Atharva Veda
Atharva Veda
The Atharvavedais the "knowledge storehouse of atharvāṇas, the procedures for everyday life". The text is the fourth Veda, but has been a late addition to the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism...
drain elevate gain habit learn lower turn words
WORDS can confer strength; they can drain it off; Words can gain friends; they can turn them into enemies; words can elevate or lower the individual. One must learn the habit of making one's words sweet, soft, and pleasant.
engage great lose none nor piece question reason urge
THERE is none to question Me if I do not act; there is nothing I would lose if I do not engage in activity. Nor have I any great urge to be active. But yet, you see Me very active. The reason is, I must be doing something all the time, for your sake, as an example, as an inspiration, as a piece of training.
clash engage follow friction ideals mutual ourselves scholars society therefore thoughts understanding unity virtuous
Unity can only come when there is better co-ordination and mutual understanding in the 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.
brings constant few good name perfect shall wealth
Very few are those perfect ones who do this good deed. The wealth of the Lord's Name is inexhaustible; it shall never be exhausted. In this world, it brings a constant peace, and at the Lord's Gate, it brings honor.
beggar feet household standing
Wealth, treasures, and household are all just ruins; the Lord's Feet are the only treasure. Nanak is a beggar standing at Your Door, God; he begs for Your charity.
destroys dwelling lord perfect poison pure rid
The Perfect Lord is All-pervading everywhere; He destroys the poison of Maya. I am rid of the three-phased Maya, dwelling in the Pure Lord.
common eyes gleam mind shine thy within
The eyes of us two shine like honey, our foreheads gleam like ointment. Place me within thy heart; may one mind be in common to us both!
acquires becomes company knowledge learned living man souls
By living in the company of learned souls a man acquires knowledge and becomes well cultured.
duty ensure guidance keeps learned means noble people proper tribe
It is the duty of learned ones to ensure that the tribe of noble people keeps on growing. This they can do by means of proper guidance and tutelage.
attending cleansing courage depend discourage grace laugh learning meanwhile mind needs others personal start work
COURAGE comes out of the grace of the Lord, it needs generations of learning and struggle. Meanwhile you must start with the first step, the cleansing of the mind and the cultivation of virtue. Even if you do not start with that step, at least do not laugh at those who do and discourage them. Do at least this much!Then, do not depend upon others for doing your work like attending to your personal wants. Do it yourself; that is real freedom.
bereft book cow fruit lacking learned student yield
If, what is learned is not put into practice, the student is like a cow that does not yield milk; a fruit lacking in taste, a book bereft of wisdom.
admires challenge child cruelty future great learns money rather rise school society sympathy worship
The child learns to worship money and the things which money can buy; he admires cruelty and cunning, rather than Sympathy and Love. So, the Home, the School and the Society have to rise and take up this challenge posed to the future of this great land.
glorious lord serve treasure
O Nanak, serve the Lord forever; He is the treasure of glorious virtue.
ceases death fears ignorance mind
One fears death because of ignorance but when the 'flame of knowledge' is enkindled in the mind then the 'fear of death' ceases to exist.