Rig Veda 4.23.10: Mandala 4, Sukta 23, Mantra 10

Sukta 4.23

Rishi: Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.23)

Devata: Ṛta (Truth-Order), with cow/light symbolism as its boons

Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable; verse-level verification needed)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

ऋतं येमान ऋतमिद्वनोत्यृतस्य शुष्मस्तुरया उ गव्युः । ऋताय पृथ्वी बहुले गभीरे ऋताय धेनू परमे दुहाते ॥

Transliteration

ṛtáṃ yemānā́ ṛtám íd vanoty ṛtásya śúṣmas turáyā u gavyúḥ | ṛtā́ya pṛthvī́ bahulé gabhīré ṛtā́ya dhenū́ paramé duhāte ||

Translation

Quem se mantém na Ṛta conquista a Ṛta; o vigor da Ṛta impele-se adiante, buscando os rebanhos luminosos. Pela Ṛta, a vasta Terra torna-se abundante e profunda; pela Ṛta, as duas Vacas leiteiras, no domínio supremo, fazem correr seu leite — correntes de plenitude.

Ask anything about this verse...Ask

Word by Word

• ऋतम्: truth; cosmic order (ṛta)
• ऋतम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक) < √ऋ (ऋ- गतौ/ऋ- सत्ये; ‘ऋत’ = cosmic order, truth)

• ये: who (those who)
• ये: कर्तृ
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)

• ईमानः: advancing; going onward
• ईमानः: कर्तृ (ये इमानाः = who are advancing)
• Type: Participle (Adjective)
• Root: √ईम्/ई (ईम- गत्यर्थः; ‘ईमान’ = going/advancing) + शतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त)

• ऋतम्: ṛta (truth/order)
• ऋतम्: कर्म
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)

• इत्: indeed; just
• इत्: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत् (निपात)

• वनोति: wins; obtains
• वनोति: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वन् (वन्- लाभे/प्राप्तौ)

• ऋतस्य: of ṛta
• ऋतस्य: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)

• शुष्मः: might; vigor
• शुष्मः: कर्तृ (वाक्यांशे ‘शुष्मः’ = बलम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुष्म (प्रातिपदिक)

• तुरायाः: of the swift one
• तुरायाः: सम्बन्ध (genitive)
• Type: Adjective (used substantively) / Noun
• Root: तुरा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘swift/impetuous’)

• उ: and; also; indeed
• उ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उ (निपात)

• गव्युः: cow-seeking; seeking cattle
• गव्युः: कर्तृ/विशेषण (शुष्मः … गव्युः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गव्यु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘seeking cows/pasture’)

• ऋताय: for ṛta; to ṛta
• ऋताय: सम्प्रदान
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)

• पृथ्वी: the Earth
• पृथ्वी: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक)

• बहुले: broad; abundant; wide
• बहुले: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)

• गभीरे: deep
• गभीरे: कर्तृ-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गभीर (प्रातिपदिक)

• ऋताय: for ṛta; to ṛta
• ऋताय: सम्प्रदान
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत (प्रातिपदिक)

• धेनू: the milch-cow
• धेनू: कर्तृ
• Type: Noun
• Root: धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)

• परमे: in the highest (place/state)
• परमे: अधिकारण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)

• दुहाते: the two milk (yield)
• दुहाते: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दुह् (दुह्- प्रपूरणे/दोहने ‘to milk’)