Sukta 24
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution for this prosperity hymn; commonly Atharvan/Angiras-type seer)
Devata: Dhānya/Annasaṁpatti (personified abundance); also implicit Prajāpati/Br̥haspati-style prosperity agency
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (4×8, with Atharvanic flexibility)
Mantras
Mantra 1
समृद्घि-प्राप्तिः। पयस्वतीरोषधयः पयस्वन्मामकं वचः । अथो पयस्वतीनामा भरेऽहं सहस्रशः
Ye milk-rich Herbs; milk-rich be my proper speech. Yea, of the milk-rich (store) I bring unto myself a thousandfold.
Mantra 2
वेदाहं पयस्वन्तं चकार धान्यं ऽ बहु। संभृत्वा नाम यो देवस्तं वयं हवामहे योयो अयज्वनो गृहे
I know the (Power) that hath made the grain milk-rich and abundant. Having gathered (it), that God—him we invoke—who (wins it) even in the house of him that sacrificeth not.
Mantra 3
इमा याः पञ्च प्रदिशो मानवीः पञ्च कृष्टयः । वृष्टे शापं नदीरिवेह स्फातिं समावहान्
These—what five directions are human, what five peoples (dwell therein)—as rivers (sweep) a curse away by rain: hither bring thou, wholly, increase and thriving.
Mantra 4
उदुत्सं शतधारं सहस्रधारमक्षितम्। एवास्माकेदं धान्यं ऽ सहस्रधारमक्षितम्
Up let the well-spring rise, a hundred-streamed, a thousand-streamed, undwindling. Even so be this our grain, a thousand-streamed, undwindling.
Mantra 5
शतहस्त समाहर सहस्रहस्त सं किर । कृतस्य कार्यऽस्य चेह स्फातिं समावह
O hundred-handed, gather in; O thousand-handed, heap together. Of what is won and what remains to do, bring hither increase, even here.
Mantra 6
तिस्रो मात्रा गन्धर्वाणां चतस्रो गृहपत्न्याः । तासां या स्फातिमत्तमा तया त्वाभि मृशामसि
Three are the measures of the Gandharvas, four the measures of the House-Mistresses. With that which is richest in increase—therewith we touch thee over.
Mantra 7
उपोहश्च समूहश्च क्षत्तारौ ते प्रजापते । ताविहा वहतां स्फातिं बहुं भूमानमक्षितम्
Upoh and Samūh are thy two stewards, O Prajāpati: let them bring hither increase—much, full, undwindling.
Frequently Asked Questions
For increasing and stabilizing grain supplies—both stored grain and ongoing yield—so that provisions become plentiful and do not dwindle (akṣiti).
The spring is a ritual image of continuous, renewing flow. By stating “as the spring rises in a thousand streams, so be our grain,” the mantra transfers that inexhaustibility to the household’s food supply.
They are personified functions—like stewards of supply and aggregation—placed under Prajāpati’s authority, invoked to ‘bring in’ increase and consolidate it into stable abundance.