Atharva Veda 4.21.5: Kanda 4, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 5
Sukta 21
गावो॒ भगो॒ गाव॒ इन्द्रो॑ म इच्छा॒द् गावः॒ सोम॑स्य प्रथ॒मस्य॑ भ॒क्षः । इ॒मा या गावः॒ स ज॑नास॒ इन्द्र॑ इ॒च्छामि॑ हृ॒दा मन॑सा चि॒दिन्द्र॑म्
gā́vo bhágo gā́va índro mā́m icchād gā́vaḥ sómasya prathamásya bhakṣáḥ | imā́ yā́ gā́vaḥ sá jánāsa índra icchā́mi hṛdā́ mánasā cit índrám
Cows are Bhaga; cows—Indra—may desire me; cows are the foremost portion of Soma. These cows which (are mine to win)—he is Indra among men: Indra I desire, with heart, with mind—yea, Indra.
പശുക്കൾ ഭഗയാണ്; പശുക്കൾ—ഇന്ദ്രൻ—എന്നെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ; പശുക്കൾ സോമത്തിന്റെ ആദ്യ ഭോജനഭാഗമാണ്. ഈ പശുക്കൾ (എനിക്ക് നേടേണ്ടവ)—അവൻ മനുഷ്യരിൽ ഇന്ദ്രനാണ്; ഞാൻ ഹൃദയത്താലും മനസ്സാലും—അതെ, ഇന്ദ്രനെയേ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു.
The meaning
What it says
Cows are Bhaga (fortune); cows are Indra—may they desire me. Cows are the first portion of Soma. These cows (that I seek/would win)—he is Indra among men. Indra I desire with heart and mind—yes, Indra.
The inner meaning
Prosperity is personified as a living, responsive power: wealth ‘chooses’ the worthy steward. The mantra trains desire (icchā) into a focused saṅkalpa aligned with Indra (efficacious power) and Bhaga (right allotment), rooting acquisition in ritual legitimacy (Soma’s ‘first share’).
The truth in it
Fortune is relational: it flows toward clarity of intention, rightful participation in communal-sacred economy, and alignment with strength and generosity. What you truly desire must be held consistently in heart and mind, not scattered.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Paustika (Prosperity) / Cattle-acquisition and fortune-allotment
Its aim
To obtain cows as the prime share of fortune and sacrificial prosperity, by attracting Indra’s favor and fixing the patron’s intentional desire (saṅkalpa).
Word by Word
Pada patha
गावः । भगः । गावः । इन्द्रः । माम् । इच्छात् । गावः । सोमस्य । प्रथमस्य । भक्षः । इमाः । याः । गावः । सः । जनासः । इन्द्रः । इच्छामि । हृदा । मनसा । चित् । इन्द्रम्
- गावः
- cowscows; wealthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- भगः
- Bhaga (the god of fortune/share)Bhaga; allotter of shares; fortune (personified luck/distribution)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot भग (प्रातिपदिक)
- गावः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- माम्
- mePronoun(उभयलिङ्ग), द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इच्छात्
- desired / wishedmay desire; may seek (i.e., may Indra/Bhaga ‘choose’ me for cattle)Verbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
- गावः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रथमस्य
- of the firstfirst; foremost (prime portion)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- भक्षः
- portion; food; shareportion; enjoyment; share (what is consumed/received)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विधेयRoot भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- इमाः
- thesePronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- याः
- whichwhich; who (relative)Relative pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गावः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- सः
- he / that onehe/that (referring to Indra as the one who grants)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- जनासः
- people; folkpeoples; men; folk (social field of competition/recognition)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot जनास (प्रातिपदिक; जन/जनस्-समूहवाचक)
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- इच्छामि
- I desireI desire; I seek (explicit wish-formula)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 1 पुरुष, एकवचनRoot इष्/इच्छ् (धातु)
- हृदा
- with (my) heartwith the heart (inner assent; sincerity)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मनसा
- with (my) mindwith the mind (intentionality; focused will)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- even; indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (अवधारण/अपि-अर्थे)Root चित् (निपात/अव्यय)
- इन्द्रम्
- Indra (as object)Indra (object of desire/invocation as grantor)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- गावः | भगः | गावः | इन्द्रः | माम् | इच्छात् | गावः | सोमस्य | प्रथमस्य | भक्षः || इमाः | याः | गावः | सः | जनासः | इन्द्रः | इच्छामि | हृदा | मनसा | चित् | इन्द्रम् ।
- 1) ‘म इच्छा॒द्’ = ‘माम् + इच्छात्’ (अन्त्य-म् + इ- आरम्भ; संहितायां ‘म’ रूपेण लोप/संकोचः, ततः ‘इच्छात्’).
