Atharva Veda 11.4 · Vedas – Griffith · Verses Across
Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 11.4A glorification of Prāna, Breath or Vital Spirit
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Hinduism · Vedas · Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda 11.4
A glorification of Prāna, Breath or Vital Spirit
GriffithEnglish
Homage to Prāna, him who hath dominion o'er the universe, Who hath become the Sovran Lord of all, on whom the whole depends!
Homage, O Prāna, to thy roar, to thunder-peal and lightning flash! Homage, O Prāna, unto thee what time thou sendest down thy rain!
When Prāna with a thunderous voice shouts his loud message to the plants, They straightway are impregnate, they conceive, and bear abundantly.
When the due season hath arrived and Prāna shouteth to herbs, Then all is joyful, yea, each thing upon the surface of the earth.
When Prāna hath poured down his flood of rain upon the mighty land. Cattle and beasts rejoice thereat: Now great will he our strength, they cry.
Watered by Prāna's rain the plants have raised their voices in accord: Thou hast prolonged our life, they say, and given fragrance to us all.
Homage to thee when coming nigh, homage to thee departing hence! Homage, O Prāna, be to thee when standing and when sitting still.
Homage to thee at every breath thou drawest in and sendest forth! Homage to thee when turned away, homage to thee seen face to face! This reverence be to all of thee!
Prāna, communicate to us thy dear, thy very dearest form. Whatever healing balm thou hast, give us thereof that we may live.
Prāna robes living creatures as a father his beloved son. Prāna is sovran Lord of all, of all that breathes not, all that breathes
Prāna is Fever, he is Death. Prāna is worshipped by the Gods. Prāna sets in the loftiest sphere the man who speaks the words of truth.
Prāna is Deshtri, and Virāj Prāna is reverenced by all. He is the Sun, he is the Moon. Prāna is called Prajāpati.
Both breaths are rice and barley, and Prāna is called the toiling ox: In barley is the inbreath laid, and rice is named the outward breath.
The human infant in the womb draws vital breath and sends it Lout: When thou, O Prāna, quickenest the babe it springs anew to life.
The name of Prāna is bestowed on Mātarisvan and on Wind. On Prāna, past and future, yea, on Prāna everything depends.
All herbs and plants spring forth and grow when thou, O Prāna quickenest, Plants of Atharvan, Angiras, plants of the deities and men.
When Prāna hath poured down his flood of rain upon the mighty earth, The plants are wakened into life, and every herd that grows on ground.
The man who knows this truth of thee, O Prāna, and what bears thee up To him will all present their gift of tribute in that loftiest will all present their gift of tribute in that loftiest world.
As all these living creatures are thy tributaries, Prāna, so Shall they bring tribute unto him who hears thee with attentive ears.
Filled with a babe, mid deities he wanders: grown; near at hand, he springs again to being. That Father, grown the present and the future, hath past into the son with mighty powers.
Hansa, what time he rises up, leaves in the flood one foot unmoved. If he withdrew it there would be no more tomorrow or to-day, Never would there be night, no more would daylight shine or morning flush.
It rolleth on, eight-wheeled and single-fellied, and with a thousand eyes, forward and backward. With one half it engendered all creation. What sign is there to tell us of the other?
Homage, O Prāna unto thee armed with swift bow among the rest, In whose dominion is this All of varied sort that stirs and works!
May he who rules this Universe of varied sort, that stirs and works, Prāna, alert and resolute, assist me through the prayer I pray.
Erect among the sleepers he wakes, and is never laid at length, No one hath ever heard that he hath been asleep while others slept.
Thou, Prāna, never shalt be hid, never shalt be estranged from me. I bind thee on myself for life, O Prāna, like the Waters' germ.
