Rig Veda 5.49.1: Mandala 5, Sukta 49, Mantra 1
Sukta 5.49
- Devata
- Savitṛ and Bhaga
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
देवं वो अद्य सवितारमेषे भगं च रत्नं विभजन्तमायोः । आ वां नरा पुरुभुजा ववृत्यां दिवेदिवे चिदश्विना सखीयन् ॥
deváṃ vo adyá savitā́ram eṣé bhágaṃ ca rátnaṃ vibhájantam āyóḥ | ā́ vāṃ narā purubhujā vavṛtyāṃ divédive cid aśvinā sakhīyán ||
ഇന്ന് ഞാൻ നിങ്ങള്ക്കായി ദേവനായ സവിതൃനെയും, ആയുസ്സിന്റെ വർധനയ്ക്കായി രത്നധനം വിഭജിക്കുന്ന ഭഗനെയും അന്വേഷിക്കുന്നു. നിങ്ങളോടും—ഹേ നരന്മാരേ, പലവിധം അനുഭവിക്കുന്ന അധിപതികളേ, ഹേ അശ്വിന്മാരേ—ദിവസംതോറും ഞാൻ തിരിഞ്ഞുവരുന്നു, നിങ്ങളുടെ സഖ്യത ആഗ്രഹിച്ച്.
Word by Word
- देवम्
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- वः
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अद्य
- today / nowIndeclinableकालवाचक अव्ययRole अधिकारणRoot अद्य (अव्यय)
- सवितारम्
- Savitṛ (the Impeller)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषे
- I seek / I desireVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; वैदिक: ‘एषे’ = ‘इषे’Role कर्तृRoot इष् (धातु, 1P) / इषे (वैदिक रूप)
- भगम्
- Bhaga (the Dispenser of fortune)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot भग (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च (अव्यय)
- रत्नम्
- treasure / precious giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- विभजन्तम्
- distributing / apportioningParticiple (Adjectival)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole विशेषण (कर्म-सम्बन्ध)Root वि-भज् (धातु) → विभजत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- आयोः
- of life / lifetimeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (वैदिक), षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot आयु (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither / towardsIndeclinableआह्वान/आगमनार्थक अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वाम्
- you twoPronounद्वितीया, द्विवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role कर्म (आह्वान-लक्ष्य)Root युवद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नरा
- O two men (Aśvins)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुभुजा
- O wide-giving / much-bestowingAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधन-विशेषणRoot पुरु-भुज् (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- ववृत्याम्
- may I turn to / choose / approachVerb (optative/precative-like Vedic form)विधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (वैदिक), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थ: ‘आ वां … ववृत्याम्’ = ‘I would turn/come to you two / I would choose you two’Role कर्तृRoot वृ (धातु) → ववृत्य (कृदन्त) / वैदिक प्रयोग
- दिवे-दिवे
- day by dayNoun (reduplicated adverbial)सप्तमी, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे पुनरुक्तिRole अधिकारणRoot दिव् (प्रातिपदिक: दिवस्/दिव)
- चित्
- even / indeedIndeclinableअवधारण/अपि-अर्थक अव्ययRoot चित् (अव्यय)
- अश्विना
- O AśvinsNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, द्विवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- सखीयन्
- seeking friendship / acting as a friendParticiple / verbal adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सखीयन्’ = ‘सखायम् इच्छन्/सख्यं कुर्वन्’ (वैदिक प्रयोग)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सखी (प्रातिपदिक) → सखीय (कृदन्त/नामधातु) / वैदिक
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): देवम् | वः | अद्य | सवितारम् | एषे | भगम् | च | रत्नम् | विभजन्तम् | आयोः || आ | वाम् | नरा | पुरुभुजा | ववृत्याम् | दिवे-दिवे | चित् | अश्विना | सखीयन् || 1) ‘सवितारम् एषे’ इति संधिः: -म् + ए- (अनुस्वार/मकारान्त) → ‘...रमेषे’। 2) ‘भगं च’ : -म् + च → ‘...गं च’ (अनुस्वार-परिवर्तन)
- 3) ‘रत्नं विभजन्तम्’ : -म् + वि- → ‘रत्नं वि...’ (अनुस्वार)
- 4) ‘आ वां’ : ‘आ’ + ‘वाम्’ (संधि नहीं, पद-सीमा)
- 5) ‘दिवे दिवे’ पुनरुक्ति से ‘दिवेदिवे’। 6) ‘चिदश्विना’ : ‘चित्’ + ‘अश्विना’ → ‘चिदश्विना’ (त् + अ → द् + अ; जश्त्व)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Today I seek for you the god Savitṛ, and Bhaga too, who apportions the treasure for life’s increase. And to you, O two lords who enjoy in many ways, O Aśvins, I would turn day by day, desiring your friendship.
