Mantra 15

Sukta 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

प्राणमाहुर्मातरिश्वानं वातो ह प्राण उच्यते । प्राणे ह भूतं भव्यं च प्राणे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्

IAST Transliteration

prā́ṇam āhur mātáriśvānaṃ vā́to ha prā́ṇa ucyate | prā́ṇe ha bhū́taṃ bhávyam ca prā́ṇe sárvaṃ pratíṣṭhitam ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

They call the Breath Mātariśvan; the Wind, forsooth, is called the Breath. In Breath are set what hath been and what shall be; in Breath is all established fast.

Word by Word

• प्राणम्: breath; vital force (as object)
• प्राणम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) < प्र + √अन् (प्राणने)

• आहुः: they have said / call
• आहुः: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अह् (ब्रू/वचने) [परस्मैपद]

• मातरिश्वानम्: Mātariśvan (name/epithet of Vāyu/Agni)
• मातरिश्वानम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun (proper/epithet)
• Root: मातरिश्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• वातः: wind
• वातः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात (प्रातिपदिक) < √वा (गत्यादौ/वायौ)

• ह: indeed; surely
• ह: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (निपात)

• प्राणः: Prāṇa; vital breath
• प्राणः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) < प्र + √अन् (प्राणने)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (वचने) [आत्मनेपद/कर्मणि]

• प्राणे: in/within prāṇa
• प्राणे: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)

• ह: indeed
• ह: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (निपात)

• भूतम्: what has been; the past
• भूतम्: कर्तृ (समुच्चित-विषय) / कर्म (अर्थानुसार)
• Type: Noun/Adjective (past participle used substantively)
• Root: भूत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √भू (भवने) + क्त

• भव्यम्: what will be; the future
• भव्यम्: कर्तृ (समुच्चित-विषय) / कर्म (अर्थानुसार)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: भव्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √भू (भवने) + यत् (भाव्य/भवितव्य-अर्थे)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (निपात)

• प्राणे: in prāṇa
• प्राणे: अधिकरण
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)

• सर्वम्: all; everything
• सर्वम्: कर्तृ (समुच्चित-विषय) / कर्म (अर्थानुसार)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)

• प्रतिष्ठितम्: established; founded; resting
• प्रतिष्ठितम्: —
• Type: Adjective/Participle
• Root: प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < प्रति + √स्था (तिष्ठते) + क्त

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Prāṇa hymn cycle)

Devata: Prāṇa (identified with Vāta/Mātariśvan)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like / mixed

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From naming and recognition to firm establishment; anxiety gives way to grounded awe.","listener_experience":"A sense of being held by something vast and steady; breath becomes a sacred anchor.","intensity":4}