Mantra 14

Sukta 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

यथा शेवधिर्निहितो ब्राह्मणानां तथा वशा। तामेतदच्छायन्ति यस्मिन् कस्मिंश्च जायते

IAST Transliteration

yáthā śevadhír níhito brāhmaṇā́nāṃ táthā vaśā́ | tā́m etád ácchāyanti yasmín kasmíṃś ca jā́yate

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

As a treasure-deposit laid away for Brahmans, so is the Vaśā: this (guardianship) they keep over her, in whatsoever place she is born.

Translation

ਜਿਵੇਂ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਲਈ ਨਿਹਿਤ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਖ਼ਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਹੋਵੇ, ਤਿਵੇਂ ਵਸ਼ਾ ਹੈ। ਉਹ ਜਿਸ ਕਿਸੇ ਥਾਂ ਜਨਮ ਲਵੇ, ਉੱਥੇ ਉਹ ਇਸ (ਰਖਵਾਲੀ/ਅਧਿਕਾਰ) ਨੂੰ ਉਸ ਉੱਤੇ ਕਾਇਮ ਰੱਖਦੇ ਹਨ।

Word by Word

यथाjust as

शेवधिःtreasure; precious deposit

निहितःplaced; deposited

ब्राह्मणानाम्of the Brahmins

तथाso; likewise

वशाthe vashā-cow (a special cow used/mentioned in ritual)

ताम्her; that (female)

एतत्this (very)

अच्छायन्तिthey approach; they come up to

यस्मिन्in which; wherein

कस्मिन्in whatever; in whichsoever

चand

जायतेis born; arises

Attribution

Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa (per anukramaṇī tradition for AV 12.4)

Devata: Vaśā as sacralized object; Brahmanical order as implicit devatā

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"shanta","secondary_rasa":"adbhuta","emotional_arc":"From comparison to a hidden treasure to the wonder of protection that follows it everywhere.","listener_experience":"Quiet confidence in guardianship and rightful order.","intensity":4}