Rig Veda 7.40.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 40, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.40
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
ओ श्रुष्टिर्विदथ्या समेतु प्रति स्तोमं दधीमहि तुराणाम् । यदद्य देवः सविता सुवाति स्यामास्य रत्निनो विभागे ॥
o śruṣṭír vidathyā sametu práti stómaṃ dadhīmahi turāṇām | yad adyá deváḥ savitā suvāti syāmāsya ratníno vibhāgé ||
ओ, विदथ्यायाः श्रुष्टिः समेतु; तु राणानां पुरतः वयं स्तोमं दधीमहि। अद्य देवः सविता सुवाति—दानं प्रवर्तयति; तस्य रत्निनो विभागे वयं स्याम।
Word by Word
- ओ
- O! (invocatory particle)Indeclinableसम्बोधन-निपातः (उद्घोष/आह्वान)Root ओ (निपात) / ओम्-प्रकारः
- श्रुष्टिः
- obedient attention; readiness to hear (hearkening)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot श्रुष्टि- (प्रातिपदिक; √श्रु ‘श्रवणे’ से भाव/कर्तृ-निर्माण)
- विदथ्या
- pertaining to the vidatha (ritual assembly)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (श्रुष्टिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root विदथ्य- (विदथ ‘यज्ञ/सभा’ से सम्बन्धवाचक)
- समेतु
- let (it) come together; let it assembleVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ/विधिलिङ्ग-प्राय), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √इ (गत्यर्थ) + सम्
- प्रति
- towards; in response toIndeclinableअव्यय; दिशार्थ/सम्बन्धार्थRoot प्रति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- स्तोमम्
- hymn of praiseNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot स्तोम- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधीमहि
- we have placed; we set (forth)Verbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot √धा (धारणे/स्थापने) — reduplicated perfect stem दधा-
- तुराणाम्
- of the swift/impetuous onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRoot तुर- (प्रातिपदिक; √तुर् ‘त्वरणे/अतिक्रमे’)
- यत्
- what; that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन (सम्बन्धसूचक)Role Karma (सम्बन्धेन)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अद्य
- today; nowIndeclinableकालवाचक-अव्ययRole Adhikaraṇa (काल)Root अद्य (अव्यय)
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सविता
- Savitar (the Impeller)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (देवः इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)Root सवितृ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुवाति
- impels; sets in motion; bestowsVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √सू (प्रसवे/प्रेरणे) + वि/वा-प्रत्यय-प्रयोगः; सवितृ-देवस्य क्रिया
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √अस् (भू/सत्तायाम्)
- अस्य
- of him; of this (one)Pronounपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- रत्निनः
- possessors of treasures; wealthy (with gifts)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (स्याम इत्यस्य)Root रत्निन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विभागे
- in the distribution; at the apportionmentNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot विभाग- (प्रातिपदिक; वि+√भज् ‘विभजने’ से)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): श्रु॒ष्टिर्वि॑द॒थ्या॒३॒॑ → श्रुष्टिः + विदथ्या
- समे॑तु → सम् + एतु (√इ)
- दधीमहि (स्वर-युक्त रूप)
- तु॒राणा॑म् (षष्ठी बहु.)
- यद॒द्य → यत् + अद्य (त् + अ → द्/द्-आदेशः: यदद्य)
- स॑वि॒ता → सविता
- सु॒वाति॒ (√सू, लट्)
- स्यामा॑स्य → स्याम + अस्य (म् + अ → म्-अ, लेखन में संयोग)
- र॒त्निनो॑ (प्रथमा बहु.)
- विभा॒गे (सप्तमी एक.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
May the listening/obedient power of the sacred assembly come together; we place our hymn before the swift ones. Since today Savitṛ impels the giving, may we share in the distribution of his treasures.
Inner meaning
Śruṣṭi is the power of attentive receptivity—obedient listening of the being to the higher call—belonging to the vidatha, the inner assembly where powers convene. When this receptivity ‘comes together’ (sam etu), the stoma (hymn/formed aspiration) can be set ‘in front’ as a leading formation for the turāṇām—swift-advancing forces of progress (divine energies and awakened faculties). Savitṛ is the impeller who sets the movement of giving in motion: he releases the distribution (vibhāga) of ratna—treasures of light, right perception, and effective power. The prayer is to become a conscious participant in that distribution, not merely a recipient by chance.
Universal truth
Progress depends first on receptivity: the capacity to listen inwardly. When receptivity is organized, aspiration leads, and the deeper impulsion of consciousness naturally distributes the right resources—clarity, strength, joy—according to our readiness.
Themes
Invocation, Savitri-impulsion, Treasure/distribution, Inner receptivity
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.40 (hymn context), RV 7.1, RV 7.86
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭha tradition frequently stresses disciplined receptivity (śruṣṭi) and right impulsion (Savitṛ) so that illumination becomes practical distribution—gifts that can be used in life.
Significance
A mantra of preparation: before asking for gifts, the seer asks for the faculty that can truly receive and follow—inner listening gathered into one attentive assembly.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ (primary); Śruṣṭi/vidatha as supporting power
- Epithets
- devaḥ (the god), ratnin (treasure-holder—implied by ratnino vibhāge)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Agni, Uṣas, Bhaga
Cosmic role
Savitṛ is the universal impeller who sets beings and worlds into right motion; initiates the giving of light and power.
Inner power
Awakening impulsion: energizes aspiration, clarifies direction, and releases timely inner resources.
