recite softly but firmly; end with 1–2 minutes of stillness to prevent agitation.
Keep refrain as the tonal summit; maintain even pitch for the swapped halves.
Do not over-accent erotic nouns; accent the verb-forms and the refrain for dignity.
ni-ṣe-du-ṣaḥ with clear ṣ, vi-jṛmbha-te with ṛ, Maintain final visarga in uttaराḥ
Composed, confident; slightly lower register to avoid agitation.
Use as reinforcement after 20.126.16; the pair functions like a two-step binding charm (dvy-ṛc).
11
Need for steadiness of masculine confidence and self-command.
As a follow-up reinforcement after the prior verse; during a brief seated practice.
Reduced nervousness; increased grounded courage and presence.
Avoid obsessive repetition that increases arousal; balance with calming breath.
Resolved sandhi: (1) रम्बतेऽन्तरा → रम्बते + अन्तरा (avagraha shows loss of initial अ-). (2) स॒क्थ्या॒३ कपृ॑द् → सक्थ्या + कपृत् (pada break; no further sandhi). Other words are already in pada-like form; Vedic accent marks removed for analysis.
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