Rig Veda 4.53.4: Mandala 4, Sukta 53, Mantra 4
Sukta 4.53
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
अदाभ्यो भुवनानि प्रचाकशद्व्रतानि देवः सविताभि रक्षते । प्रास्राग्बाहू भुवनस्य प्रजाभ्यो धृतव्रतो महो अज्मस्य राजति ॥
adā́bhyo bhúvanāni pra-cā́kaśad vratā́ni deváḥ savitā́bhi rakṣate | prā́srāg bāhū́ bhúvanasya prajā́bhyo dhr̥tá-vrato mahó ájmasya rājati ||
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।
Word by Word
- अदाभ्यः
- unassailable, unharmingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (देवः सविता का विशेषण)Root अदाभ्य (प्रातिपदिक; a-दाभ्य, √दभ् ‘to harm/deceive’ से) अथवा ‘अदाभ्य’ विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक
- भुवनानि
- worlds, beings/realmsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot भुवन (प्रातिपदिक; √भू ‘to be’ से)
- प्रचाकशत्
- made (them) shine forth / manifestedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root प्र-√काश् (काशते/चाकशत्; ‘to shine, make manifest’)
- व्रतानि
- ordinances, fixed laws/commandsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सविता
- SavitarNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (देवः का अप्पोज़िशन)Root सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, overIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole (क्रिया-विशेषण)Root अभि
- रक्षते
- protectsVerbलट् (present), आत्मनेपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √रक्ष् (to protect)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole (क्रिया-विशेषण)Root प्र
- अस्राक्
- stretched outVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √सृज्/√स्रज् (वेदिक रूप; ‘to stretch/extend/let go’), यहाँ ‘अस्राक्’ = लुङ् 3 एकवचन
- बाहू
- (his) two armsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole KarmaRoot बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
- भुवनस्य
- of the world/realmNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root भुवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रजाभ्यः
- for the creatures/offspringNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole SampradānaRoot प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
- धृतव्रतः
- whose ordinances are firm/heldAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सविता का विशेषण)Root धृत-व्रत (कृदन्त-समास; धृत = √धृ ‘held’ + व्रत)
- महः
- of great mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वेदिक प्रयोग)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root महत्/महस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘greatness, might’)
- अज्मस्य
- of the course/track (of his movement)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root अज्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘course, path, drive’)
- राजति
- shines, is resplendentVerbलट् (present), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √राज् (to shine, be splendid; also ‘to rule’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-विच्छेद): प्रचाकशद् → प्रचाकशत् (त् + द् संधि/पदांत-रूप)
- सविताभि → सविता + अभि
- प्रास्राग्बाहू → प्र + अस्राक् + बाहू (क् + ब् संधि से ‘ग्ब’)
- प्रजाभ्यो → प्रजाभ्यः (ओ/अः पदांत-रूप)
- ‘अदा॑भ्यो’ = अदाभ्यः (विसर्ग-लोप/संहिता-पाठ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Inviolable, he makes the worlds shine; Savitṛ guards the ordinances. He has stretched out his arms for the creatures; firm in vows, he shines in the greatness of his far-reaching movement.
Inner meaning
Savitṛ is adābhya—unassailable by ignorance—therefore his light makes all planes shine without distortion. He protects the ‘vratāni’: the right workings and fixed truth-principles that govern inner growth. His outstretched arms reach to all becomings and their ‘prajā’ (inner formations, faculties), offering guidance and impulsion. As dhṛtavrata he holds steady the divine intention in us; he ‘rājati’—reigns/shines—in the greatness of wide movement (maho ajmasya): the long evolutionary stride of consciousness toward vastness.
Universal truth
What is truly divine is inviolable and steady: it safeguards right law and carries all parts of our nature forward in a vast, patient movement of transformation.
Themes
Guardianship of cosmic law, Inviolability of the divine, Right action protected
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.53.1, RV 4.53.2, RV 4.53.3
Family tradition
The Gautama-Vāmadeva hymns frequently stress inviolable truth and the guarding of ṛta through divine powers.
Significance
Emphasizes steadfastness (dhṛtavrata) and protection of right law—key to sustained inner change, not momentary inspiration.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Epithets
- Adābhya, Dhṛtavrata
- Related deities
- Varuṇa (guardian of ṛta), Mitra, Sūrya, Agni
Cosmic role
Guardian of cosmic ordinances; illuminator of worlds; impeller whose movement is vast and far-reaching.
