Rig Veda 4.53.5: Mandala 4, Sukta 53, Mantra 5
Sukta 4.53
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
त्रिरन्तरिक्षं सविता महित्वना त्री रजांसि परिभुस्त्रीणि रोचना । तिस्रो दिवः पृथिवीस्तिस्र इन्वति त्रिभिर्व्रतैरभि नो रक्षति त्मना ॥
trír antárikṣaṃ savitā́ mahitvanā́ trī́ rajā́ṃsi paribhūs trī́ṇi rocanā́ | tísro dívaḥ pr̥thivī́s tísra invati tribhír vratáir abhí no rakṣati tmánā ||
สวิตฤ (Savitṛ) ผู้เป็นสามประการ ด้วยความยิ่งใหญ่ทรงโอบล้อมอันตรักษะ (ท้องนภากลาง); ทรงเป็นเจ้าเหนือสามแดนและสามแดนสว่างไสว. พระองค์ทรงขับเคลื่อนสวรรค์สามชั้นและแผ่นดินสามชั้น; ด้วยกฎสามประการ (vratá) พระองค์ทรงพิทักษ์เราด้วยเดชานุภาพแห่งตนเอง.
Word by Word
- त्रिः
- thriceIndeclinableअव्यय (संख्यावाचक-क्रियाविशेषण)Role Adhikaraṇa (परिमाण/आवृत्तिवाचक) / क्रियाविशेषणRoot त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) → त्रिस्/त्रिः
- अन्तरिक्षम्
- the mid-air, atmosphereNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अन्तरिक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- सविता
- Savitṛ (the impeller, Sun-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- महित्वना
- by (his) greatness, by mightNoun (abstract/instrumental) / Adverbialनपुंसक/भाववाचक, तृतीया एकवचन (करणे)Role KaraṇaRoot महित्वन (प्रातिपदिक; महि- ‘great’ + -त्वन/-त्वना ‘by greatness, by might’)
- त्रीणि
- threeAdjective (numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Karma (विशेष्य: रजांसि)Root त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- रजांसि
- regions, spaces (world-realms)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- परिभुः
- the all-surpassing/overlordNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (सविता का विशेषण)Root परि-भू (धातु √भू ‘to be, become’ with उपसर्ग परि; ‘one who surpasses/encircles’)
- त्रीणि
- threeAdjective (numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Karma (विशेष्य: रोचनानि)Root त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- रोचनानि
- luminous realms, lightsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot रोचन (प्रातिपदिक; from √रुच् ‘to shine’)
- तिस्रः
- threeAdjective (numeral)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Karma (विशेष्य: पृथिवीः)Root त्रि (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूप: तिस्रः)
- दिवः
- of heaven, of the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (सम्बन्ध: ‘of heaven’)Root दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पृथिवीः
- earths (the three earths/world-levels)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- तिस्रः
- threeAdjective (numeral)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा बहुवचनRole Karma (विशेष्य: — understood ‘waters/streams/paths’ in Vedic idiom; here taken with verb as ‘three (sets)’)Root त्रि (स्त्रीलिङ्ग-रूप: तिस्रः)
- इन्वति
- impels, sets in motionVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (कर्तृ: सविता)Root √इ (इण्) / √इन्व् (Vedic: ‘to set in motion, impel’)
- त्रिभिः
- with threeAdjective (numeral)नपुंसक/पुं/स्त्री (सामान्य), तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- व्रतैः
- ordinances, sacred lawsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, overIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद-भाव)Role Upasarga (क्रियाविशेषण)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- नः
- usPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक: ‘us/our’); यहाँ कर्मरूपेणRole KarmaRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- रक्षति
- protectsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथम पुरुष, एकवचनRole Kriyā (कर्तृ: सविता)Root √रक्ष् (to protect)
- त्मना
- by himself, with his own powerNoun (reflexive/instrumental)पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot त्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; Vedic ‘self, own person/power’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic): त्रिः | अन्तरिक्षम् | सविता | महित्वना | त्रीणि | रजांसि | परिभुः | त्रीणि | रोचनानि || तिस्रः | दिवः | पृथिवीः | तिस्रः | इन्वति | त्रिभिः | व्रतैः | अभि | नः | रक्षति | त्मना || 1) त्रिरन्तरिक्षम् = त्रिः + अन्तरिक्षम् (विसर्ग-लोप/रेफ्-आदेशः: ः + अ → र्)
- 2) त्री रजांसि = त्रीणि रजांसि (पदपाठे ‘त्रीणि’; संहितायां दीर्घ-प्रगृह्य/छन्दोवशात् ‘त्री’)
- 3) परिभुस्त्रीणि = परिभुः + त्रीणि (विसर्गः + त् → स्/श्छन्दसि; संहितालिप्यां ‘...भुस्...’)
