Atharva Veda 4.10.2: Kanda 4, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 10, Mantra 2

Sukta 10

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

यो अ॑ग्र॒तो रो॑च॒नानां॑ समु॒द्रादधि॑ जज्ञि॒षे। श॒ङ्खेन॑ ह॒त्वा रक्षां॑स्य॒त्त्रिणो॒ वि ष॑हामहे

Sanskrit recitationAtharva Veda 4.10.2

IAST Transliteration

yó agrató rócanānāṃ samudrā́d ádhi jajñiṣé | śáṅkhena hatvā́ rákṣāṃsy attríṇo ví ṣahāmahe ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Thou who wast born from the ocean, foremost of the shining regions—having with the Conch smitten down the Rakṣases, the devourers—we prevail and overcome them utterly.

Translation

汝は海より生まれ、輝ける諸界の先頭に立つ者。法螺をもってラクシャス（Rakṣas）—喰らう者ども—を打ち倒し、われらは勝ちて、ことごとくこれを圧する。

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• यः: who (he who)
• यः: Kartā (यः = कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः) अथवा विशेष्य-सम्बन्धः
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• अग्रतः: in front; at the fore
• अग्रतः: Adhikaraṇa (स्थान/दिशा) / क्रियाविशेषणम्
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) → अग्रतः (अव्यय)

• रोचनानाम्: of the shining lights/regions
• रोचनानाम्: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी) — ‘of the shining (regions/lights)’
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोचन (प्रातिपदिक; ‘रोच्’ धातोः)

• समुद्रात्: from the ocean
• समुद्रात्: Apādāna (अपादान) — ‘from (out of) the ocean’
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• अधि: from upon; over; above
• अधि: क्रियाविशेषणम् / सम्बन्ध-निर्देशकः
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

• जज्ञिषे: you were born; you have arisen
• जज्ञिषे: क्रिया (कर्तरि) — ‘you have been born/you were born’
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (जनिँ प्रादुर्भावे) — परिपूर्ण-धातु ‘जज्ञि’ (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट-आधार)

• शङ्खेन: with a conch
• शङ्खेन: Karaṇa (करण) — ‘with/by a conch’
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)

• हत्वा: having slain; having struck down
• हत्वा: क्रियाविशेषणम् (पूर्वकर्म) — ‘having slain’
• Type: Verbal indeclinable (absolutive)
• Root: √हन् (हनँ हिंसायाम्) → हत्वा

• रक्षांसि: the rākṣasas; harmful spirits
• रक्षांसि: Karma (कर्म) — ‘the demons/evil spirits’
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• अत्त्रिणः: the devourers (harmful beings)
• अत्त्रिणः: Karma (कर्म) — (रक्षांसि … अत्त्रिणः) ‘the devourers’ (apposition)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: अत्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अद्’ धातोः ‘devourer’)

• वि: apart; asunder; thoroughly
• वि: क्रियाविशेषणम् (उपसर्गः) — intensifies/marks separation
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

• सहामहे: we overpower; we withstand
• सहामहे: क्रिया (कर्तरि) — ‘we overcome/endure’
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सह् (षहँ मर्षणे/बलवत्तया सहने) → सहामहे

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (per Anukramaṇī for śaṅkha-maṇi hymn)

Devata: Śaṅkha/Śaṅkha-maṇi; adversaries: rakṣas, attriṇaḥ

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (likely; confirm via Anukramaṇī)

Mantra Rasa

Primary: vira

Secondary: adbhuta