यार्णवेऽधि सलिलमग्र आसीद्यां मायाभिरन्वचरन्मनीषिणः। यस्या हृदयं परमे व्योमन्त्सत्येनावृतममृतं पृथिव्याः। सा नो भूमिस्त्विषिं बलं राष्ट्रे दधातूत्तमे॥
yārṇave’dhi salilam agra āsīd yāṁ māyābhir anvacaran manīṣiṇaḥ । yasyā hṛdayaṁ parame vyoman tsatyenāvṛtam amṛtaṁ pṛthivyāḥ । sā no bhūmis tviṣiṁ balaṁ rāṣṭre dadhātūttame ॥
Meaning of Yārṇave’Dhi Salilam Agra Āsīd
The Earth, which is filled with water within the oceans and surrounded by water outside, which thoughtful scholars have understood through their wisdom and whose heart is covered by the eternal truth in the vast sky - may that Earth sustain our energy and strength in a noble nation.
Word by word
- याyā
she who
यद्
- अर्णवे अधिarṇave adhi
upon the flood
अर्णव
- सलिलम्salilam
as water
सलिल
- अग्रे आसीत्agre āsīt
was in the beginning
√अस्
- याम्yām
whom
यद्
- मायाभिःmāyābhiḥ
by their powers
माया
- अन्वचरन्anvacaran
followed after
अनु + √चर्
- मनीषिणःmanīṣiṇaḥ
the wise
मनीषा
- यस्याः हृदयम्yasyā hṛdayam
whose heart
हृदय
- परमे व्योमन्parame vyoman
in the highest heaven
व्योमन्
- सत्येन आवृतम्satyenāvṛtam
wrapped in truth
सत्य + आ + √वृ
- अमृतम्amṛtam
immortal
अ + √मृ
- सा नः भूमिःsā no bhūmiḥ
may that earth, for us
√भू
- त्विषिम् बलम्tviṣiṁ balam
lustre and strength
√त्विष् + बल
- राष्ट्रे दधातु उत्तमेrāṣṭre dadhātūttame
grant in this highest realm
√धा
Commentary
This verse from the Atharvaveda's Bhumi Sukta recalls Earth as water in or upon the ocean at the beginning; it does not say that Earth is presently surrounded by water. The wise followed or sought her through maya, a word that can denote powers, devices, or arts, and her immortal heart is described as covered by truth in the highest heaven. The closing prayer asks Earth to place radiance and strength in or for an excellent rashtra, though the exact syntax of rashṭre dadhatu uttame admits more than one construction. Ecological and patriotic readings are natural modern applications, but they should not replace these difficult Vedic images with a single settled paraphrase.
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.
उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥
udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥
Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.
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.