Atharva Veda 20.124.6: Kanda 20, Anuvaka 13, Sukta 124, Mantra 6
Sukta 124
प्र॒त्यञ्च॑म॒र्कम॑नयं॒ छची॑भि॒रादित् स्व॒धामि॑षि॒रां पर्य॑पश्यन्। अ॒या वाजं॑ दे॒वहि॑तं सनेम॒ मदे॑म श॒तहि॑माः सु॒वीराः॑
pratyáñcam arkám anayan śácībhiḥ | ā́dit svadhā́m iṣirā́m páry apaśyan | ayā́ vā́jaṁ deváhitaṁ sanema | mádem śatáhimāḥ suvī́rāḥ
They brought the ray (the hymn) back toward (its goal) by powers of skill; then they beheld its own seat, vigorous, all about. By this may we win the prize, god-bestowed; may we rejoice—hundred-winters old, rich in good heroes.
เขาทั้งหลายอาศัยพลังแห่งความชำนาญ นำรัศมีนั้น (คือบทสรรเสริญ) ให้หันกลับสู่จุดหมาย แล้วจึงเห็นที่ตั้งของมันเอง อันเข้มแข็งและแผ่รอบโดยทั่ว ด้วยสิ่งนี้ ขอให้เราชนะรางวัลที่เทพประทาน (วาชะ, vā́ja); ขอให้เรารื่นเริง—มีอายุครบหนึ่งร้อยฤดูหนาว และมั่งคั่งด้วยวีรชนผู้ดี
The meaning
What it says
By skillful powers they brought the ‘ray/hymn’ back toward its goal; then they saw its own vigorous seat. By this may we win the god-given prize and rejoice, living a hundred winters, rich in good heroes.
The inner meaning
Retrieval of one’s ‘lost song’: reclaiming focus and confidence through skill (śacī). Seeing the ‘proper seat’ is insight into where one’s power rightly rests; from that, sustainable joy, longevity, and capable offspring arise.
The truth in it
Prosperity is not mere acquisition: it is the return of energy to its right channel, guided by skill and clarity; when one’s power is seated correctly, life yields enduring vitality and worthy successors.
What it is for
- Kind of hymn
- Paustika (Prosperity) with longevity and progeny aims
Its aim
To secure god-bestowed gain (vāja), joyful prosperity, long life (‘hundred winters’), and strong offspring/household defenders.
Word by Word
Pada patha
प्र॒ति-अञ्च॑म् । अ॒र्कम् । अ॒न॒य॒न् । छची॑भिः । आ॒दित् । स्व॒धाम् । इ॒षि॒राम् । परि॑ । अ॒प॒श्य॒न् । अ॒या । वाज॑म् । दे॒व-हि॑तम् । स॒ने॒म॒ । मदे॑म । श॒त-हि॑माः । सु॒-वीराः॑ ।
- प्रत्यञ्चम्
- turned back/turned toward (him), facing (towards)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot प्रत्यञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) < प्रति + अञ्च्
- अर्कम्
- sun; ray; hymn of praiseray/sun; also hymn of praise (powerful ‘arká’ as luminous speech)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनयम्
- I led/broughtVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot नी (धातु)
- छचीभिः
- with (his/your) powers/skills (lit. ‘chacīs’)with skilful powers/arts (Indra’s śacī; effective stratagems)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot छची (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards; unto; indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- अदित्
- I ate/consumedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot अद् (धातु)
- स्वधाम्
- svadhā (one’s own portion/strength; ritual nourishment)to its own seat/own law/own power (svadhā: inherent potency, proper station)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषिराम्
- strong/refreshing/impellingstrong, vigorous, impetuous (of power/energy; ‘swiftly effective’)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इषिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
- परि
- around; all aroundaround, about (encompassing perception/protection)Indeclinableअव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अपश्यन्
- they sawVerbलङ् (imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot दृश् (धातु)
- अया
- by this (means)by this (instrumental deictic: by this means/this rite)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजम्
- prize; strength; (victory-)bootyprize, strength, victory, nourishment (gain sought in rite)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवहितम्
- placed/ordained by the godsset/placed by the gods, god-bestowed (legitimate, auspiciously ordained gain)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वाजम् विशेषयति)Role कर्मRoot देवहित (प्रातिपदिक) < देव + हित
