Atharva Veda 4.39.8: Kanda 4, Anuvaka 4, Sukta 39, Mantra 8
Sukta 39
दिशो॑ धे॒नव॒स्तासां॑ च॒न्द्रो व॒त्सः । ता मे॑ च॒न्द्रेण॑ व॒त्सेनेष॒मूर्जं॒ कामं॑ दुहाम् । आयुः॑ प्रथ॒मं प्र॒जां पोषं॑ र॒यिं स्वाहा॑
díśo dhénavas tāsā́ṁ candró vatsáḥ | tā́ me candréṇa vatséneṣám ū́rjaṁ kā́maṁ duhām | ā́yuḥ prathamáṁ prajā́ṁ póṣaṁ rayíṁ svā́hā
The Directions are milch-cows; of them the Moon is the calf. May they, for me, by the Moon as calf, milk forth refreshment, sap, and desire—life first, then offspring, thriving, and wealth: svāhā.
Kierunki świata są krowami mlecznymi; z nich Księżyc jest cielęciem. Niech one dla mnie, przez Księżyc jako cielę, wydoją orzeźwienie, soki i pragnienie, życie najpierw, potem potomstwo, pomyślność i bogactwo: svāhā.
The meaning
What it says
The Directions are milch-cows; the Moon is their calf. Through the Moon as calf, may the Directions ‘milk out’ for me nourishment, vigor, and desire—life first, then offspring, thriving, and wealth—svāhā.
The inner meaning
All avenues of life (the quarters) are treated as potential resources; the Moon is the integrator that gathers and distributes. Psychologically, it is a charm for wholeness: draw strength from every side, reduce blind spots, and let cyclical steadiness (candra) extract benefits without strain.
The truth in it
When one is oriented in all directions—spatially, socially, and inwardly—resources appear from places previously ignored. Cyclic patience and calm extraction yield durable prosperity.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Paustika (Prosperity) / Protective prosperity (dik-bandhana)
Its aim
To draw prosperity and vitality from all quarters, under lunar agency, securing comprehensive well-being (life, progeny, thriving, wealth).
Word by Word
Pada patha
दिशः । धेनवः । तासाम् । चन्द्रः । वत्सः । ताः । मे । चन्द्रेण । वत्सेन । इषम् । ऊर्जम् । कामम् । दुहाम् । आयुः । प्रथमम् । प्रजाम् । पोषम् । रयिम् । स्वाहा ।
- दिशः
- the directions (quarters)the directions/quarters (as divine sources and protectors)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot दिश् (प्रातिपदिक: दिशा)
- धेनवः
- cowsmilch-cows (plural); multiple yielding sourcesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- तासाम्
- of those (of them)of them (of those cows = the directions)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive relation)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- चन्द्रः
- the MoonCandra (Moon), giver of coolness and growth; here the calfNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वत्सः
- calfcalf; extractor/receiverNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
- ताः
- those (cows/directions)they (those cows/directions)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मे
- for me / myfor mePronounषष्ठी (एन्क्लिटिक), एकवचनRole Sampradāna (beneficiary/possessor) / SambandhaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- चन्द्रेण
- with the Moonwith/through Candra (instrumental agency)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वत्सेन
- with the calfNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषम्
- refreshment, nourishmentrefreshment, foodNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक: इषा)
- ऊर्जम्
- vital strengthsap, strengthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऊर्ज्/ऊर्जा (प्रातिपदिक: ऊर्जा)
- कामम्
- desire, wishdesire, wished-for boonNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot काम (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुहाम्
- let them milk (yield)may they milk forth/yieldVerbलोट् (आशीर्लिङ्/आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole VerbRoot दुह् (धातु)
- आयुः
- life, lifespanlife-spanNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रूपं प्रथमा=द्वितीया)Role KarmaRoot आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रथमम्
- first, foremostfirstAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (आयुः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Karma (as qualifier)Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रजाम्
- offspring, progenyoffspringNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
- पोषम्
- prosperity, thrivingthriving, prosperityNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पोष (प्रातिपदिक)
- रयिम्
- wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वाहा
- svāhā (oblation-call)svāhā; offering-seal and success-markerIndeclinableअव्यय (उद्गार/यज्ञीय-निपात)Role Ritual exclamationRoot स्वाहा (निपात/मन्त्र-शब्द)
Sandhi Notes
- दिशः | धेनवः | तासाम् | चन्द्रः | वत्सः | ताः | मे | चन्द्रेण | वत्सेन | इषम् | ऊर्जम् | कामम् | दुहाम् | आयुः | प्रथमम् | प्रजाम् | पोषम् | रयिम् | स्वाहा । सन्धि-विशेषाः:
- (1) वत्सेनेषमूर्जं → वत्सेन + इषम् + ऊर्जम् (स्वर-सन्धिः: ए + इ → ए; तथा पदान्त-नासिक्य/अनुस्वार-लेखनम्)
- (2) ऊर्जं कामं → ऊर्जम् + कामम् (पदान्त-म् + क- आरम्भे यथारूपं)
- (3) ता मे → ताः + मे (विसर्ग-लोपः/संहितायां)
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Atharvanic tradition (edition-dependent).
