Rig Veda 2.17.4 — Mandala 2, Sukta 17, Mantra 4

Sukta 2.17

Rishi: Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava) (traditional attribution for RV 2.17)

Devata: Indra (with Agni/Vahni as operative power in the imagery)

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 2.17; verse length and cadence consistent)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

अधा यो विश्वा भुवनाभि मज्मनेशानकृत्प्रवया अभ्यवर्धत । आद्रोदसी ज्योतिषा वह्निरातनोत्सीव्यन्तमांसि दुधिता समव्ययत् ॥

Transliteration

adhā́ yo víśvā́ bhúvanā́bhi májmanéśāna-kṛtprávayā́ abhyávardhata | ād ródasī́ jyótiṣā́ váhnir ā́tanot sī́vyan támāṃsi dúdhitā́ sám avyayat ||

Translation

Then he who, by his vastness, grew over all worlds, the maker of mastery, advancing in the forward impulsion; he stretched out the two firmaments with his light. Sewing together the rents of the darkness, the impelling Fire-Power pressed them into a single coherence.

Word by Word

• अध: then, thereafter
• अध: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अध

• यः: who
• यः: Kartā
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• विश्वानि: all (things)
• विश्वानि: Karma
• Type: Adjective (used substantively)
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)

• भुवनानि: worlds, beings/realms
• भुवनानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुवन (प्रातिपदिक; √भू)

• अभि: towards, over, upon
• अभि: —
• Type: Indeclinable (preverb/preposition)
• Root: अभि

• मज्मने: for (his) greatness/might
• मज्मने: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: मज्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• ईशानकृत्: acting as lord; lordly-doer
• ईशानकृत्: Kartā
• Type: Adjective (compound)
• Root: ईशान (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृदन्त; √कृ)

• प्रवया: with vigor/strength (impelling power)
• प्रवया: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रवय (प्रातिपदिक)

• अभि: forth, towards
• अभि: —
• Type: Indeclinable (preverb)
• Root: अभि

• अवर्धत: grew, increased
• अवर्धत: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृध्

• आ: to, unto, forth
• आ: —
• Type: Indeclinable (preverb)
• Root: आ

• द्योदसी: the two worlds (Heaven and Earth)
• द्योदसी: Karma
• Type: Noun (dual compound)
• Root: द्यावापृथिवी/द्योदस् (द्वन्द्व-प्रातिपदिक)

• ज्योतिषा: with light
• ज्योतिषा: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• वह्निः: the bearer; fire/priest (Agni)
• वह्निः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक)

• आतनोत्: stretched out, extended
• आतनोत्: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तन्

• उत्: up, out
• उत्: —
• Type: Indeclinable (preverb)
• Root: उत्

• सीव्यन्तम्: sewing, stitching
• सीव्यन्तम्: Karma
• Type: Participle
• Root: √सिव्/√स्यु (सीव्) (कृदन्त)

• अंसि: limbs, parts
• अंसि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक)

• दुधिता: the daughter
• दुधिता: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुधित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त; √दुह् ‘to milk’ > ‘daughter’)

• सम्: together, completely
• सम्: —
• Type: Indeclinable (preverb)
• Root: सम्

• अव्ययत्: wove, joined together
• अव्ययत्: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वी/√वय (वयति ‘to weave’)