Atharva Veda 13.2.32: Kanda 13, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 2, Mantra 32
Sukta 2
चि॒त्रश्चि॑कि॒त्वान् म॑हि॒षः सु॑प॒र्ण आ॑रो॒चय॒न् रोद॑सी अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम्। अ॒हो॒रा॒त्रे परि॒ सूर्यं॒ वसा॑ने॒ प्रास्य॒ विश्वा॑ तिरतो वी॒र्याऽणि
citráś cikitvā́n mahiṣáḥ supárṇa ārocáyan ródasī antárikṣam | ahorātré pári sū́ryaṃ vásāne prāsyá víśvā tirato vīryā́ṇi
Bright, wise, the mighty Bull, the fair-winged, making Heaven and Earth to shine, and the mid-air. Day and Night, as garments round the Sun, he putteth on; casting forth all his heroic powers, he passeth over (all).
ചിത്രനും ചികിത്വാനുമായ മഹിഷ-വൃഷഭൻ, സുപർണൻ—രോദസി (ആകാശം-പൃഥ്വി)യും അന്തരിക്ഷവും പ്രകാശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. അഹോരാത്രങ്ങൾ സൂര്യനെ ചുറ്റി വസ്ത്രങ്ങളെന്നപോലെ ധരിക്കുന്നു; തന്റെ സർവ്വ വീര്യശക്തികളും പ്രക്ഷേപിച്ച് അവൻ എല്ലാറ്റിനുമീതെ കടന്നുപോകുന്നു.
The meaning
What it says
The bright, wise, mighty bull, fair-winged, makes heaven, earth, and mid-air shine. Day and Night are like garments around the Sun; he puts them on and passes over, casting forth heroic powers.
The inner meaning
The psyche learns that time itself (day/night cycles) is not an enemy but a garment—change is worn and renewed. The ‘bull’ energy is disciplined vitality; the ‘wings’ are uplifted perspective that carries one over obstacles.
The truth in it
Life flourishes when illumination and rhythm cooperate: power is most beneficent when it is timed, cyclic, and integrated with rest and activity.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Paustika (Prosperity) / Rakṣoghna (Apotropaic) with solar-theological frame
Its aim
To invoke solar illumination that overcomes darkness, evil influences, and misfortune by the Sun’s ‘vīrya’ (efficacious power).
Word by Word
Pada patha
चि॒त्रः । चि॑कि॒त्वान् । म॑हि॒षः । सु॑प॒र्णः । आ॑-रो॒चय॑न् । रोद॑सी । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । अ॒हः-रा॒त्रे । परि॑ । सूर्य॑म् । वसा॑ने । प्र-आ॒स्य॑ । विश्वा॑ । तिर॑तः । वी॒र्या॑णि
- चित्रः
- bright, wondrousbright, variegated, wondrous (awe-producing solar brilliance)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चिकित्वान्
- wise, discerningwise, discerning, of conscious power (one who knows the paths/rites)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणम्)Root चिकित्वस्/चिकित्वन् (प्रातिपदिक; √चित् ‘to perceive/know’ से)
- महिषः
- the mighty one/bull (epithet)the mighty one; ‘buffalo/bull’ as a strength-epithet of the SunNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुपर्णः
- the fair-winged one (bird; epithet)fair-winged; the bird-form of the Sun (swift carrier of light)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (समनाधिकरणम्)Root सुपर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
- आरोचयन्
- he made (them) shine / illuminedmaking to shine forth; illuminating (dispelling hostile darkness)Verbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KriyāRoot आ-√रुच् (रुचँ दीप्तौ)
- रोदसी
- the two worlds (heaven and earth)the two worlds, Heaven-and-Earth (the ritual cosmos to be ‘lit’)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम्Role KarmaRoot रोदसी (प्रातिपदिक; द्विवचनान्त-शब्दः ‘द्यावापृथिव्यौ’)
- अन्तरिक्षम्
- the midspace/atmospheremidspace/atmosphere (the traversed realm of rays and winds)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- अहोरात्रे
- day and nightNounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम्Role Karma (परिवेष्ट्य-वस्तु)Root अहोरात्र (प्रातिपदिक; द्वन्द्व)
- परि
- aroundaround, encompassing (protective encirclement)Indeclinableअव्ययम्Role — (उपसर्गः/क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सूर्यम्
- the SunNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Karma (परि-क्रियायाः विषयः)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- वसानॆ
- wearing, clothing (i.e., day and night clothing/encircling)Participleवर्तमानकृदन्तः (शतृ-प्रत्ययः), नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, द्विवचनम् (अहोरात्रे इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण-भावेन)Root √वस् (वसँ आच्छादने) → वसान (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