- Devata
- Dik-deities (quarters) with Candra (Moon) as operative extractor.
- Chandas
- Mixed; anuṣṭubh-like with Atharvanic flexibility.
- Rasa
- Shanta and Adbhuta
Sāyaṇa extends the dhenu/vatsa bandhu to the quarters collectively: each direction is a ‘cow’ yielding its portion of protection and plenty. Candra, associated with increase and ‘sap’ (ūrj), is the calf that draws out their combined yield. The repeated boon-catalog indicates the intended ‘milk’ of the rite; svāhā confirms successful transmission.
Anonymous/Anukramaṇī-variant (Atharvanic)
Paustika prosperity through spatial totalization (dik) and lunar integration; domestic ‘dik-bandhana’ logic (securing all quarters).
Shows classic Atharvan bandhu: cosmic geography becomes household economy; the Moon mediates between diffuse space and the individual’s needs.
Dik-devatās with Candra as operative agent
Directions represent completeness of space; Moon gathers, measures, and ripens—making the ‘many’ yield to the ‘one’ who petitions.
Supports calm nourishment and restoration (lunar cooling; appetite and rest).
Protects the household by securing prosperity from all sides and reducing directional vulnerability (no ‘leak’ in the quarters).
4 pādas; boon-list expands cadence
Parallel to 4.39.6 with substitution of dyauḥ→diśaḥ and āditya→candra; formulaic meter tolerates small irregularities.
Mantric and enumerative; plural cows give a widening, all-encompassing feel.
Evokes being ‘fed’ from every direction; stabilizes the sense of safety and sufficiency.
Mark or acknowledge the quarters (by looking/pointing, or placing small tokens at four sides).
Recite the mantra while making a clockwise turn to ‘gather’ the quarters’ yield into the patron’s center.
At ‘duhām’, mime ‘milking’ into a vessel (water-pot or ladle); at ‘svāhā’, offer a small oblation or sprinkle the collected water upon the patron and threshold.
Optionally repeat with the parallel atmospheric/heavenly cow-verses to complete a three-tier cosmology (dyauḥ–antarikṣa–dik).
Kauśika Sūtra: paustika rites with dik-oriented performance using AV 4.39 (general; numbering varies by edition).
Atharvan priest as boundary-and-prosperity engineer; he integrates spatial orientation, mimetic action (milking), and offering closure to effect comprehensive gain.
Recite while facing the quarters in turn (E–S–W–N or pradakṣiṇā), asking each to ‘yield’ wellbeing; suitable when moving into a new home or after disturbance.
Night/early evening (lunar); also at threshold rites or monthly observances.
Householder-led; priest optional for homa with svāhā.
Home blessing: walk the perimeter, pause at corners, recite with intention of safety and sufficiency.
Directions (dik) as plural dhenu; Candra as calf; svāhā (offering-seal)
svāhā can accompany a small ghee offering (optional).
