Atharva Veda 20.25.6: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 25, Mantra 6

Sukta 25

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

ब॒र्हिर्वा॒ यत् स्व॑प॒त्याय॑ वृ॒ज्यते॒ऽर्को वा॒ श्लोक॑मा॒घोष॑ते दि॒वि। ग्रावा॒ यत्र॒ वद॑ति का॒रुरु॒क्थ्य॑१स्तस्येदिन्द्रो॑ अभिपि॒त्वेषु॑ रण्यति

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 20.25.6

IAST Transliteration

barhír vā yát svapatyā́ya vṛ́jyate ’rkó vā ślókām āghóṣate diví | grā́vā yátra vádati kā́rur ukthyàs tásyed índro abhipitvéṣu raṇyati ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

When sacred grass is strewn for rightful lordship, or when a hymn, a verse, is sounded forth in heaven; where the pressing-stone speaks and the Ukthya singer chants—thereat, even there, Indra rejoiceth amid the draughts.

Translation

जब पूजा के लिए घास बिछाई जाती है, या जब आसमान में गाना गूंजता है। जब पत्थर से सोम निकलता है और ऋषि गाते हैं, वहाँ इंद्र खुश होता है और अपना पीता है।

The meaning

What it says

The verse describes the Soma-rite setting: barhis (sacrificial grass) is spread for svapatya (rightful mastery), a hymn resounds, the pressing-stone ‘speaks,’ and the ukthya-singer chants; there Indra delights in the draughts (Soma drinks).

The inner meaning

Orderly preparation (barhis), truthful speech (arka/śloka), and disciplined effort (grāvan pressing) create an inner ‘ritual space’ where vitality and confidence (Indra) naturally arise. Svapatya becomes psychological sovereignty: steadiness, self-command, and rightful boundaries in one’s home and mind.

The truth in it

Prosperity and authority stabilize when action, speech, and intention are aligned: prepare the ground, speak rightly, do the work—then supportive power ‘rejoices’ and results follow.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika (lordship/proprietorship) with Soma-ritual markers

Its aim

To secure svapatya (stable lordship, household mastery) by ensuring Indra’s pleased presence at Soma-linked ritual actions.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

बर्हिः । वा । यत् । स्वपत्याय । वृज्यते । अर्कः । वा । श्लोकम् । आ-घोषते । दिवि । ग्रावा । यत्र । वदति । कारुः । उक्थ्यः । तस्य । इत् । इन्द्रः । अभि-पित्वेषु । रण्यति ।

बर्हिः

sacrificial grass (barhis)the sacred grass (barhis); ritual seat/bed for godsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot बर्हिस् (प्रातिपदिक)

वा

or / indeedor/indeed (disjunctive-emphatic particle)Indeclinableसमुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा (अव्यय)

यत्

which (that)when/that which (temporal-relative)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

स्वपत्याय

for good lordship/household masteryfor good lordship/own mastery; for one’s own dominion (prosperity aim)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot स्वपत्य (प्रातिपदिक)

वृज्यते

is cleared/arranged (is swept/laid out)is strewn/spread (ritual preparation act)Verbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (कर्मणि-प्रयोगः)Root वृज् (धातु; ‘to clear/sweep/prepare’)

अर्कः

hymn of praise / chant (arka)hymn of praise; also ‘ray’ (here: laudatory chant as power)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)

वा

or / indeedor/indeedIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक निपातRoot वा (अव्यय)

श्लोकम्

a verse/recitationa verse/chant; proclaimed utteranceNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot श्लोक (प्रातिपदिक)

आघोषते

resounds / is proclaimedis sounded forth; is loudly proclaimed (public efficacy)Verbलट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot आ-घुष् (धातु; ‘to sound, proclaim’)

दिवि

in heaven / in the skyin heaven; in the sky (cosmic audience)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)

ग्रावा

pressing-stone (for soma)pressing-stone (Soma-press implement)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot ग्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक)

यत्र

whereIndeclinableदेशवाचक अव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot यत्र (अव्यय)

वदति

speaks / soundsspeaks/sounds (resonates; the stone ‘speaks’ by striking)Verbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot वद् (धातु; ‘to speak’)

कारुः

poet/singer (artisan of hymn)the singer/poet-priest (artisan of praise)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot कारु (प्रातिपदिक)

उक्थ्यः

fit for the uktha; uktha-singerreciter of uktha; one who chants the solemn hymnAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root उक्थ्य (प्रातिपदिक)

तस्य

of that / hisof that (rite/place/person)Pronounपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

इत्

indeed / justjust/indeed (restrictive emphasis)Indeclinableनिपात (एव/खलु-बलार्थक)Root इत् (अव्यय/निपात)

इन्द्रः

IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)

अभिपित्वेषु

at/among the drinkings (libations, feasts)at/among the draughts (Soma drinkings; libation sessions)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अभि-पित्व (प्रातिपदिक; ‘drinking/feasting, libation’)

रण्यति

rejoices / delightsrejoices; takes delight (sign of acceptance and efficacy)Verbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot रन्/रण् (धातु; ‘to rejoice, delight’)

Sandhi Notes

• बर्हिः वा यत् स्वपत्याय वृज्यते । अर्कः वा श्लोकम् आघोषते दिवि । ग्रावा यत्र वदति कारुः उक्थ्यः । तस्य इत् इन्द्रः अभिपित्वेषु रण्यति ।
• 1) वृज्यतेऽर्को → वृज्यते अर्कः (अ + अ = अ; अवग्रह)
• 2) कारुरु॒क्थ्यः → कारुः उक्थ्यः (विसर्ग-सन्धि: उकारादौ ‘उ’ इत्यादौ विसर्गः ‘र्’/उच्चारण-परिवर्तनं; संहितायां ‘रु’)
• 3) तस्येदिन्द्रो → तस्य इत् इन्द्रः (इत्/एद्-निपातः; संहितायां ‘स्य + इत्’ → ‘स्येद्’; तथा ‘इत् + इन्द्रः’ संधिः)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

RV-derived (Indra-Soma ritual milieu; traditional attribution varies by RV source-hymn)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Rasa

Vira and Adbhuta

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