- प्रास्य
- having cast/flaung forthGerundअव्ययभावः (क्त्वान्त)Role — (पूर्वकालक्रिया)Root प्र-√अस् (असँ क्षेपणे/प्रक्षेपणे) → प्रास्य (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययः)
- विश्वा
- allall, every (totality of powers/effects)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role Karma (विशेषणम्)Root विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- तिरतः
- crossing over, passing beyondParticipleवर्तमानकृदन्तः, पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (कर्तरि; ‘सः’)Role KartāRoot √तॄ/तॄ (तॄँ तरणे) → तिरत् (वर्तमानकृदन्त) / अथवा ‘तिरस्’ (अव्यय) से पदपाठ-भेद
- वीर्याणि
- powers, heroic deeds, energiesheroic powers, efficacious energies (sun’s victorious potencies)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- चित्रः चिकित्वान् महिषः सुपर्णः आरोचयन् रोदसी अन्तरिक्षम् । अहोरात्रे परि सूर्यं वसाने प्रास्य विश्वा तिरतः वीर्याणि ।
- (1) चि॒त्रश्चि॑कि॒त्वान् → चित्रः + चिकित्वान् (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: ः + च → श्च)
- (2) आ॑रो॒चय॒न् रोद॑सी → आरोचयन् + रोदसी (अनुस्वार/न् + र; संहितायां न् स्थिरः)
- (3) अ॒हो॒रा॒त्रे परि → अहोरात्रे + परि (सन्धि-विशेषः न)
- (4) सूर्यं॒ वसा॑ने → सूर्यं + वसाने (अनुस्वारः परे वकारे)
- (5) वी॒र्याऽणि → वीर्याणि (अवग्रहः ‘ऽ’ = आ-स्वर-सन्धिः; य + आ → या)
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Traditionally associated with solar seers (Āditya/Sāvitra complex); precise r̥ṣi attribution for AVŚ 13.2 requires padapāṭha-anukramaṇī consultation.
- Devata
- Sūrya (Āditya), with cosmic functions of light and time.
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh-like cadence (AV solar hymns frequently in triṣṭubh/jagatī; exact metrical scan recommended).
- Rasa
- Shanta and Vira
Sāyaṇa glosses the Sun as ‘mahiṣa’ by reason of irresistible force, and ‘suparṇa’ as the swift bird whose wings are rays. ‘Ahorātre … vasāne’ is read as the Sun’s assumption of the alternation of time as coverings, while ‘prāsya … vīryāṇi’ denotes the emission of rays/energies that overcome darkness and all durita; the verse is thus a cosmological statement used as an apotropaic illumination.
Solar seer tradition (Saurya attribution likely; exact r̥ṣi per anukramaṇī)
Solar śānti and paustika integration of time-rhythm (ahorātra) with protective illumination; aligning household life to cosmic cycles.
Atharvanic domestic magic often ‘ritualizes time’: by naming day/night as garments, the mantra converts fear of change into a protective rhythm governed by the Sun.
Sūrya / Āditya (bull, suparṇa)
Illuminator of the three realms; master of temporal rhythm by which day and night are ‘worn’ and renewed.
Restores functional rhythm (sleep/wake symbolism), supports vitality and resilience through ordered cycles.
Overcomes darkness and misfortune by continuous illumining passage; ‘casts forth’ efficacies that repel harm.
4 pādas × ~11 syllables; strong imagery-bearing compounds
Triṣṭubh with dense epithet stacking; suited to theological description with operative intent.
Majestic, rolling; alternation of illumination and clothing imagery creates cyclical feel.
Induces trust in rhythm—listeners feel ‘carried over’ by a steady cosmic cycle.
At sunrise, the Atharvan priest faces east and recites the mantra once or thrice.
He performs ācamana and a brief prāṇāyāma-like restraint (as later ritual handbooks prescribe) to ‘stabilize’ the light-invocation.
He gestures an outward ‘casting’ (prāsya) with the right hand, synchronizing with the phrase prāsyá, as an apotropaic expulsion of darkness/evil.
Optionally, he circumambulates the patient/household fire once (pári) to enact the encircling protection implied by pári.
Kauśika Sūtra: general Sūrya-hymn employment in protective and auspicious rites (exact adhikaraṇa varies by śākhā; requires local Kauśika edition collation for 13.2 sequence).
