Rig Veda 2.38.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 38, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.38
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
पुनः समव्यद्विततं वयन्ती मध्या कर्तोर्न्यधाच्छक्म धीरः । उत्संहायास्थाद्व्यृतूँरदर्धररमतिः सविता देव आगात् ॥
púnar sám avyad ví-tataṃ váyantī madhyā́ kartór ní adhāc chákma dhī́raḥ | út saṃ-hā́ya asthād vy ṛtū́n adardhaḥ arámatīḥ savitā́ devá ā́ agāt ||
পুনৰায় তাই বিস্তৃত জালখন বয়; কৰ্মৰ মাজতে দৃঢ় ধীৰ ঋষিয়ে স্থিৰ আধাৰ স্থাপন কৰিলে। উঠি তেওঁ ঋতুসকলক একত্ৰ কৰি সঠিক মাপে পৃথক কৰি দিলে; কার্যকৰ ইচ্ছাশক্তিসম্পন্ন দেব সৱিতৃ আগমন কৰিলে।
Word by Word
- पुनः
- again, anewIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Role Adhikaraṇa (काल/पुनरावृत्ति-निर्देश) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot पुनर् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक) < PIE *pen-?
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषण; उपसर्ग)Root सम् (उपसर्ग)
- अव्यत्
- wove, wove outVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √वे (वेञ् तन्तुसन्ताने/वायने) ‘to weave’
- विततम्
- stretched out, spreadAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (यहाँ कर्मरूपेण: ‘विततम्’)Role Karma (यत् वस्तु व्यायते)Root वि-√तन् (तनु विस्तार) → वितत (कृदन्त) / तन्तु-प्रसार
- वयन्ती
- weaving (she), the weaverNoun/Adjective (participle)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अव्यत्-क्रियायाः कर्त्री)Root √वे (वेञ्) → वयन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ) स्त्री
- मध्या
- in the middle, centralNoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (या ‘मध्या’ = मध्यस्थिता)Role Kartā (वयन्ती इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) / Adhikaraṇa (मध्य-स्थितिः)Root मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- कर्तोः
- of the maker, of the doerNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी: ‘of the doer/maker’)Root कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक) < √कृ ‘to do/make’
- नि
- down, into, withinIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषण; उपसर्ग)Root नि (उपसर्ग)
- अधात्
- placed, setVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √धा (धाञ् धारणे/स्थापने) ‘to place’
- शक्म
- strength, ability / strong (thing)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (अव्यक्तं; ‘शक्म’ = बलम्/समर्थ्यम् अथवा ‘समर्थम्’)Role Karma/Guṇa (अधात्-क्रियायाः स्थापित-वस्तु/गुणः; संदिग्ध-निर्णयः)Root शक्म (प्रातिपदिक; ‘समर्थ/बलवान्’)
- धीरः
- the wise one, the inspired sageNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अधात्-क्रियायाः कर्ता)Root धीरा (प्रातिपदिक) < √धी ‘to think’
- उत्सम्
- spring, sourceNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (हाया-क्रियायाः कर्म)Root उत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
- हाय
- having left, abandoningVerbल्यप् (absolutive) — अव्ययभावRole (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया; क्रियाविशेषण)Root √हा (जहाति; त्यागे/गत्यर्थे) ‘to leave/abandon’
- अस्थात्
- stood, took his standVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √स्था (तिष्ठति) ‘to stand’
- वि
- apart, forth, in different directionsIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषण; उपसर्ग)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- ऋतून्
- seasons, proper timesNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (अदर्धरत्-क्रियायाः कर्म)Root ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदर्धरत्
- fixed, held fast, set in orderVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचन (रेडुप्लिकेटेड/दर्धर-आओरिस्ट)Role Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √धृ (धारणे) with intensive/causative nuance? here: दर्धर- (reduplicated aorist stem) ‘to hold firm, support, set in order’
- अरमतिः
- zeal, eager impulse, readinessNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (आगात्-क्रियायाः कर्त्री/कर्तृभावः; अथवा सवितुः विशेषण-रूपेण)Root अरमति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘उत्साह/उद्योग/प्रवृत्ति’), possibly from √रम् ‘to be active/pleased’ with privative/augmental a-
