Rig Veda 2.23.1: Mandala 2, Sukta 23, Mantra 1

Sukta 2.23

Rishi: Gṛtsamada (of the Bhṛgu-Aṅgiras line)

Devata: Bṛhaspati / Brahmaṇaspati (Lord of the Word; organizer of the inner hosts)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

गणानां त्वा गणपतिं हवामहे कविं कवीनामुपमश्रवस्तमम् । ज्येष्ठराजं ब्रह्मणां ब्रह्मणस्पत आ नः शृण्वन्नूतिभिः सीद सादनम् ॥

Transliteration

gaṇā́nāṃ tvā gaṇá-patiṃ havāmahe kavíṃ kavīnā́m upamá-śravas-tamam | jyeṣṭhá-rājaṃ bráhmaṇāṃ brahmaṇas-pate ā́ naḥ śṛṇván ūtí-bhiḥ sīda sā́danam ||

Translation

O Lord of the host of soul-powers, we call you—seer among seers, most renowned beyond all comparison. O eldest King of the mantras and the creative Word, O Master of the formative Thought: hear us and, bringing your helps, take your seat in our inner shrine.

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Word by Word

• गणानाम्: of the groups/hosts
• गणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive relation) — ‘of the hosts’
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)

• त्वा: you
• त्वा: कर्म (object) — ‘you’ (whom we invoke)
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• गणपतिम्: the lord of hosts
• गणपतिम्: कर्म (object) — apposition to त्वा
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणपति (प्रातिपदिक)

• हवामहे: we invoke
• हवामहे: क्रिया (main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ह्वा (ह्वयति/ह्वयते) ‘to call, invoke’

• कविम्: the sage/poet
• कविम्: कर्म (object) — further apposition to त्वा
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)

• कवीनाम्: of poets
• कवीनाम्: सम्बन्ध — ‘of poets’
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)

• उपमश्रवस्तमम्: most renowned / of best fame
• उपमश्रवस्तमम्: विशेषण (qualifier) of त्वा/गणपतिम्/कविम्
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उपमश्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘having the best fame/renown’)

• ज्येष्ठराजम्: the foremost king
• ज्येष्ठराजम्: कर्म — apposition to त्वा
• Type: Noun (compound title)
• Root: ज्येष्ठराज (प्रातिपदिक; ‘eldest/foremost king’)

• ब्रह्मणाम्: of sacred prayers/formulas
• ब्रह्मणाम्: सम्बन्ध — ‘of prayers/sacred formulations’
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• ब्रह्मणस्पते: O Lord of prayer (Bṛhaspati)
• ब्रह्मणस्पते: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun (vocative)
• Root: ब्रह्मणस्-पति (प्रातिपदिक; ‘lord of brahman/prayer’)

• आ: hither, to us
• आ: क्रियाविशेषण (directional particle) modifying सीद
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)

• नः: to us / for us
• नः: सम्प्रदान (recipient) of aid/coming
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• शृण्वन्: hearing
• शृण्वन्: कर्तृविशेषण — qualifying the addressed deity (‘while hearing’)
• Type: Verbal adjective (present participle)
• Root: √श्रु ‘to hear’

• ऊतिभिः: with helps/aids
• ऊतिभिः: करण (instrument/means) — ‘with aids’
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊति (प्रातिपदिक) ‘help, aid’

• सीद: sit; take your seat
• सीद: क्रिया (imperative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सद् ‘to sit, settle, take seat’

• सादनम्: the seat/abode
• सादनम्: कर्म/अधिकरण (goal/place) with सीद — ‘sit (upon) the seat’
• Type: Noun
• Root: सादन (प्रातिपदिक) ‘seat, sitting-place’