Atharva Veda 12.1

satyaṃ bṛhad ṛtam ugraṃ dīkṣā tapo brahma yajñaḥ pṛthivīṃ dhārayanti sā no bhūtasya bhavyasya patny uruṃ lokaṃ pṛthivī naḥ kṛṇotu

To the earth

Great (bṛhánt) truth, formidable right, consecration, penance, bráhman, sacrifice sustain the earth; let her for us, mistress of what is and what is to be—let the earth make for us wide room (loká);—

asaṃbādhaṃ madhyato mānavānāṃ yasyā udvataḥ pravataḥ samaṃ bahu nānāvīryā oṣadhīr yā bibharti pṛthivī naḥ prathatāṃ rādhyatāṃ naḥ

Unoppressedness in the midst of men (mānavá). Whose are the ascents (udvát), the advances (pravát), the much plain (samá); who bears the herbs of various virtue (nā́nāvīrya)—let the earth be spread out for us, be prosperous for us.

yasyāṃ samudra uta sindhur āpo yasyām annaṃ kṛṣṭayaḥ saṃbabhūvuḥ yasyām idaṃ jinvati prāṇad ejat sā no bhūmiḥ pūrvapeye dadhātu

On whom [are] the ocean and the river (síndhu), the waters; on whom food, plowings, came into being; on whom quickens this that breathes, that stirs—let that earth (bhū́mi) set us in first drinking.

yasyāś catasraḥ pradiśaḥ pṛthivyā yasyām annam kṛṣṭayaḥ saṃbabhūvuḥ yā bibharti bahudhā prāṇad ejat sā no bhūmir goṣv apy anne dadhātu

Whose, the earth's, [are] the four quarters; on whom food, plowings, came into being; who bears manifoldly what breathes, what stirs—let that earth (bhū́mi) set us among kine, also in inexhaustibleness (? ánya).

This verse is not included in this edition.

On whom the people of eld (pūrvajaná) formerly spread themselves (? vi-kṛ); on whom the gods overcame the Asuras; the station (? viṣṭhā́) of kine, of horses, of birds (váyas)—let the earth assign us fortune (bhága), splendor.

This verse is not included in this edition.

All-bearing, good-holding, firm-standing, gold-backed (-vákṣas), reposer of moving things (jágat), bearing the universal (vāiçvānará) fire, let the earth (bhū́mi), whose bull is Indra, set us in property.

yāṃ rakṣanty asvapnā viśvadānīṃ devā bhūmiṃ pṛthivīm apramādam sā no madhu priyaṃ duhām atho ukṣatu varcasā

She the earth (bhū́mi pṛthivī́), whom the gods, sleepless, defend all the time without failure—let her yield (duh) to us honey, what is dear; then let her sprinkle us with splendor.

yārṇave 'dhi salilam agra āsīt yāṃ māyābhir anvacaran manīṣiṇaḥ yasyā hṛdayaṃ parame vyomant satyenāvṛtam amṛtaṃ pṛthivyāḥ sā no bhūmis tviṣiṃ balaṃ rāṣṭre dadhātūttame

She who in the beginning was sea (salilá) upon the ocean (arṇavá); whom the skilful (manīṣín) moved after with their devices (māyā́); the earth whose immortal heart covered with truth is in the highest firmament (vyòman)—let that earth (bhū́mi) assign to us brilliancy, strength, in highest royalty.

yasyām āpaḥ paricarāḥ samānīr ahorātre apramādaṃ kṣaranti sā no bhūmir bhūridhārā payo duhām atho ukṣatu varcasā

On whom the circulating waters flow the same, night and day, without failure—let that earth (bhū́mi), of many streams (-dhā́rā) yield (duh) us milk; then let her sprinkle [us] with splendor.

yām aśvināv amimātāṃ viṣṇur yasyāṃ vicakrame indro yāṃ cakra ātmane 'namitrāṃ śacīpatiḥ sā no bhūmir visṛjatāṃ mātā putrāya me payaḥ

Whom the Açvins measured; on whom Vishṇu strode out; whom Indra, lord of might (çacī-), made free from enemies for himself—let that earth (bhū́mi) to us, a mother to a son, release (vi-sṛj) milk ⌊to me⌋.

