Atharva Veda 15.13.11: Kanda 15, Anuvaka 2, Sukta 13, Mantra 11

Sukta 13

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अथ॒ यस्याव्रा॑त्यो व्रात्यब्रु॒वो ना॑मबिभ्र॒त्यति॑थिर्गृ॒हाना॒गच्छे॑त्

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 15.13.11

IAST Transliteration

átha yásyā́vrātyo vrā́tya-bruvó nā́ma bibhraty átithir gṛhā́n ā́gacchet

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

Then, if unto a man’s houses there should come as guest one no Vrātya, yet bearing the name and saying ‘I am Vrātya,’—

Translation

अथ यस्य गृहान् अतिथिरागच्छेत्—योऽव्रात्यः सन् अपि ‘व्रात्योऽहम्’ इति ब्रुवन् व्रात्यनाम बिभ्रति—

The meaning

What it says

A conditional rule: if a guest arrives at one’s house who is not truly a Vrātya but claims Vrātya identity by name and speech, the situation is ritually dangerous and requires discernment.

The inner meaning

The psyche must distinguish authentic liminality from performative charisma. A false “initiatory” persona can hijack attention, fear, or reverence; the mantra frames an alert, discriminating stance before granting hospitality or spiritual authority.

The truth in it

Names and claims do not equal reality; sacred status demands verification through conduct and recognized signs. Discernment protects both host and guest from misdirected power, guilt, or harm.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Rajakarmani / Apotropaic discernment (managing dangerous/false ritual identities)

Its aim

To identify and ritually manage a pretender who claims Vrātya-status, preventing misdirected merit or harm

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Word by Word

Pada patha

अथ । यस्य । अव्रात्यः । व्रात्य-ब्रुवः । नाम । बिभ्रति । अतिथिः । गृहान् । आगच्छेत् ।

अथ

then; nowthen; next (introducing a contrasting case)Indeclinableअव्यय (क्रम/अनन्तरार्थे)Root अथ (avyaya)

यस्य

of whom/whoseof whom; for whose (house)Pronounपुं/नपुं, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root यद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)

आव्रात्यः

one who has become a vrātya; an outsider/vrātyaNounपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot आ-व्रात्य (prātipadika)

व्रात्यब्रुवः

speaking/declaring ‘vrātya’ (i.e., calling himself/being called vrātya)calling himself ‘Vrātya’; a pretender/false claimant (deceptive speech)Adjectiveपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचन (आव्रात्यः इति विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (as qualifier of the subject)Root व्रात्य-ब्रुव (kṛdanta from √ब्रू)

नाम

name; as the namename (mere designation; not the reality)Nounनपुं, द्वितीया, एकवचन (अव्ययीभाववत् ‘नाम’ = ‘नामतः/नाम्ना’ इत्यर्थे)Role Karaṇa (by name / as a name)Root नामन् (prātipadika)

बिभ्रति

they bear/carry; they holdbearing, carrying (assuming a title/identity)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (क्रिया)Root √भृ (भरणे)

अतिथिः

a guestas a guest (arriving under the guest-right)Nounपुं, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अतिथि (prātipadika)

गृहान्

houses; homesto the houses (domestic spaces of patrons)Nounपुं, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot गृह (prātipadika)

आ

towards; toIndeclinableउपसर्गः (आ-)Root आ (upasarga/avyaya)

गच्छेत्

should go/comeVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (क्रिया)Root √गम् (गत्यर्थे)

Sandhi Notes

• अथ | यस्य | आव्रात्यः | व्रात्यब्रुवः | नाम | बिभ्रति | अतिथिः | गृहान् | आ | गच्छेत् ।
• 1) यस्य + आव्रात्यः → यस्याव्रात्यः (स्वर-सन्धिः/सवर्णदीर्घः: अ + आ → आ)
• 2) अतिथिः + गृहान् + आ + गच्छेत् → अतिथिर्गृहाना॒गच्छे॑त् (विसर्गसन्धिः: ः + ग → र्; तथा ‘गृहान् आ’ में न् + आ → ‘ना’ (अनुस्वार/नकार-प्रत्याहार-लोपप्रवृत्ति) के रूप में संहितापाठ)

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Vrātya/anonymous Atharvanic redaction

Devata

Vrātya-status (as a category) / protective discernment

Chandas

Prose

Rasa

Bhayankara and Shanta

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