Atharva Veda 20.113.2: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 12, Sukta 113, Mantra 2

Sukta 113

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

तं हि स्व॒राजं॑ वृष॒भं तमोज॑से धि॒षणे॑ निष्टत॒क्षतुः॑ । उ॒तोप॒मानां॑ प्रथ॒मो नि षी॑दसि॒ सोम॑कामं॒ हि ते॒ मनः॑

Recitation with translationAtharva Veda 20.113.2

IAST Transliteration

táṁ hí svarā́jaṁ vr̥ṣabháṁ tám ójase dhíṣaṇe níṣṭatakṣatuḥ | utópa mā́nāṁ prathamó ní ṣī́dasi sómakāmaṁ hí te mánaḥ

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

For him, the self-ruling Bull—him for might—have the two Dhīṣaṇās fashioned forth; and among those that are to be compared thou sittest down as first: for Soma-desiring is thy mind.

Translation

तं हि स्वराजं वृषभं तमोजसे धिषणे निष्टतक्षतुः। उतोपमानां प्रथमो नि षीदसि; सोमकामं हि ते मनः॥

The meaning

What it says

Indra, the self-ruling Bull, is fashioned for strength by the two Dhīṣaṇās (inspired faculties); he sits foremost among comparable powers, because his mind longs for Soma.

The inner meaning

The ‘self-ruler’ in us is built by twin faculties—insight and articulation (or intention and discernment). When these are well-shaped, leadership sits first; desire is redirected toward the nourishing essence (Soma).

The truth in it

True sovereignty is crafted: disciplined inspiration shapes power, and power becomes stable when it seeks nourishment rather than distraction.

What it is for

Kind of hymn

Paustika / Indra enthronement at Soma

Its aim

To enthrone Indra as foremost at the rite and to assert that inspired faculties (dhīṣaṇā) generate/secure his strength and presence.

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Word by Word

Pada patha

तम् । हि । स्व-राजम् । वृषभम् । तम् । ओजसे । धिषणे इति । निः-ततक्षतुः । उत । उप-मानाम् । प्रथमः । नि । सीदसि । सोम-कामम् । हि । ते । मनः ।

तम्

him / that onehim; that one (Indra, as the object of praise/recognition)Pronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

हि

indeed, forfor; indeed (grounding particle)Indeclinableअव्ययम्Root हि (निपात)

स्वराजम्

self-ruling, sovereignself-ruling, autonomous king (sovereign not dependent on another)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot स्वराज् (प्रातिपदिक)

वृषभम्

bull (strong one)bull (virile, victorious, fertilizing power; standard Indra epithet)Nounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot वृषभ (प्रातिपदिक)

तम्

himPronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

ओजसे

for strength / for vigorfor strength; unto might (dative of purpose/attribute)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे चतुर्थी एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)

धिषणे

(you) two Dhīṣaṇās (inspirations/insights)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया/सम्बोधन द्विवचनम् (द्विवचन-रूपम्: धिषणे)Role कर्तृRoot धिषणा (प्रातिपदिक)

निष्टतक्षतुः

you two have fashioned / have wroughtVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद) उत्तम-पुरुष? नहीं; प्रथमपुरुष द्विवचनम् (परस्मैपदम्): “you two have fashioned/carved”Root तक्ष् (धातु) + निṣ्- (उपसर्ग) + त (आगम/वृद्धि-रूप)

उत

and alsoand also; moreoverIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root उत (निपात)

उपमानाम्

of comparisons / of likenessesof those comparable/peers; among equals (comparative set)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot उपमा (प्रातिपदिक)

प्रथमः

the firstthe first, foremost (preeminent rank)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)

नि

down, in (as preverb)down; in place (preverb with ‘sit’)Indeclinableअव्ययम्Root नि (उपसर्ग/निपात)

सीदसि

you sit / you take your seatthou sittest down; thou takest thy seat (arrival and enthronement at the rite)Verbलट् परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष एकवचनम्Root सद् (धातु)

सोमकामम्

desiring Somadesirous of Soma; Soma-loving (motive force for attendance)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (मनसः)Root सोमकाम (प्रातिपदिक; सोम + काम)

हि

indeed, forfor; indeedIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root हि (निपात)

ते

yourthy; of theePronounषष्ठी एकवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

मनः

mindmind, will, desire (the internal driver of ritual participation)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• तं हि स्वराजं वृषभं तम् ओजसे धिषणे निष्टतक्षतुः । उत उपमानां प्रथमो नि सीदसि सोमकामं हि ते मनः ।
• 1) तमोजसे = तम् + ओजसे (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: म् + ओ → मो).
• 2) उतोपमानाम् = उत + उपमानाम् (स्वर-सन्धि: अ + उ → ओ).
• 3) नि षीदसि/नि सीदसि: संहितायां ‘नि’ उपसर्गः
• धातु सद् ‘सीद-’ रूपेण (वेदिक-प्रयोगे) दृश्यते
• पदच्छेदे ‘नि सीदसि’ इति।

Seer, deity and metre

Rishi

Ṛgvedic attribution via RV parallel (to be fixed by cross-index)

Devata

Indra

Chandas

Likely Triṣṭubh (length and caesura suggest non-Anuṣṭubh; confirm via RV source).

Rasa

Vira and Shanta

Sayana's Commentary

The Seer

The Deity

The Metre

The Rite

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Yogic Application

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