Chapter 11

(51) EMAA AGURYOSHITAH SHUMBHAMAANAA UTTTISHTHA NAARI TAVASAM RAMASVA |
SUPATNI PATYAA PRAJAYAA PRAJAAVATYAA TVAAGAN YAGYAH PRATI KUMBHAM GRIBHAAYA ||

-------------(1/14 Atharvaveda)

These women have adorned themselves and come here! Get up and acquire strength! May you become an ideal wife of your husband! May you be blessed with good children! The 'yagya' has reached you..... fill up the pot!
This richa exhorts women to perform their duties well and give due importance to their appearance because only then they will be able to attract good husbands. A woman should perform the duties of a wife without any complain, give birth to good children and bring them up as ideal citizens.

(52) VRISHABHO SI SWARGA RISHI NAARVEYAAN GACHCHA |
SUKRITAAM LOKE SEEDA TATRA NAU SANSKRITAM ||

-------------(1/35 Atharvaveda)

You are strong! You are the provider of joy! Go to the sages and their sons! Live at the place of virtuous souls to become well-cultured !
This particular richa advises humans to acquire strength, power and happiness. It also praises the virtues of living in the company of learned souls because by doing so a man acquires knowledge and becomes well cultured.

(53) SAMAACHIN USHVANU SAMPRAYAAHMAAGNE PATHAH KALPAYA
DEVYAANAAN |

-------------(1/36,Atharvaveda)

O Agni ! Unite all! Come with pleasure! Make a path for the Gods to tread!
Unity can only come when there is better co-ordination and mutual understanding in society; when there is no friction of thoughts and clash of ideologies. We should therefore follow the ideals established by the scholars and engage ourselves in virtuous deeds.

(54) MA NO HINSEE RADHI NO BRU HI PARINO VRINGDHI MAA KRADHAH |
MAAM TVAYAA SAMARAAMAHIM ||

-------------(2/20, Atharvaveda)

Do not kill us! Preach to us! Protect us and do not become angry! May we never oppose you!
This 'richa' praises the glory of 'Agni' and seeks His protection and blessings. It also advises us to be free from negative qualities like violence, anger and hatred. We should never be indignant and resentful. We should make efforts to acquire right knowledge and refrain from violence. We should work in unison and with co-operation because disunity leads to problems and failures.

 

 

(55) PRAANAYA NAMO YASTA SARVAMIDAM VASHE |

-------------(4/1,Atharvaveda)

I prostrate before 'Prana'(vital force)-the controller of the entire universe.
In this richa the importance of 'prana' has been highlighted. It is prana that helps us to exist. Our life sustains on prana. Our body is dependent upon prana (breath) for all its functions. We should bring this mighty force into our control, by practicing pranayama.

(56) BRAHMACHAARI ISHNA ANSHCHARATI RODASI UBHE TASMIN DEVAAH SAMMANASO BHAVANTI |

-------------(5/1, Atharvaveda)

A 'brahmachari' (a celibate) acts in such a way that treading the paths of both earth and heaven becomes a pleasurable experience; that is why all the Gods always dwell with him(in his heart).
In this richa the qualities of a Brahmachari are described. A brahmachari is he, who tries to attain enlightenment while he is alive and aspires for 'salvation' after his death. He incessantly makes efforts to improve upon his intellect and knowledge and to tread on the path of truth. Quite naturally gods are pleased by him and dwell in his heart.

Chapter 12

(57) SA NO BHUMIRVI SRIJATAAM MAATAA PUTRAYA ME PACHAH |

-------------(1/10,Atharvaveda)

May earth provide us with all the things of our requirements just like a 'mother', who breast-feeds her child.
This beautiful richa compares the earth with mother and rightly so because she gives us all that we need for our survival- food to eat and water to drink just as a mother, who breast feeds her child. Therefore, we should protect the dignity of mother Earth because that's the only way we can repay some fraction of our debts (Matru rin) to Her.

(58) TAA NAH PRAJAAH SAM DUHATAAM SAMAGRAA VAACHO MADHU PRITHIVI DHEHI MAHYAM |

-------------(1/16,Atharvaveda)

O Motherland! May we, your subjects unite and be 'sweet-speakers'! Bless all of us so that we too could be soft spoken. Soft speech breeds brotherhood, peace and prosperity in the society. On the contrary harsh speech leads to hostility, hatred and enmity.
Therefore we should be polite and soft-spoken.

