Atharva Veda 3.21.3: Kanda 3, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 3

Sukta 21

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

य इन्द्रे॑ण स॒रथं॒ याति॑ दे॒वो वै॑श्वान॒र उ॒त वि॑श्वदा॒व्यः । यं जोह॑वीमि॒ पृत॑नासु सास॒हिं तेभ्यो॑ अ॒ग्निभ्यो॑ हु॒तम॑स्त्वे॒तत्

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 3.21.3

IAST Transliteration

yá índreṇa sa-rátham yā́ti devó vaiśvānará utá viśvadā́vyaḥ | yáṁ jóhavīmi pṛ́tanāsu sāsahíṁ tébhyo agníbhyo hútam astv etát

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

He who with Indra rideth on one car, the god Vaiśvānara, yea, all-conquering; whom I invoke in battles as the overmastering victor—to those Fires let this oblation be offered.

Translation

ຜູ້ທີ່ໄດ້ຂີ່ລົດຮ່ວມກັບອິນທະ, ຄືພະເວດວານະຣະ, ແມ່ນຜູ້ຊະນະທັງປວງ; ຜູ້ທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຮຽກຮ້ອງໃນສົງຄາມເປັນຜູ້ຊະນະເຫນື່ອງ - ໃຫ້ບູຊານີ້ຖືກຖວາຍແດ່ໄຟທັງຫຼາຍ.

The meaning

What it says

Vaiśvānara-Agni, riding in one chariot with Indra, is invoked as the battle-overpowering victor; the speaker offers an oblation to “those Fires” (plural, as a host of Agni-forms).

The inner meaning

The “single chariot” symbolizes unified will: disciplined heat (Agni) yoked to decisive force (Indra). In conflict—outer or inner—the mantra gathers scattered energies into one forward motion, converting fear into focused courage.

The truth in it

When illumination (Agni) and strength (Indra) move together, obstacles lose their power; victory is the by‑product of inner coherence and right ardor.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Śānti (Pacification) with Rakṣoghna/Abhaya (Protection; battle-aid)

Its aim

To secure victory and protection in conflict by invoking Vaiśvānara-Agni allied with Indra, turning hostile forces away.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

यः । इन्द्रे॑ण । स॒-रथ॑म् । याति॑ । दे॒वः । वै॑श्वान॒रः । उ॒त । वि॑श्व-दा॒व्यः । यम् । जोह॑वीमि । पृत॑नासु । सा॒स॒हिम् । तेभ्यः॑ । अ॒ग्निभ्यः॑ । हु॒तम् । अ॒स्तु । ए॒तत् ।

यः

who (he)whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

इन्द्रेण

with IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)

स-रथम्

in the same chariot / together in one charioton the same chariot; together in one car (co-operating power)Adjective (compound)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (क्रियाविशेषणवत्) अव्ययीभाव-प्रायःRole AdhikaraṇaRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक); उपसर्ग/उपपद: सह/स-

याति

goes, proceedsgoes; advances (as helper in battle/contest)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot या (धातु)

देवः

the godNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)

वैश्वानरः

Vaiśvānara (Agni)Vaiśvānara (Agni as ‘belonging to all men’; universal fire)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot वैश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक)

उत

and alsoIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root उत (निपात)

विश्वदाव्यः

all-subduing / conquering everywhereall-subduing/all-conquering (victorious over all)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot विश्वदाव्य (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-प्रायः)

यम्

whomPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

जोहवीमि

I invoke / call uponI invoke repeatedly (intensive: ritual calling for aid)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot हू (धातु) [जुहोति-वर्ग; पुनरुक्त/आवृत्त-प्रयोगः]

पृतनासु

in battlesin battles/hostile encounters (pṛtanā: armed conflict)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot पृतना (प्रातिपदिक)

सासहिम्

the conquering one / battle-overcomerthe overpowering victor; he who prevails (sāsahi: conquering helper)Adjective (participle-like)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot सह् (धातु) → सासहि (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परस्मैपदी)

तेभ्यः

from them / than themto thosePronounपुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

अग्निभ्यः

from the fires / from the Agnisto the FiresNounपुंलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम्Role ApādānaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)

हुतम्

offered, oblatedofferedParticiple (past passive) / verbal adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot हु (धातु) → हुत (कृदन्त)

अस्तु

let it beVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot अस् (धातु)

एतत्

thisPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• (1) सरथं = स-रथम् (सह + रथम् ‘together in one chariot’)
• (2) तेभ्योऽग्निभ्यो = तेभ्यः अग्निभ्यः (visarga before vowel; often written with avagraha)
• (3) हु॒तम॑स्त्वे॒तत् = हुतम् अस्तु एतत् (m + a sandhi; u of अस्तु retained)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic tradition (variable)

Devata

Agni Vaiśvānara (with Indra as associated power)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh-like movement (Atharvanic mixed; longer pādas)

Rasa

Vira and Shanta

Sayana's Commentary

The Seer

The Deity

The Metre

The Rite

In the Home

Substances

Healing Context

Magic Charm Layer

Symbols in this Mantra

Yogic Application

Chanting Notes

Practical Application

Scholarly Questions