- सनेम
- may I win/obtainmay we win (optative: obtain as prize)Verbविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot सन्/सना (धातु: ‘to win, obtain’)
- मदेम
- may we rejoice/be exhilaratedmay we rejoice/exult (ritual joy; prosperity enjoyment)Verbविधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot मद् (धातु)
- शतहिमाः
- having a hundred winters (very long-lived)of a hundred winters (long-lived; full lifespan)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot शतहिमन् (प्रातिपदिक) < शत + हिमन्
- सुवीराः
- having good heroes/sons; well-mannedhaving good heroes/sons (strong offspring; household strength)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सुवीर (प्रातिपदिक) < सु + वीर
Sandhi Notes
- प्रत्यञ्चम् + अर्कम् + अनयम् + छचीभिः + आ + अदित् + स्वधाम् + इषिराम् + परि + अपश्यन् । अया + वाजम् + देवहितम् + सनेम + मदेम + शतहिमाः + सुवीराः । मुख्य सन्धि-विच्छेद:
- (1) ‘…छचीभिरादित्…’ = छचीभिः + आ + अदित् (विसर्ग-लोप/र्-आगमः पदसंहितायाम्) ।
- (2) ‘…स्वधामिषिराम्…’ = स्वधाम् + इषिराम् (म् + इ → मि) ।
- (3) ‘…पर्यपश्यन्’ = परि + अपश्यन् (इ + अ → य्-अगमः) ।
Seer, deity and metre
- Rishi
- Rigvedic seer tradition (AV 20 import); confirm via anukramaṇī.
- Devata
- Indra (implicit through śacī) / solar-hymnic power (arká) as vehicle
- Chandas
- Likely Triṣṭubh; confirm by RV source.
- Rasa
- Adbhuta and Shanta
Sayana interprets ‘arká’ as either the sun-ray or the praise-hymn; ‘śacī’ are Indra’s effective powers. ‘svadhā́m’ is the proper station/inherent might. The closing wishes (‘vāja’, ‘śatáhimāḥ’, ‘suvīrāḥ’) are standard prosperity outcomes: victory/food, long life, and strong progeny.
Unknown in AV context; RV-derived (AV Śaunaka 20)
Prosperity-longlife formulae (paustika): winning vāja, rejoicing, and attaining śata-himā longevity; in AV usage, a blessing for household continuity and strength.
Shows the Atharvanic re-reading of RV poetic imagery (arka as hymn/ray) into a charm for longevity, legitimate gain, and ‘good heroes’ (capable descendants).
Indra (implicit via śacī) and the luminous Arká (hymn/ray)
Indra’s skill-power (śacī) retrieves the effective hymn/ray and seats it in its proper place; from that alignment comes god-sanctioned gain (vāja) and longevity.
Supports vitality and lifespan through ‘right-seating’ of energy (svadhā) and strengthening life-force (iṣira).
Prosperity with protection: ‘suvīra’ implies defenders—household security through strong allies/offspring.
4 pādas of ~11 syllables; internal caesura supports imagery shifts (return → seeing seat → winning prize → longevity).
AV20 may preserve RV diction; chanting can slightly emphasize semantic beats (arkam / svadhām / vājam / śatahimāḥ).
Bright, forward, with a ‘turning’ feel in first pāda; resolves into blessing cadence.
Energizing optimism; imagery of retrieval and vision produces confidence and uplift.
Recite as a concluding benedictory mantra after offerings, oriented to ‘winning the prize’ (vāja).
If for longevity: measure out or symbolically count ‘winters’ (e.g., placing a hundred grains/pebbles in a vessel) while reciting ‘śatáhimāḥ’.
If for progeny: touch the womb-area of the wife (or cradle/child) on ‘suvī́rāḥ’, transferring the wish into the domestic body-politic.
Kauśika Sūtra: paustika rites for longevity and suvīratva (good sons/strength) commonly use such concluding benedictions; exact sutra-number for AV 20 verse requires edition mapping.
Atharvan as prosperity-engineer: he converts cosmic ‘ray/hymn’ imagery into household outcomes (food, lifespan, sons).
Used as a prosperity-longlife blessing in household rites: anniversaries, new harvest storage, naming/child-strength prayers, or before a major exam/venture as ‘vāja’ (prize) charm.
Morning sunlight (arka imagery) is especially fitting; also on auspicious days for longevity (āyuṣya).
