यस्यां वृक्षा वानस्पत्या ध्रुवास्तिष्ठन्ति विश्वहा। पृथिवीं धेनुं प्रदुहां न उदिच्छन्तु नमोऽस्तु पृथिव्यै॥
yasyāṃ vṛkṣā vānaspatyā dhruvāstiṣṭhanti viśvahā । pṛthivīṃ dhenuṃ praduhāṃ na udicchantu namo’stu pṛthivyai ॥
PM's MessageEarth is our mother and the welfare of humanity lies in its conservation. It is not just our responsibility to protect it, but it is also our sacred resolve towards future generations.
Meaning of Yasyāṃ Vṛkṣā Vānaspatyā Dhruvāstiṣṭhanti
On the land where trees and plants always stand firm and steady, may that Earth provide us with all comforts and resources. We bow to Mother Earth.
Word by word
- यस्याम्yasyām
on whom
यद्
- वृक्षाःvṛkṣāḥ
trees
वृक्ष
- वानस्पत्याःvānaspatyāḥ
of the forest kind
वनस्पति
- ध्रुवाःdhruvāḥ
firm
√ध्रु
- तिष्ठन्तिtiṣṭhanti
stand
√स्था
- विश्वहाviśvahā
all days
विश्व
- पृथिवीम् धेनुम्pṛthivīṁ dhenum
the earth as a milch cow
√प्रथ् + √धे
- प्रदुहाम्praduhām
may we milk
प्र + √दुह्
- नः उदिच्छन्तुna udicchantu
may they arise for us
उद् + √इष्
- नमः अस्तु पृथिव्यैnamo'stu pṛthivyai
salutation be to the earth
√नम्
Commentary
This verse is part of the famous 'Bhumi Sukta' from the Atharvaveda. It acknowledges the stability of the natural world—the trees and plants that stand 'dhruva' (firm)—and prays for the Earth's abundance as a metaphorical 'dhenu' (cow) that yields all blessings. It reflects the deep ecological consciousness of the Vedic tradition, viewing Earth not as a resource to be exploited, but as a mother to be revered. This timeless wisdom reminds us that protecting our environment is a sacred vow for the well-being of all living beings. The verse holds two attitudes together without choosing between them. Earth is asked to yield like a milch cow, dhenuṁ praduhām, and in the same breath is bowed to, namo 'stu pṛthivyai. The Bhumi Sukta throughout refuses the split between using the Earth and revering it, treating the second as the condition of the first rather than its opposite. Viśvahā, all days, sets the timeframe: the trees stand firm not seasonally but always.
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.
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.