Plural cows = many sources; Moon-calf = gentle, rhythmic method. The charm teaches ‘draw steadily, not violently’: prosperity as sustained lactation, not sudden seizure.
General debility, anxiety from insecurity, depletion from environmental stressors (directional ‘exposure’).
Reorients the practitioner to a felt sense of support from all sides; lunar calm supports rest, assimilation, and steady vitality.
Soma/ojas nourishment; supports kapha stability when balanced; emphasizes replenishment and restfulness.
Stress regulation via grounding and spatial safety cues; sleep-supportive affirmation practice.
Patron/household
To secure comprehensive prosperity and wellbeing from all quarters under lunar agency.
Spatial totalization (dik) + extraction metaphor (milking) + svāhā sealing; can be paired with directional gestures (dik-pradakṣiṇā).
Directional misfortune, resource-loss, insecurity, scattered effort.
Nourishment, vitality, desire-fulfilment, longevity, progeny/creativity, thriving, wealth.
- दिशः (diśaḥ)
- total environment; all sources and pathways of support
- धेनवः (dhenavaḥ)
- multiple reservoirs of abundance
- चन्द्रः (candraḥ)
- cyclic regulator; gentle sovereignty; extractor of diffuse resources
- वत्सः (vatsaḥ)
- the operative method that elicits yield
- इषम्/ऊर्जम्/कामम्
- nourishment + strength + motivation as a triad of wellbeing
- आयुः प्रथमम्
- priority of health and continuity before expansionary aims
- स्वाहा
- ritual closure; release into cosmic circulation
Mandala of directions: inhale from the periphery (quarters), exhale into a cool lunar center; then ‘milk’ boons into the body.
Ajna (lunar mind) and Svadhisthana (lunar/watery nourishment, fertility themes).
Chandra-bhedana (left-nostril) gently, if suitable; otherwise slow coherent breathing.
Eight luminous streams (from directions) flowing into a silver moon at the brow, then descending as milk-light through the body.
Cool, inclusive awareness; non-striving receptivity.
Use when feeling scattered or unsupported; end with svāhā as a conscious ‘release’ of grasping.
Distinct ‘diśo’ (ś) vs ‘dikṣu’ (kṣ) in related verses; Long vowels in ‘cāndreṇa’ (if recited with sandhi variants) should be preserved per text; Do not clip ‘ūrjam’
Even, cooling delivery; let ‘diśo dhenavaḥ’ open wide; keep ‘svāhā’ crisp and final.
Slight emphasis on plural markers (diśaḥ, dhenavaḥ, tāsaṃ) to evoke ‘all-around’ coverage; slow down on ‘āyuḥ prathamaṃ’.
Cool, soothing, steady.
Often works best with a directional practice (turning/placing attention in quarters), matching the mantra’s spatial logic.
3 times
Household protection + prosperity; moving homes; feeling unsupported; seeking balanced growth (life, family, wealth).
Evening under moonlight; at home thresholds/corners; monthly rhythm if desired.
Greater sense of security and sufficiency; calmer mind; renewed vitality and steadier pursuit of goals.
If prone to lethargy/depression, balance lunar practice with daylight activity.
Though no herb is named, the lunar association with sap and growth (ūrj) makes the verse compatible with fertility/agricultural prosperity rites; the ‘milk’ metaphor encodes a theory of nourishment transferable to plant, herd, and human vitality.
It imagines prosperity as a resource distributed by cosmic administrators (quarters) and extractable through priestly technique. The patron’s centrality is ritually constructed: the world’s peripheries ‘milk’ into his household.
The pluralization of ‘cows’ as directions and the modular repetition with deity substitution (Vāyu/Āditya/Candra) show Atharvanic compositional templating—an innovation toward ritual plug-and-play.
Gopatha’s efficacy model rests on bandhu and correct performance: by ritually ‘collecting’ the quarters and installing Candra as extractor, the patron becomes the locus where dispersed cosmic powers converge as tangible prosperity.
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