Rig Veda 5.49.2: Mandala 5, Sukta 49, Mantra 2
Sukta 5.49
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्रति प्रयाणमसुरस्य विद्वान्त्सूक्तैर्देवं सवितारं दुवस्य । उप ब्रुवीत नमसा विजानञ्ज्येष्ठं च रत्नं विभजन्तमायोः ॥
práti prayā́ṇam ásurasya vidvā́n sū́ktair deváṃ savitā́raṃ duvasya | úpa bruvīta nám asā vijānán jyéṣṭhaṃ ca rátnaṃ vibhájantam āyóḥ ||
ຮູ້ຈັກການເຄື່ອນທາງໄປຂ້າງໜ້າຂອງອະສູລະ, ດ້ວຍຄຳສັງຂານທີ່ປັດຊ່າງງາມ, ຈົ່ງບູຊາພະເຈົ້າສະວິຕາ. ຈົ່ງເວົ້າຢູ່ໃກ້ດ້ວຍຄວາມເຄົາລົບ, ສຳຜັດຊັບສົມບັດທີ່ເກົ່າແກ່ທີ່ພຣະອົງປະທານໃຫ້ເພື່ອການເຕີບໃຫຍ່ຂອງຊີວິດ.
Word by Word
- प्रति
- towards, in response toIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Role Adhikaraṇa (दिशा/सम्बन्ध) / उपसर्गार्थRoot प्रति (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- प्रयाणम्
- the going forth, departure, advanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot प्र-या (√या ‘to go’) → प्रयाण (प्रातिपदिक)
- असुरस्य
- of the Asura (lordly one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
- विद्वान्
- knowing, wiseAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot √विद् ‘to know’ → विद्वस् (कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
- सूक्तैः
- with well-spoken hymnsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot सु-उक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवम्
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सवितारम्
- SavitarNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole Karma (देवम् का विशेष्य/अप्पोज़िशन)Root सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- दुवस्य
- honor! serve!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (आज्ञा) —Root √दुवस्/दुवस्य ‘to honor, serve’ (धातु)
- उप
- near, up toIndeclinableनिपात (अव्यय)Role Adhikaraṇa (निकटता) / उपसर्गार्थRoot उप (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- ब्रुवीत
- should speak, should addressVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √ब्रू ‘to speak’
- नमसा
- with reverence, with homageNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- विजानन्
- discerning, understandingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन (कर्तरि वर्तमान कृदन्त)Role Kartā (ब्रुवीत् का कर्ता-विशेषण)Root वि-√ज्ञा ‘to discern, know’ → विजानत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- ज्येष्ठम्
- the eldest, most eminentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole Karma (देवम्/सवितारम् का विशेषण)Root ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थ अव्ययRoot च (निपात)
- रत्नम्
- treasure, precious giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole Karma (ज्येष्ठम् के साथ अप्पोज़िशन/विशेष्य)Root रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- विभजन्तम्
- apportioning, distributingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (कर्मणि/कर्तरि—यहाँ कर्तरि: ‘वितरन्तम्’)Role Karma (देवम्/सवितारम् का विशेषण)Root वि-√भज् ‘to apportion, distribute’ → विभजत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- आयोः
- of life, of vital power (āyu)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: आयोः < आयुषः)Role Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)Root आयु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (वैदिक संधि-विग्रह): प्रति | प्रयाणम् | असुरस्य | विद्वान् | सूक्तैः | देवम् | सवितारम् | दुवस्य । उप | ब्रुवीत | नमसा | विजानन् | ज्येष्ठम् | च | रत्नम् | विभजन्तम् | आयोः ॥ 1) ‘विद्वान्त्सूक्तैः’ = विद्वान् + सूक्तैः (न् + स् → न्त्स्, संहितायाम्)
- 2) ‘विजा॒नञ्ज्येष्ठम्’ = विजानन् + ज्येष्ठम् (न् + ज् → ञ्ज्, संहितायाम्)
- 3) ‘आयोः’ वैदिक षष्ठी एकवचन रूप (आयु-शब्दस्य), क्लासिकल ‘आयुषः’ के समतुल्य।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The knower of the forward movement (impulsion) of the Asura serves the god Savitṛ with well-fashioned hymns; approaching with reverence, he asks/utters, discerning the eldest treasure Savitṛ distributes for the increase of life.
