Atharva Veda 4.39.8: Kanda 4, Anuvaka 4, Sukta 39, Mantra 8
Sukta 39
दिशो॑ धे॒नव॒स्तासां॑ च॒न्द्रो व॒त्सः । ता मे॑ च॒न्द्रेण॑ व॒त्सेनेष॒मूर्जं॒ कामं॑ दुहाम् । आयुः॑ प्रथ॒मं प्र॒जां पोषं॑ र॒यिं स्वाहा॑
díśo dhénavas tāsā́ṁ candró vatsáḥ | tā́ me candréṇa vatséneṣám ū́rjaṁ kā́maṁ duhām | ā́yuḥ prathamáṁ prajā́ṁ póṣaṁ rayíṁ svā́hā
The Directions are milch-cows; of them the Moon is the calf. May they, for me, by the Moon as calf, milk forth refreshment, sap, and desire—life first, then offspring, thriving, and wealth: svāhā.
ທິດທາງທັງຫຼາຍເປັນດັ່ງໂຄນງົວທີ່ໃຫ້ນົມ, ແລະ ດວງຈັນເປັນລູກຂອງພວກມັນ. ຂໍໃຫ້ພວກມັນ, ເພື່ອຂ້າພະເຈົ້າ, ໂດຍທາງດວງຈັນເປັນລູກງົວ, ໄຂນົມເປັນການສົ່ງເສີມ, ຄວາມສະຫມັກ, ແລະ ຄວາມປາຖະຫນາ - ຊີວິດເປັນອັນດັບທີໜຶ່ງ, ຈາກນັ້ນເປັນລູກຫຼານ, ຄວາມຈະເລີນຮຸ່ງເຮືອງ, ແລະ ຄວາມຮັ່ງມີ: ສະຫວາຫາ.
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (edition-dependent).
Devata: Dik-deities (quarters) with Candra (Moon) as operative extractor.
Chandas: Mixed; anuṣṭubh-like with Atharvanic flexibility.
Primary: shanta
Secondary: adbhuta
Sāyaṇa extends the dhenu/vatsa bandhu to the quarters collectively: each direction is a ‘cow’ yielding its portion of protection and plenty. Candra, associated with increase and ‘sap’ (ūrj), is the calf that draws out their combined yield. The repeated boon-catalog indicates the intended ‘milk’ of the rite; svāhā confirms successful transmission.
To draw prosperity and vitality from all quarters, under lunar agency, securing comprehensive well-being (life, progeny, thriving, wealth).
General debility, anxiety from insecurity, depletion from environmental stressors (directional ‘exposure’).
Reorients the practitioner to a felt sense of support from all sides; lunar calm supports rest, assimilation, and steady vitality.
Soma/ojas nourishment; supports kapha stability when balanced; emphasizes replenishment and restfulness.
Stress regulation via grounding and spatial safety cues; sleep-supportive affirmation practice.
paustika
Patron/household
To secure comprehensive prosperity and wellbeing from all quarters under lunar agency.
Spatial totalization (dik) + extraction metaphor (milking) + svāhā sealing; can be paired with directional gestures (dik-pradakṣiṇā).
Directional misfortune, resource-loss, insecurity, scattered effort.
Nourishment, vitality, desire-fulfilment, longevity, progeny/creativity, thriving, wealth.
The Directions are milch-cows; the Moon is their calf. Through the Moon as calf, may the Directions ‘milk out’ for me nourishment, vigor, and desire—life first, then offspring, thriving, and wealth—svāhā.
All avenues of life (the quarters) are treated as potential resources; the Moon is the integrator that gathers and distributes. Psychologically, it is a charm for wholeness: draw strength from every side, reduce blind spots, and let cyclical steadiness (candra) extract benefits without strain.
When one is oriented in all directions—spatially, socially, and inwardly—resources appear from places previously ignored. Cyclic patience and calm extraction yield durable prosperity.
- दिशः (diśaḥ)
- total environment; all sources and pathways of support
- धेनवः (dhenavaḥ)
- multiple reservoirs of abundance
- चन्द्रः (candraḥ)
- cyclic regulator; gentle sovereignty; extractor of diffuse resources
- वत्सः (vatsaḥ)
- the operative method that elicits yield
- इषम्/ऊर्जम्/कामम्
- nourishment + strength + motivation as a triad of wellbeing
- आयुः प्रथमम्
- priority of health and continuity before expansionary aims
- स्वाहा
- ritual closure; release into cosmic circulation
Mandala of directions: inhale from the periphery (quarters), exhale into a cool lunar center; then ‘milk’ boons into the body.
Ajna (lunar mind) and Svadhisthana (lunar/watery nourishment, fertility themes).
Chandra-bhedana (left-nostril) gently, if suitable; otherwise slow coherent breathing.
Eight luminous streams (from directions) flowing into a silver moon at the brow, then descending as milk-light through the body.
Cool, inclusive awareness; non-striving receptivity.
Use when feeling scattered or unsupported; end with svāhā as a conscious ‘release’ of grasping.
Even, cooling delivery; let ‘diśo dhenavaḥ’ open wide; keep ‘svāhā’ crisp and final.
Slight emphasis on plural markers (diśaḥ, dhenavaḥ, tāsaṃ) to evoke ‘all-around’ coverage; slow down on ‘āyuḥ prathamaṃ’.
Distinct ‘diśo’ (ś) vs ‘dikṣu’ (kṣ) in related verses, Long vowels in ‘cāndreṇa’ (if recited with sandhi variants) should be preserved per text, Do not clip ‘ūrjam’
Cool, soothing, steady.
Often works best with a directional practice (turning/placing attention in quarters), matching the mantra’s spatial logic.
3
Household protection + prosperity; moving homes; feeling unsupported; seeking balanced growth (life, family, wealth).
Evening under moonlight; at home thresholds/corners; monthly rhythm if desired.
Greater sense of security and sufficiency; calmer mind; renewed vitality and steadier pursuit of goals.
If prone to lethargy/depression, balance lunar practice with daylight activity.
पदच्छेदः: दिशः | धेनवः | तासाम् | चन्द्रः | वत्सः | ताः | मे | चन्द्रेण | वत्सेन | इषम् | ऊर्जम् | कामम् | दुहाम् | आयुः | प्रथमम् | प्रजाम् | पोषम् | रयिम् | स्वाहा । सन्धि-विशेषाः: (1) वत्सेनेषमूर्जं → वत्सेन + इषम् + ऊर्जम् (स्वर-सन्धिः: ए + इ → ए; तथा पदान्त-नासिक्य/अनुस्वार-लेखनम्). (2) ऊर्जं कामं → ऊर्जम् + कामम् (पदान्त-म् + क- आरम्भे यथारूपं). (3) ता मे → ताः + मे (विसर्ग-लोपः/संहितायां).
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