Rig Veda 7.63.2: Mandala 7, Sukta 63, Mantra 2
Sukta 7.63
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Sūrya/Savitṛ with chariot imagery
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
उद्वेति प्रसवीता जनानां महान्केतुरर्णवः सूर्यस्य । समानं चक्रं पर्याविवृत्सन्यदेतशो वहति धूर्षु युक्तः ॥
úd véti prasavītā́ jánānāṃ mahā́n ketúr arṇaváḥ sū́ryasya | samānáṃ cakráṃ paryā́vivṛtsan yád etaśó váhati dhū́rṣu yuktáḥ ||
Terbitlah Sang Penggerak bangsa-bangsa, Tanda Agung—seluas samudra—milik Surya. Ia memutar roda yang sama berkeliling tanpa henti; dan kuda Etaśa, terpasang pada palang-palang, membawanya maju: hukum tetap perjalanan cahaya.
Word by Word
- उद्
- up; forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपात (अव्यय)Root उद् (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- वेति
- goes; risesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; पदम्: परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root इ (धातु)
- प्रसविता
- the impeller; the begetter (Sun)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot प्रसवितृ (प्रातिपदिक; √सू ‘to impel/bring forth’ से)
- जनानाम्
- of the peoplesNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root जन (प्रातिपदिक)
- महान्
- greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (प्रसविता/केतुः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇaRoot महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- केतुः
- banner; sign; light-rayNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (प्रसविता इत्यस्य समनाधिकरणम्)Root केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्णवः
- flood; ocean; surgeNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (केतुः इत्यस्य समनाधिकरणम्)Role Kartā (समनाधिकरण)Root अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सूर्यस्य
- of the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- समानम्
- same; uniformAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (चक्रम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Karma-viśeṣaṇaRoot समान (प्रातिपदिक)
- चक्रम्
- wheel; diskNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot चक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- परि
- aroundIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- आ
- towards; untoIndeclinableउपसर्गRoot आ (उपसर्ग)
- विवृत्सन्
- turning; causing to revolveVerbशतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘turning/rolling (it)’Role Kartā (प्रसविता/केतुः/अर्णवः इत्यस्य विशेषणरूपेण)Root विवृत्स् (धातु; desiderative of √वृत्/√वृ ‘to turn/roll’)
- सन्
- beingVerbशतृ/सन्-रूप (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘being’ (विवृत्सन् इत्यनेन सह)Role Kartā (विशेषणात्मक)Root अस् (धातु)
- यत्
- which; thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (अत्र ‘यत् … वहति’ इति सम्बन्धः)Role Karma (वहति इत्यस्य)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- एतशः
- Etaśa (the Sun’s steed)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot एतश (प्रातिपदिक)
- वहति
- carries; bearsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (मुख्य क्रिया)Root वह् (धातु)
- धूर्षु
- on the yoke-poles; in the tracesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot धूर् (प्रातिपदिक)
- युक्तः
- yoked; harnessedAdjective/Participleभूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (एतशः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇaRoot युज् (धातु) → युक्त (कृदन्त)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: उद् | वेति | प्रसविता | जनानाम् | महान् | केतुः | अर्णवः | सूर्यस्य | समानम् | चक्रम् | परि | आ | विवृत्सन् | सन् | यत् | एतशः | वहति | धूर्षु | युक्तः । मुख्य सन्धयः: (1) उद् + वेति → उद्वेति (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: द् + व्)
- (2) महान् + केतुः → महान्केतुः (न् + क्)
- (3) परि + आविवृत्सन् → पर्याविवृत्सन् (इ + आ → या)
- (4) सन् + यत् → सन्यत् (न् + य्)
- (5) यत् + एतशः → यदे॑तशः (त् + ए → दे; स्वर/सन्धि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The impeller of peoples rises—the great sign, ocean-vast, of the sun. He turns the same wheel around; the steed Etaśa, yoked to the shafts, carries him onward.