Inner meaning
Savitṛ is the divine impulsion that sets the inner journey in motion; Bhaga is the power that distributes the right share of spiritual riches (ratna) for āyuḥ—life-force and the growth of being. The seeker ‘seeks’ (eṣe) these powers ‘today’: the immediacy of practice—now is the moment of alignment. The Aśvins, twin powers of swift help and harmonious duality (light and force, intuition and action), are invoked daily for companionship: the yoga needs both the impulsion (Savitṛ), the right distribution (Bhaga), and the timely, healing assistance (Aśvins) that carries the being through transitions.
Universal truth
A fulfilled life requires right impetus, right distribution, and timely help. When we consciously align each day to these higher functions, growth becomes steady, balanced, and supported by friendly powers.
Themes
Daily practice, Invocation of impulsion and fortune, Twin helpers, Increase of life-force
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.49.2, Rig Veda 5.48.5 (Bhaga/Savitṛ mention)
Family tradition
Transition into a Savitṛ–Bhaga–Aśvin invocation style typical of hymns seeking daily guidance and increase of life.
Significance
The seer frames sādhanā as daily alignment: invoke impulsion (Savitṛ), right portion (Bhaga), and twin aids (Aśvins) for continuous growth.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ and Bhaga; with Aśvins as daily companion-powers
- Epithets
- deva Savitṛ, ratna-vibhajant (Bhaga distributing treasure), purubhujā (Aśvins ‘enjoying/partaking in many ways’)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (dawn, allied with Aśvins), Varuṇa/Mitra (order and harmony), Indra (illumined force)
Cosmic role
Savitṛ impels all beings into right activity; Bhaga apportions fortune and share; Aśvins bring swift aid, healing, and right transitions at dawn-like moments.
Inner power
Savitṛ: awakening impetus; Bhaga: right measure and delight; Aśvins: swift harmonizing assistance, bridging dualities in the psyche.
In ritual
Where it is used
Daily solar invocation; prayers for prosperity and well-being; Aśvin aid at beginnings (probable)
दे॒वं वो॑ अ॒द्य स॑वि॒तार॒मेषे॒ भगं॑ च॒ रत्नं॑ वि॒भज॑न्तमा॒योः । आ वां॑ नरा पुरुभुजा ववृत्यां दि॒वेदि॑वे चिदश्विना सखी॒यन् ॥
दे॒वम् । वः॒ । अ॒द्य । स॒वि॒तार॑म् । आ । ई॒षे॒ । भग॑म् । च॒ । रत्न॑म् । वि॒ऽभज॑न्तम् । आ॒योः । आ । वा॒म् । न॒रा॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽभु॒जा॒ । व॒वृ॒त्या॒म् । दि॒वेऽदि॑वे । चि॒त् । अ॒श्वि॒ना॒ । स॒खि॒ऽयन् ॥
devam | vaḥ | adya | savitāram | ā | īṣe | bhagam | ca | ratnam | vi-bhajantam | āyoḥ | ā | vām | narā | puru-bhujā | vavṛtyām | dive--dive | cit | aśvinā | sakhi-yan
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Bright, forward-moving, with an invitational cadence suitable for daily invocation.
Uplifts and energizes; instills a sense of daily companionship and purposeful beginning.