girayas te parvatā himavanto 'raṇyaṃ te pṛthivi syonam astu babhruṃ kṛṣṇāṃ rohiṇīṃ viśvarūpāṃ dhruvāṃ bhūmiṃ pṛthivīm indraguptām ajīto 'hato akṣato 'dhyaṣṭhām pṛthivīm aham

Let thy hills (girí) [and] snowy mountains (párvata), let thy forest-land (áraṇya), O earth, be pleasant (syoná); upon the brown, black, red, all-formed, fixed (dhruvá) earth (bhū́mi), the earth guarded by Indra—I, unharassed, unsmitten, unwounded, have stood upon the earth.

yat te madhyaṃ pṛthivi yac ca nabhyaṃ yās ta ūrjas tanvaḥ saṃbabhūvuḥ tāsu no dhehy abhi naḥ pavasva mātā bhūmiḥ putro ahaṃ pṛthivyāḥ parjanyaḥ pitā sa u naḥ pipartu

What is thy middle, O earth, and what thy navel, what refreshments (ū́rj) arose (sam-bhū) out of thy body—in them do thou set us; be purifying (pū) toward us; earth (bhū́mi) is mother, I am earth's son; Parjanya is father—let him save (fill? pṛ) us.

yasyāṃ vediṃ parigṛhṇanti bhūmyāṃ yasyāṃ yajñaṃ tanvate viśvakarmāṇaḥ yasyāṃ mīyante svaravaḥ pṛthivyām ūrdhvāḥ śukrā āhutyāḥ purastāt sā no bhūmir vardhayad vardhamānā

On what earth (bhū́mi) they enclose the sacrificial hearth; on what [earth] men of all works extend the sacrifice; on what earth are set up (mi) the sacrificial posts, erect, bright, before the oblation—let that earth (bhū́mi), increasing, make us increase.

yo no dveṣat pṛthivi yaḥ pṛtanyād yo 'bhidāsān manasā yo vadhena taṃ no bhūme randhaya pūrvakṛtvari

Whoso shall hate us, O earth; whoso shall fight [us]; whoso shall vex [us] with mind, who with deadly weapon—him, O prior-acting earth (bhū́mi), do thou put in our power.

tvaj jātās tvayi caranti martyās tvaṃ bibharṣi dvipadas tvaṃ catuṣpadaḥ taveme pṛthivi pañca mānavā yebhyo jyotir amṛtaṃ martyebhya udyant sūryo raśmibhir ātanoti

Born from thee, mortals go about upon thee; thou bearest bipeds, thou quadrupeds; thine, O earth, are these five [races] of men, for whom, mortals, the rising sun extends with his rays immortal light.

tā naḥ prajāḥ saṃ duhratāṃ samagrā vāco madhu pṛthivi dhehi mahyam

Let those creatures, without exception (samagrá), together yield fruit (duh) to us; the honey of speech, O earth, do thou assign unto me.

viśvasvaṃ mātaram oṣadhīnāṃ dhruvāṃ bhūmiṃ pṛthivīṃ dharmaṇā dhṛtām śivāṃ syonām anu carema viśvahā

The all-producing (-sū́) mother of herbs, the fixed earth (bhū́mi), the earth maintained by ordinance, the auspicious, the pleasant, may we go about over always.

mahat sadhasthaṃ mahatī babhūvitha mahān vega ejathur vepathuṣ ṭe mahāṃs tvendro rakṣaty apramādam sā no bhūme prarocaya hiraṇyasyeva saṃdṛśi mā no dvikṣata kaścana

Thou hast become great, a great station (sadhástha) great is thy trembling, stirring, quaking; great Indra defends thee unremittingly. Do thou, O earth (bhū́mi), make us to shine forth as in the aspect (saṁdṛ́ç) of gold; let no one soever hate us.

agnir bhūmyām oṣadhīṣv agnim āpo bibhraty agnir aśmasu agnir antaḥ puruṣeṣu goṣv aśveṣv agnayaḥ

Agni is in the earth (bhū́mi), in the herbs; the waters bear Agni; Agni [is] in the stones (áçman); Agni is within men; in kine, in horses are Agnis.

agnir diva ātapaty agner devasyorv antarikṣam agniṃ martāsa indhate havyavāhaṃ ghṛtapriyam