- 4) तिस्रो दिवः = तिस्रः + दिवः (ः + द् → ओ (विसर्जनीयस्य ओ-आदेशः) : तिस्रः दिवः → तिस्रो दिवः. 5) त्रिभिर्व्रतैः = त्रिभिः + व्रतैः (ः + व् → र्)
- 6) व्रतैरभि = व्रतैः + अभि (ः + अ → र्)
- 7) अभि नो = अभि + नः (नः एन्क्लिटिक; संधि नहीं)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Savitṛ, great in power, pervades the midspace threefold; he encompasses the three regions and the three luminous realms. He sets in motion the three heavens and the three earths, and by his three laws he protects us by his own self-power.
Inner meaning
Savitṛ is the divine Impeller in consciousness who works triune in our being: (1) in the vital-physical (antarikṣa), (2) in the mental domains (rajāṃsi), and (3) in the illumined planes of truth-light (rocanā). He “sets in motion” the higher and lower strata of our nature (three heavens / three earths), harmonizing them by triple inner disciplines (vratāni): truth of seeing, right willing, right action. Protection “by his own self” suggests an automatic guardianship that arises when the soul aligns with the solar law of right movement.
Universal truth
Transformation is stable when it is integral: illumination must descend into mind, life, and body. A higher guiding Intelligence safeguards the seeker when life is organized by consistent inner laws—clarity, harmony, and self-governed action.
Themes
Triadic cosmology, Protection by law, Cosmic impulsion
The seer
- Rishi
- Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.53)
- Lineage
- Gautama
- Other hymns
- RV 4.53.1-11 (Savitṛ hymn), RV 4.54.1-6 (Savitṛ hymn), RV 4.26-27 (Vāmadeva’s inspired utterances, traditional)
Family tradition
Vāmadeva hymns in Maṇḍala 4 often articulate the ascent from human limitation to solar illumination; Savitṛ appears as the organiser of right movement (ṛta) and inner awakening.
Significance
Vāmadeva is remembered as a seer of inner wideness and luminous order; in Sri Aurobindo’s reading, his voice frequently carries the sense of a divine impulsion arranging the whole being toward the Truth.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ (Savitar)
- Epithets
- prasavītā (impeller), paribhūḥ (encompasser/master), mahitvan (great in vastness), deva (luminous power)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Mitra, Varuṇa, Aryaman, Uṣas, Agni
Cosmic role
Solar power that initiates movement, awakens beings, and sets the rhythms of worlds; a form of Āditya-force aligned with ṛta.
Inner power
The activating Truth-Will that impels right thought, right desire-force, and right embodied action; the inner ‘sun’ that organizes and protects the sādhanā.
In ritual
Where it is used
Sāvitra invocations within Soma and daily offerings; also suitable as a general Savitṛ-stuti preceding action.
त्रिर॒न्तरि॑क्षं सवि॒ता म॑हित्व॒ना त्री रजां॑सि परि॒भुस्त्रीणि॑ रोच॒ना । ति॒स्रो दिव॑: पृथि॒वीस्ति॒स्र इ॑न्वति त्रि॒भिर्व्र॒तैर॒भि नो॑ रक्षति॒ त्मना॑ ॥
त्रिः । अ॒न्तरि॑क्षम् । स॒वि॒ता । म॒हि॒ऽत्व॒ना । त्री । रजां॑सि । प॒रि॒ऽभूः । त्रीणि॑ । रो॒च॒ना । ति॒स्रः । दिवः॑ । पृ॒थि॒वीः । ति॒स्रः । इ॒न्व॒ति॒ । त्रि॒ऽभिः । व्र॒तैः । अ॒भि । नः॒ । र॒क्ष॒ति॒ । त्मना॑ ॥
triḥ | antarikṣam | savitā | mahi-tvanā | trī | rajāṃsi | pari-bhūḥ | trīṇi | rocanā | tisraḥ | divaḥ | pṛthivīḥ | tisraḥ | invati | tri-bhiḥ | vrataiḥ | abhi | naḥ | rakṣati | tmanā
Triṣṭubh (probable for hymn 4.53; confirm by pada scan in critical edition)
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables each (Triṣṭubh norm)
Expansive, declarative, world-ordering cadence suited to cosmic enumeration (tri-, tri-, tri-).
