Thread by @DefiledGod

-- Smara Sukta of Atharva Veda --

A favorite Sukta of mine consisting of just 4 mantras in the Atharva Veda, misinterpreted by egghead indologists as a "love spell" - sacred-texts.com/hin/av/av06130… +

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#SanatanaDharma #HinduRashtra

rathajítāṃ rāthajiteyī́nām apsarásām ayáṃ smaráḥ / dévāḥ prá hiṇuta smarám asaú mā́m ánu śocatu //+

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[This loving meditation (of Brahman) of those moving in sense objects (apsarásām), masters of bodies (rathajítāṃ), those following the Lord who conquers the embodied self (rāthajiteyī́nām)..]+

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[...Senses (dévāḥ)! Direct this meditation (to Brahman), that (auspicious form) may shine agreeably to me.]

"smara” means repeated loving recollections or rememberances of Brahman (abhyāsa-yoga).+

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Sense objects are called “ap” (waters) as they are made of subtle elements of prakrti. Those who move in sense objects are called “apsarásām” – arthārthins having material desires.+

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"Chariot” is body. Those who conquer their bodies (rathajítāṃ) are meditators on the individual self free of lust (jignyāsus).  “rāthajiteyī́nām” are they (Jñānīs) who follow the Lord, who conquers the embodied self (rātha) by his beauty.

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These groups are described in Gīta 7.16.

"dévāḥ” - senses which shine out objects of perception. “ánu śocatu” means that this auspicious body of Brahman (asau) shines out in a manner that is agreeable, ie, causing joy.

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asaú me smaratād íti priyó me smaratād íti / dévāḥ prá hiṇuta smarám asaú mā́m ánu śocatu //

[May he, the Supreme Brahman remember me (at the time of death), may he think of me, dear to him (may he not remember my sins) thus...]+

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...Same last lines as previous mantra follow in end]

Sri Varāha says: sthite manasi susvasthe sarīre sati yo nara:।dhātusāmye sthite smartā visvarūpam ca māmajam॥tatastam mriyamāṇam tu kāśṭha pāśaṇa sannibham।aham smarāmi mad bhaktam nayāmi paramām gatim॥ +

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Gist: “This Universe is my body. I have no birth or death. When a devotee of mine maintains his mind & body in an auspicious/healthy state & thinks of me in that state & seeks me then as his firm refuge, when such a person at the time of death...]+

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[..lies insentient like a log of wood, unable to think, I remember him at that time & take him to the highest state (my supreme abode)]

Isa Up. has “Om krato smara" - “Vāsudeva! Remember the good things I did as your service, not my bad deeds.”

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yáthā máma smárād asaú nā́múṣyāháṃ kadā́ caná dévāḥ prá hiṇuta smarám asaú mā́m ánu śocatu //

[That he may remember me (in such a manner) that I never think of him at any time (ie, consider my meditation as means to attain liberation)....(same lines as 1st mantra)]+

#Vedas

Rāma explains to Sīta what is meant by "not thinking of him":

eṣāsi nirjitā bhadre śatruṃ jitvā raṇājire ।pauruṣādyadanuṣṭheyaṃ mayaitadupapāditam (~ VR 6-115-2)

"You are won back by me, after conquering the enemy in the battle-field, dear lady!...+

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...That which is to be done through human effort, has been accomplished by me."

"pauruṣād” – Puruṣa refers to one who is sarva-vīrya-sampanna - One who has the strength of upāsaṇa. +

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Lord Rāma is saying that the work done by upāsakās to conquer the enemy (mind) & attain the Lord, has been done by him, ie, he has conquered the enemy for the jīva who has done Saranāgati (self-surrender due to inability to undertake such effort).+

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So, this mantra appeals to the Lord to take such efforts so the jīva may never consider using self-effort. Meditation is done for its’ own selfless sake in love of Brahman, not as stepping stone for end of securing moksha tinged by ego of self-effort.+

#Hinduism #Atharvaveda

ún mādayata maruta úd antarikṣa mādaya / 
ágna ún mādayā tvám asaú mā́m ánu śocatu //

[Delight, O senses that move towards Brahman swiftly like wind in devotion (maruta). Delight, O mind, by which we see the auspicious qualities of Brahman (antarikṣa)...]+

#Hinduism #Vedas

....Delight, O Lord who leads us out of Samsā́ra (Agni). You shine out that (auspicious form of yours) agreeably to me.]

"marutah" refers to senses as wind, moving speedily to Brahman. "antar ikṣyate" - mind by which we perceive the auspicious qualities+

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Agni is the Lord who leads us out of Saṃsāra (agre nayati).

This section of the Veda thus, emphasizes on the importance of not only us being lovingly immersed in Brahman, but Brahman being lovingly immersed in thoughts of us.//

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