Atharva Veda 20.21.4: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 4

Sukta 21

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

ए॒भिर्द्युभिः॑ सु॒मना॑ ए॒भिरिन्दु॑भिर्निरुन्धा॒नो अम॑तिं॒ गोभि॑र॒श्विना॑ । इन्द्रे॑ण॒ दस्युं॑ द॒रय॑न्त॒ इन्दु॑भिर्यु॒तद्वे॑षसः॒ समि॒षा र॑भेमहि

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 20.21.4

IAST Transliteration

ebhír dyúbhiḥ sumánā ebhír índubhir nirundhānó ámatiṃ góbhir aśvínā | índreṇa dásyuṃ daráyanta índubhir yutádvéṣasaḥ sám iṣā rabhémahi

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

With these bright powers, gracious in intent, with these Soma-drops, shutting out unwisdom; with kine and with horses—rending the Dasyu by Indra, with Soma-drops—(we), banded against the hateful, would wholly lay hold of refreshment and food.

Translation

या तेजस्वी शक्तींनी, सुमनस्क होऊन; या इन्दु (सोम) बिंदूंनी—अमति (अविवेक/अज्ञान) रोखीत; गायी व अश्वांसह—इन्द्राच्या साहाय्याने दस्युला विदीर्ण करीत, इन्दु-बिंदूंनी युक्त होऊन—द्वेष्ट्यांविरुद्ध एकत्र बांधलेले आम्ही समिषा (पोषक आहार) व अन्नरस पूर्णपणे हस्तगत करू.

The meaning

What it says

With bright powers and Soma drops they shut out unwisdom; with cattle and horses they, by Indra, rend the Dasyu; united against the hateful, they seize refreshment and food.

The inner meaning

Clarity and disciplined exhilaration (indu) exclude confused thinking (amati). When inner sovereignty (Indra) leads, hostile patterns (dasyu) are torn apart; unified resolve gains nourishment (iṣā) and strength.

The truth in it

When a community (or inner faculties) unites with clear purpose and vital joy, ignorance and hostility lose their hold, and life’s sustenance becomes attainable.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika (Prosperity) / Saṃgrāmika (Martial victory) within the Indra-Soma complex of AV 20

Its aim

To restrain harmful delusion, defeat hostile raiders (dasyu), and secure nourishment, cattle, and horses for the patron.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

Pada patha

ए॒भिः । द्युभिः॑ । सु॒मना॑ः । ए॒भिः । इन्दु॑भिः । नि॒रु॒न्धा॒नः । अ॒म॒तिम् । गोभिः॑ । अ॒श्विना॑ । इन्द्रे॑ण । दस्यु॑म् । द॒रय॑न्तः । इन्दु॑भिः । यु॒तद्वे॑षसः । सम् । इ॒षा । र॒भे॒म॒हि ।

एभिः

with thesewith these (present aids: rays/forces/pressings), instrument of empowermentPronounपुं/नपुं, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

द्युभिः

with the bright (heavenly) lightswith the dyúbhis, ‘heavenly lights’/bright powers; auspicious radiances that repel harmNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot द्युभ्/द्यु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘द्युभ्’ = द्युतिमत्/दिव्य-प्रकाश)

सुमनाः

kindly-minded, benevolentwell-minded, gracious; of propitious intent (toward the sacrificer)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)

एभिः

with thesePronounपुं/नपुं, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

इन्दुभिः

with soma-dropswith the Indus, Soma-drops/bright draughts; intoxicant-power used for victoryNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)

निरुन्धानः

restraining, shutting outshutting out, restraining, hemming in (evil/folly); magical ‘blocking’ actionVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), आत्मनेपद-प्रयोग, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot नि-√रुध् (रुधिर्/रुध्)

अमतिम्

folly, lack of right thoughtunwisdom, folly, harmful delusion; a baleful mental affliction to be excludedNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अमति (प्रातिपदिक)

गोभिः

with cowswith cows (wealth, nourishment) or with ‘rays’ (go as light); prosperity-forceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)

अश्विना

with the Aśvins (the two horsemen)with horses; swift power, martial mobility; also emblem of winning raidsNoun (dual deity name)पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचनRole करणRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक; द्विवचन-देवता)

इन्द्रेण

with Indrawith Indra (as ally/weapon); Indra’s might as operative agencyNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)

दस्युम्

the Dasyu (enemy/raider)the Dasyu (hostile outsider/raider); enemy figure to be brokenNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)

दरयन्तः

splitting, rendingsplitting, rending, crushing; violent apotropaic destructionVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपद-प्रयोग, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot √दृ/दर् (दरयति = विदारयति) / causative stem दरय-

इन्दुभिः

with soma-dropswith Soma-drops again; the pressings as battle-fury and ritual fuelNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)

युतद्वेषसः

joined in hatred / united against (the foe)with hatred joined/arrayed; ‘banded in enmity’ (the foes) or ‘joined with hostile intent’Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot युत-द्वेषस् (समास; युत = युक्त/संयुक्त + द्वेषस्)

सम्

together, completelytogether, completely; total acquisition/attainmentIndeclinableअव्ययRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

इषा

with nourishment, with refreshmentwith iṣā, refreshment, food, invigorating nourishment; ritual plentyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘refreshment, nourishment’)

रभेमहि

may we take hold (of), may we obtainmay we seize/lay hold of, obtain; performative wish for acquisitionVerbलोट् (विधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ्-सम्भाव्य; मन्त्र-प्रयोगे प्रार्थना), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole कर्तृRoot √रभ् (आ-√रभ्/रभ् ‘to seize, undertake’)

Sandhi Notes

• एभिः + द्युभिः | सुमनाः | एभिः + इन्दुभिः | निरुन्धानः | अमतिम् | गोभिः | अश्विना | इन्द्रेण | दस्युम् | दरयन्तः | इन्दुभिः | युतद्वेषसः | सम् + इषा | रभेमहि । मुख्य-सन्धयः:
• (1) एभिर्द्युभिः = एभिः + द्युभिः (विसर्ग/रुत्व-प्रयोगः)
• (2) एभिरिन्दुभिः = एभिः + इन्दुभिः (रुत्व)
• (3) निरुन्धानः (नि + रुन्धानः; उपसर्ग-संयोग)
• (4) समिषा = सम् + इषा (अनुस्वार/मकार-सन्धि) ।

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

As in RV parallel (Indra-Soma victory stanzas): traditionally attributed to a Ṛgvedic seer of the Indra cycle (AV 20 is largely RV-derived).

Devata

Indra (with Soma as empowering medium).

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (RV-style; AV 20 preserves RV meters).

Rasa

Vira and Raudra

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