Atharva Veda 2.14.4: Kanda 2, Anuvaka 2, Sukta 14, Mantra 4

Sukta 14

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

भू॒त॒प॒तिर्निर॑ज॒त्विन्द्र॑श्चे॒तः स॒दान्वाः॑ । गृ॒हस्य॑ बु॒ध्न आसी॑ना॒स्ता इन्द्रो॒ वज्रे॒णाधि॑ तिष्ठतु

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 2.14.4

IAST Transliteration

bhūtapátir nír ajatu índraś ca cetáḥ sadánvā́ḥ | gṛhásya budhná āsī́nās tā́ índro vájreṇā́dhi tiṣṭhatu ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Let the Lord of beings drive them forth; and Indra—constant in intent—(drive them forth). Those that sit upon the house’s base, over those let Indra stand, with thunderbolt above them.

Translation

Biarlah Bhūtapati, Tuhan segala makhluk, menghalau mereka keluar; dan Indra—yang tetap pada niat—(juga menghalau mereka). Mereka yang duduk pada dasar rumah—ke atas mereka biarlah Indra berdiri, dengan vajra (petir) di atas mereka.

The meaning

What it says

Bhūtapati and Indra are invoked to drive hostile beings away. Those seated at the base of the house are to be dominated: Indra stands over them with the vajra.

The inner meaning

A ritual reassertion of sovereignty over one’s dwelling and psyche: intrusive fears, nightmares, and ‘unseen pressures’ are expelled; the house-foundation symbolizes the subconscious base where anxieties ‘sit’.

The truth in it

Protection begins at the foundation: when the base (home, body, mind) is guarded, disruptive forces lose foothold; decisive clarity (Indra’s vajra) dispels ambiguity and dread.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Rakṣoghna / Apotropaic (House-protection; anti-bhūta)

Its aim

Expulsion and suppression of bhūtas/hostile presences from the house-foundation; establishment of Indra as a standing guardian over the dwelling.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

Pada patha

भूत-पतिः । निर्-अजतु । इन्द्रः । च॒ेतः । स॒दान्वाः । गृ॒हस्य । बु॒ध्नः । आसी॑नाः । ताः । इन्द्रः । वज्रे॑ण । अधि॑ । तिष्ठतु ।

भूतपतिः

lord of beingslord of beings/spirits; the controlling master over bhūtas (esp. troublesome entities), invoked as a warderNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot भूतपति (प्रातिपदिक) < भूत + पति

निरजत्

drove away / expelledVerbलुङ् (अorist), प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अज् (धातु) + निर् (उपसर्ग)

इन्द्रः

IndraIndra; the paradigmatic smiter and protector, wielder of force against demons and sorceryNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)

चेतः

the mind / intelligencemind, intention, conscious will; here the inner faculty to be guarded/cleared from malign influenceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)

सदान्वाः

ever-present / abidingever-abiding, constant-dwelling (protectors); those who remain stationed (in/around the house) as guardiansAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सदान्व (प्रातिपदिक)

गृहस्य

of the houseof the house; the domestic space as ritual and social unit requiring protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot गृह (प्रातिपदिक)

बुध्नः

the foundation / basefoundation, bottom, base; the house’s ground/floor as the locus where spirits ‘sit’ or lodgeNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot बुध्न (प्रातिपदिक)

आसीनाः

seatedsitting, seated; (spirits/forces) settled in place—hence to be overpowered or kept downParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot आस् (धातु) → आसीन (कृदन्त, क्त)

ताः

those (f.)those (fem./pl.); the specified seated entities/forces (understood as bhūtas or harmful presences)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

इन्द्रः

IndraIndra (repeated for emphasis); the active agent of suppression and protectionNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)

वज्रेण

with the thunderboltwith the thunderbolt; emblem of coercive apotropaic power, ‘weaponized’ ritual authorityNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)

अधि

over, uponover, upon; indicating domination/standing-over as a protective postureIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot अधि (अव्यय)

तिष्ठतु

let (him) stand / remainlet him stand; let him take station (as a guard) over them/thereVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot स्था (धातु)

Sandhi Notes

• विसर्गः पदान्ते।
• 2) इन्द्रश्चेतः = इन्द्रः + चेतः (विसर्ग-लोपः, ‘श्’ आगमः ‘च’ परे)।
• 3) आसीनास्ता = आसीनाः + ताः (विसर्गस्य ‘स्’ आदेशः ‘त’ परे; संहितायाम् ‘स्त’)।
• 4) इन्द्रो वज्रेण = इन्द्रः + वज्रेण (विसर्ग-लोपः, ‘ओ’ संधिः)।
• 5) वज्रेणाधि = वज्रेण + अधि (अ + अ → आ)।

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Atharvanic tradition (seer attribution varies by anukramaṇī for this hymn)

Devata

Indra (as rakṣas-slayer) and Bhūtapati (as overlord/controller of beings)

Chandas

Anuṣṭubh (probable; requires full hymn metrical audit)

Rasa

Vira and Bhayankara

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