Inner meaning
The seeker who understands the divine impulsion (Savitṛ as Asura—sovereign Lord of the movement of being) offers a rightly formed inner speech (sūkta) to align the will and mind with that higher propulsion. By humility (namas) and clear discernment (vijānán), one comes near to the “eldest treasure”—the original Light/Truth-consciousness—out of which Savitṛ apportions growth (āyus) as progressive unfolding of the soul’s life.
Universal truth
True progress is not forced by ego-effort but by consenting to a higher guidance. When aspiration is well-shaped and offered with humility, the deepest and oldest good (wisdom/light) is released in right measure for our evolution.
Themes
Ritual instruction, Approach through speech and reverence, Life-increase through right distribution
The seer
- Lineage
- Atri (probable Ātreya milieu for Mandala 5)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.49 (hymn context), Rig Veda 5.50 (Savitṛ/leader theme nearby), Rig Veda 5.81 (Savitṛ hymns for comparison)
Family tradition
Mandala 5 is largely attributed to the Ātreyas
Significance
The seer-voice emphasizes knowledge of the true impulsion (Savitṛ) and the necessity of right speech and surrender—classic Ātreya psychology: illumination comes by alignment, not coercion.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ (as Asura: sovereign impulsion of being)
- Epithets
- deva, Savitṛ, Asura (sovereign lord), netṛ-like guide (implied)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Pūṣan, Uṣas, Mitra-Varuṇa
Cosmic role
Solar power that sets beings in motion, ordains right courses, and distributes the boons of growth according to ṛta.
Inner power
The divine Will-to-be and Will-to-progress that awakens aspiration, guides discernment, and apportions inner riches (ratna) as stages of realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Savitṛ-related praise in soma/yajña sequences; also suitable for sunrise impetus rites (general)
प्रति॑ प्र॒याण॒मसु॑रस्य वि॒द्वान्त्सू॒क्तैर्दे॒वं स॑वि॒तारं॑ दुवस्य । उप॑ ब्रुवीत॒ नम॑सा विजा॒नञ्ज्येष्ठं॑ च॒ रत्नं॑ वि॒भज॑न्तमा॒योः ॥
प्रति॑ । प्र॒ऽयान॑म् । असु॑रस्य । वि॒द्वान् । सु॒ऽउ॒क्तैः । दे॒वम् । स॒वि॒तार॑म् । दु॒व॒स्य॒ । उप॑ । ब्रु॒वी॒त॒ । नम॑सा । वि॒ऽजा॒नन् । ज्येष्ठ॑म् । च॒ । रत्न॑म् । वि॒ऽभज॑न्तम् । आ॒योः ॥
prati | pra-yānam | asurasya | vidvān | su-uktaiḥ | devam | savitāram | duvasya | upa | bruvīta | namasā | vi-jānan | jyeṣṭham | ca | ratnam | vi-bhajantam | āyoḥ
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (approx.)
Forward-driving, expansive cadence suited to ‘prayāṇa’ (advance) and invocation.
Builds a sense of inner momentum and guided ascent; supports a steady, aspiring concentration.