- सविता
- Savitar (the Impeller)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (आगात्-क्रियायाः कर्ता)Root सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक) < √सू/√सव् ‘to impel’
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सविता इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक) < √दिव् ‘to shine’
- आगात्
- came, arrivedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root आ-√गम् (गच्छति) ‘to come’
Sandhi Notes
- पुन॒: → पुनः (विसर्ग)
- सम॑व्य॒द्वित॑तं॒ → सम् + अव्यत् + विततम् (सम् उपसर्गः √वे-लुङ् ‘अव्यत्’; ततः कर्म ‘विततम्’)
- वय॑न्ती (शतृ-प्रत्ययः)
- म॒ध्या कर्तो॒र्न्य॑धा॒त् → मध्या + कर्तोः + नि + अधात् (नि + अधात् = न्यधात्)
- शक्म॒ धीर॑: → शक्म + धीरः
- उत्सं॒हाया॑स्था॒त् → उत्सम् + हाय (ल्यप्) + अस्थात्
- व्यृ१॒॑तूँर॑दर्धरत् → वि + ऋतून् + अदर्धरत्
- सवि॒ता दे॒व आगा॑त् → सविता + देवः + आगात् (देवः पदे विसर्गः संहितायां लोपः/सन्धिः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Again she weaves the spread-out web; in the middle of the work the strong seer set the firm support. Rising, he gathered and set apart the seasons in right measures; Savitṛ the god came with Aramati (effective will/powers).
Inner meaning
The ‘weaver’ (vayantī)—Nature or the luminous Power of formation—reweaves the manifested order each cycle. In the midst of the becoming (madhyā kartor), the dhīraḥ (seer-mind) establishes a stable support: the psychic/inner poise that holds the work. Savitṛ rises and arranges the ṛtus—periods and rhythms—i.e., he differentiates and measures the stages of inner growth (times for silence, action, purification, expansion). Aramati is the power of right intention and effective, patient will: the practical intelligence that makes the divine impulsion workable in life.
Universal truth
Creation and self-creation proceed by cycles; progress requires a stable inner support and right timing—measured stages governed by a luminous will.
Themes
Cosmic craftsmanship, Time-order, Establishing the inner axis, Savitṛ as organizer
The seer
- Rishi
- Gṛtsamada
- Lineage
- Bhārgava (Bhṛgu lineage)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 2.2, Rig Veda 2.4, Rig Veda 2.38
Family tradition
A seer concerned with establishing the supports of the inner sacrifice—foundation, rhythm, and effective will in works.
Significance
He shows how illumination is not only a flash but a weaving: repeated ordering, right measures, and a central support in consciousness.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Epithets
- deva, impeller, measurer/arranger of ṛtus (sense)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (cyclic dawn), Ṛta/Varuṇa (law), Agni (worker in the sacrifice), Sarasvatī (weaving of speech/knowledge, thematic)
Cosmic role
Orders cycles and measures (seasons, times); maintains the patterned becoming; supports the cosmic work.
Inner power
The power that gives right timing and stable foundation to spiritual growth; brings Aramati—effective will in action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Recitation in contexts emphasizing ṛta—ordering of time and rite; solar hymns used to ‘set’ the ritual sequence properly.
पुन॒: सम॑व्य॒द्वित॑तं॒ वय॑न्ती म॒ध्या कर्तो॒र्न्य॑धा॒च्छक्म॒ धीर॑: । उत्सं॒हाया॑स्था॒द्व्यृ१॒॑तूँर॑दर्धर॒रम॑तिः सवि॒ता दे॒व आगा॑त् ॥
पुन॒रिति॑ । सम् । अ॒व्य॒त् । विऽत॑तम् । वय॑न्ती । म॒ध्या । कर्तोः॑ । नि । अ॒धा॒त् । शक्म॑ । धीरः॑ । उत् । स॒म्ऽहाय॑ । अ॒स्था॒त् । वि । ऋ॒तून् । अ॒द॒र्धः॒ । अ॒रम॑तिः । स॒वि॒ता । दे॒वः । आ । अ॒गा॒त् ॥
punariti | sam | avyat | vi-tatam | vayantī | madhyā | kartoḥ | ni | adhāt | śakma | dhīraḥ | ut | sam-hāya | asthāt | vi | ṛtūn | adardhaḥ | aramatiḥ | savitā | devaḥ | ā | agāt
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Balanced and architectural; good for themes of measure, support, and ordered cycles.
