Atharva Veda Sukta 39
Kanda 6Anuvaka 4Sukta 393 Mantras

Sukta 39

Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (Anukramaṇī attribution varies; commonly treated as a royal/prosperity prayer)

Devata: Indra

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (by cadence and length; common for Indraic royal petitions)

Sanskrit recitationAtharva Veda 6.39

Mantras

Mantra 1

वर्चस्यम्। यशो॑ ह॒विर्व॑र्धता॒मिन्द्र॑जूतं स॒हस्र॑वीर्यं॒ सुभृ॑तं॒ सह॑स्कृतम्। प्र॒सर्स्रा॑ण॒मनु॑ दी॒र्घाय॒ चक्ष॑से ह॒विष्म॑न्तं मा वर्धय ज्ये॒ष्ठता॑तये

For splendour. Let fame, as oblation, increase—Indra-driven, of thousandfold might, well-sustained, force-wrought—spreading forth in continuous course for long-enduring visibility. Me, rich in offerings, do thou increase unto pre-eminence.

Mantra 2

अच्छा॑ न॒ इन्द्रं॑ य॒शसं॒ यशो॑भिर्यश॒स्विनं॑ नमसा॒ना वि॑धेम । स नो॑ रास्व रा॒ष्ट्रमिन्द्र॑जूतं॒ तस्य॑ ते रा॒तौ य॒शसः॑ स्याम

Hither to Indra, glorious, with our glories, to the fame-bestower, bowing we would do service. Do thou bestow on us a realm, Indra-impelled; in that thy giving may we be men of glory.

Mantra 3

य॒शा इन्द्रो॑ य॒शा अ॒ग्निर्य॒शाः सोमो॑ अजायत । य॒शा विश्व॑स्य भू॒तस्या॒हम॑स्मि य॒शस्त॑मः

Glorious is Indra, glorious Agni; glorious Soma hath been born. Glorious, of all that is, am I—most glorious.

Frequently Asked Questions

It asks for an Indra-impelled realm (rāṣṭra) and for enduring public fame (yaśas) and splendour (varcas), so the patron/community gains recognized pre-eminence.

The hymn treats yaśas as something that can be ritually nourished and increased—like oblation-fed fire—so reputation becomes steady, visible, and socially effective over time.

Both layers are present: the closing affirmation claims glory personally, but its primary Atharvanic use is public—strengthening leadership, legitimacy, and communal standing under Indra’s sanction.

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