Atharva Veda 20.21.1: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 3, Sukta 21, Mantra 1

Sukta 21

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

न्यू॒३षु वाचं॒ प्र म॒हे भ॑रामहे॒ गिर॒ इन्द्रा॑य॒ सद॑ने वि॒वस्व॑तः । नू चि॒द्धि रत्नं॑ सस॒तामि॒वावि॑द॒न्न दु॑ष्टु॒तिर्द्र॑विणो॒देषु॑ शस्यते

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 20.21.1

IAST Transliteration

nú u sú vā́caṃ prá mahé bharāmahe gíra índrāya sádane vivásvataḥ | nú cíd dhí rátnam sasatā́m ivā́vidan ná duṣṭutír draviṇodéṣu śasyate ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Now, yea, in seemly wise, we bring forth speech for the Mighty—hymns unto Indra in the seat of Vivasvat. For even now he findeth the treasure, as for men that press in quest; but ill-praise is not commended among the givers of wealth.

Translation

ଏବେ, ଯଥାଯୋଗ୍ୟ ଭାବେ, ଆମେ ମହାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ବାଣୀକୁ ଆଗେ ଆଣୁଛୁ—ବିବସ୍ୱତଙ୍କ ସଦନରେ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ସ୍ତୁତିଗୀତ। କାରଣ ସେ ଏବେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଧନ-ନିଧିକୁ ଖୋଜି ପାଉଛନ୍ତି, ଯେପରି ଖୋଜରେ ଧାଉଥିବା ମନୁଷ୍ୟମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ; କିନ୍ତୁ ଧନଦାତାମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଦୁଷ୍ଟୁତି (ମନ୍ଦ ସ୍ତୁତି) ପ୍ରଶଂସିତ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।

The meaning

What it says

The reciters bring forth well-formed speech—hymns to Indra—at the solar ancestor Vivasvat’s seat; Indra finds the treasure for those who strive, while faulty praise is not approved among wealth-givers.

The inner meaning

Disciplined vāc (speech) is the inner ‘ritual correctness’ that opens access to one’s capacities; careless, distorted self-talk (duṣṭuti) blocks reward and social support.

The truth in it

What we seek is reached by aligned effort and right articulation; misaligned expression corrodes merit and reduces the flow of resources.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika (wealth/boon through praise) with Śānti subfunction (correct speech as protection against ritual failure)

Its aim

To secure Indra’s treasure/boon by offering correctly formed praise and avoiding defective recitation

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Word by Word

Pada patha

नु । उ । सु । वाचम् । प्र । महे । भरामहे । गिरः । इन्द्राय । सदने । विवस्वतः । नु । चित् । हि । रत्नम् । ससताम्-इव । अविदत् । न । दुष्टुतिः । द्रविणोदेषु । शस्यते ।

नु

now, indeednow; deictic urging immediacy of praise/riteIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root नु (निपात)

उषु

verily, surelyIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root उषु (निपात)

वाचम्

speech, utterancespeech; the mantra/praise as efficacious utteranceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वाच् (स्त्री) / वाच्-प्रातिपदिक

प्र

forth, forwardforth; projection of speech outward toward the deityIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

महे

we magnify / we praiseto the great (one); dative sense ‘for the mighty’ (Indra)Verbलट्, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole KartāRoot मह् (धातु) / महे (तिṅन्त-रूप)

भरामहे

we bear/bring (forth)we bear/bring; we offer (as an oblation of words)Verbलट्, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRole KartāRoot भृ (धातु)

गिरः

songs, hymnssongs, hymns; structured laudatory speechNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot गिर् (स्त्री) / गिर्-प्रातिपदिक

इन्द्राय

for Indrato Indra; recipient of the verbal offeringNounपुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot इन्द्र (पुं) / इन्द्र-प्रातिपदिक

सदने

in the seat/dwellingin the seat/abode; at the ritual ‘session’ or divine dwellingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सदन (नपुं) / सदन-प्रातिपदिक

विवस्वतः

of Vivasvat (the shining one/Sun)of Vivasvat; in the bright/solar domain, or at the ‘Vivasvat’ seat (traditional epithet)Nounपुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandhaRoot विवस्वत् (पुं) / विवस्वत्-प्रातिपदिक

नु

now, indeednow; renewed insistenceIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root नु (निपात)

चित्

eveneven; concessive intensifierIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root चित् (निपात)

हि

for, indeedfor; causal particle introducing rationaleIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Root हि (निपात)

रत्नम्

treasure, precious gifttreasure, boon; concretely wealth/prize granted by IndraNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रत्न (नपुं) / रत्न-प्रातिपदिक

ससताम्

of the seekers/pursuersVerbवर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), षष्ठी, बहुवचन (जनित-सम्बन्ध: ‘of those who seek’)Role Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandhaRoot सस्/सस (धातु: ‘to seek/pursue’) / ससत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)

इव

like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)

आ

towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)

अविदत्

he found / he obtainedhe found/obtained; (Indra) procures or bestows the prizeVerbलुङ् (अorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole KartāRoot विद् (धातु: ‘to find/know’)

न

notnot; negation in evaluative clauseIndeclinableनिषेध-अव्ययRoot न (निपात)

दुष्टुतिः

bad praise, ill-uttered hymnbad praise/ill-uttered hymn; ritually defective speechNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot दुष्टुति (स्त्री) / दुष्-स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)

द्रविणोदेषु

among the bestowers of wealthamong the bestowers of wealth; in contexts of patronage/boon-giving (esp. Indra)Nounपुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot द्रविणोद (पुं) / द्रविण-उद (प्रातिपदिक)

शस्यते

is praised / is recited (in praise)is praised/commended; is held acceptable in recitationVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद (कर्मणि-प्रयोगः/मध्यस्थ-भावः)Root शंस् (धातु: ‘to praise, recite’)

Sandhi Notes

• नु उषु वाचम् प्र महे भरामहे गिरः इन्द्राय सदने विवस्वतः । नु चित् हि रत्नम् ससताम् इव आ अविदत् । न दुष्टुतिः द्रविणोदेषु शस्यते । मुख्य-सन्धयः:
• (1) न्यू॒३षु → नु उषु (उ/उ संयोगः; संहितायां दीर्घ/य्-आगम-प्रायः पाठभेदेन) ।
• (2) नू चिद्धि → नु चित् हि (त् + ह् → द्ध्; चित् + हि = चिद्धि) ।
• (3) इवाविदन् → इव आ अविदत् (इव + आ-; संहितायां वाव्-आगमः) ।
• (4) द्रविणो॒देषु अपरिवर्तितम् (समास-प्रातिपदिक; बहुवचन-सप्तमी) ।

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Rigvedic provenance (AV 20 is largely RV-derived); r̥ṣi per RV source tradition.

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (RV-style stotra cadence)

Rasa

Shanta and Vira

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