Atharva Veda 15.2.20: Kanda 15, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 2, Mantra 20

Sukta 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

इ॒रा पुं॑श्च॒ली हसो॑ माग॒धो वि॒ज्ञानं॒ वासोऽह॑रु॒ष्णीषं॒ रात्री॒ केशा॒ हरि॑तौ प्रव॒र्तौ क॑ल्म॒लिर्म॒णिः

Sanskrit recitationAtharva Veda 15.2.20

IAST Transliteration

irā́ puṁścalī́ hasó māgadhó vijñā́naṁ vā́so 'háḥ uṣṇī́ṣaṁ rā́trī keśā́ háritau pravartáu kalmalír maṇíḥ

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Irā, the wanton woman, laughter, the Magadhan, discerning knowledge, the garment—Day; the turban—Night; the hairs; the two tawny ones, the two impellers: the Kalmali-amulet is the jewel.

Translation

Irā, perempuan jalang; ketawa; orang Magadha; pengetahuan yang membezakan; pakaian—Siang; serban—Malam; rambut; dua yang kuning-kecokelatan; dua penggerak: azimat Kalmali itulah permata.

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Word by Word

• इरा: Idā; sacred food/refreshment (personified)
• इरा: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: इरा (प्रातिपदिक) / इळा

• पुंश्चली: a wanton woman; prostitute (personified)
• पुंश्चली: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंश्चली (प्रातिपदिक)

• हसः: laughter; a laugh (personified)
• हसः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस (प्रातिपदिक)

• मागधः: a Magadha; bard/minstrel (personified)
• मागधः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: मागध (प्रातिपदिक)

• विज्ञानम्: knowledge; discernment
• विज्ञानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-√ज्ञा → विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)

• वासः: garment; clothing
• वासः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• अहः: day
• अहः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• उष्णीषम्: turban; head-dress
• उष्णीषम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्णीष (प्रातिपदिक)

• रात्रीः: nights
• रात्रीः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि (प्रातिपदिक)

• केशाः: hairs
• केशाः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)

• हरितौ: the two tawny/greenish ones (pair)
• हरितौ: Kartā
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: हरित (प्रातिपदिक)

• प्रवर्तौ: the two movers/impellers; two turning ones
• प्रवर्तौ: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)

• कल्मलिः: Kalmalī (a named plant/creeper; also a proper name)
• कल्मलिः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्मलि (प्रातिपदिक)

• मणिः: a jewel; amulet
• मणिः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक)

Attribution

Rishi: Traditionally associated with the AV book 15 vrātya/ekavrātya complex (attribution varies in ancillary tradition).

Devata: Composite/identificatory (catalogue of powers); operative focus on Maṇi (amulet-power) and paired forces (day/night; haritau/pravartau).

Chandas: Mixed/prose-like enumerative cadence (not a strict single meter; typical of AV 15 catalogues).

Mantra Rasa

Primary: adbhuta

Secondary: vira