(59) UDIRAANAA UTAASEENA ASTISHTHANTAH PRAKAAMANTAH |
PADBHYAAM DAKSHINA SAVYAABHYAAM MAA VYATHISHMAHI BHUMYAAM ||

-------------(1/28,Atharvaveda)

May we not inflict pain on anybody while (making body movements like) walking....sitting.... getting up.... and taking strides with right or left foot! This beautiful richa praises the virtues of non-violence and advises us to be watchful while making body movements lest any creature get trampled under our feet. We should not engage in any action that causes pain to others.

(60) BHUME MATARNI DHEHI BHAA BHADRAYAA SUPRATISHTHITAM |
SAMVIDAANAA DIVAA KAVE SHRIYAAM MAA DHEHI BHUTYAAM ||

-------------(1/63,Atharvaveda)

O Motherland! Bless us with a benevolent mind! Help us realize all the knowledge with each passing day and may I acquire wealth from the earth!
In this richa prayer has been made to mother earth that She blesses us with the knowledge required to exploit the treasures of the nature but without disturbing the environmental balance.

(61) NIRITO MRITYUM NIRARITNIM NIRARAATIM AJAAMASI |
YO NO DVESHTI TAMADDHAGNE SAKRAVYAADA YAMU DVISHMASTAMU TE PRA SUVAAMASI ||

-------------(2/3 Atharvaveda)

Let there be no death, sorrow and enemy! O agni! devour those who oppose us! Whoever we oppose, we hand them over to you!
Here in this richa a prayer is made to Agni to liberate us from death, pain and enemies. We should work hard so that we are freed from the bondages of all kinds of sufferings, sorrows and poverty. We should acquire power and strength so that we could vanquish our enemies and enjoy a long life full of happiness and prosperity and face death without fear.

(62) YAT TVAA KRUDDHAAH PRACH AKRUR MANYUNA PURUSHE MRITE|
SUKALPA MAGNE TAT TVAYAA PUNASTVOD DIPAYAAMASSI ||

-------------(2/5 Atharvaveda)

Those who exploit thine wrath at the death of a man, O Agni! this deed of thine is just! So, we enkindle you once again.
According to Hindu traditions, after the death of a man his dead body is consigned to flames. This particular richa hails the glory of Agni and says that after death all the physical pains and sufferings cease to trouble us. This means that fears, sufferings, joys, sorrows, etc. trouble us as long as we are alive and once the soul departs from the body and the body is consigned to flames all emotions cease to have effect on that body constituted of 'panchtatva'. The tremendous wrath of Agni helps the physical body to fragment and then disappear in its original form i.e. 'panchtatva'.

(63) YE SHRADDHA DHANKAAMYA KRAVYAADA SAMAASATE |
TE VA ANYESHA KUMBHIM PARYADADHI SANRVADA ||

-------------(2/51 Atharvaveda)

Those who are greedy and 'devoid of devotion' sit together and devour flesh, they definitely have an eye on other's wealth.

Those who are greedy and avaricious end up in misery. Because of their evil deeds they are short lived.

 

(64) PITEVA PUTRAANABHI SAM SWAJASVA NAH |

-------------(3/12 Atharvaveda)

Just as a father 'treats' his children, you treat us all.
Let us all love each other the same way a father loves his children
Mutual affection only leads to co-operation and peace this propagates happiness and prosperity in the society.

(65) YADYAJJAYAA PACHATI TVAT PARAH PARAH PATIRVAA JAAYE TVAT TIRAH|
SA TAT SUJETAA SAH VAAM TADASTU SAMPADAYANTAU SAH LOKAM EKAM ||

-------------(3/39 Atharvaveda)

Whatever your wife cooks of which 'you' are unaware...whatever your 'husband' does that you are not aware of.... make them known to each other...every(activity) should be done by 'one' (in such a way) that the 'another' is aware about it... may you both attain to the same 'Loka'.
If there is difference of opinion between husband and wife then household chores will become impossible to accomplish. To avoid this, the relationship between husband and wife should be cordial and loving. Concealing any activity from the other may create unnecessary suspicion and mistrust between husband and wife and the situation may go beyond repair one day. Therefore it is in the best interest of both to share whatever they have so that it strengthens the mutual-bond and love.

