Atharva Veda 2.11.3: Kanda 2, Anuvaka 2, Sukta 11, Mantra 3
Sukta 11
प्रति॒ तम॒भि च॑र॒ यो॒ऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि॒ यं व॒यं द्वि॒ष्मः । आ॒प्नु॒हि श्रेयां॑स॒मति॑ स॒मं क्रा॑म
práti tám abhí cara yó ’smā́n dvéṣṭi yáṃ vayáṃ dvíṣmaḥ | ā́pnuhi śréyāṃsam áti samáṃ krā́ma ||
Against that man advance—who hateth us, whom we ourselves do hate. Overtake him; win thou the better portion; step beyond the rival’s equal state.
प्रति तम् अभि चर योऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मः। आप्नुहि श्रेयांसम्; अति समं क्राम।
Rishi: Atharvanic/Angirasa tradition (ascribed at the hymn level in many indices; verse-level r̥ṣi not separately specified).
Devata: Dveṣa (enmity) as a hostile force to be reversed; implicitly the mantra’s own brahman-power (vac) as agent.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; AV 2.x commonly in anuṣṭubh—confirmable against a pada-count recension table).
Primary: vira
Secondary: raudra
Sāyaṇa construes the mantra as a pratyavāya/pratyavartanī (counter-turning) of enmity: the ‘motion’ (cara, krāma) is the directed deployment of the spell so that hatred and its injurious consequence recoil upon the hater. ‘Śreyāṃsam’ is glossed as the superior share—prosperity, victory, or social advantage—secured for the sacrificer; ‘ati samam’ indicates surpassing the opponent’s parity (sāmya) so the enemy cannot remain an equal competitor.
To redirect hostility back upon the hater and to surpass a rival’s standing, securing the ‘better lot’ for the patron.
Performance/competition psychology: affirmation for assertiveness and goal surpassing (with ethical caution).
abhicarika
A named rival/enemy (explicitly ‘the one who hates us’).
To reverse/overrun an enemy’s hatred and secure the better share/status for the patron.
Direct imperative abhicāra: command the mantra-force to ‘advance’, ‘overtake’, and ‘step beyond’—a verbal enactment of conquest.
Hostile intent, rivalry, social displacement.
status/precedence; share of gains
The mantra commands an advance against the person who hates the speaker’s group and whom they hate; it urges overtaking him, winning the better share, and stepping beyond the rival’s equal standing.
This is a competitive psyche-charm: it consolidates in-group will, converts fear of hostility into forward motion, and frames success as surpassing parity (‘ati samam krāma’). It can also externalize inner self-sabotage by naming it as ‘the hater’ to be overtaken.
Conflict escalates when hatred mirrors itself. Yet focused intention and coordinated action can prevent stagnation in rivalry—provided one does not become identical with the hatred one opposes.
- अभि चर (abhi cara)
- directed counter-force; strategic engagement
- द्वेष्टि / द्विष्मः (dveṣṭi / dviṣmaḥ)
- reciprocal enmity; mirror-hostility
- आप्नुहि (āpnuhi)
- gain advantage; close the gap
- श्रेयांसम् (śreyāṃsam)
- superior outcome; auspicious share
- अति समम् क्राम (ati samam krāma)
- break parity; exceed the rival’s matched status
Transform reactive hatred into disciplined strength and boundary-setting.
manipura
Kapalabhāti-light (if appropriate) or strong nasal exhales to build resolve; then steady breathing to prevent rage spillover.
Focused, one-pointed intent (ekāgratā) without losing ethical clarity.
Recite, then take one mindful step forward; internally commit to ‘surpass by excellence’ rather than harm.
Keep a strong, even pitch; slight rise on imperatives to project force.
Hit the imperatives: abhi cara, āpnuhi, krāma; keep ‘śreyāṃsam’ elongated for ‘better portion’.
yo ’smān: clear avagraha, do not drop the vowel, dveṣṭi: retroflex ṣṭ cluster, dviṣmaḥ: retroflex ṣm, āpnuhi: pn cluster clean, krāma: long ā
Firm, projected, not shouted; avoid trembling anger.
Abhicāra verses are traditionally handled with restraint; intention should be protective/defensive rather than cruelly destructive.
21
Facing hostility, bullying, rivalry at work/community, competitive exams or negotiations.
Before engagement with a rival; when confidence drops due to perceived hostility.
Increased assertiveness, clarity of aim, reduced intimidation; traditional aim: overtaking the hostile party in status/share.
Do not use to justify harm or obsession; if conflict is dangerous, prioritize safety and lawful resolution.
पदच्छेदः: प्रति तम् अभि चर | यः अस्मान् द्वेष्टि यम् वयम् द्विष्मः | आप्नुहि श्रेयांसम् अति समम् क्राम || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) योऽस्मान् = यः + अस्मान् (विसर्ग-लोप/अवग्रह). (2) तमभि = तम् + अभि (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: म् + अ → म). (3) श्रेयांस॒मति॑ = श्रेयांसम् + अति (म् + अ → म).
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