Atharva Veda 13.2.30: Kanda 13, Anuvaka 1, Sukta 2, Mantra 30
Sukta 2
रोच॑से दि॒वि रोच॑से अ॒न्तरि॑क्षे॒ पत॑ङ्ग पृथि॒व्यां रोच॑से॒ रोच॑से अ॒प्स्व॑१न्तः । उ॒भा स॑मु॒द्रौ रुच्या॒ व्याऽपिथ दे॒वो दे॑वासि महि॒षः स्व॒र्जित्
rócase diví rócase antárikṣe pataṅga pṛthivyā́ṃ rócase rócase apsv àntáḥ | ubhā́ samudráu rucyā́ vyā̀pitha devó devāsi mahiṣáḥ svàrjit ||
Thou shinest in heaven, thou shinest in the mid-air; O Patanga, on earth thou shinest; thou shinest within the waters. With radiance thou hast filled both oceans: a god thou art, yea god; the mighty one, the heaven-winning.
నీవు దివిలో ప్రకాశిస్తావు; నీవు అంతరిక్షంలో ప్రకాశిస్తావు; ఓ పతంగ, భూమిపై కూడా నీవు ప్రకాశిస్తావు; జలాల అంతరంలోనూ నీవు ప్రకాశిస్తావు. నీ రుచి (దీప్తి)తో రెండు సముద్రాలనూ నీవు వ్యాపింపజేశావు; నీవు దేవుడు—దేవుడే; నీవు మహిష (పరాక్రమి), స్వర్జిత్ (స్వర్గజేత).
The meaning
What it says
The Sun (Patanga) is said to shine in heaven, atmosphere, earth, and within the waters; with radiance he fills both oceans; he is a god, mighty, heaven-winning.
The inner meaning
Awareness is trained to perceive one light across all ‘levels’ of experience—thought (dyu), breath/emotion (antarikṣa), body (pṛthivī), and the subconscious (apsu). What is hidden ‘in the waters’ is purified by attention and truth.
The truth in it
Illumination is not confined to one realm; genuine clarity penetrates even the concealed and the deep, integrating the whole person and world.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Apotropaic (Protection) / Bhaisajya-adjacent (Purificatory)
Its aim
To extend solar radiance through all cosmic strata—especially waters—so as to cleanse hidden impurities and repel malevolent agencies.
Word by Word
Pada patha
रोचसे । दिवि । रोचसे । अन्तरिक्षे । पतङ्ग । पृथिव्याम् । रोचसे । रोचसे । अप्सु । अन्तः । उभा । समुद्रौ । रुच्या । वि-आपिथ । देवः । देव-असि । महिषः । स्वः-जित् ।
- रोचसे
- thou shinest / art luminousthou shinest (radiant action; dispels evil and disease)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot √रुच्
- दिवि
- in heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot दिव् (प्रातिपदिक: द्यौ/दिव्)
- रोचसे
- thou shinestVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot √रुच्
- अन्तरिक्षे
- in the mid-air/atmospherein the mid-air (space of winds/spirits; to be purified)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- पतङ्ग
- O Patanga (sun/bird; here: Sun)O Patanga (the ‘flying’ Sun/bird; swift carrier of light)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot पतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिव्याम्
- on earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- रोचसे
- thou shinestVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot √रुच्
- रोचसे
- thou shinestVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot √रुच्
- अप्सु
- in the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचन (लोकप्रसिद्ध रूप)Role अधिकरणRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अन्तः
- withinIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अन्तः (अव्यय)
- उभौ
- bothAdjective/Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (सह-कर्तृ)Root उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- समुद्रौ
- seas/oceansNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ (सह-कर्तृ)Root समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- रुच्या
- with radiance/splendourwith radiance (instrumental; light as tool/substance)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, widelyIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- आऽपिथ
- thou hast reached/filled/pervadedVerbलिट् (परोक्स/परफेक्ट), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (वेदिक रूप: -पिथ)Root √आप् (आप्नोति) / √आप् (व्याप्तौ)
- देवः
- the goda god (possessor of divine power)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- देव
- O godNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- thou artVerbलट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot √अस्
- महिषः
- the mighty one / bullmighty one, bull (strength; virility; overpowering force)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ/विशेष्य (देवः का विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन)Root महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वर्जित्
- winner of heaven; heaven-conqueringAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (देवः/महिषः का विशेषण)Root स्वर्-जित् (समास; √जि + क्तिन्/क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त)
Sandhi Notes
- (1) अप्स्व॑१न्तः → अप्सु + अन्तः (विसर्ग/उदात्त-चिह्न सहित संधि-लोप)
- (2) व्याऽपिथ → वि + आऽपिथ (उपसर्ग-संधि; वि + आ → व्या; अवग्रह ‘ऽ’ से दीर्घस्वर-प्रदर्शन)
- (3) अन्य पद प्रायः असंधित/पदपाठानुसार।
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Saurya seer(s) of AV 13.2 (var.).
- Devata
- Patanga = Sūrya/Āditya.
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-like (longer pādas; edition-dependent).
- Rasa
- Adbhuta and Shanta
Sāyaṇa identifies Patanga as Sūrya (or the solar orb as a bird). The fourfold ‘rocase’ marks pervasion of all realms, including waters (a locus of healing and purification). ‘Vyāpitha’ is central: the Sun’s light saturates boundaries (‘both oceans’), leaving no space for rakṣas or disease.
Saurya seer(s) (solar-anukramaṇī attribution for AVŚ 13.2)
Apotropaic purification by solar radiance; extending divine light into liminal zones (especially waters) where Atharvanic dangers and impurities are imagined to lurk.
