Atharva Veda 19.49.2: Kanda 19, Anuvaka 5, Sukta 49, Mantra 2

Sukta 49

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अति॒ विश्वा॑न्यरुहद् गम्भी॒रो वर्षि॑ष्ठमरुहन्त॒ श्रवि॑ष्ठाः । उ॒श॒ती रात्र्यनु॒ सा भ॒द्राभि ति॑ष्ठते मि॒त्र इ॑व स्व॒धाभिः॑

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 19.49.2

IAST Transliteration

áti víśvāny aruhad gambhīró várṣiṣṭham aruhanta śráviṣṭhāḥ | uśatī́ rā́try ànu sā́ bhadrā́bhi tíṣṭhate mitrá iva svadhā́bhiḥ ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Beyond all things the Deep One hath ascended; the loftiest height the most renowned have mounted. Kindly Night, thereafter, she with auspicious powers takes her firm station, like Mitra, with her own inherent might.

Translation

Mengatasi segala sesuatu, Yang Dalam itu telah naik; ke puncak tertinggi yang paling termasyhur telah mendaki. Wahai Malam yang penyayang—sesudah itu—dengan kuasa-kuasa yang berkat ia berdiri teguh, seperti Mitra, dengan kekuatan hakikinya sendiri.

The meaning

What it says

The ‘Deep One’ has ascended beyond all; the most renowned have mounted the highest. Kindly Night then takes her station with auspicious powers, like Mitra, by her own inherent might (svadhā).

The inner meaning

Night is not mere absence of day but a profound, elevated principle. Comparing her to Mitra frames night as order, covenant, and social harmony—reducing night-fear by recognizing lawful structure in darkness.

The truth in it

Depth and darkness can be forms of order and support; stability arises when we recognize inherent power (svadhā) within the cycles of nature.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika (Prosperity/Well-being) with apotropaic (protective) coloring

Its aim

To secure auspicious, orderly night-protection for the household/community and avert nocturnal dangers

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

Pada patha

अति । विश्वानि । अरुहत् । गम्भीरः । वर्षिष्ठम् । अरुहन्त । श्रविष्ठाः । उशती । रात्रि । अनु । सा । भद्राभिः । तिष्ठते । मित्रः । इव । स्वधाभिः ।

अति

beyond, overbeyond, over; surpassingly (intensifier of ascent/overcoming)Indeclinableअव्ययRoot अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

विश्वानि

all (things)all (things/regions); the totality to be overpassedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot विश्व (सर्व/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

अरुहत्

(she/it) mounted, roseshe/it mounted, ascended; rose up (night’s sovereign rising)Verbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRoot √रुह् (रुहँ आरोहणे)

गम्भीरः

the deep one (profound)deep, profound; of unfathomable depth (night’s vastness)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot गम्भीर (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

वर्षिष्ठम्

the highest/loftiestthe highest, most lofty; the supreme height (zenith-like station)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वृद्ध/वर्ष (विशेषण; ‘वर्षिष्ठ’ = अतिशय-उत्तम)

अरुहन्त

(they) mounted, ascendedthey mounted/ascended; attained (as powers/qualities accompanying night)Verbलङ् (अनद्यतनभूत); प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचनRoot √रुह् (रुहँ आरोहणे)

श्रविष्ठाः

the most famed/gloriousmost famed, most glorious; best in renown (auspicious powers)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot श्रवस्/श्रव (विशेषण; ‘श्रविष्ठ’ = अतिशय-उत्तम)

उशती

desiring, graciousdesiring, kindly-disposed; gracious (night as beneficent)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot उशत् (कृदन्त-विशेषण; √वश्/उश् ‘इच्छायाम्/कामे’)

रात्रि

NightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot रात्रि (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक)

अनु

along, afteralong, after, in accordance with; following upon (sequence after day/sun)Indeclinableअव्ययRoot अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

सा

sheshe, that (Night herself, resumed)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

भद्राभिः

with auspicious (powers/means)with auspicious (powers/boons); with beneficent agenciesAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot भद्र (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)

तिṣ्ठते

stands, remainsVerbलट् (वर्तमान); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot √स्था (ष्ठा गतिनिवृत्तौ/अवस्थान)

मित्रः

a friend; MitraMitra; also ‘friend’—order, covenant, social concordNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot मित्र (पुं-प्रातिपदिक)

इव

like, aslike, as if (simile marker)Indeclinableअव्ययRoot इव (निपात)

स्वधाभिः

with svadhā-formulas/with innate powerswith svadhā-powers; with inherent might/own ordinances (also ancestral potency in Atharvan usage)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot स्वधा (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• विश्वा॑न्यरुहद् → विश्वानि + अरुहत् (इ + अ = य्)
• रात्र्यनु॒ → रात्रि + अनु (इ + अ = य्)
• भ॒द्राभि ति॑ष्ठते → भद्राभिः + तिष्ठते (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते; संहितायां ‘भिः ति’)
• स्व॒धाभिः॑ (स्वधा + भिस् → भिः)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Traditionally Atharvanic/Angirasa attribution for late Book 19 hymns (Rātri-stotra complex)

Devata

Rātri (Night), with Mitra as comparative paradigm of order

Chandas

Triṣṭubh-like cadence (late Atharvan style; mixed/irregular in Book 19)

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