Sukta 53
Sukta 4.53
Savitṛ (Savitar)
This hymn invokes Savitṛ as the awakener whose advancing lights raise the worshipper into protection, right order (ṛta), and inner clarity. It praises his inviolable governance of cosmic laws, his outstretched arms that sustain beings, and asks for increase of dwelling, nourishment, progeny, and wealth through the cycle of days, nights, and seasons.
Mantras
Mantra 1
तद्देवस्य सवितुर्वार्यं महद्वृणीमहे असुरस्य प्रचेतसः । छर्दिर्येन दाशुषे यच्छति त्मना तन्नो महाँ उदयान्देवो अक्तुभिः ॥
हम सवितुर की बड़ी महत्व चुनते हैं। वो बड़ा समझदार है और अच्छा सोचता है। वो जो देने वाले को अपनी शक्ति से रक्षा करता है, वो हम भी चाहते हैं। यह बड़ा भगवान हमारे लिए उगा और हमें रोशन करे।
Mantra 2
दिवो धर्ता भुवनस्य प्रजापतिः पिशङ्गं द्रापिं प्रति मुञ्चते कविः । विचक्षणः प्रथयन्नापृणन्नुर्वजीजनत्सविता सुम्नमुक्थ्यम् ॥
सविता आसमान को पकड़े हुए है और सब जगह का मालिक है। वो पहले चमकदार कपड़ा फैलाता है। उसकी नज़र खुल जाती है और जगह बड़ी हो जाती है। वो अच्छे गीत और खुशी पैदा करता है।
Mantra 3
आप्रा रजांसि दिव्यानि पार्थिवा श्लोकं देवः कृणुते स्वाय धर्मणे । प्र बाहू अस्राक्सविता सवीमनि निवेशयन्प्रसुवन्नक्तुभिर्जगत् ॥
उसने ऊपर और नीचे की दुनिया को भर दिया। यह भगवान अपने सच के लिए सबको बताता है। सविता ने अपने हाथ फैला दिए और दुनिया को चलाया और रोशन किया।
Mantra 4
अदाभ्यो भुवनानि प्रचाकशद्व्रतानि देवः सविताभि रक्षते । प्रास्राग्बाहू भुवनस्य प्रजाभ्यो धृतव्रतो महो अज्मस्य राजति ॥
कोई उसे नहीं हरा सकता, वो सब दुनिया को रोशन करता है। सविता सच के नियम को बचाता है। उसने अपने हाथ फैला दिए सब जीव के लिए। वो अपना व्रत रखता है और बड़ी जगह में चमकता है।
Mantra 5
त्रिरन्तरिक्षं सविता महित्वना त्री रजांसि परिभुस्त्रीणि रोचना । तिस्रो दिवः पृथिवीस्तिस्र इन्वति त्रिभिर्व्रतैरभि नो रक्षति त्मना ॥
सविता भगवान तीन हिस्सों में बाँट के काम करते हैं। वो आस-पास का पूरा आसमान अपने आप में समेट लेते हैं। तीन दुनिया और तीन उजाली जगह उनके हाथ में है। वो तीन आसमान और तीन धरती को चलाते हैं। अपने तीन नियम से वो हमें अपनी शक्ति से बचाते हैं।
Mantra 6
बृहत्सुम्नः प्रसवीता निवेशनो जगतः स्थातुरुभयस्य यो वशी । स नो देवः सविता शर्म यच्छत्वस्मे क्षयाय त्रिवरूथमंहसः ॥
सविता भगवान बहुत बड़े सुख वाले हैं। वो सबको आगे बढ़ाते हैं और ठीक करके बिठाते हैं। जो चल रहा है और जो खड़ा है, दोनों पे उनका राज है। यह भगवान हमें शांति दे। हमें ऐसा घर मिले जहाँ तीन तरह से सुरक्षा हो। बुराई और पाप से हम सेफ रहें।
Mantra 7
आगन्देव ऋतुभिर्वर्धतु क्षयं दधातु नः सविता सुप्रजामिषम् । स नः क्षपाभिरहभिश्च जिन्वतु प्रजावन्तं रयिमस्मे समिन्वतु ॥
भगवान मौसम के साथ आएँ और हमारे घर को बढ़ा दें। सविता हमें ऐसी शक्ति दे जिससे हमारे बच्चे अच्छे हों। रात और दिन वो हमें ताज़ा रखें। वो हमें ऐसी दौलत दे जिससे हमारी औलाद बढ़े और हमारा जीवन खुशियों से भरा रहे।
Inside Sukta 53
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn begins by ‘choosing’ Savitṛ’s supreme greatness and protective shelter, asking the mighty god to rise with his lights (RV 4.53.1).
