Atharva Veda 20.21.5: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 5
Sukta 21
समि॑न्द्र रा॒या समि॒षा र॑भेमहि॒ सं वाजे॑भिः पुरुश्च॒न्द्रैर॒भिद्यु॑भिः । सं दे॒व्या प्रम॑त्या वी॒रशु॑ष्मया॒ गोअ॑ग्र॒याश्वा॑वत्या रभेमहि
sám indra rāyā sám iṣā rabhémahi sám vā́jebhiḥ puru-candrā́ir abhídyubhiḥ | sám devyā́ prámatyā vīrá-śuṣmayā go-ágrayā́śvāvatyā rabhémahi
Together, O Indra, with wealth, together with refreshment would we lay hold; together with prizes, with many splendors, with overpowering lights. Together with divine forethought, with hero-might, with cattle-leading, horse-possessing (plenty) would we lay hold.
इंद्र, हम तुम्हारे साथ धन पाना चाहते हैं। खाना भी चाहिए, इनाम भी चाहिए। चमक-धमक होनी चाहिए, रोशनी होनी चाहिए। भगवान हमारे साथ सोच रहे हैं। हम में ताकत होनी चाहिए। गाय होनी चाहिए, घोड़े होनी चाहिए। सब कुछ मिल जाए।
Rishi: RV-derived Indra hymn tradition (AV 20 anthology).
Devata: Indra.
Chandas: Triṣṭubh.
Primary: shanta
Secondary: vira
Sāyaṇa reads the repeated ‘sam’ as totalizing accumulation: not a single boon but a full complex of prosperity. ‘prámatī’ is protective wisdom/counsel granted by the deity, ensuring right action and warding mischance. ‘go-ágrayā’ and ‘aśvāvatyā’ specify the concrete form of prosperity—herds and steeds—typical of Indra’s patronage.
To secure a complete package of prosperity: wealth, food, prizes, brilliance, wise counsel, heroic strength, cattle, and horses.
Goal-setting/values alignment: integrating nutrition, finances, planning, and strength—holistic wellbeing framing.
paustika
To obtain comprehensive prosperity—wealth, food, success, brilliance, wise counsel, heroic vigor, cattle and horses—by grasping it ‘together’ under Indra.
Enumerative acquisition (naming desired goods) + integrative refrain (sam) functioning as a binding/collecting spell.
Fragmentation of effort, waste, poor planning, loss of resources.
Total prosperity package (material + strategic + reputational).
O Indra, together we would seize wealth and refreshment; together with prizes, many splendors, overpowering lights; together with divine forethought, hero-might, cattle-leading and horse-possessing plenty.
Integration is the magic: gather scattered energies into one ‘together’ (sam). Prosperity is not only money (rāyā) but nourishment (iṣā), achievement (vāja), brilliance (dyu), wise planning (devyā pramatī), and courage (vīra-śuṣma).
Wholeness brings abundance: when wisdom, vitality, courage, and resources are unified, prosperity becomes stable and shareable.
- सम् (sam)
- integration; coherence; collective alignment
- राय (rāya)
- resources, support, capacity to give
- इषा (iṣā)
- sustenance; satisfaction; replenishment
- वाज (vāja)
- achievement; competitive success; earned result
- पुरुश्चन्द्र (puruś-candra)
- multiple forms of brilliance—skills, reputation, opportunities
- अभिद्यु (abhidyu)
- victorious clarity; public success; auspicious signs
- प्रमति (pramatī)
- strategic intelligence; prevention of loss
- वीरशुष्म (vīra-śuṣma)
- courageous stamina; disciplined drive
- गोअग्र्य (go-agrayā)
- wealth that reproduces; stable prosperity
- अश्वावत् (aśvāvatyā)
- mobility, enterprise, capacity to expand
Integration: gather attention from scattered wants into one coherent prosperity-intention aligned with dharma.
Muladhara (security/wealth) + Manipura (agency)
Moderate breathing; on each ‘sam’ feel collecting energy inward; on rabhēmahi feel steady grasp/containment.
A golden sphere forms at the navel, drawing in food-energy, wealth-energy, and light-energy; it stabilizes and radiates outward as generosity.
Composed, cohesive, confident.
Chant 11×, then do a ‘threefold’ action: nourish body (eat simply), plan wisely (write 3 priorities), act bravely (one difficult task).
Even, collecting cadence; each ‘sam’ begins with a clear onset; keep rabhēmahi consistent as the refrain-anchor.
Stress samíndra at opening; give careful clarity to pramatyā and vīraśuṣmayā; do not rush the enumerations.
puruś-candraiḥ: keep śc conjunct crisp (श्च)., abhidyu̍bhiḥ: articulate bhid- cleanly; avoid ‘abijyu’., goa̍grayā: keep the vowel junction go-agr- distinct but smooth.
Steady, prosperous warmth; avoid aggression.
The anaphora ‘sam’ functions like a collecting spell; maintain identical rhythm each time to reinforce ‘gathering’.
11
Seeking stable prosperity, budgeting, rebuilding after loss, aiming for holistic success (food, wealth, brilliance, counsel, strength).
Monthly/weekly planning; before major purchases; before communal meals to sanctify nourishment and resources.
Greater coherence in goals, calmer confidence, culturally framed ‘complete prosperity’ intention.
Pair with ethical earning and generosity; avoid using it to justify greed or exploitation.
Sandhi resolution: समि॑न्द्र → सम् + इन्द्र (anusvāra before vowel); रा॒या → रायाः (Vedic instrumental sg. ending -आः = classical -या); समि॒षा → सम् + इषा; पुरुश्च॒न्द्रैर् → पुरु + चन्द्रैः (visarga/ḥ assimilated to r before voiced consonant in saṃhitā); गोअ॑ग्र॒याश्वा॑वत्या → गोअग्रया + अश्वावत्या (a+a coalescence in saṃhitā). Other groups are straightforward instrumentals governed by rabhemahi with repeated सम् as intensifier/collective.
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