(66) PRIYAM PRIYAANAAM KRINAVAAM NAMASTE YANTU YATEM DWISHANTI |

-------------(3/49 Atharvaveda)

May our friends be dear to us! May those who hate us, end up in darkness of ignorance!
We should never have any kind of malevolence towards our friends. Hostility pollutes the mind and actions and brings harmful repercussions. Therefore, we should always be loving  toward our friends.

Chapter 13

(67) PARITVAA DHAAT SAVITAA DEVO AGNIR VARCHASAA MITRAAVARUNAA VABI TVAA |
SARVAA ARAANTIR VAKRAAMANNEHEEDAM RASHTRA MAKARAH SANRITAA VAT ||

-------------(1/20, Atharvaveda)

May 'Savita dev' be present on all your sides! May Agni with his effulgence and Mitra and Varun protect you! Move ahead, vanquish your enemies and give joy to your Nation! In the vedic period, Savita, Mitra, Varun were three popular deities worshipped by aryans. Here, in this richa, prayer is offered to all three of them for welfare, success and prosperity. Even now we should engage ourselves in such actions that lead to national development, growth and progress.

 

(68) YO YAGYASYA PRASAADHANA STANTUR DEVESHVAA TATAH |
TAMAA HUTAM SHEEMAHI ||

-------------(1/60 Atharvaveda)

That 'fibre-of-knowledge' which is capable of accomplishing 'Yagya' and pervading the beings of Gods, may we be receptive to it! May we imbibe all those qualities and sublime merits possessed by the Gods. Human should try to imbibe good qualities because only by doing so we shall prosper and be successful. Our resolve to indulge in good deeds shall definitely yield rich benefits.

(69) AYUKTA SAPTA SHUNDHYUVAH SURO RATHASYA NAPTYAH |
TA ABHIRYATI SWAYUKTIBHIH ||

-------------(2/24 Atharvaveda)

The 'chariot' of Surya comprises seven rays that are absolutely pure, boarded on which He moves as per His wishes! The sunlight contains seven colours. Here in this beautiful richa, the sun's rays have been compared with the seven horses of a chariot. The sun showers light to all without any discrimination. Similarly, humans should also engage themselves in doing work for the benefit of the society. We should imbibe this unique quality of the sun and enhance our internal energies. The person who works for the good of others becomes prosperous and successful.

(70) ATANDRO THAASYAN HARITO YADAASTHAAD DVE RUPE KRINATE ROCHAMAANAH |
KETUMAANUD DYANTSAHAMAANO RAJAANSI VISHWAA AADITYA MAVATO VIBHAASI ||

-------------(2/28Atharvareda)

He(Sun)is not indolent, boarded on His chariot pulled by seven horses, when He wills to make a move, He assumes two forms! O Sun! After arising You conquer the world and shine radiantly from above the sky!
The greatness of the sun is indispensable. When the sun rises the entire world is illuminated. This richa exhorts us to emulate the Sun and to perform our duties, shedding indolence.

(71) KEERTISHCHA YASHASHCHA AMBHASHCHA BRAAHMAN VARCHASAM CHAA ANNAM CHA ANNAADYA CHA|
ETAM DEVAM EKAM VRITAM VEDA ||

-------------(5/14 Atharvaveda)

Fame, success, leisure, radiance, food, knowledge....everything can be acquired just by knowing 'this' one God.
God is one but the ways to reach Him are many. The most important thing is God-realization and the path one chooses does not matter much. The person who selflessly and assiduously works towards this goal of God-realization, enjoys all the comforts and pleasures of life. Such a person is blessed with all merits, and all his desires are fulfilled.

 

 

 

Chapter 14

(72) ARCHAMANAM YAJAA MAHE SUBANDHUM PATIVEDANAM |
URVAARUK MIVA BANDHANAATPRETO MUNCHAAMI NAAMUTAH ||

-------------(1/17, Atharvaveda)

We honour the one coming from a noble family..... the one who has become your husband..... the one with supreme intellect. Just as a musk-melon detaches itself from the creepers, in the same manner I release you from the father's clan...but not from husband's.
One should seek the help of noble souls while searching for a suitable match for his daughter. Just like musk-melon, which detaches itself from the tree after it ripens, the girl after marriage leaves the father's house to develop a new relation with her husband 's family. For a married woman, detachment from the father's clan is natural because she begins a totally new life with her husband, which is literally her second birth.

