Rig Veda 2.38.5: Mandala 2, Sukta 38, Mantra 5

Sukta 2.38

Rishi: Gṛtsamada

Devata: Savitṛ (with Agni prominently referenced)

Chandas: Trishtubh

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

नानौकांसि दुर्यो विश्वमायुर्वि तिष्ठते प्रभवः शोको अग्नेः । ज्येष्ठं माता सूनवे भागमाधादन्वस्य केतमिषितं सवित्रा ॥

Sanskrit recitationRig Veda 2.38.5

Transliteration

nānó-kāṃsi duryó víśvam ā́yur ví tiṣṭhate pra-bhaváḥ śóko agnéḥ | jyéṣṭhaṃ mātā́ sūnáve bhā́gam ā́dhād ánv asya kétam iṣitáṃ savitrā́ ||

Translation

In many dwelling-places the whole life is set in its stations; the out-bursting flame of Agni stands manifest. The Mother has placed the eldest portion for the Son; following his sign, impelled by Savitṛ, the being moves in the ordained direction.

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Word by Word

• न: not
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अनौकांसि: (their) dwellings/homes
• अनौकांसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनौकस् (प्रातिपदिक) < अन् + ओकस्

• दुर्यः: hard to approach / difficult
• दुर्यः: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुर्य (प्रातिपदिक) < दुर् + य

• विश्वम्: all, the whole (world)
• विश्वम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)

• आयुः: life, lifetime
• आयुः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• वि: apart, widely, forth
• वि: —
• Type: Indeclinable (preverb)
• Root: वि

• तिष्ठते: stands, is established
• तिष्ठते: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)

• प्रभवः: the source/origin, the one who brings forth
• प्रभवः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक) < प्र + भू

• शोकः: flame, blaze (lit. ‘glow’); also grief (contextually: flame)
• शोकः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक)

• अग्नेः: of Agni
• अग्नेः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)

• ज्येष्ठम्: the best/eldest (share)
• ज्येष्ठम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)

• माता: mother
• माता: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)

• सूनवे: to/for the son
• सूनवे: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)

• भागम्: portion, share
• भागम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)

• आधात्: placed, bestowed
• आधात्: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग)

• अनु: after, along, following
• अनु: —
• Type: Indeclinable (preverb)
• Root: अनु

• अस्य: of him/this
• अस्य: Sambandha
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• केतम्: sign, banner, signal; guiding mark
• केतम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: केत (प्रातिपदिक)

• इषितम्: impelled, set in motion, directed
• इषितम्: Karma
• Type: Participle (past passive)
• Root: इष् (धातु) → इषित (कृदन्त)

• सवित्रा: by Savitṛ (the Impeller)
• सवित्रा: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)