Agni sends heat from the sky; the wide atmosphere is god Agni's; mortals kindle Agni [as] oblation-bearer, ghee-lover.

agnivāsāḥ pṛthivy asitajñūs tviṣīmantaṃ saṃśitaṃ mā kṛṇotu

Let the earth, fire-clad, black-kneed, make me sharpened, brilliant (tvíṣīmant).

bhūmyāṃ devebhyo dadati yajñaṃ havyam araṃkṛtam bhūmyāṃ manuṣyā jīvanti svadhayānnena martyāḥ sā no bhūmiḥ prāṇam āyur dadhātu jaradaṣṭiṃ mā pṛthivī kṛṇotu

On the earth (bhū́mi) they give to the gods the sacrifice, the oblation, duly prepared; on the earth (bhū́mi) mortal men (manuṣyà) live by svadhā́, by food; let that earth (bhū́mi) assign us breath, life-time; let earth make me one who attains old age.

yas te gandhaḥ pṛthivi saṃbabhūva yaṃ bibhraty oṣadhayo yam āpaḥ yaṃ gandharvā apsarasaś ca bhejire tena mā surabhiṃ kṛṇu mā no dvikṣata kaścana

What odor of thine, O earth, came into being, which the herbs, which the waters bear, which the Gandharvas and Apsarases shared—with that do thou make me odorous; let no one soever hate us.

yas te gandhaḥ puṣkaram āviveśa yaṃ saṃjabhruḥ sūryāyā vivāhe amartyāḥ pṛthivi gandham agre tena mā surabhiṃ kṛṇu mā no dvikṣata kaścana

What odor of thine entered into the blue lotus; which they brought together at Sūryā's wedding—the immortals, O earth, [what] odor in the beginning—with that do thou make me odorous; let no one soever hate us.

yas te gandhaḥ puruṣeṣu strīṣu puṃsu bhago ruciḥ yo aśveṣu vīreṣu yo mṛgeṣūta hastiṣu kanyāyāṃ varco yad bhūme tenāsmāṁ api saṃsṛja mā no dvikṣata kaścana

What odor of thine is in human beings (púruṣa); in women, in men, [what] portion, pleasure; what in horses, in heroes, what in wild animals and in elephants; what splendor, O earth (bhū́mi), in a maiden—with that do thou unite us also; let no one soever hate us.

śilā bhūmir aśmā pāṃsuḥ sā bhūmiḥ saṃdhṛtā dhṛtā tasyai hiraṇyavakṣase pṛthivyā akaraṃ namaḥ

Rock [is?] earth (bhū́mi), stone, dust; this earth (bhū́mi) [is] held together, held; to that earth, gold-backed (-vákṣas) have I paid homage.

yasyāṃ vṛkṣā vānaspatyā dhruvās tiṣṭhanti viśvahā pṛthivīṃ viśvadhāyasaṃ dhṛtām acchāvadāmasi

On whom stand always fixed the trees, the forest trees (vānaspatyá), the all-supporting earth that is held [together] do we address.

udīrāṇā utāsīnās tiṣṭhantaḥ prakrāmantaḥ padbhyāṃ dakṣiṇasavyābhyāṃ mā vyathiṣmahi bhūmyām

Arising (ud-īr), also sitting, standing, striding forth, with right and left feet, let us not stagger upon the earth.

vimṛgvarīṃ pṛthivīm āvadāmi kṣamāṃ bhūmiṃ brahmaṇā vāvṛdhānām ūrjaṃ puṣṭaṃ bibhratīm annabhāgaṃ ghṛtaṃ tvābhiniṣīdema bhūme

The cleansing (vimṛ́gvan) earth do I address, the patient (kṣamá) earth (bhū́mi), increasing by worship (bráhman); may we sit down, O earth (bhū́mi), upon thee, that bearest refreshment, prosperity (puṣṭá), food-portion, ghee.

