Rig Veda 8.73.16 — Mandala 8, Sukta 73, Mantra 16

Sukta 8.73

Rishi: Atri (probable, as the hymn repeatedly references Atraye; traditional attribution to Atri or Atris in Aśvin hymns)

Devata: Uṣas (Dawn) explicitly; refrain still addresses a dual ‘vām’ (Aśvinau) suggesting shared hymn-refrain or mixed address

Chandas: Gāyatrī (probable: short refrain-like structure; exact meter requires full hymn scan)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

अरुणप्सुरुषा अभूदकर्ज्योतिॠतावरी । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Transliteration

aruṇápsur uṣā́ abhūd ákar jyótir ṛtā́varī | ánti ṣádbhūtu vāmávaḥ ||

Translation

Dawn became a red-flashing brilliance and made the light, she who moves in the law of Truth; may your help be near and truly present.

Word by Word

• अरुणप्सुः: the ruddy (one) in the waters (i.e., dawn/fire in waters)
• अरुणप्सुः: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: अरुणप्सु- (प्रातिपदिक; अरुण- + अप्सु ‘जल’ से बहुव्रीहि) अथवा अरुणप्सु- (न.)

• उरुषाः: wide-spreading, far-reaching
• उरुषाः: कर्तृ (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उरुषा- (प्रातिपदिक; उरु- ‘विस्तीर्ण’ से)

• अभूत्: became; came into being
• अभूत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)

• अकः: a ray; a flash (of light)
• अकः: कर्तृ/सम्बन्ध (अभूत् का विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अक’ = तेज/किरण/अर्चिस्-सम्बद्ध वेदिक शब्द)

• ज्योतिः: light
• ज्योतिः: कर्तृ/विधेय
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस्- (प्रातिपदिक)

• ऋतावरी: she who bears/advances ṛta (cosmic order); the ṛta-bearing (one)
• ऋतावरी: कर्तृ (विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन)
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: ऋतावरी- (प्रातिपदिक; ऋत- ‘ऋत/सत्य-व्यवस्था’ + वरी ‘धारिणी/वहन्ती’)

• अन्ति: near; in the presence (of)
• अन्ति: अधिकरण (समीप)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्ति (अव्यय)

• षत्: let (him/it) sit; may (it) settle
• षत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद्/सीद् (धातु)

• भूतु: let it be; may it become
• भूतु: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)

• वामवः: a gracious boon; a favorable good (gift)
• वामवः: कर्तृ/विधेय
• Type: Noun/Adjective
• Root: वामवस्- (प्रातिपदिक; वाम ‘प्रिय/शुभ’ + वस् ‘वसु/सम्पत्ति’)