Shaala Suktham

Shalaa Suktham
(the chant for the house)

Translated by
P.R.Ramachander

(This prayer is taken from Atharvana Veda and is meant to be chanted before occupying a house. The prayer has been taken from R.L.Kashyap (2007) Veda manthras and Sukthas, published by SAKSI, Bangalore)

Yihaiva dhruvaam ni minoomi shaalaam,
Ksheme thishtathi gruthamukshamana,
Thaam thwaa shale sarvaveeraa suviraa,
Arishtaviraa upa sam charima. 1

I fix my dwelling permanently here,
May I live in comfort with flowing light here,
May I approach you, oh dwelling, with all my good people ,
With all my people who are fine.

Yihaiva dhruvaa prathi thishta shale,
Aswawathi , gomathi sunruthavathi,
OOrjaswathi , gruthavathi, payaswathi,
Ucharayaswa mahathe saubhaghyaa. 2

You stand here firmly , oh my house,
With horses(life energy), with cows(knowledge) , with good speech,
With energy, with knowledge(ghee), with clarity of thought,
Please stand erect for great good luck.

Dharunyasi Shaale,
Bruhath cchandhaa puthee dhanya,
Aa thwam vathso gamaydhaa kumara ,
Aadhenavah sayam aspandamaanaa. 3

You are our place of safety , my house,
With very tall roof and clean cereals,
May a boy and calf come in to you,
And the cattle after grazing in the evening.

Yimaam shalaam savitha, vayur , indro,
Brahaspathirni minothu prajanan,
Ukshanthu dhoonaa marutho gruthena,
Bhagho no raja ni krishim thanothu. 4

May the sun , air and Indra,
And the great teacher who knows all, look after this house,
May the maruths sprinkle it with water and light,
And the king bhaga support our efforts(cultivation)

Manasya pathni sharanaasyonaa,
Devi devebhirnimithasyagre,
Thrunaam vasaanasumana asasthwam adha,
Asmaabhyaam sahaviram rayim dhaa. 5

Queen of the house , provide me shelter,
You are the benevolent goddess , made first by devas,
May you who are made in grass, be kind to me,
And give me brave sons, riches and fortune.

Ruthena sthunnamadhi roha vamsagre,
Virajannapam vrukshva shathroon,
Maa they rishannupasattarom gruhanaam,
Shale shatham jiveema sharadha sarva veera. 6

Oh pole, climb on the pillar at the top of the clan,
Drive away my enemies by your great luster,
Let those who reside in this house not suffer,
May we along with our family live here for hundred autumns.

Yemam kumarasthauna,
Aa vathso jagathaa saha,
Yemam parisrutha kumbha,
Aa dhadhna kalashairaghu. 7

Let more and more youth come here,
Let cows and cattle come here,
Let overflowing pots come here,
Which are filled with curds.

Poorna naari prabhara kumbhametham,
Gruthasya dharam amuthena sambhruthaam,
Yimam pathruun amruthena samanghdhi,
Ishtaapurtham abhi rakshathi yemaam. 8

Oh lady fill his pot to the brim,
With ghee and nectar in that ,
Let the pot be filled with nectar,
And let it protect our desires and this home.

Yima aapa prabharami
Yakshma naasini,
Grahaanupa praseedhami,
Amruthena sahagrina. 9

I bring this water full of luster,
Which destroys all ills,
And which is mixed with nectar,
And I occupy this house.

Prachyaam disa shaalaaya namo mahimne,
Savaha devebhyo svahebhya, 10

Salutations to the greatness of this house from east,
Fire offering to those who should be given fire offering.

Dakshina dhisa shaalaaya mahimne,
Savaha devebhyo svahebhya, 11

Salutations to the greatness of this house from the west,
Fire offering to those who should be given fire offering

Pradheechya dhisa shaalaaya mahimne,
Savaha devebhyo svahebhya, 12

Salutations to the greatness of this house from the west,
Fire offering to those who should be given fire offering

Udheechya dhisa shaalaaya mahimne,
Savaha devebhyo svahebhya, 13

Salutations to the greatness of this house from the north,
Fire offering to those who should be given fire offering

Dhruvaya dhisa shaalaaya mahimne,
Savaha devebhyo svahebhya, 14

Salutations to the greatness of this house from the firm earth,
Fire offering to those who should be given fire offering

Uurdhwa dhisa shaalaaya mahimne,
Savaha devebhyo svahebhya, 15

Salutations to the greatness of this house from the top,
Fire offering to those who should be given fire offering

Dhiso dhisa shaalaaya mahimne,
Savaha devebhyo svahebhya, 16

Salutations to the greatness of this house from all directions,
Fire offering to those who should be given fire offering