Atharva Veda 3.22.1: Kanda 3, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 22, Mantra 1

Sukta 22

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

वर्चः प्राप्तिः। ह॒स्ति॒व॒र्च॒सं प्र॑थतां बृ॒हद् यशो॒ अदि॑त्या॒ यत् त॒न्वः संब॒भूव॑ । तत् सर्वे॒ सम॑दु॒र्मह्य॑मे॒तद् विश्वे॑ दे॒वा अदि॑तिः स॒जोषाः॑

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 3.22.1

IAST Transliteration

hastivarcásaṁ práthatāṁ bṛhád yáśo adítyā yát tanvàḥ sambabhū́va | tát sárve sám adur máhy am étád víśve devā́ adítiḥ sajóṣāḥ ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Let elephant-splendour spread abroad—great glory—(that splendour) of Aditi which was born forth from the body. That very power, may all (the gods) together bestow on me in greatness—this (power)—all the Gods, and Aditi, in one accord.

Translation

हाथी जैसी चमक और तेज फैल जाए, बड़ी बड़ाई वाली। यह अदिति की शक्ति है जो शरीर से निकली। सारे भगवान मिलकर मुझे यह बड़ी शक्ति दे, अदिति भी साथ में।

The meaning

What it says

A request that ‘elephant-splendour’ (hastivárchas) and great glory (bṛhad yaśas)—the radiance of Aditi—spread widely; may all the gods together bestow that greatness on the speaker, Aditi in concord with the Viśve Devāḥ.

The inner meaning

Charisma is treated as a real ‘field’ that can expand. Elephant imagery conveys grounded power, steadiness, and undeniable presence; Aditi’s radiance implies unboundedness and unimpaired wholeness.

The truth in it

Social authority and confidence grow when one becomes inwardly unbroken (Aditi = unbound/undivided) and outwardly steady (elephant-like); collective support amplifies personal radiance.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika (Prosperity/Prestige); also Rajakarman (royal charisma) in effect

Its aim

Acquisition and diffusion of overpowering personal splendour (várchas), public renown (yáśas), and unimpaired social authority

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Word by Word

Pada patha

हस्ति-वर्चसम् । प्रथताम् । बृहत् । यशः । अदित्याः । यत् । तन्वः । सम्बभूव । तत् । सर्वे । सम् । अदुः । महि । अम् । एतत् । विश्वे । देवाः । अदितिः । सजोषाः ।

हस्तिवर्चसम्

elephant-like splendor/strength (as an object to be spread/extended)elephant-like splendour; massive, awe-compelling radiance (várchas) fit to overawe rivalsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कर्मपद—‘हस्तिवर्चसम्’ = ‘हस्तिवर्चस्’ इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot हस्ति-वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक) अथवा वर्चस् (प्रातिपदिक)

प्रथताम्

let it spread/expandlet it spread abroad; let it be made wide and manifestVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (प्रथताम्)Role KartāRoot √प्रथ् (प्रथँ विस्तारे)

बृहत्

great, vastgreat, lofty, abundant (in force and fame)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अव्यक्त-विशेषण; ‘महद्’)Role KarmaRoot बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक; √बृह् ‘to grow’ से)

यशः

fame, gloryrenown, glory; socially recognized prestigeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)

अदित्या

from AditiNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: अदित्या = अदितेः)Role ApādānaRoot अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)

यत्

that whichwhich; that wherebyPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक)Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

तन्वः

of (one’s) body/selffrom the body/person; from one’s own embodied selfNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वेदिक: तन्वः = तन्वाः/तनूः ‘of the body/self’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot तनू (प्रातिपदिक)

सम्बभूव

has arisen/has come to beVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot सम् + √भू (भू सत्तायाम्)

तत्

thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

सर्वे

allAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)

सम्

together, completelytogether; in concord; whollyIndeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

अदुः

they ate/consumedhave given/shall give (as a bestowal of power); ‘grant’ in ritual speechVerbलुङ् (आगम-रहित/वेदिक एओरिस्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot √अद् (अदँ भक्षणे)

महि

greatly, mightilygreatly; with magnifying force; as a strengthening intensifierIndeclinableक्रियाविशेषणRoot महि (अव्यय; ‘greatly’)

अमेतत्

this (very)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (एतत् ‘this’ का संधि-रूप; पूर्वपद ‘अम्’ वेदिक निपात/उच्चारण-प्रत्ययवत्)Role KarmaRoot अम् + एतत् (एतद्-प्रातिपदिक) / वेदिक संधि-रूप

विश्वे

allall; the totality (esp. of the gods as a corporate body)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)

देवाः

the godsthe gods; divine agencies who authorize efficacyNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)

अदितिः

AditiAditi; the unbinding, uninjuredness-bestowing powerNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)

सजोषाः

in concord, of one accordin one accord; of one mind; favourably united (toward the sacrificer)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot स-जोṣस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘joṣa’ = pleasure/accord)

Sandhi Notes

• (1) हस्तिवर्चसं → हस्तिवर्चसम् (अन्त्य ‘म्’ परसवर्ण/अनुस्वार-लेखन)
• (2) यशो → यशः (विसर्ग-लोप/पदपाठ-रूप)
• (3) अदित्या → अदितेः (वेदिक पञ्चमी एकवचन)
• (4) तन्वः = तनू-षष्ठी एकवचन (वेदिक रूप)
• (5) समदुर्मह्यमे॒तद् → सम् + अदुः + महि + अमेतत् (सम् उपसर्ग; अदुः ‘they ate’; महि अव्यय; अमेतत् = एतत् का वेदिक संधि/उच्चारण-रूप)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution varies; commonly treated as Atharvan/Angiras-type vārchas hymn)

Devata

Aditi; Viśve Devāḥ (corporate deities) as bestowers of splendour

Chandas

Mixed; predominantly Triṣṭubh-like cadence in this hymn (edition-dependent scansion)

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