In ritual
Where it is used
Savitṛ invocation at the opening of a rite/day; preparatory call for receptivity and right impulsion
ओ श्रु॒ष्टिर्वि॑द॒थ्या॒३॒॑ समे॑तु॒ प्रति॒ स्तोमं॑ दधीमहि तु॒राणा॑म् । यद॒द्य दे॒वः स॑वि॒ता सु॒वाति॒ स्यामा॑स्य र॒त्निनो॑ विभा॒गे ॥
ओ इति॑ । श्रु॒ष्टिः । वि॒द॒थ्या॑ । सम् । ए॒तु॒ । प्रति॑ । स्तोम॑म् । द॒धी॒म॒हि॒ । तु॒राणा॑म् । यत् । अ॒द्य । दे॒वः । स॒वि॒ता । सु॒वाति॑ । स्याम॑ । अ॒स्य॒ । र॒त्निनः॑ । वि॒ऽभा॒गे ॥
o iti | śruṣṭiḥ | vidathyā | sam | etu | prati | stomam | dadhīmahi | turāṇām | yat | adya | devaḥ | savitā | suvāti | syāma | asya | ratninaḥ | vi-bhāge
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4 x ~11 syllables
Bright and initiating; a ‘starting’ cadence—well-suited to Savitṛ’s impulsion.
Quickens aspiration while keeping it orderly; enhances receptivity and readiness to act under guidance.
- śruṣṭi
- Literal: listening, obedient attention. Symbolic: receptive faculty that allows higher guidance to enter and be followed
- vidathya
- Literal: belonging to the assembly (vidatha). Symbolic: inner council/collective of powers; the organized field of sadhana
- stoma
- Literal: hymn of praise. Symbolic: formed aspiration; mantric structure that leads consciousness
- turāṇām
- Literal: of the swift ones. Symbolic: swift divine energies; quick-progressing faculties when awakened
- Savitṛ
- Literal: the impeller. Symbolic: divine impulsion setting evolution in motion; initiator of right activity
- suvāti
- Literal: impels, sets in motion. Symbolic: awakens and releases the movement of giving/manifestation
- ratnin
- Literal: possessor of treasures. Symbolic: holder of luminous riches—truth, insight, force, delight
- vibhāga
- Literal: distribution, allotment. Symbolic: right apportioning of inner gifts according to readiness
Savitṛ-oriented recitation in Soma-day sequences and morning impulses; suitable for rites emphasizing ‘impulsion’ and right distribution of offerings/boons
Morning or at the commencement of undertaking; also in śrauta contexts as Savitṛ-related invocation
Recitation to invite Savitṛ’s impulsion and to set the hymn/aspiration ‘in front’ as leader
Morning meditation mantra: gather listening (śruṣṭi), set intention (stoma), ask Savitṛ to impel right action and share of inner resources.
śruṣṭi- from √śru ‘hear’ with sense of ‘attentive hearing/obedience’; vidatha- (assembly/ritual session) possibly from vi-√dhā ‘to arrange/distribute’ (semantic field of ‘apportionment’); stoma from √stu ‘praise’; dadhīmahi from √dhā ‘to place’; Savitṛ from √sū ‘to impel/bring forth’; ratna ‘treasure’ (valuable good, inner riches); vibhāga vi-√bhaj ‘to apportion’.
right impulsion (savana/pravartana motif), vibhāga (right distribution; order in enjoyment), receptive hearing (śruṣṭi as śruti-ground)
Savitṛ impels not random motion but right motion—activity aligned with ṛta.
True receptivity receives what is timely and true; the ‘treasure’ is satya expressed as usable insight.
Creation as continual impulsion and distribution: the Divine releases powers stage by stage as readiness grows.
Aurobindonian evolutionary reading: Savitṛ as the force of conscious evolution distributing light for progress.
dawn/morning (implied by Savitṛ’s daily impulsion)
Sun = awakening of consciousness; gathering = collected receptivity; distribution of treasures = descent of insights/energies into mind-life-body.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Impeller sets the worlds in motion and apportions treasures’: Savitṛ’s action is the archetypal starting of the inner day—he releases the swift powers and enables the seeker to enter the rightful share (vibhāga) of luminous riches.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śru ‘hear’ has broad IE cognates (auditory/reception semantics), supporting ‘obedient hearing’ as a foundational religious act. √sū ‘to set in motion/engender’ aligns with archaic ‘sun/impulsion’ semantics in Indo-Iranian. vi-√bhaj ‘apportion’ reflects an old distributive-sacral economy encoded in language.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer ‘places’ the hymn as a deliberate form; Savitṛ responds by impelling the energies and granting entry into the right allotment of inner treasures—receptivity (śruṣṭi) is the human side of the exchange.
Cultivate śruṣṭi: inward listening before thought. Then set a single clear stoma—one sentence of aspiration—and allow Savitṛ’s impulsion to move the day from that center.
ajna (guidance)
3 minutes of gentle ujjāyī; on inhale feel ‘sam etu’ (gathering), on exhale feel ‘suvāti’ (impulsion)
Awake, guided, ready for swift progress without haste.
Begin the day with 1–3 recitations; then sit silently and note the first clear directive that arises without mental forcing; act on one small step to align with it.
Ṛgvedic udatta/anudatta/svarita; keep the opening ‘o’ as a clear onset, not swallowed.
Highlight śruṣṭiḥ, vidathyā, sam etu; then prati stomaṃ; and in the second half emphasize savitā suvāti, ratnino vibhāge.
śruṣṭir: keep ‘ṣṭ’ crisp; do not simplify to ‘śruṭir’, vidathyā: dental ‘th’ aspirated, suvāti: long ‘ā’ sustained; avoid ‘suvati’ short
Bright, morning-like, clear articulation; slightly rising energy through the verse.
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