- 2) ‘गाव॒ इन्द्रो॑’ = ‘गावः + इन्द्रः’ (विसर्गस्य लोपः/रूपान्तरं संहितायाम्).
- 3) ‘गावः॒ सोम॑स्य’ इत्यत्र विसर्गः पदान्ते, संहितायां उच्चारण-परिवर्तनं सम्भवति
- पदपाठे ‘गावः | सोमस्य’.
- 4) ‘चि॒दिन्द्र॑म्’ = ‘चित् + इन्द्रम्’ (त् + इ → संहितायां ‘द्’/जश्त्व-प्रभावः; लिखिते ‘चिदिन्द्रम्’)
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Atharvanic tradition
- Devata
- Indra; Bhaga (subsidiary); Cows as prosperity-form
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shringara and Adbhuta
Sayana glosses ‘Bhaga’ as the distributor of allotted fortune, identifying cows as the tangible ‘share’ of prosperity. ‘Cows are the first portion of Soma’ ties cattle to sacrificial economy: cows enable Soma-rites through milk, ghee, and wealth for offerings. The repeated ‘Indra’ intensifies the petition; ‘with heart and mind’ signals concentrated resolve (saṅkalpa) necessary for mantra’s success.
Atharvanic tradition (anonymous)
Paustika acquisition charms; prosperity-theology linking Bhaga (allotment) and Indra (power) to cattle as sacrificial capital
A classic Atharvan prosperity move: wealth is sacralized as Bhaga’s share and Indra’s embodiment, making acquisition simultaneously economic, ritual, and psychological (saṅkalpa).
Indra (with Bhaga as subsidiary)
Indra grants winning power and patronage; Bhaga apportions rightful shares; cows are the terrestrial incarnation of that share and the medium of Soma-sacrifice.
Secures acquisition and retention by aligning desire with divine allotment and victorious power.
4×11; emphatic nominal equations (‘gāvo bhago…’) create mantraic hammer-strokes
Repetitive copular style (X is Y) is typical of Atharvan paustika speech-acts; minor syllabic flex around vocative/particle placement.
Incantatory and declarative; repetition builds attraction/adhesion.
Fixes attention (hṛdā manasā) and ‘magnetizes’ prosperity by repeated identification of cows with divine powers.
The patron states intention (saṅkalpa) for cattle-prosperity; the priest recites the mantra emphasizing ‘icchāmi’ (desire).
Recitation may be performed while looking upon the herd, or while touching a stall-post/rope as a proxy for cattle-ownership.
The final repetition of ‘Indra’ is spoken with emphasis to ‘seal’ the request; the patron may silently assent ‘with heart and mind’ as the priest concludes.
Kauśika Sūtra: paustika acquisition rites (go-lābha) and intention-setting recitations; used when seeking cattle or consolidating ownership (edition-dependent citation).
Atharvan as prosperity-engineer: he aligns deity (Indra/Bhaga), resource (cows), and patronal intention into a single efficacious speech-act.
Recite before negotiating cattle purchase/exchange, before receiving gifts, or when dedicating first milk/ghee to offering; can be paired with a small Indra offering (ghee) in the household fire.
