Rig Veda 1.13.9: Mandala 1, Sukta 13, Mantra 9

Sukta 1.13

Rishi: Kaṇva (Kaṇva family tradition for RV 1.13)

Devata: Ilā, Sarasvatī, Mahī (triad of goddesses supporting the yajña and inspired speech)

Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (probable; common in invocatory/ritual verses of this type)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

इळा सरस्वती मही तिस्रो देवीर्मयोभुवः । बर्हिः सीदन्त्वस्रिधः ॥

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.13.9

Transliteration

iḷā́ sárasvatī mahī́ tisró devī́r mayobhúvaḥ | bárhiḥ sīdantv asrídhaḥ ||

Translation

May the three bliss-giving goddesses—Ilā, Sarasvatī, and Mahī—take their seat upon the sacred spread (barhis), uninjuring and without defect, establishing in us the ordered harmony of the offering and the luminous flow of inspired understanding.

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Word by Word

• इळा: Iḷā (goddess of invocation/refreshment)
• इळा: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: इळा (प्रातिपदिक) < इड्/इळ् (स्तुति/आह्वान-सम्बद्ध) वैदिक देवीनाम

• सरस्वती: Sarasvatī
• सरस्वती: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस्वती (प्रातिपदिक) < सरस् + वती

• मही: great
• मही: कर्तृ (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) < मह् (to be great) / महत्-सम्बद्ध

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: कर्तृ (समूह)
• Type: Adjective (Numeral)
• Root: त्रि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)

• देवीः: goddesses
• देवीः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक) < देव

• मयोभुवः: well-being-bringing, bliss-bestowing
• मयोभुवः: कर्तृ (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मयोभू (प्रातिपदिक) < मयस्/मयः (आनन्द/सुख) + भू (to be)

• बर्हिः: the sacrificial grass (barhis)
• बर्हिः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: बर्हिस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• सीदन्तु: let them sit / may they sit
• सीदन्तु: (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु) — ‘to sit, to settle’

• अस्रिधः: unfailing, unerring
• अस्रिधः: कर्तृ (विशेषण-रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस्रिध् (प्रातिपदिक) < a- (निषेध) + स्रिध् (to fail, be lax) वैदिक