Atharvanic solar theology often targets the ‘unseen’ (apsu antaḥ): the Sun is invoked not just overhead but as a purifier of hidden domains—ritual, bodily, and psychic.
Patanga (Sūrya/Āditya)
All-pervading luminary across the three worlds and the waters; filler of oceans with radiance—cosmic disinfectant and revealer.
Purifies ‘hidden’ contamination; supports clarity of mind, wakefulness, and cleansing symbolism connected with water rites.
Drives away water-born/hidden malevolences (rakṣas, durita) by lighting what is concealed.
4 pādas with extended cadence; repeated ‘roc ase’ creates a refrain inside longer lines
Hybrid long-meter with incantatory anaphora (roc ase) typical of Atharvanic emphasis.
Wave-like, expansive; the repeated verb mimics spreading light.
Suggests pervasion—each repetition ‘pushes’ radiance into another realm.
Prepare a vessel of clean water; place it east of the hearth.
Recite the mantra while touching the water on ‘apsv antaḥ’.
Sprinkle the sacrificer and thresholds on ‘vyāpitha’ to enact pervasion of protection.
If used for purification, wash hands/face at the end, silently ‘carrying’ the radiance into the body.
Kauśika Sūtra: solar śānti with water-contact (apsu) motifs in AV 13.2 recitation; used with sprinkling/ablution in domestic rites (edition-dependent numbering).
Atharvan priest: administers water as a carrier of solar power; performs sprinkling to extend the mantra’s ‘vyāpti’ into domestic space.
Recite over drinking water, bath-water, or water kept for sprinkling (prokṣaṇa) in the home; suitable before travel near rivers/sea or after perceived defilement.
Morning; also before bathing or water-offerings.
Householder recitation is appropriate; priest may incorporate into broader śānti.
Chant softly while preparing clean water; combine with practical sanitation (boiling/filtration) where needed.
Waters (apsu); Oceans (samudrau); Radiance/light (ruc)
apsu antaḥ; u̱bhā samudrau
Waters are the classic Atharvanic carrier of both purity and danger; solar radiance entering waters signifies sterilization, revelation, and the transformation of the ‘unknown’ into the ‘known’.
Impurity/contamination conceived as hidden (especially water-linked), and psychosomatic heaviness or dullness (tamas).
Solar tejas ‘sterilizes’ the unseen; mantra maps radiance through cosmic strata to cleanse and protect.
Tejas-pradhāna purification; supportive for kapha-tamas conditions (lethargy, heaviness) when balanced; water element (apas) indicates cleansing rites and hydration sanctification.
Ritualized ‘clean light’ imagery for stress-related contamination fears; can accompany hygiene/water-safety practices and mental clarity routines.
Household space, water sources, bathing/ablution context
To pervade all realms—especially waters—with solar radiance, cleansing impurities and repelling malevolent agencies.
Pervasion-spell (vyāpti): enumerating realms to ensure no ‘gap’ remains for harm to hide.
Hidden harms, water-associated inauspiciousness, unseen afflictions.
- रोचसे (rocasi/roc ase)
- cognitive clarity; the capacity that reveals and purifies
- पतङ्ग (pataṅga)
- mobile perception; the roaming eye of awareness
- अप्सु अन्तः (apsu antaḥ)
- hidden impurities, subconscious residues; also ritual waters needing sanctification
- समुद्रौ (samudrau)
- totality of depths (cosmic and psychic); boundaries of the world
- रुचा (rucā)
- tejas as an active cleansing agent
- स्वर्जित् (svarjit)
- victory over constriction; ascent to higher order
Light-pervasion meditation: carry awareness through ‘sky–breath–body–waters (depths)’.
ājñā (clarity) and svādhiṣṭhāna (waters/subconscious)
4-stage breath with a mental ‘roc ase’ at each stage (inhale hold exhale pause) without strain.
Golden rays descending into a clear inner lake; impurities dissolve without struggle.
Prasāda (lucid calm) with a sense of inner cleansing.
Use when feeling ‘muddy’ or mentally congested; keep the imagery cool-golden, not scorching.
Maintain clear repetition on rocase; each realm-name (divi/antarikṣe/pṛthivyām/apsu) receives a slight emphasis.
Do not rush the anaphora; let rocase land like a pulse; articulate apsu antaḥ distinctly.
Bright but controlled; aim for ‘luminous’ tone rather than loudness.
When used over water, traditional logic is ‘speech charges substance’; keep the vessel uncovered during recitation if culturally appropriate.
7 times
After exposure to negativity, before bathing, when starting a cleansing fast/day, or when concerned about hidden problems.
Morning; before using water for drinking/sprinkling; during household purification.
Sense of cleansing, clarity, protection from ‘hidden’ harms; strengthened confidence in purity.
Pair mantra-use with real hygiene and safe water practices; avoid magical thinking that replaces sanitation.
Instead of herbs, the verse uses water as the principal purificatory medium, ‘charged’ by solar radiance. Light functions as the active ingredient; water is the vehicle for application.
Domestic boundaries (thresholds, body) become sites of priestly-managed purification. The Atharvan’s expertise converts common water into ritually potent medicine.
The cosmic triad (dyu/antarikṣa/pṛthivī) is Rigvedic, but the explicit inclusion of ‘within the waters’ and the saturating ‘vyāpitha’ aligns with Atharvanic concern for pervasive, practical protection.
Gopatha’s bandhu logic would align waters with life and purity; solar radiance entering waters makes them fit to remove defilement. Thus sprinkling becomes a material enactment of cosmic pervasion.
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