ते कृषिं च सस्यं च मनुष्या उप जीवन्ति। कृष्टराधिरुपजीवनीयो भवति य एवं वेद॥
te kṛṣiṃ ca sasyaṃ ca manuṣyā upa jīvanti । kṛṣṭarādhir upajīvanīyo bhavati ya evaṃ veda ॥
PM's MessageAgriculture is not merely a means of livelihood, but the fundamental basis for nourishing society and the nation. When the sweat of our farmer brothers and sisters meets the soil, it becomes grain and gives strength to the lives of the people of the country.
Meaning of Te Kṛṣiṃ Ca Sasyaṃ
Agriculture and crops are the very foundation of human life. One who understands this truth carries out agricultural work properly and through it, society is sustained and nourished.
Word by word
- तेte
they
तद्
- कृषिम्kṛṣim
agriculture
√कृष्
- च सस्यम्ca sasyam
and the crop
सस्य
- च मनुष्याःca manuṣyāḥ
and human beings
मनु
- उप जीवन्तिupa jīvanti
live upon
उप + √जीव्
- कृष्टराधिःkṛṣṭarādhiḥ
prospering by what is ploughed
√कृष् + √राध्
- उपजीवनीयःupajīvanīyaḥ
one to be lived upon
उप + √जीव्
- भवतिbhavati
becomes
√भू
- यः एवम् वेदya evaṁ veda
who knows thus
√विद्
Commentary
This mantra states a simple truth with great force: human beings live by agriculture and by the crops that arise from it. The words kṛṣi and sasya place both the act of cultivation and its harvest at the center of social life. Food is not treated here as a commodity alone, but as the visible form of human dependence on the land, the seasons, and disciplined labor. The closing phrase, 'one who knows this', gives the verse a reflective turn. To understand agriculture in this way is to see the farmer's work as a sustaining duty, not merely an occupation. In the context of the Prime Minister's message, the mantra honors the farmer's effort: sweat joined with soil becomes grain, and grain becomes strength, stability, and nourishment for the nation.
Original Post
More from Atharvaveda
View source pageसुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.
सहृदयं सांमनस्यमविद्वेषं कृणोमि वः। अन्यो अन्यमभि हर्यत वत्सं जातमिवाघ्न्या॥
sahṛdayaṁ sāṃmanasyam avidveṣaṁ kṛṇomi vaḥ । anyo anyam abhi haryata vatsaṁ jātam ivāghnyā ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra calls people to shared feeling, concord and freedom from hatred, with a cow's tenderness for her newborn calf as its model.
समानी व आकूतिः समाना हृदयानि वः। समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति॥
samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hṛdayāni vaḥ । samānam astu vo mano yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥
The closing verse of the Rigveda prays for united intention, united hearts and united minds, so that people may dwell together in good fellowship.
More subhashitams on Agriculture
View topic pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
स्वे स्वे कर्मण्यभिरतः संसिद्धिं लभते नरः। स्वकर्मनिरतः सिद्धिं यथा विन्दति तच्छृणु॥
sve sve karmaṇyabhirataḥ saṁsiddhiṁ labhate naraḥ । svakarmanirataḥ siddhiṁ yathā vindati tacchṛṇu ॥
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that devotion to one's own work is a path to perfection.
सुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.