Atharva Veda 6.123.5: Kanda 6, Anuvaka 13, Sukta 123, Mantra 5
Sukta 123
नाके॑ राज॑न् प्रति॑ तिष्ठ॒ तत्रै॒तत् प्रति॑ तिष्ठतु । वि॒द्धि पू॒र्तस्य॑ नो राज॒न्त्स दे॑व सु॒मना॑ भव
nāké rāján práti tiṣṭha tátra etát práti tiṣṭhatu | víddhi pūrtásya no rājantsá déva sumánā bhava
On the height of heaven, O King, stand thou confronting; there let this stand confronting. Acknowledge thou our pious due, O King; do thou, O god, become of gracious mind.
आसमान के ऊपर, राजा, वहां खड़े रहो। वहां से सब देखो। हमारी पूजा और भक्ति स्वीकार करो। देवता, तुम खुश रहो हमारे ऊपर।
The meaning
What it says
The speaker addresses a ‘King’ to stand on the heavenly height facing (the ritual), asks that ‘this’ also stand facing there, and requests acknowledgment of their pūrta (pious due/merit); the king-god is asked to be gracious-minded.
The inner meaning
A negotiation of power through sacral elevation: by placing the king in ‘nāka’ (heavenly height), rulership is idealized and bound to reciprocity—recognize our merit and respond with goodwill. It also reflects the performer’s need for recognition and fair exchange.
The truth in it
Authority becomes beneficent when it is held accountable to higher principles and to the community’s rightful due; grace is invited through mutual recognition.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Paustika (Prosperity/royal stabilization) / Rajakarman (Kingship rite)
Its aim
To establish and stabilize royal authority and secure the king’s favorable disposition toward the performer/community.
Word by Word
Pada patha
नाके । राजन् । प्रति । तिष्ठ । तत्र । एतत् । प्रति । तिष्ठतु । विद्धि । पूर्तस्य । नः । राजन् । सः । देव । सु-मनाः । भव ।
- नाके
- in heaven, in the celestial realmin the heavenly height; on the firmament (as a station of divine authority)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी एकवचन (वेदिक-रूप: नाके = नाके/नाकेऽधि ‘स्वर्गे’)Role अधिकरणRoot नाक (प्रातिपदिक)
- राजन्
- O kingO king; sovereign (addressed as the ruling power to be fixed/installed)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रति
- towards; in response; (with √स्था) ‘firmly/again’toward; in front; in opposition—here: ‘in place, facing, firmly’ (ritual fixing)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्रति
- तिष्ठ
- stand; take your standstand fast! take thy station! (injunction of stabilization/installation)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √स्था (तिष्ठति)
- तत्र
- therethere; in that very place (the ritually designated locus)Indeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot तत्र
- एतत्
- this (thing/act)this (very thing/this rite, this token or emplacement)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (तिष्ठतु इत्यस्य)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रति
- towards; in response; firmlyin return; firmly; facing (repetition for magical emphasis)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्रति
- तिष्ठतु
- let it stand; let it be establishedlet it stand fast; let it be established (of the object/arrangement)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); प्रथम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √स्था (तिष्ठति)
- विद्धि
- know; recognizeknow; take cognizance; recognize (as kingly right/claim)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √विद् (वेद/वित्ते) ‘जानाति’
- पूर्तस्य
- of the pious ‘pūrta’ merit (from charitable/public works)of the ‘pūrta’ merit—pious works, public benefactions, completed rites (source of legitimacy)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्थे ‘पूर्तम्’); षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root पूर्त (प्रातिपदिक; ‘पूर्त’ = दान/इष्टापूर्त-जन्य पुण्य, या ‘पूर्तकर्म’)
- नः
- of us; ourPronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic) ‘our’Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- राजन्
- O kingNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- he; that onehe/that one—namely the king so addressed (deictic fixation)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ (भव इत्यस्य)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- देव
- O god; O divine oneO god; divine one (king as sacral/divinely sanctioned)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुमनाः
- kind-minded; graciouswell-minded; gracious; of favorable intent (required disposition for protection)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (सः इत्यस्य)Root सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक; सु- + मनस्)
- भव
- be; becomebe! become! (performative command to assume beneficent stance)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √भू (भवति)
Sandhi Notes
- नाके | राजन् | प्रति | तिष्ठ | तत्र | एतत् | प्रति | तिष्ठतु | विद्धि | पूर्तस्य | नः | राजन् | सः | देव | सुमनाः | भव । मुख्य सन्धयः:
- (1) तत्र + एतत् → तत्रैतत् (स्वर-सन्धि: अ + ए = ऐ)
- (2) राजन् + सः → राजन् सः (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि नहीं; पदान्त न् + सः पृथक् उच्चारण)
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Atharvanic tradition.
- Devata
- Rājan (sacral kingship/royal power), with ‘deva’ as divine sanction.
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh (probable; requires full pada count confirmation).
- Rasa
- Vira and Shanta
Sāyaṇa takes ‘rājan’ as the addressed sovereign power to be ritually ‘fixed’ (prati-tiṣṭhā) in a designated locus; ‘etad’ is the rite’s token/arrangement that must likewise be made firm. ‘Pūrta’ is glossed as completed meritorious works (wells, alms, public rites) that ground royal legitimacy; the mantra compels recognition (viddhi) and benevolence (sumanas) toward the sacrificer’s side.