Inner power
Inviolable guidance that protects the discipline of truth and steadily advances transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Savitṛ protection/guardianship invocations in śrauta contexts; general safeguarding of rite
अदा॑भ्यो॒ भुव॑नानि प्र॒चाक॑शद्व्र॒तानि॑ दे॒वः स॑वि॒ताभि र॑क्षते । प्रास्रा॑ग्बा॒हू भुव॑नस्य प्र॒जाभ्यो॑ धृ॒तव्र॑तो म॒हो अज्म॑स्य राजति ॥
अदा॑भ्यः । भुव॑नानि । प्र॒ऽचाक॑शत् । व्र॒तानि॑ । दे॒वः । स॒वि॒ता । अ॒भि । र॒क्ष॒ते॒ । प्र । अ॒स्रा॒क् । बा॒हू इति॑ । भुव॑नस्य । प्र॒ऽजाभ्यः॑ । धृ॒तऽव्र॑तः । म॒हः । अज्म॑स्य । रा॒ज॒ति॒ ॥
adābhyaḥ | bhuvanāni | pra-cākaśat | vratāni | devaḥ | savitā | abhi | rakṣate | pra | asrāk | bāhū iti | bhuvanasya | pra-jābhyaḥ | dhṛta-vrataḥ | mahaḥ | ajmasya | rājati
44
4 x ~11
Steady and authoritative; conveys inviolability and guardianship.
Instills trust and firmness; supports disciplined aspiration and ethical clarity.
- अदाभ्य (adābhya)
- Literal: not to be harmed/cheated. Symbolic: Inviolable truth-light, untouched by ignorance or distortion
- भुवनानि (bhuvanāni)
- Literal: worlds. Symbolic: All planes/parts of the being
- व्रतानि (vratāni)
- Literal: vows, ordinances. Symbolic: Laws of right working; disciplines of truth that shape the sadhana
- अभि रक्षते (abhi rakṣate)
- Literal: guards, protects. Symbolic: Protective governance preventing deviation into falsehood
- प्रजाभ्यः (prajābhyaḥ)
- Literal: for the creatures. Symbolic: For inner faculties and formations that must be led and protected
- धृतव्रत (dhṛtavrata)
- Literal: holding firm the vow. Symbolic: Steadfast divine will in the seeker; consistency of aspiration
- अज्म (ajma)
- Literal: course, march, movement. Symbolic: The evolutionary journey/stride of consciousness
- महो (maho)
- Literal: greatness. Symbolic: Vastness-power that carries the march beyond limitation
- राजति (rājati)
- Literal: shines, reigns. Symbolic: Sovereign illumination establishing mastery in the nature
Protective invocation: emphasizes guarding of vratāni (ordinances), appropriate for ensuring faultless performance and inner alignment with ṛta.
Before/after key ritual actions to ensure right performance; also at dawn for protection of the day’s movements
Protective praise; reaffirmation of vows/ordinances
Use for consistency: chant when tempted to break discipline; recall the ‘dhṛtavrata’ power to hold the course.
adābhya: a- + √dabh 'deceive/harm' → 'invulnerable'. pra-cākaśat: from √kāś 'shine' with pra- intensifier → 'made manifest'. vrata: from √vṛ 'choose/will' or √vṛt 'turn' debated; in RV 'law/ordinance, fixed working'. rakṣ: √rakṣ 'guard'. dhr̥ta-vrata: √dhṛ 'hold' + vrata. ajman: 'course, drive' (movement-path).
vrata as cosmic law, protection (rakṣ), steadfastness (dhṛta)
Savitṛ guards the operative laws that keep worlds in ṛta.
Adābhya light prevents falsification of perception and action.
Sovereign light guarding the evolving worlds through a vast course.
Dharma-centered Vedic spirituality; integral discipline as protection of truth in action.
dawn
A steady, inviolable clarity that protects inner discipline and keeps the long path of growth moving.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'guardian of ordinances' mythologem: Savitṛ is inviolable, manifests the worlds, and protects the vratāni—fixed laws by which light and right motion prevail.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √kāś 'shine' connects to IE brightness semantics; √rakṣ 'guard' parallels IE protection vocabulary (functional rather than direct cognate). √dhṛ 'hold' again reflects PIE *dʰer-.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The R̥ṣi leans on Savitṛ as protector of right workings: the human effort is safeguarded by the deity’s steadfast law-holding (dhṛtavrata), ensuring inner and outer action remains aligned to ṛta.
Steadfastness practice: invoke Savitṛ as dhṛtavrata to hold the inner vow and protect right working.
Ajna (right discernment) + Muladhara (steadiness)
Even-count breathing (e.g., 5-5) to cultivate steadiness; on each inhale feel ‘adābhya’ protection, on each exhale reaffirm ‘vrata’.
Protected, law-aligned calm strength.
Choose one vrata (truthful speech, steady practice time, non-reactivity) for 21 days; chant this verse daily to ‘guard the ordinance’ inwardly.
Emphasize udātta on adābhyaḥ, savitā, vratāni, dhṛtavrataḥ; keep the cadence steady to mirror steadfastness.
Do not rush ‘vratāni… rakṣate’; give it a protective, enclosing feel; brighten on ‘rājati’.
adābhyaḥ: long ā; bhy as conjunct, pracākaśat: keep ‘cā’ long and clear; ś palatal, dhṛtavrataḥ: dhṛ = vocalic ṛ; keep retroflex ṭ in dhṛta, ajmasya: jma conjunct smoothly
Low-steady resonance, protective and even.
9
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