Builds a sense of vastness and protection; the repeated ‘threefold’ produces a stabilizing, integrative mantra-pressure on the listener.
- त्रिः (triḥ)
- Literal: thrice, threefold. Symbolic: the triune working of consciousness (mind–life–body; or three worlds of experience) requiring integral harmonization
- अन्तरिक्षम् (antarikṣam)
- Literal: midspace, atmosphere. Symbolic: the vital plane: desire, dynamism, life-force where impulses move
- रजांसि (rajāṃsi)
- Literal: regions, spaces. Symbolic: graded planes of mind and life; fields of movement in consciousness
- रोचना (rocanā)
- Literal: luminous realms. Symbolic: planes of illumination; truth-light, inspired seeing
- दिवः (divaḥ)
- Literal: heavens. Symbolic: higher mental/supramental openings; luminous consciousness
- पृथिवीः (pṛthivīḥ)
- Literal: earths. Symbolic: foundations of embodied nature; the formed instruments
- व्रतैः (vrataiḥ)
- Literal: laws, vows, ordinances. Symbolic: inner disciplines/laws of right being: truth, right will, right rhythm
- त्मना (tmanā)
- Literal: by self, by his own power. Symbolic: self-existent divine force; protection arising from alignment with the inner guide
Triadic Savitṛ formula: aligns the sacrificer with the triple cosmic order; suitable for protective and harmonizing recitations.
At dawn/daybreak sequences and moments of ‘impulsion’—beginning of rites, setting the sacrifice in motion.
Recitation to invoke Savitṛ’s ordering force, establish ṛta, and seek protection of the rite and sacrificer.
Use before meditation/work as an ‘alignment’ mantra: recollect the threefold being (mind–life–body) and offer them to the inner Sun for right movement and protection.
paribhū: pari- + √bhū 'be, become' → 'to be all around; to surpass/overmaster'. rocanā: from √ruc 'shine' → 'luminous realm'. invati: from √i/√in 'set in motion, drive'. The repeated tri-/tisraḥ encodes the Vedic triadic cosmos (often read as three worlds, but also as triple psychological planes).
threefold cosmos/being, vrata as triple ordinance, self-power (tman)
Savitṛ’s ‘vratāni’ are the operative laws of ṛta that harmonize all planes.
Protection ‘by self-power’ implies truth’s inherent self-guarding when lived integrally.
Worlds are ‘set in motion’ by a conscious impulsion; creation is rhythmic activation rather than inert manufacture.
Proto-Vedāntic / Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: graded planes and descent of light into embodiment.
Dawn-to-day transition (Savitṛ as awakener/impeller)
The solar consciousness awakens and coordinates the vital ‘atmosphere’ and the mental ‘spaces’, bringing illumined clarity (rocanā) and stable foundation (pṛthivī) under triple inner law.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The triadic ordering mythologem: Savitṛ governs and impels the triple cosmos and protects by triple ordinances—an image of total regulation of existence.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhū (paribhū) is PIE *bʰuH- 'be, become' (cf. Eng. be). √ruc 'shine' belongs to an IE radiance field. The triadic formula itself is a shared Indo-European poetic device (tripartite cosmology and enumerative repetition).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The R̥ṣi seeks comprehensive protection: by invoking Savitṛ’s triple governance, the human being is placed under a complete, multi-level guardianship spanning all planes of experience.
Integrate the threefold nature: offer thought, breath-vitality, and body-sense to the inner Sun; feel a descending order and protection.
Ājñā (illumined direction) with support to Maṇipūra (right dynamism)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana 6–6 count, then silent retention of a ‘solar’ awareness in the brow/heart axis.
Widened, ordered quietude with luminous clarity.
On each ‘tri-’ feel a sweep through mind–life–body; on ‘rakṣati tmanā’ rest in trust that alignment with truth naturally protects.
Vedic accenting with udatta on key lexical peaks; tri- repetitions often carry emphatic lift; follow śākhā-specific svara if available.
Keep clear stress on ‘trír… trī… trīṇi… tisró… tribhír’; avoid flattening the enumerations—each marks a distinct plane.
Maintain retroflex ‘ṣ’ in antarikṣam; do not soften to ‘s’., Keep long vowels: rajāṃsi (ā), rocanā (ā)., Pronounce ‘vrataiḥ’ with clear ‘aiḥ’ diphthong., ‘tmanā’ with dental ‘t’ + clear conjunct ‘mn’.
Steady, bright, slightly elevated tone as if ‘calling’ the inner sun; end with a settled cadence on ‘rakṣati tmanā’.
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