- prati
- Literal: towards, in response to. Symbolic: turning the consciousness toward the divine impulsion; conscious consent
- prayāṇam
- Literal: forward-going, advance, journey. Symbolic: evolutionary movement of the inner being; progressive ascent
- asurasya
- Literal: of the Asura (lord/sovereign being). Symbolic: the supreme ruling consciousness-power (not demonic here): the master of divine movement
- vidvān
- Literal: knowing, the knower. Symbolic: the awakened discernment that recognizes the true mover
- sūktaiḥ
- Literal: well-spoken hymns. Symbolic: rightly-formed mantra/thought-speech shaped by truth
- duvasya
- Literal: serve, worship, attend. Symbolic: consecrated action of the will; inner sacrifice
- namasā
- Literal: with obeisance. Symbolic: ego-surrender; receptivity
- vijānán
- Literal: discerning, distinguishing. Symbolic: viveka: separating true guidance from mixed impulses
- jyeṣṭham ratnam
- Literal: eldest treasure. Symbolic: primordial light/gnosis; the first wealth of the Spirit
- vibhajantam
- Literal: distributing, apportioning. Symbolic: the divine gives according to readiness and right measure
- āyoḥ
- Literal: of life, vitality, lifespan. Symbolic: growth of the soul-life and its powers (not merely longevity)
Instructional: how to approach Savitṛ—by suktas and namas with discernment; apt for officiant/hotṛ framing in morning invocations.
Morning or transitional moments invoking right impulsion and distribution of boons
Hotṛ recitation of praise (stotra/śastra context broadly) to invoke Savitṛ’s guidance
Before study/meditation or beginning a new endeavor: offer a brief inner ‘namas’ and invoke right direction and right measure of growth.
asura: from √as ‘to be’ → ‘lord of being/power of life’; RV usage often positive (‘sovereign’). vi-√jñā: discernment as a yogic faculty. jyéṣṭha ‘eldest’ indicates the primal/most authoritative treasure—psychologically the highest inner attainment that orders the rest.
Asura as sovereign being-power, Discernment (vijñāna-like clarity), Prime treasure (jyeṣṭha ratna)
Savitṛ as the ordainer of right movement; ‘prayāṇam’ implies alignment with ṛta’s forward progression.
Sūkta + vijñāna (discernment) as truth-speech opening the eldest treasure.
Distribution of ‘ratna’ as emanation of powers from the solar gnosis into life-growth.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-psychological reading (Aurobindo): ascent from mind to supramental light through solar powers.
dawn-to-sunrise transition (Savitṛ’s characteristic hour)
The sunrise impulse corresponds to the awakening of will and discernment that sets the whole nature moving toward truth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘forward-going’ of the sovereign power (Asura) identified with Savitṛ’s impulsion: a mythic image of the divine setting the worlds in motion and distributing the prime treasure. Psychologically, it is the awakening movement of being that must be met with true speech and reverent alignment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- asura from √as ‘be’ parallels the fundamental IE ontology of ‘being’ as power (cf. Latin esse). The semantic of ‘prayāṇa’ (setting forth) matches IE solar journey motifs; the ritual-technical register (sūkta, namas) shows specialized Vedic development atop inherited poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions the worshipper as ‘knowing’ the divine movement and therefore able to cooperate: service through well-made speech and humility enables reception of the ‘eldest treasure’. Reciprocity is framed as correct approach (vidvān, vijānan) rather than mere request.
Aligning personal will with the higher impulsion; offering thought-speech as truth-formulation.
ājñā (discernment) / maṇipūra (will)
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana for 3–6 rounds, then natural breath with inward ‘namas’.
Receptive, guided aspiration (opening to a higher leading).
Before action, pause; inwardly ask: ‘What is the true forward movement?’ Offer one clear intention as sūkta (a truthful sentence), then act without haste, allowing right measure to unfold.
Follow śākala accenting: preserve udatta on marked syllables (e.g.,,,,, ); unmarked syllables default anudatta; svarita arises in sandhi per recensional rules.
Keep a slight lift on udatta-marked syllables; do not over-musicalize—clarity of accent supports ‘vijānán’ (discernment).
Differentiate v/va in savitāram (sa-vi-tā-ram) with clear short ‘a’, Hold retroflex ṇ in prayāṇam (yāṇam) with nasal clarity, Pronounce jyeṣṭham with conjunct ‘ṣṭh’ cleanly (jyeṣ-ṭham), vibhajantam: articulate bha-ja with soft aspirate ‘bh’
steady, luminous, reverent (soft firmness)
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