Atharvan/Brahman officiant as apotropaic specialist: vocalizes solar power and performs the expulsive hand-gesture aligned to the mantra’s semantics.
Recite at dawn and at early evening (sandhyā-like moments) to ‘clothe’ the household in orderly time; useful when establishing routines for children or convalescents.
Dawn; twilight; beginning of a new household schedule (move-in, new job season).
Householder-led; priest optional for extended śānti.
Pair with consistent sleep/wake schedule and morning light exposure.
Sūrya (solar light/rays as the operative ‘substance’); Ahorātra (day-night as ritualized temporal ‘garments’)
Implicit tejas/jyotis (solar fire)
The key ‘substance’ is time itself; Atharvanic ritual often treats time as manipulable through speech, making cycles protective rather than threatening.
Disruption of rhythm (insomnia/restlessness), gloom/darkness states, misfortune conceived as ‘tamas’ encroachment.
Re-establishes temporal order (ahorātra) under solar governance; invokes vīrya as protective efficacy.
Dinacaryā alignment; supports balanced agni and prāṇa by honoring day/night cycles; useful for vāta (irregularity) and kapha-tamas (dullness) when balanced.
Circadian hygiene intention-setting; psychological reframing of day/night as supportive cycles.
Household, especially those suffering from instability of routine or ‘dark’ luck
To invoke solar illumination and timed order that overcomes darkness, evil influences, and misfortune through the Sun’s efficacious vīrya.
Temporal sacralization: naming day/night as garments ‘binds’ time into an auspicious frame and prevents liminal leakage.
Tamas, inauspiciousness, fear of night, misfortune and unseen harms.
Strength, resilience, successful passage through time (long life implication).
- महिष (mahiṣa)
- disciplined strength, generative vitality
- सुपर्ण (suparṇa)
- elevated vision; transcendence without escape
- आरोचयन् (ā-rocayan)
- bringing coherence and meaning to experience
- रोदसी (rodasī)
- inner polarity—ideal and practical—made harmonious
- अहोरात्रे (ahorātre)
- rhythm of effort and recovery; psychological integration
- वसानॆ (vasāne)
- time as a mantle; the deity as master of cycles
- वीर्याणि (vīryāṇi)
- effective capacities—healing, protection, success
Meditate on the Sun as the ‘axis’ around which day/night rotate—steady awareness amid changing states.
anāhata (steady warmth) and maṇipūra (vīrya)
Alternate-nostril breathing (gentle) to embody day/night balance; end with a few natural breaths while visualizing a golden disk.
Two veils (dark-blue and pale-gold) orbiting a central sun within the chest; the sun remains unchanged.
Balanced alertness (sattva) with grounded energy.
Use when routines collapse; recommit to rhythm with small, consistent steps while chanting.
Triṣṭubh flow; keep compounds (citra-cikitvān, ahorātre) smooth without breaking meaning.
Slightly emphasize ahorātre and vīryāṇi; allow a measured pause after ārocayan.
Warm, steady, slightly expansive on long vowels.
Effective when paired with actual routine-setting (lighting, cleaning, sleep timing); Atharvanic practice often couples mantra with practical ordering acts.
3 times
When life feels out of rhythm (sleep issues, chaotic schedule), during seasonal changes, or after a period of misfortune.
Dawn/twilight; at the start of a new routine; before sleep if recited softly.
Restored sense of order, calm strength, improved commitment to healthy cycles.
If chanting at night energizes you, shift to twilight or morning; seek medical advice for persistent sleep disorders.
No explicit plant appears; the operative ‘substance’ is solar radiance conceptualized as a medicinal/apotropaic force. In Atharvanic logic, light functions analogously to a drug: it ‘drives out’ (prāsya) and ‘crosses over’ (tirataḥ) affliction.
The efficacy is mediated by specialized speech and gesture: the Atharvan priest’s controlled recitation operationalizes cosmic order (time, worlds). This reflects a hierarchy where ritual technicians claim access to universal forces through mantra.
The imagery and diction (suparṇa, rodanī/rodasī, vīryāṇi) are strongly RV-like; the Atharvanic tendency is to redeploy inherited solar praise as direct protective technology (explicitly apotropaic reading of ‘casting forth’ powers).
Gopatha frequently grounds Atharvanic efficacy in brahman (sacral speech) aligning micro-rite with macrocosm. A solar mantra’s power is explained as participation in ṛta/time-order: by naming the Sun’s cosmic functions, the rite reproduces them locally (light over darkness, order over durita).
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Atharva Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
