Mantra 16

Sukta 10

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अपाङ् प्राङेति स्वधया गृभीतोऽमर्त्यो मर्त्येना सयोनिः । ता शश्वन्ता विषूचीना वियन्ता न्य१न्यं चिक्युर्न नि चिक्युरन्यम्

IAST Transliteration

apā́ṅ prā́ṅ eti svadháyā gṛbhītó ’mártyo mártyenā́ sayóniḥ | tā́ śáśvantā viṣūcī́nā viyántā ní ’nyáṃ cikyúr ná ní cikyur anyám ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Backward and forward he moveth, seized by Svadhā: the Immortal, by the mortal, of one common womb. Those twain, enduring ever, diverging and parting, have known the one the other; yet the other they have not known.

Translation

ਸ੍ਵਧਾ ਨਾਲ ਗ੍ਰਹਿਤ ਹੋਇਆ ਉਹ ਪਿੱਛੇ ਵੀ ਤੇ ਅੱਗੇ ਵੀ ਚਲਦਾ ਹੈ—ਅਮਰ (ਅਮਰਤ੍ਯ) ਮਰਤ੍ਯ ਦੁਆਰਾ, ਇਕੋ ਯੋਨੀ/ਗਰਭ ਦਾ ਸਹਵਾਸੀ। ਉਹ ਦੋਵੇਂ, ਸਦਾ ਟਿਕੇ ਰਹਿਣ ਵਾਲੇ, ਵੱਖ-ਵੱਖ ਦਿਸ਼ਾਵਾਂ ਵੱਲ ਵਿੱਛੁੜ ਕੇ ਦੂਰ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਹੋਏ, ਇਕ ਨੇ ਦੂਜੇ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਣ ਲਿਆ ਹੈ; ਪਰ ਦੂਜੇ ਨੂੰ (ਪੂਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ) ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਣਿਆ।

Word by Word

अपाङ्turned away/backward

प्राङ्turned forward

एतिgoes, moves

स्वधयाby (its) own power / by svadhā

गृभीतःseized, grasped

अमर्त्यःthe immortal (one)

मर्त्येनby a mortal

सयोनिःof the same womb/origin; sharing the same source

ताःthose (f.)

शश्वन्ताeverlasting, continual

विषूचीनाgoing apart; diverging in different directions

वियन्ताmoving forth/apart; going

निdown, into; (prefix)

अन्यम्another (one)

चिक्युःthey perceived/recognized

नnot

निdown/into; (prefix)

चिक्युःthey perceived

अन्यम्another (one)

Attribution

Rishi: Traditionally associated with Atharvanic seers; in this speculative section often treated as Brahman/ṛṣi of brahmavidyā (edition-dependent).

Devata: Brahman / Vāc (implicit), or the cosmic principle expressed as the dyad.

Chandas: Triṣṭubh-like cadence (as transmitted; metrical classification varies in AV scholia for this hymn).

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"Wonder at paradox (knowing/not-knowing) resolving into quiet contemplation.","listener_experience":"A sense of depth and mystery; softening of fear; inward turn toward the witness.","intensity":5}