An Atharvanic royal-stabilization seer
Rājākarman and paustika reciprocity charms: securing royal favor, establishing protective presence, ensuring recognition of offerings/merit.
Frames kingship as sacral contract: the community’s pūrta is to be ‘known’ and repaid by gracious protection.
Rājan as sacral power (king as deva-sanctioned)
Upholds order by standing ‘in front’—a guardian presence at the threshold between community and danger; acknowledges and reciprocates merit.
Protection through royal favor and steadfast guarding; stabilizes social safety.
4 pādas of ~8 syllables; imperative/request structure typical of compact Atharvanic political petitions.
Deictic ‘etat’ and repeated prati tiṣṭha create a responsorial feel; may be used antiphonally in rite.
Commanding yet supplicatory; balanced between firmness and appeal.
Installs ‘presence’: the repeated prati tiṣṭha makes the protective stance felt.
Mark a ritually pure locus (often a raised/central spot) as the ‘station’ (sthāna) for the addressed power.
Recite the mantra while causing the king (or a royal emblem/seat/standard) to ‘stand facing’ (prati-tiṣṭhā): either the king takes position, or an object is set upright and oriented.
Repeat the ‘prati tiṣṭha / prati tiṣṭhatu’ portions while physically steadying the emblem/seat (hand-contact or support).
Conclude with the benevolence clause (‘sumánā bhava’) as a verbal sealing, sometimes accompanied by a respectful gesture (añjali) toward the king/emblem.
Kauśika Sūtra: Rajakarmāṇi / pratiṣṭhā-type applications (exact sūtra numbering varies by edition).
Atharvan priest as stabilizer (pratiṣṭhātṛ): he recites while directing orientation and fixing the royal token; the Brahman supervises correctness and averts ritual fault.
Used when seeking favor/protection from a patron/authority; in a household, adapted for installing a protective ‘guardian’ intention at the threshold or for family leadership harmony.
Before audience with authority; at boundary rites (entering new house, opening storehouse), or during communal assemblies.
Atharvanic priest mediates between community and ruler; recites to ‘set’ the king’s mind as sumanāḥ.
Recited as an ethical leadership invocation in ceremonies; keep it as a goodwill prayer rather than manipulation.
The ‘standing’ is itself a ritual installation—placing power at a vantage point; pūrta functions as an invisible ‘offering-substance’ that obligates return.
Conflict de-escalation and social safety: seeking goodwill from authority figures; community cohesion.
To establish the king’s protective, accountable presence and secure gracious favor in return for the community’s pūrta.
Elevation (nāka), facing/standing formula (prati tiṣṭha), and merit-claim (pūrta) to bind reciprocity.
arbitrariness of power, neglect of subjects, insecurity at boundaries.
stable patronage, protection, orderly governance.
- नाके (nāke)
- higher law; elevated standard for rulers
- राजन् (rājan)
- sovereign power—human or divine
- प्रति तिष्ठ (prati tiṣṭha)
- presence, accountability, steadfast protection
- पूर्त (pūrta)
- moral credit; social reciprocity; rightful claim to protection
- सुमनाः (sumanāḥ)
- benevolent governance; softened power
Invoke the ‘inner king’: sovereign attention that stands firm on the ‘height’ of clarity and becomes gracious toward the psyche.
Sahasrāra/Ājñā (nāka as height/clarity) integrated with Anāhata (sumanāḥ).
Ujjāyī-light with steady posture; feel ‘standing’ on inhale, ‘graciousness’ on exhale.
Upright, accountable, benevolent.
Stand in stillness (tāḍāsana-like), recite once, then silently commit to one act of fair reciprocity that day.
Imperative lines with firm rise on prati tiṣṭha; soften on sumanā bhava.
Keep prati tiṣṭha crisp; avoid merging tatra-etat.
Steady and dignified; not aggressive.
Often functions as a ‘presence-installation’ formula; recite while facing the seat/threshold to embody prati tiṣṭha.
3 times
Requesting fair treatment, seeking protection/support from leadership, establishing ethical authority in oneself or a group.
Before negotiations, meetings with officials, or community decisions; at the start of a leadership duty.
Composure, clarity of rightful claims, improved relational tone with authority.
Do not use to rationalize entitlement; pair with genuine pūrta—real beneficial deeds.
No botanical substance is explicit; efficacy is achieved through spatial fixation (prati-tiṣṭhā) and performative speech that ‘installs’ sovereignty.
The king is addressed as both ‘rājan’ and ‘deva’, indicating sacralized rulership; the community’s ‘pūrta’ merit is invoked as a legitimating resource that the king must recognize.
The repeated imperative/precative pairing (tiṣṭha / tiṣṭhatu) is a characteristically Atharvanic magical intensification; ‘pūrta’ as a quasi-technical merit term is prominent in later Vedic social-religious discourse.
Gopatha-style Atharvanic theory typically grounds efficacy in correct deployment (yukti) of mantra with act (karman), especially ‘binding/fixing’ formulas; this verse exemplifies that logic by coupling orientation and stabilization with a demand for royal favor.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Atharva Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
