Mantra Pushpam

                                         (The flower of Vedic chants)

                                                        Translation

                                                                By

                                                      P.R.Ramachander

This great mantra is taken from Taithreeya Aranyakam of Yajur Veda. It is normally sung in a chorus by all the priests together after performing any Pooja (worship) or Yagna. It tells in short that water is the basis of this universe. The reason why it is repeated in all functions is not known to me. What I have attempted is a simple translation of this great chant. People interested to know more of the deeper meaning and implications are requested to refer to the archives of http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives. Here Sri Sadagopan has given a scholarly commentary broken in five parts or to the Wikipedia article (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantra_pushpam).

Yopam puspam veda 
Puspavan prajavan pasuvan bhavati
Candramava Apam puspam
Puspavan, Prajavan pasuman bhavati
Ya Evam Veda 

Yopa mayatanam Veda
Ayatanam bhavati. 

He who understands the flowers of water,

He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle.

Moon is the flower of the water,

He who understands this fact,

He becomes the possessor of flowers, children and cattle.

He who knows the source of water,

Becomes established in himself,

Agnirva Apamayatanam 
Ayatanavan Bhavati
Yo agnerayatanam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati
Apovagner ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam Veda 

Yopa mayatanam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati

 

Fire is the source of water,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of fire,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water,

Becomes established in himself,

Vayurva Apamaya tanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yova Yorayatanam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati|
Apovai va yorayatanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Ya Evam veda 

Yopamayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan Bhavati 

 

Air is the source of water,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of air,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,

Becomes established in himself,

Asowvai tapanna pamayatanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati
Yo musya tapata Ayatanan Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Apova Amusyatapata Ayatanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Ya Evam Veda 

Yopa mayatanam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati

 

Scorching sun is the source of water,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of scorching sun,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water,

Becomes established in himself,

Candrama Vama pamayatnam 
Ayatanavan bhavati.
Yascandra masa Ayatanam Veda
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Apovai Candra masa Ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Ya Evam Veda

Yo pamayatanam veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati

 

Moon is the source of water,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of moon,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water,

Becomes established in himself,

Nakshtrani va Apamayatanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Yo Nakshtrana mayatanam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Apovai Nakshtrana mayatanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Ye evam Veda 

Yopamaya tanam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati 

 

Stars are the source of water,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of stars,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself.

He who knows the source of water,

Becomes established in himself,

Parjanyova apamayatanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Yah parjanyasya syayatinam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Apovai parjanya Syayatanam 
Ayatanavan bhavati 
Ye Evam veda 

Yopa maya tanam Veda 
Ayatanavan bhavati 

 

Clouds are the source of water,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of clouds,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself.
He who knows the source of water,

Becomes established in himself,

Samvastaro Va Apamayatanam 
Ayatavan bhavati 
Yassavatsa rasyaya tanam Veda 
Ayatavan bhavati.
Apovai samvasara ayatanam
Ayatanavan bhavati
Ya Evam veda 

Yopsu Navam pratistitam veda
Pratyeva tistati

 

Rainy season is the source of water,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself,

Water is the source of rainy season,

He who knows this,

Becomes established in himself.

He who knows that there is a raft is available,

Becomes established in that raft.

 

{This stanza is included in some versions of mantra Pushpam

Om thad Brahma,                 Om it is Brahma

Om Thad Vayu.                     Om it is air

Om Thad Athma                    Om it is the soul

Om Thad Sathyam                 Om it is the truth

Om That Sarvam                    Om it is everything

Om That puror nama              Om salutations to that Purusha

Anthascharathi bhootheshu Guhyam Viswa Murthishu

     That which is inside all beings secretly is that Universal God

Thvam Yajna             You are the fire sacrifice,

Thwam vashatkara   You are the the personification of Vedic sacrifice

Thwam Indra             You are the Indra

Thvam vayu               You are the air

Thvam Rudra            You are the Rudra

Vishnus thvam          You are the Vishnu

Brahmasthvam          You are the Brahma

Thvam prajaipathi     You are the Lord of all beings

Om Thadhapa apo jyothi raso amrutham brahma bhur bhuvasuvarom

Om water is light, the essence is the nectar and the concept of Brahma is in all the seven worlds.}

Rajadhi rajaya Prasahya Sahine|
Namo Vayam Vai Sravanaya Kurmahe
Samekaman Kama Kamaya mahyam
Kamesvaro Vai Sravano dadatu 
Kuberaya Vai Sravanaya
Maha rajaya Namah.

(This last stanza is normally recited by priests while giving back prasada after performing an Archana in all temples)

 

King of kings , we praise thee,

Who is the giver of all victories,

Who is the fulfiller of all desires,

Please bless me with wealth,

To fulfill all our  desires,

Oh,  Kubhera*, we praise thee,

Salutations to the king of kings.

* Kubhera is the Lord of wealth.