Atharva Veda 3.4.7: Kanda 3, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 4, Mantra 7

Sukta 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

प॒थ्याऽ रे॒वती॑र्बहु॒धा विरू॑पाः॒ सर्वाः॑ सं॒गत्य॒ वरी॑यस्ते अक्रन्। तास्त्वा॒ सर्वाः॑ संविदा॒ना ह्व॑यन्तु दश॒मीमु॒ग्रः सु॒मना॑ वशे॒ह

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 3.4.7

IAST Transliteration

pathyā́ revátīr bahudhā́ virū́pāḥ sárvāḥ saṃgátya várīyas te akran | tā́s tvā́ sárvāḥ saṃvidānā́ hvayantu daśamī́m ugráḥ sumánā vaśéha ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

The path-making, wealthy powers, of many sorts and diverse forms, all gathering, have made for thee a better way. Let them, all of them in concord, call thee hither: on the tenth stage, O mighty one, gracious, be thou here in our control.

Translation

പഥ്യാ, രേവതികൾ—പലവിധം, വിവിധ രൂപങ്ങളുള്ള സമൃദ്ധ ശക്തികൾ—എല്ലാം ഒന്നിച്ചു ചേർന്ന് നിനക്കായി കൂടുതൽ ഉത്തമമായ വഴി ഒരുക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നു. അവയെല്ലാം സംവിദാനത്തോടെ നിന്നെ ഇവിടെ വിളിക്കട്ടെ; പത്താം പടവിൽ, ഹേ ഉഗ്ര (മഹാബലവാനേ), സുമനസ് (പ്രസന്നമനസ്സുള്ളവനേ), ഞങ്ങളുടെ വശത്തിൽ ഇവിടെ ഇരിക്ക.

The meaning

What it says

Auspicious path-making and prosperous powers (Pathyāḥ, Revatīḥ), diverse in form, gather and create a better way; they are asked to call the empowered ‘ugra’ here, to be present and controllable at the ‘tenth’ stage/step.

The inner meaning

Many inner capacities—skills, supports, and ‘fortunate pathways’—must converge to make progress easy. The ‘ugra’ force (strong drive) is invited to become su-manās (well-disposed) and to come under self-regulation (vaśa).

The truth in it

Good outcomes arise when diverse supports align; strength becomes beneficial when guided and integrated at the decisive final step.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika / Rāṣṭra-pathakṛt (prosperous path-making; securing advantage)

Its aim

To secure converging auspicious ‘paths’ and bring the empowered mighty agent under benevolent control at the rite’s completion-point.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

पथ्याः । रेवतीः । बहुधा । विरूपाः । सर्वाः । संगत्य । वरीयः । ते । अक्रन् । ताः । त्वा । सर्वाः । संविदानाः । ह्वयन्तु । दशमीम् । उग्रः । सुमनाः । वश । इह ।

पथ्याः

wholesome, health-givingpath-making (ways/roads personified; ‘right paths’ that carry safely)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot पथ्या- (प्रातिपदिक)

रेवतीः

rich, prosperouswealthy/prosperous (bringing abundance; also a class of auspicious powers)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot रेवत्/रेवती- (प्रातिपदिक)

बहुधा

in many waysIndeclinableअव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot बहुधा (अव्यय)

विरूपाः

of various formsof diverse forms (varied manifestations, adaptable aids)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot विरूप- (प्रातिपदिक)

सर्वाः

allAdjective/Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सर्व- (प्रातिपदिक)

संगत्य

having assembledhaving come together (converging, coordinated)Verbal indeclinable (gerund)क्त्वान्त अव्यय (समागत्य/संगत्य) — ‘having come together’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot सम् + गम् (धातु)

वरीयः

a better (state/thing)wider/better space; advantage; betterment (superior condition)Adjective (comparative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेष्य/कर्म)Role KarmaRoot वरीयस्- (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक)

ते

for youfor thee (benefactive)Pronounचतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)

अक्रन्

they madethey have made (effected, prepared)Verbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRoot कृ (धातु)

ताः

those (f.)those (feminine powers/paths)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)

त्वा

youthee (the addressed agent/person)Pronounद्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)

सर्वाः

allAdjective/Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सर्व- (प्रातिपदिक)

संविदानाः

agreeing together; being in concordbeing in agreement (acting in concert)Participle (present middle)शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय (आत्मनेपदी), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सम् + विद् (धातु) → संविदान- (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)

ह्वयन्तु

let them call/invokelet them call/invite (draw into success)Verbलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRoot ह्वे/ह्वा (धातु; आह्वानार्थ)

दशमीम्

the tenthAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot दशम- (प्रातिपदिक)

उग्रः

mighty, fiercemighty/terrible (effective against opposition)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot उग्र- (प्रातिपदिक)

सुमनाः

kindly-minded, benevolentwell-minded; gracious (benevolent disposition toward us)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सुमनस्- (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि)

वशेह

may I be under control / may I be compliant (i.e., come into one’s power)Verbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (optative/benedictive sense), आत्मनेपद, 1 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot वश् (धातु) / वशे (आत्मनेपदी धातुरूप)

Sandhi Notes

• पथ्याऽ = पथ्याः (विसर्गलोपः/अवग्रहः)
• रेवती॑र्बहुधा = रेवतीः + बहुधा (ईः + ब → ईर्; रुत्व/रेफादेशः)
• संगत्य = सम् + गत्य (क्त्वान्त; ‘समागत्य’ अर्थे)
• तास्त्वा = ताः + त्वा (विसर्गलोपः)
• संविदाना = सम् + विद् (आत्मनेपदी वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• दशमीमु॒ग्रः = दशमीम् + उग्रः (म् + उ → मु; अनुस्वार/मकारसन्धिः)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic tradition (verify in Śaunaka anukramaṇī).

Devata

Personified Paths/Fortunes (Pathyāḥ, Revatīḥ); the ‘ugra’ empowered agent as recipient.

Chandas

Anuṣṭubh (to be confirmed).

Rasa

Adbhuta 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