śuddhā na āpas tanve kṣarantu yo naḥ syedur apriye taṃ nidadhmaḥ pavitreṇa pṛthivi motpunāmi

Let cleansed (çuddhá) waters flow for our body; what mucus (? syédu) is ours, that we deposit on him we love not (ápriya); with a purifier (pavítra), O earth, do I purify myself.

yās te prācīḥ pradiśo yā udīcīr yās te bhūme adharād yāś ca paścāt syonās tā mahyaṃ carate bhavantu mā nipaptaṃ bhuvane śiśriyāṇaḥ

What forward directions are thine, what upward, what are thine, O earth (bhū́mi), downward, and what behind, let those be pleasant to me going about; let me not fall down [when] supported (çri) on creation (bhúvana).

mā naḥ paścān mā purastān nudiṣṭhā mottarād adharād uta svasti bhūme no bhava mā vidan paripanthino varīyo yāvayā vadham

Do not push (nud) us behind, nor in front, nor above and below; become thou welfare for us, O earth (bhū́mi); let not the waylayers find [us]; keep very far off the deadly weapon.

yāvat te 'bhi vipaśyāmi bhūme sūryeṇa medinā tāvan me cakṣur mā meṣṭottarāmuttarāṃ samām

How much of thee I look forth upon, O earth (bhū́mi), with the sun for ally (medín), so far let my sight not fail (mī), from one year (sámā) to another.

yac chayānaḥ paryāvarte dakṣiṇaṃ savyam abhi bhūme pārśvam uttānās tvā pratīcīṃ yat pṛṣṭībhir adhiśemahe mā hiṃsīs tatra no bhūme sarvasya pratiśīvari

In that, lying, I turn myself about upon the right [or] the left side, O earth (bhū́mi); in that we with our ribs lie stretched out upon thee that meetest us—do not in that case injure us, O earth (bhū́mi), thou underlier of everything.

yat te bhūme vikhanāmi kṣipraṃ tad apirohatu mā te marma vimṛgvari mā te hṛdayam arpipam

What of thee, O earth (bhū́mi), I dig out, let that quickly grow over; let me not hit (arpay-) thy vitals nor thy heart, O cleansing one.

grīṣmas te bhūme varṣāṇi śaraddhemantaḥ śiśiro vasantaḥ ṛtavas te vihitā hāyanīr ahorātre pṛthivi no duhātām

Let thy hot season, O earth (bhū́mi), rainy season, autumn, winter, cool season, spring—let thine arranged seasons, years, let day-and-night, O earth, yield milk (duh) to us.

yāpa sarpaṃ vijamānā vimṛgvarī yasyām āsann agnayo ye apsv antaḥ parā dasyūn dadatī devapīyūn indraṃ vṛṇānā pṛthivī na vṛtram śakrāya dadhre vṛṣabhāya vṛṣṇe

She who, cleansing one, trembling away the serpent; on whom were the fires that are within the waters, abandoning the god-insulting barbarians, choosing, she the earth, Indra [and] not Vṛitra, kept herself (dhṛ) for the mighty one (çakrá), the virile bull.

yasyāṃ sadohavirdhāne yūpo yasyāṃ nimīyate brahmāṇo yasyām arcanty ṛgbhiḥ sāmnā yajurvidaḥ yujyante yasyām ṛtvijaḥ somam indrāya pātave

On whom are the seat and oblation-holder; on whom the sacrificial post (yū́pa) is planted; on whom worshipers (brahmán) praise (arc) with verses, with the chant, knowing the sacrificial formulas; on whom are joined the priests (ṛtvíj), for Indra to drink the soma;—

yasyāṃ pūrve bhūtakṛta ṛṣayo gā udānṛcchuḥ sapta satreṇa vedhaso yajñena tapasā saha

On whom the former being-making seers sang out (ud-arc) the kine—the seven pious ones (vedhás), by their session, together with sacrifice [and] penance;—

sā no bhūmir ādiśatu yad dhanaṃ kāmayāmahe bhago anuprayuṅktām indra etu purogavaḥ

Let that earth (bhū́mi) appoint unto us what riches we desire; let Bhaga join on after; let Indra go [as our] forerunner.

yasyāṃ gāyanti nṛtyanti bhūmyāṃ martyā vyailabāḥ yudhyante yasyām ākrando yasyām vadati dundubhiḥ sā no bhūmiḥ praṇudatāṃ sapatnān asapatnaṃ mā pṛthivī kṛṇotu

On whom, the earth (bhū́mi), mortals sing [and] dance with loud noises (? vyāìlaba); on whom they fight; on whom speaks the shout (ākrandá), the drum—let that earth (bhū́mi) push forth our rivals; let earth make me free from rivals.