(73) YUVAM BHAGAM SAM BHARATAM SAMRIDDH AMRITAM VADANTA AAVRRITODDYESHU |
BRAHMANASPATE PATIMANYAI ROCHAYA CHAARU SAMBHALO VADATU VAACHAM ETAAM ||

-------------(1/31, Atharvaveda)

May you both (husband/wife) act righteously and be blessed by prosperity and good fortune. O learned one! Help create interest in the heart of a wife towards her husband. May the husband be soft spoken and polite!
For happy and congenial marital life, the husband and wife must have faith, understanding and trust in each other. The wife should always be respectful towards her husband. The husband also should be caring and loving towards his wife so that the bond between them becomes stronger day by day and both of them enjoy a happy and satisfied married life.

(74) AASHAAYAANAA SAUMANASAM PRAJAAM SAUBHAAGYAM RAYIM PATYUR NUVRATAA BHUVVA SAM NAHMASWA AMRITAAYA KAM |

-------------(1/42,Atharvaveda)

You, the aspirant for supreme mind, progeny, fortune and wealth..... acting in accordance with your husband's wishes, happily pave your way towards immortality.
A woman should always think well of her family and should work according to her husband's wishes so that a peaceful, happy and cordial atmosphere prevails in the family.

(75) EMAM PANTHAAMARU KSHAAM SUGAM SWASTI VAAHANAM |
YASMIN VEERO NA RISHYATYA NYESHAAM VINDATE VASU ||

-------------(2/8,Atharvaveda)

Follow 'this' path... it is easily accessible and the cart can move freely on it.... treading on which the brave ones do not get vanquished and which also provides better prospects for earning wealth.
We should always choose a path that is easy and devoid of obstacles to eliminate any kind of threat perception, so that we could achieve the desired goal without any problem.

(76) AGHOR CHAKSHUR PATINDHI SYONA SHAGMA SUSHEVA SUYAMA GRIHEBHYAHA |
VIR ARDEVRIKAMA SAM TVAIDHISHIMAHI SUMANAYSA MAHA ||

-------------(2/17,Atharvaveda)

One, who does not cast evil eyes on her 'own' house... who does not have malevolence towards her husband... giver of joy....seeker of family's welfare...who treads on the righteous path... gives happiness to all... serves all... gives birth to good sons... keeps her brother-in-laws satisfied and gives nourishing food...May such a wife help us attain prosperity.
This richa describes the qualities of an ideal wife. A woman who possesses all the above mentioned qualities will quite naturally not have any problem in fulfilling her obligations towards her family and quite obviously keep everybody in the family happy and satisfied. A house in which such a woman dwells is always prosperous and full of comforts and luxuries.

(77) SHARM VARMETADAA HARAASYAI NAARYAA UPASTARE |

-------------(2/21,Atharvaveda)

Bring the cushions of 'happiness' and 'protection' for this woman to spread her bed.
It is the duty of the husband to earn money and fulfill the needs of his wife. It is also his duty to keep her happy and satisfied. He should protect her and fulfill all her demands. The husband being the head of the family has it under his obligation to look after the family. Such a household is the happiest where all are satisfied and content.

Chapter 15

(78) PARISHKANDAA AASANT SANKALPAAH PRAHAAYYA VISHWAANI BHUTANYU PASADAH |

-------------(3/10, Atharvaveda)

Deities became his protector.... resolutions his messengers and people sat in his company.
The person who takes a resolution and then works diligently towards its fulfillment is helped and blessed by gods. He gets easy access to all the means necessary for success, growth and prosperity. Therefore, sincere efforts made for the realization of auspicious resolution never go in vain. Such a person naturally becomes the leader of the masses.

(79) SAH VISHO ANU VYACHALAT |

-------------(9/1, Atharvaveda)

He went favourably (just) according to the aspirations of his subject.
One, who earns leadership of the masses by working ceaselessly for people's welfare finally realizes that he has been rewarded with added advantage. A king, who rules as per the aspiration of people will naturally become popular. He will successfully rule his kingdom for a very long time.