- Development
It expands Savitṛ’s cosmic sovereignty: he makes the worlds shine, guards the ordinances, and sustains beings with outstretched arms—his motion is vast and lawful (RV 4.53.4).
- Climax
Savitṛ is invoked as the power who arrives with the seasons and establishes increase—dwelling, nourishment, and fruitful progeny as a comprehensive blessing (RV 4.53.7a).
- Where it settles
The prayer settles into continuity: by nights and days he should quicken the worshipper and firmly set enduring, progeny-bearing wealth and fullness of life (RV 4.53.7b).
The deity: Savitṛ
- In the VedaSavitṛ is the divine Impeller and Awakener whose radiant ‘lights’ (aktubhiḥ) rouse beings, set them in motion, and establish protective shelter (chardiḥ). He is described as asura in the older Vedic sense—lordly, mighty—endowed with wide intelligence (pracetasaḥ) and steadfast vows (dhṛtavrata).
- Cosmic functionHe initiates and regulates movement in the cosmos—day’s arising, the rhythm of seasons, and the right working of laws (vratāni/ṛta); he energizes growth, prosperity, and generative power in creatures.
- Inner significanceThe inner sun of discernment that awakens aspiration, impels right action, and gathers the personality into a protected, ordered, and fruitful life-force.
The seer
- Vāmadeva Gautama (attributed)Gautama gotra; Vāmadeva lineage · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 4, renowned for hymns of luminous insight that link cosmic order (ṛta) with inner awakening; traditionally associated with profound visionary realization.
Famous verses
तद्देवस्य सवितुर्वार्यं महद्वृणीमहे असुरस्य प्रचेतसः । छर्दिर्येन दाशुषे यच्छति त्मना तन्नो महाँ उदयान्देवो अक्तुभिः ॥अदाभ्यो भुवनानि प्रचाकशद्व्रतानि देवः सविताभि रक्षते । प्रास्राग्बाहू भुवनस्य प्रजाभ्यो धृतव्रतो महो अज्मस्य राजति ॥आगन्देव ऋतुभिर्वर्धतु क्षयं दधातु नः सविता सुप्रजामिषम् । स नः क्षपाभिरहभिश्च जिन्वतु प्रजावन्तं रयिमस्मे समिन्वतु ॥Attributes of the deity
- Impeller/awakener of all movement
- Guardian of ṛta and divine ordinances (vrata)
- Radiant, far-reaching, all-pervading motion
- Protective shelter to the giver/worshipper
- Bestower of nourishment, progeny, and wealth
- Inviolable, steadfast in vows (dhṛtavrata)
Also by this seer
- Major portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (many sūktas attributed to Vāmadeva)
- Hymns to Indra, Agni, the Ādityas, and solar deities emphasizing ṛta and divine impulsion
- Vāmadeva is later remembered in Vedic tradition as an exemplar of inspired speech (vāc) and seer-vision (dṛṣṭi)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the fire (agni) and seat; establish calm and purity.
- Recite the opening praise choosing Savitṛ’s ‘great desirable’ power and shelter (RV 4.53.1).
- Offer oblations while affirming Savitṛ’s guardianship of vows and cosmic law (RV 4.53.4).
- Pray for increase of dwelling, nourishment, progeny, and wealth through seasons, days, and nights (RV 4.53.7).
- Conclude with silent contemplation of the rising light as the inner awakening of will and intelligence.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Soma (where applicable in soma rites)
- Grain/food offerings (anna, puroḍāśa in later practice)
- Water libations and fragrant fuel (samidh)
Frequently Asked Questions
Savitṛ is the divine Impeller—the solar power that awakens beings, sets life in motion, and upholds right order (ṛta). The hymn praises him as radiant, inviolable, and protective.
It asks for protective shelter, increase of one’s dwelling and strength, nourishing force rich in progeny, and enduring wealth—supported through the rhythms of seasons, nights, and days.
It is especially fitting at dawn or in morning fire rites, when the rising light symbolizes Savitṛ’s awakening power; it also suits prayers at seasonal changes for growth and well-being.
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