New moon/full moon prosperity observances; before community assemblies/transactions.
Householder may recite; purohita can integrate into a fuller Indra-paustika rite.
Applied in paustika rites for cattle-gain and prosperity in Kauśika’s corpus (exact numbering varies).
Use as an intention-setting chant for ethical livelihood growth (income, assets) coupled with planned giving.
cows (wealth, sacrificial resource); Bhaga (fortune/allotment); Soma (ritual economy marker)
Cows are the ‘first portion’ because they generate ongoing nourishment and sacrificial means (milk/ghee). Soma signals that prosperity is validated in ritual exchange, not mere accumulation.
Goal-setting/intent consolidation: aligns motivation and cognition toward livelihood improvement, reducing decision-fragmentation.
Prosperity (cows) and Indra’s patronage directed toward the chanter/yajamāna.
Attract and obtain cows as prime fortune-share; secure Indra’s favor for acquisition.
Identification (bandhu) magic: ‘cows = Bhaga/Indra’; desire-formula (icchā) as performative speech; internal integration (heart+mind) to seal the charm.
Cattle, ritual capacity (Soma share), social standing through gifting.
- भग (bhaga)
- right allotment; auspicious portion; distributive justice
- इन्द्र (indra)
- effective power, victory, capacity to obtain and protect wealth
- इच्छात् / इच्छामि (icchāt/icchāmi)
- mutual attraction between steward and wealth; disciplined intention
- सोम (soma)
- sacrificial economy; vitality; the ‘premium share’ of prosperity
- प्रथम भक्ष (prathama bhakṣa)
- priority share of life-force; foundational resource
- हृदा मनसा (hṛdā manasā)
- integrated will—emotion and cognition aligned
Saṅkalpa for rightful prosperity: aligning desire with strength (Indra) and fair share (Bhaga).
manipura
Brisk-then-settle: 9 slightly stronger breaths, then normal breathing during chant to stabilize will.
A radiant herd approaching calmly; Bhaga’s ‘portion’ settling into your hands; Indra’s strength forming a steady inner spine.
Focused intention with warmth (not craving).
Chant after clarifying a concrete, ethical prosperity goal and a corresponding dāna pledge; keep heart and mind synchronized—no inner contradiction.
Keep repetitions (‘gāvo…gāvaḥ…’) clearly segmented; allow a slight lift on deity-names (indra, bhaga) per accent tradition.
Avoid monotone: each equation is a ‘seal’; pause lightly after each identification.
Warm, inviting, confident; not aggressive.
Effective when paired with a small offering or vow: the charm’s logic presumes prosperity is for yajña and dāna, not isolated accumulation.
21 times
Seeking stable income/assets; rebuilding after loss; preparing for major household obligations.
Before financial decisions; before offering/gifting; at the start of a prosperity-focused vrata.
Greater clarity of intention, confidence, and a traditional prosperity frame emphasizing rightful share and strength.
Watch for greed/compulsion; keep goals ethical and non-harmful.
The verse is not pharmacological; it is economic-sacrificial. Cows are construed as the ‘first portion’ of Soma—i.e., the foundational resource enabling Soma ritual (milk products, wealth for offerings). The mantra thus binds prosperity to liturgical capacity.
By equating cows with Bhaga (allotted fortune), it naturalizes unequal distribution as divinely apportioned. Indra’s favor becomes the legitimating mechanism for acquisition, while the patron’s ritualized desire is presented as a socially acceptable route to wealth.
The identifications ‘gāvo bhágaḥ’ and the emphatic repetition of ‘Indra’ show Atharvanic intensification and equation-style predication, common in charms. The Soma linkage is RV-traditional but here pressed into a direct prosperity claim.
Gopatha frequently stresses saṅkalpa (resolved intention) and correct deployment as conditions of success. The explicit ‘I desire…with heart and mind’ matches that framework: efficacy is the convergence of will, speech, and ritual economy under divine allotment.
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