Atharva Veda 4.39.3: Kanda 4, Anuvaka 4, Sukta 39, Mantra 3
Sukta 39
अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे वा॒यवे॒ सम॑नम॒न्त्स आ॑र्ध्नोत्। यथा॒न्तरि॑क्षे वा॒यवे॑ स॒मन॑मन्ने॒वा मह्यं॑ सं॒नमः॒ सं न॑मन्तु
antárikṣe vāyáve sám anaman sá ā́rdhnot | yáthāntárikṣe vāyáve sám anamann evá máhyaṃ sannamáḥ sáṃ namantu ||
In mid-air, unto Vāyu, they bowed together; thereby he won success. As in mid-air, unto Vāyu, they bowed together, even so for me let all convergences bow in accord.
हवा के बीच में लोग वायु के सामने झुके। उससे उनको कामयाबी मिली। जैसे हवा में वायु के सामने सब झुके, वैसे ही मेरे लिए भी सब साथ मिल के झुकें।
The meaning
What it says
In the mid-space (antarikṣa), they bowed together to Vāyu and thereby attained success. As they bowed to Vāyu in mid-air, so may all convergences bow in accord for me.
The inner meaning
This extends conciliation from the grounded hearth (Agni/earth) into the mobile realm of breath, communication, and circulation. Vāyu symbolizes the subtle currents by which agreement spreads.
The truth in it
Alignment travels through invisible channels—breath, speech, rumor, mood. When these currents are harmonized, outcomes turn favorable.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Paustika (Prosperity) / Saṃnati (Conciliation)
Its aim
To secure favorable inclination and compliance by invoking Vāyu in the atmospheric realm, extending the charm’s reach through the wind’s mobility.
Word by Word
Pada patha
अन्तरिक्षे । वायवे । सम् । अनमन् । सः । आर्ध्नोत् । यथा । अन्तरिक्षे । वायवे । सम् । अनमन् । एव । मह्यम् । सं-नमः । सम् । नमन्तु
- अन्तरिक्षे
- in the mid-air, in the atmospherein the atmosphere (mid-region; domain of wind and movement)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- वायवे
- O Vāyu (Wind-god)to Vāyu (Wind; mover, carrier, inspirer)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, completelytogether, whollyIndeclinableउपसर्ग (क्रियाविशेषक)Root सम् (उपसर्ग)
- अनमन्
- bowed, inclinedbowed/inclined (became favorable, compliant)Verbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot √नम् (नमँ—प्रणामे)
- सः
- hehe/that one (the successful precedent-holder)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आर्ध्नोत्
- prospered, attained successattained success (won the desired end)Verbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot √ऋध् (ऋधँ/अर्ध्—वृद्धौ/समृद्धौ)
- यथा
- as, just asas; just as (precedent formula)Indeclinableसम्बन्ध/उपमानार्थक अव्ययRoot यथा (अव्यय)
- अन्तरिक्षे
- in the atmosphereNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- वायवे
- O Vāyuto Vāyu (re-anchoring the deity)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, fullyIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot सम् (उपसर्ग)
- अनमन्
- bowedinclined (became favorable)Verbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot √नम् (नमँ—प्रणामे)
- एव
- indeed, just soeven so; just soIndeclinableनिश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्ययRoot एव (अव्यय)
- मह्यम्
- to mefor me (beneficiary)Pronounउभयलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- संनमः
- (a) bowing, obeisance; inclinationconvergence; favorable inclination (to be induced)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्ता (आशीर्वचन/विधेय-भाव)Root संनम (प्रातिपदिक; सम्+√नम् से भाव/क्रिया-नाम)
- सम्
- together, completelytogether, fullyIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot सम् (उपसर्ग)
- नमन्तु
- let (them) bow; may (they) inclinelet them incline (optative command for universal favor)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्-समकक्ष); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRole कर्तृ-क्रियाRoot √नम् (नमँ—प्रणामे)
Sandhi Notes
- अन्तरिक्षे | वायवे | सम् | अनमन् | सः | आर्ध्नोत् | यथा | अन्तरिक्षे | वायवे | सम् | अनमन् | एव | मह्यम् | संनमः | सम् | नमन्तु ।
- 1) सम॑नम॒न्त्स → सम् + अनमन् + सः (सम् + अ- → सम् अ-; अन्त् + सः → अन्त्सः, संहितायां ‘न्त्स’ लेखनम्)
- 2) स॒मन॑मन्ने॒वा → सम् + अनमन् + एव (अनमन् + एव → अनमन्नेव; संहितायां ‘न्ने’)
- 3) सं॒नमः॒ → सम् + नमः/नम (यहाँ ‘संनमः’ रूपेण; सम्-उपसर्गेण नकारे परे अनुस्वारः)
- 4) सं न॑मन्तु → सम् + नमन्तु (उपसर्गः पृथक् पदरूपेण)
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Atharvanic tradition
- Devata
- Vāyu
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh-like (parallel construction to 4.39.1)
- Rasa
- Shanta and Adbhuta
Parallel to 4.39.1, but relocating the rite’s ‘seat’ from Earth/Agni to Atmosphere/Vāyu. Sayana would read Vāyu as the swift carrier who brings compliance and success; ‘sannamaḥ’ is again the induced favor of persons/powers, now grounded in the atmospheric deity’s mobility and reach.