yasyām annaṃ vrīhiyavau yasyā imāḥ pañca kṛṣṭayaḥ bhūmyai parjanyapatnyai namo 'stu varṣamedase

On whom is food, rice-and-barley; whose are these five races (kṛṣṭí)—to the earth, whose spouse is Parjanya, fattened (-médas) by the rain, be homage.

yasyāḥ puro devakṛtāḥ kṣetre yasyā vikurvate prajāpatiḥ pṛthivīṃ viśvagarbhām āśāmāśāṃ raṇyāṃ naḥ kṛṇotu

Whose are the god-made strongholds; in whose field [men] fall out (? vi-kṛ)—the earth, womb of everything, let Prajāpati make pleasant (ráṇya) to us, spot by spot.

nidhiṃ bibhratī bahudhā guhā vasu maṇiṃ hiraṇyaṃ pṛthivī dadātu me vasūni no vasudā rāsamānā devī dadhātu sumanasyamānā

Bearing treasure [and] good in many places hiddenly, let the earth give me jewel (maṇí), gold; giver of good, bestowing good things on us, let the divine one assign [them to us] with favoring mind.

janaṃ bibhratī bahudhā vivācasaṃ nānādharmāṇaṃ pṛthivī yathaukasam sahasraṃ dhārā draviṇasya me duhāṃ dhruveva dhenur anapasphurantī

Let the earth, bearing in many places people of different speech, of diverse customs (-dhárman), according to their homes, yield (duh) me a thousand streams of property, like a steady (dhruvá) unresisting milch-cow.

yas te sarpo vṛścikas tṛṣṭadaṃśmā hemantajabdho bhṛmalo guhā śaye krimir jinvat pṛthivi yadyad ejati prāvṛṣi tan naḥ sarpan mopasṛpad yac chivaṃ tena no mṛḍa

What stinging (vṛ́çcika) harsh-biting serpent of thine lies in secret, winter-harmed, torpid (? bhṛmalá); whatever worm, O earth, becoming lively, stirs in the early rainy season—let that, crawling, not crawl upon us; be thou gracious to us with that which is propitious.

ye te panthāno bahavo janāyanā rathasya vartmānasaś ca yātave yaiḥ saṃcaranty ubhaye bhadrapāpās taṃ panthānaṃ jayemānamitram ataskaraṃ yac chivaṃ tena no mṛḍa

What many roads thou hast, for people to go upon, a track (vártman) for the chariot, and for the going of the cart, by which (pl.) men of both kinds, excellent and evil, go about—that road, free from enemies, free from robbers, may we conquer; be thou gracious to us with that which is propitious.

malvaṃ bibhratī gurubhṛd bhadrapāpasya nidhanaṃ titikṣuḥ varāheṇa pṛthivī saṃvidānā sūkarāya vijihīte mṛgāya

Bearing the fool, bearer of what is heavy, enduring (titikṣú) the death (? nidhána) of the excellent and of the evil, the earth, in concord with the boar, opens itself to the wild (mṛgá) hog.

ye ta āraṇyāḥ paśavo mṛgā vane hitāḥ siṃhā vyāghrāḥ puruṣādaś caranti ulaṃ vṛkaṃ pṛthivi ducchunām ita ṛkṣīkāṃ rakṣo apabādhayāsmat

What forest animals of thine, wild beasts set in the woods, lions, tigers, go about man-eating—the jackal (? ulá), the wolf, O earth, misfortune, the ṛkṣī́kā, the demon, do thou force (bādh) away from us here.

ye gandharvā apsaraso ye cārāyāḥ kimīdinaḥ piśācānt sarvā rakṣāṃsi tān asmad bhūme yāvaya

What Gandharvas, Apsarases [there are], and what arā́yas, kimīdíns: the piçācás, all demons—them do thou keep away from us, O earth (bhū́mi).

yāṃ dvipādaḥ pakṣiṇaḥ saṃpatanti haṃsāḥ suparṇāḥ śakunā vayāṃsi yasyāṃ vāto mātariśveyate rajāṃsi kṛṇvaṃś cyāvayaṃś ca vṛkṣān vātasya pravām upavām anuvāty arciḥ

