Mantra 40

Sukta 8

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अप्स्वाऽसीन्मातरिश्वा प्रविष्टः प्रविष्टा देवाः सलिलान्यासन्॥ बृहन् ह तस्थौ रजसो विमानः पवमानो हरित आ विवेश

IAST Transliteration

apsv ā́sīn mātáriśvā́ práviṣṭaḥ práviṣṭā devā́ḥ salilā́ny āsan || bṛhán ha tasthau rájaso vimā́naḥ pávamāno haríta ā́ viveśa ||

English Translation (Griffith/Whitney)

In the waters was Mātariśvan entered; entered were the Gods—there were the floods. The Great One stood, measuring out the mid-air; self-purifying, with tawny beams/steeds he entered in.

Translation

In den Wassern war Mātariśvan eingegangen; eingegangen waren die Götter—da waren die Fluten. Der Große stand da, den Luftraum vermessend; sich selbst läuternd trat er ein, mit fahlgoldenen Strahlen (Rossen).

Word by Word

अप्सुin the waters

आसीत्was

मातरिश्वाMātariśvan (a divine being; often connected with Vāyu/Agni)

प्रविष्टःhaving entered

प्रविष्टाःhaving entered

देवाःthe gods

सलिलानिwaters, floods

आसन्were

बृहन्great, lofty

हindeed

तस्थौstood

रजसःof the space/atmosphere

विमानःmeasuring out, traversing (the expanse)

पवमानःpurifying, flowing (as the purifier)

हरितःthe tawny ones (often: steeds/rays)

आtowards, into

विवेशentered

Attribution

Rishi: Variable (AVŚ 10.8 anukramaṇī traditions)

Devata: Mātariśvan / Pavamāna (purifying principle); immanent Devas

Chandas: Mixed/Anuṣṭubh-like (two pādas + continuation; AV often flexible here)

Mantra Rasa

{"primary_rasa":"adbhuta","secondary_rasa":"shanta","emotional_arc":"From awe at primal waters and divine indwelling → to calm stability as the Great One ‘stands measuring’.","listener_experience":"A sense of being held by a vast elemental intelligence; reassurance that purification is natural and already underway.","intensity":5}