Inner meaning
Savitṛ/Sūrya here is the Prasavītā—inner impeller who sets beings in motion toward their destined growth. The ‘great sign’ (ketu) is the unmistakable mark of awakening consciousness, vast like an ocean (arṇavaḥ): an immensity of light. The ‘same wheel’ is the law of cyclic progression—steady, repeatable rhythms of practice and evolution. Etaśa, the solar steed, symbolizes the vital energy harnessed (yuktaḥ) to carry illumination forward along the ‘shafts’ of disciplined channels—rightly yoked prāṇa and will. This is the psychology of sustained sadhana: constant revolution under law, propelled by illumined force.
Universal truth
Progress is lawful and rhythmic: illumination impels life forward through repeated cycles, and when vital energy is properly harnessed, the journey of growth becomes steady and inevitable.
Themes
solar-chariot, cosmic-cycle, impulsion-of-consciousness
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.63.1, RV 7.60, RV 7.61
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s solar vision is practical: illumination is an impelling power that organizes rhythm (cakra) and harnesses energy (aśva) for the journey.
Significance
He presents the sun not only as revealer but as organizer of movement—how the awakened light governs time, cycles, and the disciplined advance of the seeker.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ/Sūrya (the Prasavītā)
- Epithets
- prasavītā janānām (impeller of peoples), mahān ketuḥ (great sign), arṇavaḥ (ocean-vast)
- Related deities
- Mitra–Varuṇa (moral order behind the solar movement), Uṣas (preceding illumination), Agni (inner fire that responds to Savitṛ’s impulsion)
Cosmic role
Sets all beings in motion, turns the wheel of time, drives the chariot of light across the worlds.
Inner power
The force that initiates and sustains aspiration; luminous guidance (ketu) plus regulated cyclic effort (cakra) carried by harnessed vitality (Etaśa).
In ritual
Where it is used
Sunrise/solar rites; Savitṛ invocations that ‘set in motion’ the sacrifice and the day’s works.
उद्वे॑ति प्रसवी॒ता जना॑नां म॒हान्के॒तुर॑र्ण॒वः सूर्य॑स्य । स॒मा॒नं च॒क्रं प॑र्या॒विवृ॑त्स॒न्यदे॑त॒शो वह॑ति धू॒र्षु यु॒क्तः ॥
उत् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । ए॒ति॒ । प्र॒ऽस॒वी॒ता । जना॑नाम् । म॒हान् । के॒तुः । अ॒र्ण॒वः । सूर्य॑स्य । स॒मा॒नम् । च॒क्रम् । प॒रि॒ऽआ॒विवृ॑त्सन् । यत् । ए॒त॒शः । वह॑ति । धू॒र्षु । यु॒क्तः ॥
ut | oṃ iti | eti | pra-savītā | janānām | mahān | ketuḥ | arṇavaḥ | sūryasya | samānam | cakram | pari-āvivṛtsan | yat | etaśaḥ | vahati | dhūrṣu | yuktaḥ
44
4 × 11
Rolling and cyclical; the ‘cakra’ imagery is echoed by recurring cadence.
Creates a sense of continuous motion and inevitability—excellent for energizing disciplined practice and overcoming inertia.
- प्रसवीता (prasavītā)
- Literal: impeller, stimulator. Symbolic: Inner divine push toward growth and right action
- केतुः (ketuḥ)
- Literal: sign, banner, light-mark. Symbolic: Signal of awakening; luminous discernment guiding the journey
- अर्णवः (arṇavaḥ)
- Literal: ocean, flood. Symbolic: Vastness of consciousness; immeasurable light-field
- समानं चक्रं (samānaṃ cakram)
- Literal: the same wheel. Symbolic: Cyclic law of becoming; steady practice and time-rhythm
- पर्याविवृत्सन् (paryāvivṛtsan)
- Literal: turning around and around. Symbolic: Sustained revolution—repeated transformation cycles
- एतशः (etaśaḥ)
- Literal: Etaśa (the steed). Symbolic: Vital force/energy that carries the light when disciplined
- धूर्षु युक्तः (dhūrṣu yuktaḥ)
- Literal: yoked to the shafts. Symbolic: Prāṇa and will harnessed to right channels and direction
Morning solar stotra; suitable for contemplative recitation at the 'udita' moment (sunrise) and for Soma-morning sequences emphasizing Savitṛ as prasavītṛ (impeller)
At dawn; before beginning any major activity requiring steady momentum.