Priest/elder recites as an āśīrvāda while offering lamp or arghya to the sun; can be appended to a simple homa.
Recite at sunrise with a short gratitude offering; frame as ‘restoring focus and right placement’ before work.
Arká (sun-ray / hymn as luminous power); Vāja (prize/food-strength as desired ‘resource’)
Arká functions as a subtle substance: luminous speech/insight that, when properly directed, yields vāja (sustaining resources).
Longevity-blessing and vitality reinforcement: by ‘returning the ray/hymn’ (restoring focus/prāṇa) and seating it properly, one gains strength (vāja) and long life.
Conceptual support for ojas (vital essence) and prāṇa regulation; ‘iṣira’ aligns with vigor, ‘vāja’ with nourishment/strength.
Resilience training: restoring attention, structured goals, and legitimate reward pathways correlates with better healthspan and family stability.
Householder and lineage
Win god-bestowed resources, rejoice, attain long life (100 winters), and secure strong offspring/household defenders.
Image-magic (dṛṣṭānta): enact ‘return’ and ‘right-seating’ through speech; blessing formula (śatahimāḥ suvīrāḥ) seals the desired state.
Impoverishment, decline, weak progeny, premature aging
Wealth/strength (vāja), longevity, strong descendants
- अर्कम् (arkam)
- luminous speech/insight; the focused ‘beam’ of intention
- प्रत्यञ्चम् (pratyañcam)
- recollection, restoration, bringing scattered power home
- छचीभिः (chacībhiḥ)
- competence, strategic intelligence, effective means
- स्वधाम् (svadhām)
- right place of power; dharma-aligned station
- इषिराम् (iṣirām)
- robust life-force; potency without strain
- वाजम् (vājam)
- resources/competence that sustain life (nutriment + success)
- देवहितम् (devahitam)
- legitimate fortune—aligned gain, not predatory acquisition
- शतहिमाः (śatahimāḥ)
- full lifespan; mature resilience
- सुवीराः (suvīrāḥ)
- strong protectors—children, allies, virtues that defend the household
‘Return the ray’: gather scattered attention into a single luminous intention; then ‘seat’ it in svadhā (right place).
Visualize a sun-ray returning to the heart-center, then settling into a stable golden seat; from it, nourishment (vāja) flows through the body and outward to family/lineage.
Bright collectedness (tejas + ekāgratā).
Recite facing east at sunrise; after the last pāda, sit quietly and feel steadiness; dedicate one concrete ‘skillful action’ (śacī) for prosperity that day.
RV accentuation; lift on arkám and vā́jam; keep first pāda slightly ‘turning’ in intonation to mirror pratyañcam.
Pause after paryapaśyan; then deliver the blessing-petition (ayā… sanema) with forward flow; last pāda as āśīḥ (benediction).
Bright, confident, blessing-like.
Best paired with sunrise lamp or arghya; treat arká as both hymn and ray—chant with a ‘luminous’ tone.
3 times
Seeking legitimate prosperity, recovery of motivation, long-term health goals, strengthening family lineage/support network.
At sunrise; before starting work; during periods of fatigue or scattered focus.
Improved focus, hopeful energy, sense of legitimate gain; culturally framed longevity and family-strength blessing.
Avoid magical thinking about wealth; align ‘devahita’ with ethical means. Seek medical support for chronic fatigue/aging concerns.
No herb is named; instead ‘arká’ functions as a quasi-substance: luminous efficacy (sun-ray or praise) that ‘returns’ and finds its proper seat. Atharvanic ritual often treats mantra as a material force; here the ‘ray/hymn’ is the carrier that delivers vāja, longevity, and progeny.
Desired goods are explicitly patriarchal and lineage-centered: long life and ‘good heroes/sons’ (suvīrāḥ). Prosperity is framed as legitimate (‘deváhita’), implying that sanctioned gain—mediated by ritual specialists—is socially superior to illicit acquisition.
Phrases like śatáhimāḥ and suvī́ra are RV-formulaic. The semantic oscillation of arká (sun-ray vs hymn) is an old RV ambiguity; AV 20 preserves it, enabling Atharvanic polyvalent ritual readings.
Gopatha’s emphasis on brahman as effective power supports reading arká as ‘hymn’ whose correct deployment ‘finds its seat’ (svadhā́). The verse’s optatives (sanema, madem) exemplify the performative wish: properly uttered, it is treated as causally operative within the ritual economy.
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