Rig Veda 3.49.4: Mandala 3, Sukta 49, Mantra 4

Sukta 3.49

Rishi: Viśvāmitra Gāthina (hymn-level attribution assumed for Mandala 3)

Devata: Indra (with Vāyu/Dhīṣaṇā as comparative or allied powers in the imagery)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

धर्ता दिवो रजसस्पृष्ट ऊर्ध्वो रथो न वायुर्वसुभिर्नियुत्वान् । क्षपां वस्ता जनिता सूर्यस्य विभक्ता भागं धिषणेव वाजम् ॥

Transliteration

dhartā́ divó rájasas pṛṣṭá ūrdhvó rathó ná vāyúrvásubhir niyútvān | kṣapā́m vastā́ janitā́ sū́ryasya víbhaktā bhāgáṃ dhiṣáṇeva vā́jam ||

Translation

He is the upholder of heaven, set upon the back of the mid-world; rising upward like a chariot, like Vāyu yoked with the Vasus. He is the weaver of the nights and the begetter of the Sun; he apportions the share, and like Dhīṣaṇā he distributes the plenitude of force (vāja) for our becoming.

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Word by Word

• धर्ता: supporter, bearer
• धर्ता: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: धृ (धारणे) → धर्तृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)

• दिवः: of heaven
• दिवः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ- (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ ‘heaven’)

• रजसः: of the midspace/atmospheric region
• रजसः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• पृष्टः: touched, contacted
• पृष्टः: कर्तृ (as qualifier of the subject)
• Type: Adjective/Participle
• Root: स्पृश् (स्पर्शने) → पृष्ट- (कृदन्त, क्त)

• ऊर्ध्वः: upright, aloft
• ऊर्ध्वः: कर्तृ (as qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)

• रथः: chariot
• रथः: कर्तृ (apposition/metaphor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक)

• न: like, as
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (उपमा-अव्यय)

• वायुः: Vāyu (Wind)
• वायुः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)

• वसुभिः: with the Vasus (with the bright gods/wealths)
• वसुभिः: करण
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु (प्रातिपदिक)

• नियुत्वान्: possessing (well-)yoked teams
• नियुत्वान्: कर्तृ (as qualifier of वायुः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियुत् (प्रातिपदिक ‘yoking, team’) + वत् (मतुप्/वतुप्) → नियुत्वन्त्

• क्षपाम्: of the nights
• क्षपाम्: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षप्/क्षपा (प्रातिपदिक ‘night’)

• वस्ता: dweller; one who abides (through the nights)
• वस्ता: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: वस् (आच्छादने/निवासे) → वस्तृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)

• जनिता: begetter, producer
• जनिता: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: जन् (जनने) → जनितृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)

• सूर्यस्य: of Sūrya (the Sun)
• सूर्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)

• विभक्ता: distributor, apportioner
• विभक्ता: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun (agent)
• Root: भज् (विभागे) + वि- → विभक्तृ- (कर्तरि तृच्)

• भागम्: share, portion
• भागम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाग (प्रातिपदिक)

• धिषणे: the two Dhīṣaṇās (dual powers of inspiration)
• धिषणे: कर्तृ (as standard of comparison with इव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धिषणा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘inspiration/insight’, also personified)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (उपमा-अव्यय)

• वाजम्: prize; strength; (ritual) reward
• वाजम्: कर्म (object of implied ‘to distribute/award’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाज (प्रातिपदिक)