उपस्थास्ते अनमीवा अयक्ष्मा अस्मभ्यं सन्तु पृथिवि प्रसूताः। दीर्घं न आयुः प्रतिबुध्यमाना वयं तुभ्यं बलिहृतः स्याम॥
upasthāste anamīvā ayakṣmā asmabhyaṃ santu pṛthivi prasūtāḥ । dīrghaṃ na āyuḥ pratibudhyamānā vayaṃ tubhyaṃ balihṛtaḥ syāma ॥
Meaning of Upasthāste Anamīvā Ayakṣmā Asmabhyaṃ
O Mother Earth! May the plants, food grains, and medicines that arise from your womb keep us healthy, so that, becoming strong, we may gain right discernment in life and always remain ready to dedicate our entire being to the Motherland.
Word by word
- उपस्थाः तेupasthās te
those that stand upon you
उप + √स्था
- अनमीवाःanamīvāḥ
free from sickness
अन् + अमीव
- अयक्ष्माःayakṣmāḥ
free from consumption
अ + यक्ष्म
- अस्मभ्यम् सन्तुasmabhyaṁ santu
may they be for us
√अस्
- पृथिविpṛthivi
O Earth
√प्रथ्
- प्रसूताःprasūtāḥ
brought forth
प्र + √सू
- दीर्घम् नः आयुःdīrghaṁ na āyuḥ
long life for us
आयुस्
- प्रतिबुध्यमानाःpratibudhyamānāḥ
awakening to it
प्रति + √बुध्
- वयम् तुभ्यम्vayaṁ tubhyam
we, to you
- बलिहृतः स्यामbalihṛtaḥ syāma
may we be bearers of offerings
बलि + √हृ
Commentary
This verse is part of the famous Bhumi Sukta (Hymn to Earth) from the Atharvaveda. It reflects the deep Vedic reverence for nature, where the Earth is seen as a nurturing mother. The seeker asks for "Anamiva" (freedom from illness) and "Ayakshma" (freedom from chronic decay), highlighting that physical health is the foundation for a life of purpose. The ultimate goal, as stated, is to remain "Pratibudhyamana" (ever-vigilant/awakened) and dedicated to the service of the motherland. The shared meaning closes with total sacrifice for the motherland, while balihṛtaḥ syāma means becoming bearers of offerings to the Earth. The verse asks for disease-free plants and long life and answers with a reciprocal relation of offering rather than patriotic self-sacrifice.
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 Nature
View topic pageदेव्या यया ततमिदं जगदात्मशक्त्या निश्शेषदेवगणशक्तिसमूहमूर्त्या। तामम्बिकामखिलदेवमहर्षिपूज्यां भक्त्या नताः स्म विदधातु शुभानि सा नः॥
devyā yayā tatamidaṃ jagadātmaśaktyā niśśeṣadevagaṇaśaktisamūhamūrtyā । tāmambikāmakhiladevamaharṣipūjyāṃ bhaktyā natāḥ sma vidadhātu śubhāni sā naḥ ॥
A prayer from Devi Mahatmyam to Ambika, who pervades the world and embodies all divine powers, asking for blessings for everyone.
सुखोपविष्टास्ते तत्र पुण्यां चक्रुः कथामिमाम्। धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणामारोग्यं मूलमुत्तमम्॥
sukhopaviṣṭās te tatra puṇyāṃ cakruḥ kathām imām । dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇām ārogyaṃ mūlam uttamam ॥
Charaka Samhita presents good health as the foremost foundation for pursuing dharma, prosperity, desire and liberation.
हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्। मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते॥
hitāhitaṃ sukhaṃ duḥkham āyus tasya hitāhitam । mānaṃ ca tac ca yatroktam āyurvedaḥ sa ucyate ॥
Charaka Samhita defines Ayurveda through beneficial and harmful, happy and unhappy forms of life and the measure of lifespan.