Rig Veda 1.38.8: Mandala 1, Sukta 38, Mantra 8
Sukta 1.38
Rishi: Ghoṣā Kāksīvatī (traditional)
Devata: Maruts (storm-host; lightning and rain as their expressions)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh/Jagatī (likely; confirmation needed)
Samhita Patha (Devanagari)
वाश्रेव विद्युन्मिमाति वत्सं न माता सिषक्ति । यदेषां वृष्टिरसर्जि ॥
Transliteration
vāśréva vidyún mimāti vatsáṃ na mātā́ siṣakti | yád eṣāṃ vṛṣṭír ásarji ||
Translation
牛の鳴き声のように、稲妻はその一撃一撃を測り定める。母が子牛を抱き寄せるように、彼らの力は密着して集まり—彼らの雨が放たれるとき、内なる命は守護の抱擁へと収められる。
Word by Word
वा॒श्रेव॑like a bleating (one) / like a cry
वा॒श्रेव॑:
Karaṇa/Upamā (उपमान-निर्देश: ‘like a …’)
TypeIndeclinable (comparative particle with nominal base)
Rootवा॒श्रा (प्रातिपदिक; इव = अव्यय) → वा॒श्रā- + इव
वि॒द्युन्मि॑मातिthe lightning measures out / flashes (lit. ‘measures’)
वि॒द्युन्मि॑माति:
Kartā (विद्युৎ) + क्रिया
TypeVerb with nominal subject
Root√मा (माने/मितौ ‘to measure’); विद्युৎ- (प्रातिपदिक) + मिमाति
व॒त्संthe calf
व॒त्सं:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवत्स- (प्रातिपदिक)
नlike / as
न:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootन (निपात)
मा॒ताthe mother (cow)
मा॒ता:
Kartā
TypeNoun
Rootमातृ- (प्रातिपदिक)
सि॑षक्तिclings to / attaches (herself)
सि॑षक्ति:
क्रिया (कर्तृ-क्रिया: माता … सिषक्ति)
TypeVerb
Root√सञ्ज्/सज् (सक्तौ ‘to cling/attach’); reduplicated present: सिषक्ति
यत्when / that which
यत्:
Adhikaraṇa/Hetu (सम्बन्धसूचक: ‘when/that’)
TypePronoun (relative)
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
एषाम्of them
एषाम्:
Sambandha (genitive: ‘of them’)
TypePronoun
Rootएतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
वृ॒ष्टिःthe rain / rainfall
वृ॒ष्टिः:
Kartā
TypeNoun
Rootवृष्टि- (प्रातिपदिक; from √वृष् ‘to rain’)
अस॑र्जिwas released / poured forth
अस॑र्जि:
क्रिया (वृष्टिः … असर्जि)
TypeVerb
Root√सृज् (सर्जने ‘to let go, discharge’)
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