Rig Veda 1.17.2: Mandala 1, Sukta 17, Mantra 2

Sukta 1.17

Rishi

Medhātithi Kāṇva

Devata

Indra-Varuṇa

Chandas

Gāyatrī

Rasa

Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

गन्तारा हि स्थोऽवसे हवं विप्रस्य मावतः । धर्तारा चर्षणीनाम् ॥

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.17.2

Transliteration

gántārā hí sthó ’váse hávaṁ víprasya mā́vataḥ | dhartārā carṣaṇīnā́m ||

Translation

Pois vós dois sois, em verdade, os que vindes em socorro, ouvindo o chamado do vidente inspirado, de poderoso ímpeto; sois os sustentadores dos povos, os suportes das linhagens humanas.

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Word by Word

गन्तारौ

the two goers/arrivers (i.e., the two who come)Noun (agent noun) · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ · Root गम् (धातु) → गन्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)

हि

indeed, forIndeclinable · निपात (emphatic/causal particle)Root हि (निपात)

स्थः

you two are / you two standVerb · लट् (वर्तमान), मध्यम-पुरुष, द्विवचनRoot अस् (धातु) (वेद. रूप: स्थः = स्थथः/स्थः)

अवसे

for help, for aidNoun · नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान · Root अवस् (प्रातिपदिक) अथवा √अव् (रक्षणे) → अवस्

हवम्

invocation, callNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्म · Root हव (प्रातिपदिक) < √ह्वे/हू (आह्वाने)

विप्रस्य

of the inspired poet/seerNoun · पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) · Root विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)

मावतः

of the wealthy/possessing (one)Adjective (substantival) · पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (विप्रस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive) · Root मावत् (प्रातिपदिक; वेद. ‘possessing/abounding in …’, here ‘wealthy/possessing means’)

धर्तारौ

the two supporters/bearersNoun (agent noun) · पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचनRole कर्तृ · Root √धृ (धारणे) → धर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)

चर्षणीनाम्

of the peoples/menNoun · स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) · Root चर्षणी (प्रातिपदिक; वेद. ‘men, peoples, tribes’)

Sandhi Notes

• पदच्छेदः: गन्तारौ हि स्थः अवसे हवम् विप्रस्य मावतः । धर्तारौ चर्षणीनाम् ॥ 1) स्थोऽवसे = स्थः + अवसे (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अ-प्रारम्भे विसर्गः ‘ओ’ इव दृश्यते; संहितायां ‘स्थो’).
• ‘गन्तारौ/धर्तारौ’ द्विवचन-प्रथमा कृदन्तौ (गन्तृ/धर्तृ) ।

The meaning

Outer meaning

You two are indeed the comers to our aid, hearing the call of the inspired singer with mighty impulse; you are the upholders of the peoples.

Inner meaning

Indra and Varuṇa are not distant ideals; they ‘come’ when the vipra (inspired consciousness) calls with māvat (mighty impetus—strong aspiration). They uphold the carṣaṇīs—human communities/strivings—meaning they sustain the evolutionary march by giving both force and law to collective life and to the many movements within the seeker.

Universal truth

Higher help responds to sincere, forceful aspiration; true sovereignty supports not only the individual but the collective order and progress.

Themes

responsive gods, inspired seer (vipra), upholding powers

The seer

Rishi

Medhātithi Kāṇva

Lineage

Kāṇva

Other hymns

RV 1.17.1, RV 1.17.3

Family tradition

Kāṇva style often stresses responsiveness of the gods to true invocation and their role as sustainers of human progression.

Significance

Highlights a key yogic law: descent answers aspiration; and the descent must also stabilize (dhṛ) the many parts of nature.

The deity

Devata

Indra-Varuṇa (dual)

Epithets

Gantārā (arrivers), Dhartārā (upholders), Samrājau

Related deities

Mitra, Maruts, Agni

Cosmic role

They respond to invocation and uphold the worlds—Indra by victorious force, Varuṇa by encompassing order and moral truth.

Inner power

Descent of combined courage and conscience; power that both acts and restrains distortion.

In ritual

Where it is used

Used in dual-deity praise within śrauta recitations; supports the sacrificer’s claim that gods attend the call.

Accents and Padapatha

Chandas Analysis

Key Symbols

Ritual Application

Etymology

Philosophical Concepts

Vedic Cosmology

Natural Symbolism

Academic Analysis

Yogic Application

Chanting Notes