Mantra 21

Sukta 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

परं मृत्यो अनु परेहि पन्थां यस्त एष इतरो देवयानात्। चक्षुष्मते शृण्वते ते ब्रवीमीहेमे वीरा बहवो भवन्तु

IAST Transliteration

paráṃ mṛtyór ánu párehi pánthāṃ yás ta eṣá ítaro devayā́nāt | cákṣuṣmate śṛṇvaté te bravīmī́heme vīrā́ bahávo bhavantu ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Far from Death, go thou forth upon thy path—the path that is for thee, this other, apart from the gods’ way. To him that hath sight and heareth I speak: here may these heroes be, and many may they become.

Word by Word

परम्further on, beyond

मृत्योO Death

अनुafter, along

परेहिgo away, depart

पन्थाम्(your) path, way

यःwho, which

तेof you, your

एषःthis

इतरःother, different

देवयानात्from the path of the gods (divine way)

चक्षुष्मतेto the one who has sight

शृण्वतेto the one who is listening

तेto you

ब्रवीमिI speak, I declare

इहेमेhere these

वीराःheroes, men

बहवःmany

भवन्तुmay (they) become / may there be

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (variable by anukramaṇī)

Devata: Mṛtyu (as adversary addressed); implicit protection by the gods’ order (devayāna)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"vira","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Defiance against death → reassurance of sensory life → confident blessing of increase.","listener_experience":"Courage, steadiness, and a felt boundary of safety around the living.","intensity":6}