Āhvāna with visualization of the solar chariot; aligning personal effort with cosmic rhythm.
Use as a ‘consistency mantra’ for habit change: invoke the wheel and the yoked steed—steady cycles and harnessed energy.
prasavītā́: agent noun from pra-√sū 'to impel, set flowing' (prasava 'impulsion'); supports the psychological reading of a force that releases and drives the inner faculties. cakra- from √kṛ/√cak (circular motion; 'wheel' as ordered cycle). pari-āvivṛtsan from √vṛt 'turn' (PIE *wert- 'turn', cf. Lat. vertere, Eng. 'wart' no; 'invert' etc.). yukta- from √yuj (PIE *yeug- 'yoke', cf. Lat. iugum, Eng. yoke). arṇava- 'flood/ocean' expresses vastness; used here as a metaphor for the Sun’s immeasurable luminous domain.
Ṛta as cyclic law (samānaṃ cakram), prasava (divine impulsion), discipline/harnessing (yuktaḥ)
The sun’s regular revolution is the emblem of ṛta; inner life becomes orderly when moved by Savitṛ.
Truth is the ‘sign’ that guides motion; when ketu is clear, movement is right.
Creation as ongoing propulsion and cyclic renewal—worlds are maintained by repeated turning.
Yoga of lawful becoming: cyclic practice under illumination (Aurobindo’s notion of progressive transformation).
Sunrise
Awakening impulse rises; awareness becomes a vast guiding sign; disciplined cycles carry transformation; vital energy is yoked to the right direction.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Sun’s chariot and the turning wheel: the divine light travels by an ordered, recurrent law. Innerly, the awakening force (Savitṛ) turns the wheel of consciousness in a constant rhythm, carrying the seeker forward through disciplined channels (yuktaḥ).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The yoke imagery (yuktaḥ < √yuj) is a classic Indo-European poetic inheritance (*yeug-). The turning wheel (√vṛt) reflects PIE *wert- 'to turn', common in many IE languages; it anchors the cosmological metaphor of cyclic order.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes Savitṛ/Sūrya as the initiator of human action (prasavītā jánānām). The reciprocity is implicit: humans are moved to right works and right paths because the divine impulsion turns the ordered wheel and bears the consciousness forward.
Align with the ‘impeller’: feel a higher force initiating right action; commit to a cyclic practice (same wheel) and harness vitality (horse) to it.
Manipura (will/drive) guided by Ajna (ketu/vision)
Rhythmic breath (e.g., 6-6) to embody the wheel; then a few stronger exhales to ‘yoke’ energy without agitation.
Steady dynamism—calm drive rather than restless effort.
Choose one practice cycle (daily time, fixed duration). Before starting, chant once and visualize a golden wheel turning; feel prāṇa gathering and yoking to the chosen direction.
Keep the rising gesture on ‘ud v eti’; let the cadence roll through ‘samānaṃ cakram paryāvivṛtsan’ to mimic turning.
Articulate ‘prasavītā’ clearly; give a gentle rhythmic emphasis on ‘cakram’ and ‘etaśaḥ’ to embody motion.
(prasavītā): long ī; avoid ‘prasavita’ short i, (arṇavaḥ): retroflex ṇ; v soft, (paryāvivṛtsan): keep r-yā glide; ts cluster crisp, (dhūrṣu): long ū; retroflex ṣ
Bright, rhythmic, forward-driving; keep steadiness over speed.
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