Mantra 2
Sukta 21
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
श्रेष्ठमसि भेषजानां वसिष्ठं वीरुधानाम्। सोमो भग इव यामेषु देवेषु वरुणो यथा
IAST Transliteration
śréṣṭham asi bheṣajānā́ṃ vásiṣṭhaṃ vīrudhā́nām | sómo bhága iva yā́meṣu devéṣu váruṇo yáthā
English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)
Thou art the best of remedies, the most excellent of plants: as Soma is like Bhaga in the seasons, as Varuṇa among the gods.
Word by Word
श्रेष्ठम्best, most excellent
श्रेष्ठम्:
विशेषण (सम्बन्धः) — ‘असि’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम्
TypeAdjective
Rootश्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रि/श्रय् ‘to lean on, excel’ → श्रेयस्/श्रेष्ठ superlative stem)
असिyou are
असि:
अख्यात (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (भू-सत्तायाम्)
भेषजानाम्of medicines/remedies
भेषजानाम्:
सम्बन्ध (genitive) — ‘श्रेष्ठम्’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः
TypeNoun
Rootभेषज (प्रातिपदिक)
वसिष्ठम्most excellent
वसिष्ठम्:
विशेषण (सम्बन्धः) — ‘असि’ इत्यस्य विधेय-विशेषणम् (द्वितीयं विशेषणम्)
TypeAdjective
Rootवसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘most excellent’)
वीरुधानाम्of herbs/plants
वीरुधानाम्:
सम्बन्ध (genitive) — ‘वसिष्ठम्’ इत्यस्य सम्बन्धः
TypeNoun
Rootवीरुध् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘herb, plant’)
सोमःSoma
सोमः:
कर्तृ/विषय (उपमान-वाक्यस्य विषयः)
TypeNoun
Rootसोम (प्रातिपदिक)
भगःBhaga (the god of fortune/share)
भगः:
उपमान (इव-युक्तः)
TypeNoun
Rootभग (प्रातिपदिक)
इवlike, as
इव:
उपमान-निर्देशक
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
यामेषुin the watches/periods (of time)
यामेषु:
अधिकरण (locative) — ‘in the times/watches’
TypeNoun
Rootयाम (प्रातिपदिक; ‘watch of night/time/period’)
देवेषुamong the gods
देवेषु:
अधिकरण (locative) — ‘among the gods’
TypeNoun
Rootदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
वरुणःVaruṇa
वरुणः:
उपमान-विषय (यथा-युक्तः) / कर्तृ (अन्तर्निहित-‘अस्ति’)
TypeNoun
Rootवरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
यथाas, just as
यथा:
उपमान/प्रकार-निर्देशक
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
Attribution
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (oṣadhi-focused hymn).
Devata: Oṣadhi (keśavardhanī); invoked comparanda: Soma, Bhaga, Varuṇa.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh-like (two pādas; compact comparative structure).
Mantra Rasa
{"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"From praise to certainty—wonder at the herb’s supremacy settling into calm assurance.","listener_experience":"Elevated trust; feeling that the remedy is ‘backed’ by cosmic order.","intensity":5}