Atharva Veda 5.13.6: Kanda 5, Anuvaka 2, Sukta 13, Mantra 6

Sukta 13

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अ॒सि॒तस्य॑ तैमा॒तस्य॑ ब॒भ्रोरपो॑दकस्य च । सा॒त्रा॒सा॒हस्या॒हं म॒न्योरव॒ ज्यामि॑व॒ धन्व॑नो॒ वि मु॑ञ्चामि॒ रथाँ॑ इव

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 5.13.6

IAST Transliteration

asitásya taimātásya babhrór apó̱dakasya ca | sātrāsāhásyāháṁ manyór áva jyā́m iva dhánvano ví muñcāmi rathā́n iva ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

From the Black, from Taimāta, from the Brown, and from the waterless; from Sātrāsāha’s fury—I release (thee) away, as a bowstring from the bow, as chariots are let go.

Translation

मैं तुम्हे छोड़ देता हूँ, काले से, तैमत से, भूरे से, और जहाँ पानी नहीं है। सत्रसह के गुस्से से भी मैं तुम्हे आज़ाद करता हूँ। जैसे धनुष से धनुष की डोर छोड़ दी जाए, वैसे मैं तुम्हे छोड़ देता हूँ। जैसे रथ को छोड़ दिया जाए, वैसे तुम भी निकल जाओ।

The meaning

What it says

The speaker declares release from multiple named venoms/serpent-types (Asita, Taimāta, Babhru, Apodaka) and from Sātrāsāha’s fury; he ‘loosens’ the affliction like a bowstring from a bow, like chariots let loose.

The inner meaning

Toxicity is experienced as binding/tension. The mantra performs a ‘mocana’ (untying) of constriction—somatic and emotional—so the person can move freely again.

The truth in it

Healing often requires unbinding: when the knot of fear/pain is loosened, vitality returns; release is as crucial as resistance.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Bhaisajya (Healing) / Anti-venom unbinding charm

Its aim

To unbind and release the patient from multiple classified venoms and their violent ‘manyu’, restoring bodily ease and mobility.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

असितस्य । तैमातस्य । बभ्रोः । अपोदकस्य । च । सात्रासाहस्य । अहम् । मन्योः । अव । ज्याम्-इव । धन्वनः । वि । मुञ्चामि । रथान् । इव

असितस्य

of the dark/black oneof the black one (a class/name of poison/serpent; dark venom)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)Root असित (प्रातिपदिक)

तैमातस्य

of Taimāta (a being/serpent of the deep)of Taimāta (proper name: a poison/serpent lineage; traditional classification of venoms)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)Root तैमात (प्रातिपदिक; तिमि-सम्बद्ध)

बभ्रोः

of the brown one (Babhru)of the brown one (another poison/serpent class)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)Root बभ्रु (प्रातिपदिक)

अपोदकस्य

of Apodaka (water(-dweller)/water-related being)of the waterless/dry one (parching venom type)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)Root अपोदक (प्रातिपदिक; अप्+उदक-समास)

च

andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च

सात्रासाहस्य

of the overpowering/overcoming one (Sātrāsāha)of Sātrāsāha (proper name/epithet; ‘battle-conquering’—a formidable poison/being)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)Root सात्रासाह (प्रातिपदिक; सात्रा+साह समास)

अहम्

IPronounउत्तमपुरुष सर्वनाम, प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अहम्

मन्योः

of wrath/angerfrom wrath/fury (personified rage of poison/serpent; or the patient’s inflamed condition)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive qualifier)Root मन्यु (प्रातिपदिक)

अव

down, awayIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग (वि-मुच् इत्यस्य सह)Root अव

ज्याम्

bowstringNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ज्या (प्रातिपदिक)

इव

likeas, like (simile marker)Indeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव

धन्वनः

from the bowNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole अपादान (separation: ‘from the bow’)Root धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)

वि

apart, asunderIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग (मुच् इत्यस्य सह)Root वि

मुञ्चामि

I release/loosenI release, I loosen (therapeutic unbinding; freeing from venom’s grip)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot मुच् (धातु)

रथान्

chariotsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole कर्म (उपमान-रूपेण)Root रथ (प्रातिपदिक)

इव

likeas, like (simile marker)Indeclinableउपमा-अव्ययRoot इव

Sandhi Notes

• असितस्य तैमातस्य बभ्रोः अपोदकस्य च । सात्रासाहस्य अहम् मन्योः अव ज्याम् इव धन्वनः वि मुञ्चामि रथान् इव । मुख्य सन्धि-निरसन:
• (1) अहं → अहम् (पद-रूप)
• (2) मन्योरव → मन्योः अव (विसर्ग-सन्धि)
• (3) ज्यामिव → ज्याम् इव
• (4) धन्वनो वि → धन्वनः वि (पद-रूप/विसर्ग)
• (5) मुञ्चामि रथाँ इव → मुञ्चामि रथान् इव (अनुस्वार/नकार-परिवर्तन, पद-रूप)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic (per anukramaṇī).

Devata

Poison/serpent classes as adversaries; the releasing power (mocana) as operative deity.

Chandas

Anuṣṭubh (probable).

Rasa

Shanta and Vira

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