Atharva Veda 5.2.8: Kanda 5, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 2, Mantra 8

Sukta 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

इ॒मा ब्रह्म॑ बृ॒हद्दि॑वः कृणव॒दिन्द्रा॑य शू॒षम॑ग्रि॒यः स्व॒र्षाः । म॒हो गो॒त्रस्य॑ क्षयति स्व॒राजा॒ तुर॑श्चि॒द् विश्व॑मर्णव॒त् तप॑स्वान्

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 5.2.8

IAST Transliteration

imā́ bráhma bṛháddívo kṛṇavád índrāya śū́ṣam agríyaḥ svàrṣāḥ | mahó gótrasya kṣáyati svárājā túraś cid víśvam arṇavát tápasvān ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

These sacred words of lofty heaven hath the foremost, sun-winning one wrought into impetuous might for Indra. As self-ruling lord he holds dominion over the great cow-pen; overpowering, yea, he overwhelms the whole, like a flood, in glowing ardor.

Translation

आसमान की बातें बड़ी हैं, और सबसे आगे वाले ने इंद्र के लिए ताकत बनाई है। वो सूरज जीतने वाला है। वो अपने आप का मालिक है, बड़े गौशाला पर उसका राज है। वो इतना ज़ोर वाला है कि सब को ले डूबता है, जैसे बाढ़ आके सब कुछ बहा ले जाए।

The meaning

What it says

The lofty-heavenly brahman is fashioned into impetuous might for Indra by the foremost, sun-winning one; as self-ruling lord he holds dominion over the great cow-pen; overpowering, he overwhelms all like a flood, glowing with ardor.

The inner meaning

Mantra (brahman) is treated as convertible energy: speech becomes force. ‘Gotra’ symbolizes the secured inner resources (values, vitality, wealth); ‘flood’ imagery represents unstoppable focused drive that dissolves resistance.

The truth in it

Rightly formed words and disciplined intention can be transformed into effective power; sovereignty is sustained by guarding resources and directing energy like a controlled torrent.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika / Jayakarman

Its aim

To convert the recited brahman into Indra’s assault-force, securing cattle/wealth, fortified holdings, and autonomous rule for the patron.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

इमा । ब्रह्म । बृहद्दिवः । कृणवत् । इन्द्राय । शूषम् । अग्रियः । स्वर्षाः । महः । गोत्रस्य । क्षयति । स्वराजा । तुरः । चित् । विश्वम् । अर्णवत् । तपस्वान्

इमाः

these (hymns/utterances)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

ब्रह्म

sacred utterance; prayersacred formulation; potent spell-hymn (brahman as operative speech)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कर्म-रूपे) अथवा प्रथमा, एकवचन (वाक्य-प्रस्तावे)Role KarmaRoot ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

बृहत्

greatAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (ब्रह्म इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot बृहत् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

दिवः

of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौः)

कृणवत्

made; fashionedhas made/forged; has effected (as a craftsman of power)Verbलङ्/लिट्-सम्भाव्य पाठभेदेषु; अत्र: लङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (परस्मैपद) — ‘made/has made’Role KartāRoot कृ (धातु)

इन्द्राय

for Indrafor Indra; to Indra (as recipient and agent of victory)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)

शूषम्

strength; vigorimpetuous might, onset-force; aggressive vigor used to smiteNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शूष (प्रातिपदिक)

अग्रियः

foremostforemost; leading in front (pre-eminent champion)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot अग्रिय (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

स्वर्षाः

winning the sun/light; bringing radiancewinning the sun/light; victorious, heaven-winning (svàr as prize of triumph)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्; वैदिके दीर्घ/ह्रस्व-प्रयोगभेदः)Role KartāRoot स्वर्ष (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

महो

of the greatAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (गोत्रस्य इत्यस्य सह: ‘of the great…’)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot महत् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

गोत्रस्य

of the enclosure/cow-pen; of the clanof the cow-pen/lineage-enclosure; of the clan’s wealth (also ‘fortified holding’)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot गोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)

क्षयति

dwells; rules; holds swayhe rules/dwells as lord; holds dominion (kṣaya as settled sovereignty)Verbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot क्षि (धातु: क्षि/क्षय ‘to dwell, rule, possess’)

स्वराजा

self-ruler; sovereignself-ruling; autonomous king (ideal of independent lordship)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot स्वराज् (प्रातिपदिक)

तुरः

swift; overpoweringoverpowering, victorious; pressing down the foeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (स्वराजा/इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot तुर (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

चित्

even; indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (अपि/एव-अर्थे)Root चित् (अव्यय)

विश्वम्

all; the wholeAdjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot विश्व (विशेषण/सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

अर्णवत्

flood-like; oceaniclike a flood/sea; in a surging manner (overwhelming as waters)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विश्वम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot अर्णवत् (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; अर्णव ‘flood, sea’ + मतुप्)

तपस्वान्

ardent; possessing tapas (austerity/heat)ardent, glowing; possessed of heat/ascetic fire (tapas as burning potency)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role KartāRoot तपस्विन्/तपस् + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• इमाः | ब्रह्म | बृहत् | दिवः | कृणवत् | इन्द्राय | शूषम् | अग्रियः | स्वर्षाः || महो | गोत्रस्य | क्षयति | स्वराजा | तुरः | चित् | विश्वम् | अर्णवत् | तपस्वान् ।
• 1) ‘बृहद्दिवः’ = बृहत् + दिवः (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: त् + द → द्द).
• 2) ‘कृणवदिन्द्राय’ = कृणवत् + इन्द्राय (त् + इ → दि-प्रभावेन संधि-लोप/परिवर्तन; संहितायां ‘दिन्द्र’).
• 3) ‘शूषमग्रियः’ = शूषम् + अग्रियः (म् + अ → म-परसवर्ण/अनुस्वार-प्रयोग; संहितायां ‘मग्रि’).
• 4) ‘तुरश्चित्’ = तुरः + चित् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ः + च → श्च).
• 5) ‘अर्णवत् तपस्वान्’ पदसीमा स्पष्ट
• संहितायां तकार-प्रभावः न विशेषः

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic tradition

Devata

Indra (with brahman as instrumental power)

Chandas

Anuṣṭubh (probable)

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