Builds steadiness and inner ‘structure’; helps the mind feel supported and timed rather than rushed.
- vayantī
- Literal: weaving (feminine weaver). Symbolic: formative Shakti; Nature’s power to organize experience into a coherent pattern
- vitataṃ
- Literal: spread out, extended. Symbolic: the manifested field of life/consciousness; the web of becoming
- madhyā kartor
- Literal: in the middle of the work. Symbolic: in the heart of life’s activity; the central moment where support must be set
- dhīraḥ
- Literal: the firm/wise seer. Symbolic: the illumined intelligence establishing inner foundation
- ṛtūn
- Literal: seasons. Symbolic: measured rhythms and stages of sadhana; right timing in transformation
- aramatiḥ
- Literal: right-mindedness, devotion, (personified). Symbolic: effective will, patient intelligence that applies the truth in works
- adardhar
- Literal: he set/held apart firmly. Symbolic: differentiation and stabilization of rhythms under ṛta
Appropriate for rites emphasizing cyclical order and right timing (ṛtu), and for consecrating the ‘work’ (kṛt/karma) so it is founded on a central support (madhyā kartóḥ).
At dawn/transition points; when ritually marking divisions of time or stages of the offering.
Invocation for right measure and successful arrangement of the rite’s parts.
A mantra for planning and right timing: chant before scheduling, beginning long projects, or establishing a stable daily sadhana rhythm.
Weaving (√ve) is an Indo-European cosmopoetic image: world-order as a woven web. √dhā ‘place’ again marks founding. ṛtu ‘season/right time’ ties to ṛta; Savitṛ is the organizer of rhythms. aramati is semantically ‘right-minded effective will’ (ram ‘settle/delight’ + mati ‘thought’), here a power that prevents slackness and keeps the work coherent.
Rita as rhythm/time-order, Cosmic fabrication (world as woven order), Dhī (seer-intelligence establishing the axis)
Explicit in the setting apart of ṛtus in right measures—ṛta as time-order.
Truth becomes durable by support (adhiṣṭhāna) in the middle of works.
Cosmic weaving; cyclic renewal; differentiation of times and measures.
Integral Vedic symbolism: Shakti weaving manifestation; Savitṛ as organizer of time and progress.
dawn renewing the pattern
all seasons (ṛtus)
Web = the patterned personality/life; seasons = phases of practice and growth; support = inner seat (psychic poise).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- World-order as a woven fabric renewed cyclically, with Savitṛ establishing the right seasons. Psychologically, the ‘weaving’ is the continual formation of experience; the dhīra establishes a central support (inner axis), and Savitṛ differentiates right rhythms so life becomes an ordered yoga of time and action.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ve ‘weave’ is widely PIE (*weh₁-) with cognates (Latin texō is different root, but ‘weave’ imagery is pan-IE). √dhā again is PIE *dʰeh₁-. The cosmological ‘weaving’ metaphor is a shared Indo-European poetic strategy for describing order/creation.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi is dhīraḥ who establishes the support within the work; Savitṛ arrives as aramati—effective will—confirming and empowering that foundation. The human intelligence sets the axis; the divine impeller sets the rhythms, completing the ordered formation.
Establish the ‘support in the middle of the work’: find the inner seat that remains steady while life is woven.
Ajna (seer-support) with grounding in Anahata (steady center)
4-6 breathing (inhale 4, exhale 6) to cultivate steadiness and right rhythm; brief pauses to sense ‘support’.
Collected, poised, rhythm-aware.
Chant 4 times (one per pāda) slowly; after each pāda, pause and feel the ‘web’ of thoughts settle into order; then contemplate your current ‘season’ of practice and accept its measure without impatience.
Triṣṭubh recitation with careful adherence to marked accents; keep the mid-line support by not rushing caesuras.
Emphasize structural words: ‘punaḥ’, ‘vitataṃ’, ‘madhyā’, ‘dhīraḥ’, ‘ṛtūn’, ‘aramatiḥ’.
vayantī: nasal-less ‘ya’; long ī at end, kartor: keep r clear; avoid turning into retroflex flap, ṛtūn: vocalic ṛ; long ū; final n dental, aramatiḥ: short a-ra-ma-tiḥ; visarga light
Even, poised, slightly solemn; let the rhythm feel ‘measured’.
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