Rig Veda 3.49.3: Mandala 3, Sukta 49, Mantra 3

Sukta 3.49

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

Devata: Indra (as the battle-crosser and giver; Bhaga is a comparative epithet here, not primary addressee)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable for 3.49; verse length and cadence consistent)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

सहावा पृत्सु तरणिर्नार्वा व्यानशी रोदसी मेहनावान् । भगो न कारे हव्यो मतीनां पितेव चारुः सुहवो वयोधाः ॥

Sanskrit recitationRig Veda 3.49.3

Transliteration

sahā́vā pṛtsú taraṇír nā́rvā vyānaśī́ rodasī́ mehanā́vān | bhágo ná kāré havyo matīnā́m pitā́iva cā́ruḥ suhávo vayaḥdhā́ḥ ||

Translation

Strong in the clash of inner battles, he is the crosser like a swift steed; he widens the two worlds (the inner and the outer) and is a mighty pourer of the fruitful waters. Like Bhaga in the act of giving, he is to be invoked by our inspired thoughts; like a father, he is beautiful and easy to call, establishing in us the breadth of life-force.

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Word by Word

• सहावा: mighty, prevailing
• सहावा: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहावन् (प्रातिपदिक; सह् ‘to overcome/prevail’ + -आवन्) अथवा सहस्-वान्

• पृत्सु: in battles
• पृत्सु: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृत्/पृत्स् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘battle, fight’

• तरणिः: the overcomer, deliverer
• तरणिः: Kartā
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: तरणि (प्रातिपदिक; √तॄ ‘to cross, overcome’)

• न: not / like (contextual particle)
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• अर्वा: a steed, horse
• अर्वा: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्वन् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘horse, steed’

• व्यानशी: the all-reaching/pervading one
• व्यानशी: Kartā
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: व्यानशि (प्रातिपदिक; व्य्-√अश्/अंश् ‘to reach/attain, pervade’—वैदिक)

• रोदसी: the two worlds (heaven and earth)
• रोदसी: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोदसी (द्विवचन-प्रातिपदिक) ‘heaven and earth’

• मेहनावान्: possessing generative power; potent
• मेहनावान्: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेहनावन् (प्रातिपदिक; मेहना ‘urine/seed; generative power’ + -वान्)

• भगः: Bhaga (the bestower)
• भगः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग (प्रातिपदिक) ‘Bhaga; distributor, fortune’

• न: like
• न: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• कारे: in the chant/praise (at the rite)
• कारे: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार (प्रातिपदिक) ‘praise/song; act’

• हव्यः: to be invoked; worthy of offering
• हव्यः: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक; √हु ‘to sacrifice’ → ‘oblation-worthy/invocable’)

• मतीनाम्: of the thoughts/hymns
• मतीनाम्: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक) ‘thought, hymn, devotion’

• पिता: a father
• पिता: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) ‘father’

• इव: like
• इव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• चारुः: lovely, dear
• चारुः: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक) ‘dear, lovely’

• सुहवः: easy to invoke; graciously called
• सुहवः: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-हव (प्रातिपदिक; सु + हव ‘good to invoke/easy to call’)

• वयोधाः: bestower of vital strength (life-power)
• वयोधाः: Kartā
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: वयो-धा (प्रातिपदिक; वयस् ‘vital strength/age’ + √धा ‘to place, bestow’)