Anukramaṇī-unspecified (Atharvanic tradition)
Saṃnati charms extended across the three realms; persuasion through elemental correspondences (earth/fire; mid-air/wind).
Shows Atharvan strategy of scaling efficacy: from hearth-centered authority (Agni) to atmospheric reach (Vāyu), i.e., from local to networked influence.
Vāyu
Mover and circulator; carries offerings’ ‘message’ and spreads vitality; governs breath and the in-between spaces.
Supports prāṇa, respiration, circulation; used in Atharvanic logic to disperse afflictions and restore flow.
Wards stagnation, obstruction, and the ‘binding’ of social/mental movement; clears pathways for favorable outcomes.
4 pādas; strong formulaic symmetry; yathā…evā… transfer construction.
Ritual parallelism prioritized over strict syllabics; designed for easy substitution of realm/deity.
Light, flowing; fits breath-paced recitation.
Synchronizes speech with breath, reinforcing Vāyu’s domain and the charm’s ‘spreading’ action.
Perform in an open or ventilated space, or at the threshold, to align with ‘antárikṣe’ and Vāyu’s domain.
Recite the mantra while exhaling deliberately (prāṇa-alignment), treating breath as Vāyu’s vehicle.
Optionally wave a cloth/fan or lift the hands upward at ‘antárikṣe’ to enact the atmospheric locus.
Conclude with the optative ‘namantu’ as the coercive-favorable command for compliance.
Kauśika Sūtra: saṃnati rites employing AV 4.39 with variant deities (Agni/Vāyu) depending on aim and setting (edition-dependent numbering).
Atharvan priest specializes in such pragmatic ‘saṃnati’ operations; he controls voice and breath as the principal ritual instruments.
Recite in an open-air threshold (doorway/courtyard) before sending a message, envoy, or beginning travel; optionally with a breath offering (prāṇāhuti conceptually).
At sunrise when winds are gentle; or immediately before outreach/communication.
Householder-led; priest optional for combined fire + breath rite.
KauśS: saṃnati/vaśīkaraṇa-type usages (general; edition-dependent).
Recite before a phone call/email; take 3 slow breaths, then speak with measured tone.
wind/air (Vāyu; atmospheric medium); ritual breath/recitation (implicit, aligned with Vāyu)
Wind is the carrier of subtle forces (speech, scent, mood). The mantra treats consent as something that can be ‘aired’ and made to circulate until it settles as agreement.
Breath-led calming before difficult conversations; supports communication clarity and reduced reactivity.
Those at a distance; groups where influence travels through talk, messaging, or intermediaries.
Conciliation and compliance through Vāyu’s mobility—making agreements ‘move’ toward the petitioner.
Realm-extension + precedent-transfer; breath-aligned recitation as sympathetic action under Vāyu.
Delays, miscommunication, social ‘headwinds,’ and scattered support.
Successful outreach, networking, travel-related success, timely cooperation.
- अन्तरिक्षे (antarikṣe)
- intermediate realm: communication networks, transitions, the ‘between’ where influence moves
- वायवे (vāyave)
- breath, circulation, mobility, quick conveyance of intent
- सम् अनमन् (sam anaman)
- synchronized yielding; collective attunement
- संनमः (saṃnamaḥ)
- meeting-points: negotiations, crossroads, social intersections
Harmonizing prāṇa to harmonize relationships; letting influence move without force.
anāhata (air/relational openness)
6-6 breathing (inhale 6, exhale 6) for 12 rounds; recite once per exhale.
A cool, clear wind moving through the chest, carrying your request as a clean white banner that others naturally read and accept.
Unclenched intention; receptive alertness.
After recitation, keep speech clean: avoid gossip/harsh words—Vāyu magnifies what is put into the air.
Breath-synced recitation; slightly lift pitch on vāyave and saṃ namantu.
Pause after antarikṣe; let vāyave be clear and open-throated; repeat phrase with identical cadence to ‘lock’ the transfer.
Airy but firm; avoid strain; let exhale carry the line.
Best done in clean air/ventilated space; Atharvanic logic treats environment as part of efficacy in Vāyu rites.
21 times
Securing cooperation at a distance, smoothing communications, travel success, networking.
Before outreach, interviews, negotiations, or when miscommunication is likely.
Clearer communication, improved receptivity, fewer delays and misunderstandings.
If anxiety is high, do a few calming breaths first; do not use to spread harmful rumors—Vāyu amplifies speech-karman.
No botanical element is present; the operative medium is air/breath. The charm’s ‘technology’ is atmospheric: persuasion/compulsion is routed through Vāyu as carrier.
It suggests that social outcomes (agreement, submission) can be engineered through specialized Atharvanic performance, reinforcing the priest’s role as technician of interpersonal and communal order.
The formulaic precedent structure (‘… sá ārdhnot … evá máhyaṃ … namantu’) is charm-like and operational. The abstraction ‘sannamáḥ’ as a manipulable force is more Atharvanic than RV’s typical praise-hymn register.
Gopatha’s correspondence logic supports shifting the rite’s ‘seat’ among cosmic regions (earth/atmosphere) and deities (Agni/Vāyu) while preserving the same operative mechanism: mantra-induced inclination (nam).
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