She to whom two-footed winged-ones fly together, swans, eagles, hawks, birds; on whom the wind, Mātariçvan, goes about, making clouds of dust (? rájas) and setting in motion the trees—flame (arcís) blows after the forth-blowing, the toward-blowing, of the wind.

yasyāṃ kṛṣṇam aruṇaṃ ca saṃhite ahorātre vihite bhūmyām adhi varṣeṇa bhūmiḥ pṛthivī vṛtāvṛtā sā no dadhātu bhadrayā priye dhāmani dhāmani

On whom the black and the ruddy, combined, [namely] day-and-night, [are] disposed upon the earth (bhū́mi); the broad (pṛthivī́) earth (bhū́mi), wrapped [and] covered with rain—let her kindly (bhadráyā) set us in each loved abode.

dyauś ca ma idaṃ pṛthivī cāntarikṣaṃ ca me vyacaḥ agniḥ sūrya āpo medhāṃ viśve devāś ca saṃdaduḥ

Both heaven and earth and atmosphere [have given] me this expanse; fire, sun, waters, and all the gods have together given me wisdom (medhā́).

aham asmi sahamāna uttaro nāma bhūmyām abhīṣāḍ asmi viśvāṣāḍ āśāmāśāṃ viṣāsahiḥ

I am overpowering, superior by name on the earth (bhū́mi); I am subduing, all-overpowering, vanquishing in every region.

ado yad devi prathamānā purastād devair uktā vyasarpo mahitvam ā tvā subhūtam aviśat tadānīm akalpayathāḥ pradiśaś catasraḥ

When yonder, O divine one, spreading thyself forward, told by the gods, thou didst expand (vi-sṛp) to greatness, then entered into thee well-being; thou didst make fit the four directions.

ye grāmā yad araṇyaṃ yāḥ sabhā adhi bhūmyām ye saṃgrāmāḥ samitayas teṣu cāru vadema te

What villages, what forest, what assemblies, [are] upon the earth (bhū́mi), what hosts, gatherings—in them may we speak what is pleasant (cā́ru) to thee.

aśva iva rajo dudhuve vi tān janān ya ākṣiyan pṛthivīṃ yād ajāyata mandrāgretvarī bhuvanasya gopā vanaspatīnāṃ gṛbhir oṣadhīnām

As a horse the dust, she has shaken apart those people who dwelt upon the earth since (yā́t) she was born—pleasing, going at the head, keeper of creation (bhúvana), container of forest trees, of herbs.

yad vadāmi madhumat tad vadāmi yad īkṣe tad vananti mā tviṣīmān asmi jūtimān avānyān hanmi dodhataḥ

What I speak, rich in honey I speak it; what I view, that they win (? van) me; brilliant am I, possessed of swiftness; I smite down others that are violent (? dódhat).

śantivā surabhiḥ syonā kīlālodhnī payasvatī bhūmir adhibravītu me pṛthivī payasā saha

Tranquil, fragrant, pleasant, with sweet drink in her udder, rich in milk, let earth (bhū́mi) bless me, earth together with milk.

yām anvaicchaddhaviṣā viśvakarmāntar arṇave rajasi praviṣṭām bhujiṣyaṃ pātraṃ nihitaṃ guhā yad āvir bhoge abhavan mātṛmadbhyaḥ

Whom Viçvakarman sought after with oblation within the ocean, when she was entered into the mist (? rájas); an enjoyable vessel that was deposited in secret became manifest in enjoyment (bhóga) for them that have mothers.

tvam asy āvapanī janānām aditiḥ kāmadughā paprathānā yat ta ūnaṃ tat ta āpūrayāti prajāpatiḥ prathamajā ṛtasya

Thou art the scatterer (? āvápana) of people, [art] a wish-fulfilling (kāmadúgha) Aditi, spreading out; what of thee is deficient, may Prajāpati, first-born of righteousness, fill that up for thee.

This verse is not included in this edition.

Let slanders upon thee, free from disease, free from yákṣma, be produced (prásūta) for us, O earth; awakening to meet our long lifetime, may we be tribute-bearers to thee.

bhūme mātar nidhehi mā bhadrayā supratiṣṭhitam saṃvidānā divā kave śriyāṃ mā dhehi bhūtyām

O mother earth (bhū́mi), do thou kindly set me down well established; in concord with the heaven, O sage (kávi), do thou set me in fortune, in prosperity (bhū́ti).