- सवितारम् (savitāram)
- Literal: Savitṛ, the impeller. Symbolic: divine impulsion initiating right movement and growth
- भगम् (bhagam)
- Literal: Bhaga, distributor/portioner. Symbolic: power that apportions the right share of inner riches and delight
- रत्नम् (ratnam)
- Literal: treasure. Symbolic: spiritual wealth: insight, strength, harmony, joy
- आयोः (āyoḥ)
- Literal: of life/for life’s increase. Symbolic: expansion of life-force and the span/quality of conscious living
- अश्विना (aśvinā)
- Literal: the Aśvins (horsemen twins). Symbolic: twin helper-powers: swift vital energy + luminous intuition; healing transitions
- सखी-यन् (sakhīyan)
- Literal: seeking friendship. Symbolic: cultivating an intimate, daily alliance with higher consciousness
Daily invocatory orientation (divedive): suitable for morning rites and for beginning movements of sacrifice where Savitṛ impels and Bhaga apportions.
At sunrise or start of day; also before travel, study, or healing practices.
Recitation facing the light; offering water/flower; inner resolve to act from right impetus and right portion.
Morning mantra: set intention (Savitṛ), ask for right priorities/portion (Bhaga), invite balanced help (Aśvins) for the day.
Savitṛ: √sū/√su ‘impel, vivify’ → the awakener of right movement. Bhaga: √bhaj ‘share’ → distributor of portions (inner felicities). āyu: ‘life’ not merely duration but the vital continuum to be increased and harmonized. Aśvin: connected with ‘horse’ (aśva) as symbol of speed/light; twins as paired functions—swift aid and integrative healing.
Right impulsion (Savitṛ), Distribution of inner riches (Bhaga), Sakhya (divine friendship as yogic companionship)
Implied: Savitṛ impels according to cosmic rightness; Bhaga distributes accordingly.
Truth expresses as right measure (bhaga) and right movement (savitṛ).
Daily renewal: each day re-creates the path through right impulsion and right apportioning.
Practical Vedic yoga: alignment of will and life to higher functions for integral growth.
dawn/morning (implied by Savitṛ and Aśvins’ daily turning)
Sun = awakening will and clarity; dawn = transition state where help arrives; horses (Aśvins) = swift vital energies guided by intuition.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The apportioning of treasure by Bhaga under Savitṛ’s impulsion, and the daily turning toward the Aśvins for friendship. Mythically: divine distribution and twin rescue; psychologically: awakening the will and receiving rightly portioned inner capacities with steady companionship.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bhaj ‘share’ and the figure Bhaga have Indo-Iranian continuity (Avestan baga). The twin helpers motif (Aśvins) parallels widespread IE divine twins (Greek Dioscuri, Baltic Dieva dēli), reworked in Vedic as healers and swift saviours.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acts as mediator ‘for you’ (vaḥ), seeking Savitṛ and Bhaga to distribute treasures for life-increase, and personally adopts a discipline of repeated turning (divedive) toward the Aśvins in sakhya—ongoing reciprocal companionship rather than one-time petition.
At day’s start, invoke inner impulsion (Savitṛ), right priorities (Bhaga), and balanced twin support (Aśvins).
Maṇipūra (impetus), Anāhata (friendship/companionship), Ājñā (right discernment of portion)
3 rounds of slow inhalation imagining solar ascent; on exhale, silently offer the day’s actions to right distribution.
Fresh beginning; poised, guided action with an undertone of trust.
Choose one ‘ratna’ quality to cultivate today (clarity, patience, courage). Ask Bhaga for the right measure (not excess), Savitṛ for steady impetus, and Aśvins for quick correction when imbalance appears.
Rigvedic three-tone chanting; verify exact accents with a svara edition for precise teaching.
Sustain brightness on savitāram and bhagam; give gentle emphasis to dive-dive to mark daily recurrence; keep a warm lift on aśvinā.
vibhajantam: articulate bha clearly (not ‘va’), purubhujā: keep short u in -bhu- and long ā at end, aśvinā: clear ś (palatal), sakhīyan: keep long ī
Bright, clear, and inviting—like a morning call.
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