Atharva Veda 7.22.1: Kanda 7, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 22, Mantra 1

Sukta 22

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

ज्योतिः। अ॒यं स॒हस्र॒मा नो॑ दृ॒शे क॑वी॒नां म॒तिर्ज्योति॒र्विध॑र्मणि

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 7.22.1

IAST Transliteration

jyótiḥ | ayáṃ sahásram ā́ no dṛśé kavī́nāṃ matír jyótir vídharmani

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Light is this: a thousandfold it cometh forth for us to see—the seers’ inspired thought, light set in the ordinance of order.

Translation

यह रोशनी है। हज़ारों गुना चमक के साथ हमारे सामने आता है। रिशियों की सोच भी रोशनी है, वो भी धरम के नियम में दी हुई है। दोनों तरफ से चमक है, अंधेरा कहीं नहीं।

The meaning

What it says

This is light—thousandfold coming forth for us to see: the seers’ inspired thought, light established in the ordinance of order.

The inner meaning

Light is both perception and insight: kavi-mati (seer-intelligence) illumines the mind when aligned with vidharma (right order). It is a charm against confusion, gloom, and hostile obscuration.

The truth in it

True illumination is not mere brightness but insight structured by order; when thought aligns with dharma-like ordinance, clarity multiplies.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Bhaisajya (Healing) / Rakṣoghna (Protective), via 'light' as dispeller of evil and confusion

Its aim

To bring illuminating power for clear vision and ordered conduct, countering darkness, delusion, and hostile forces.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

ज्योतिः । अयम् । सहस्रम् । आ । नः । दृशे । कवीनाम् । मतिः । ज्योतिः । विधर्मणि

ज्योतिः

light; radiancelight; luminous power (apotropaic illumination, dispelling darkness/evil)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KartāRoot ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)

अयम्

this (one)this (present, here-now; the manifest light/rite)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

सहस्रमः

thousandfold; consisting of a thousandAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot सहस्रम (संख्याशब्द/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

नः

of us; ourto us/for us; for our benefit (household/community)Pronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक); बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

दृशे

for seeing; for (our) sightfor seeing; for vision (restoring sight/insight; making manifest)Noun (verbal noun/infinitival dative)चतुर्थी; एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot दृश् (धातु) → दृश्/दर्शन (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)

कवीनाम्

of the seers/poetsof seers/poets; of inspired knowers (authoritative vision)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot कवि (प्रातिपदिक)

मतिः

thought; insight; intentionthought, inspired intention; the efficacious resolve (mantric intelligence)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole KartāRoot मति (प्रातिपदिक)

ज्योतिः

light; radiancelight; luminous essence (reasserted as the core agent)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KartāRoot ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)

विधर्मणि

in the ordinance/order; in the established rulein the ordinance/established order; in right arrangement (vidharma as regulated rite/cosmic law)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot विधर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• पदच्छेदः: ज्योतिः | अयम् सहस्रमः नः दृशे कवीनाम् मतिः ज्योतिः विधर्मणि ।
• 1) 'सहस्रमा' इति संहितापाठे दीर्घ/स्वरचिह्नयुक्त रूपं
• पदरूपं 'सहस्रमः' (प्रथमा-एकवचन) इति ग्रह्यते।
• 2) 'नो' = 'नः' (एन्क्लिटिक षष्ठी-बहुवचन)।
• 3) 'दृशे' दातिव-एकवचन (दृश्-धातोः कृदन्त/नामधातुरूप), 'for seeing'।
• 4) 'मतिः + ज्योतिः' मध्ये विसर्ग-संधिः न प्रवर्तते (पदविराम/स्वरप्रकृति)।

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Uncertain (requires anukramaṇī verification for AVŚ 7.22.1).

Devata

Jyotis/Āditya (Light as a deified power).

Chandas

Likely Anuṣṭubh-like brevity but metrically irregular; requires scansion.

Rasa

Adbhuta and Shanta

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