Rig Veda 5.47.4 — Mandala 5, Sukta 47, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.47
Rishi: Atri (Ātreya tradition)
Devata: Cosmic order/formation; ‘cows of light’ as luminous powers; implicit Dyāvā (heaven)
Chandas: Triṣṭubh (probable; confirm in critical edition)
Samhita Patha (Devanagari)
चत्वार ईं बिभ्रति क्षेमयन्तो दश गर्भं चरसे धापयन्ते । त्रिधातवः परमा अस्य गावो दिवश्चरन्ति परि सद्यो अन्तान् ॥
Transliteration
catvā́ra īṃ bibhrati kṣéma-yanto dáśa gárbhaṃ cárase dhāpayante | tri-dhā́tavaḥ paramā́ asya gā́vo diváś caranti pári sadyó ántān ||
Translation
Four uphold it, bringing security; ten nurture the embryo for its moving life. Threefold are its supreme cows of light; they move through heaven, swiftly encompassing the boundaries—rays of knowledge circulating to complete the formation.
Word by Word
चत्वारःfour
चत्वारः:
Kartā
TypeAdjective/Numeral
Rootचतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
ईम्indeed; just; them (emphatic particle)
ईम्:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootईम् (निपात/अव्यय)
बिभ्रतिthey bear/carry
बिभ्रति:
—
TypeVerb
Root√भृ (भरणे)
क्षेमयन्तःseeking/bringing welfare; making secure
क्षेमयन्तः:
Kartā
TypeVerb (participle)
Rootक्षेमय (नामधातु/कारण-भावः from क्षेम ‘welfare, safety’)
दशten
दश:
—
TypeAdjective/Numeral
Rootदशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
गर्भम्embryo; womb; germ
गर्भम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
चरसेyou move/wander
चरसे:
—
TypeVerb
Root√चर् (गत्यर्थे)
धापयन्तेthey cause to be set/placed; they make (it) suckle/nourish (Vedic usage)
धापयन्ते:
—
TypeVerb
Root√धा (धारणे/स्थापने) + णिच् (causative)
त्रिधातवःthreefold in elements; having three strata
त्रिधातवः:
Kartā
TypeAdjective/Noun
Rootत्रि-धातु (समास; धातु ‘layer/element/constituent’)
परमाःhighest; supreme
परमाः:
Viśeṣaṇa (of गावः)
TypeAdjective
Rootपरम (प्रातिपदिक)
अस्यof this (one)
अस्य:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
TypePronoun
Rootइदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
गावःcows; rays (Vedic)
गावः:
Kartā
TypeNoun
Rootगो (प्रातिपदिक)
दिवःof heaven; of the sky
दिवः:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha
TypeNoun
Rootद्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
चरन्तिthey move; they roam
चरन्ति:
—
TypeVerb
Root√चर् (गत्यर्थे)
परिaround
परि:
—
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपरि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
सद्यःimmediately; at once
सद्यः:
Adverbial
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसद्यः (अव्यय)
अन्तान्ends; boundaries
अन्तान्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootअन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
Ritual Application
Philosophical Concepts
Vedic Cosmology
Natural Symbolism
Academic Analysis
Cross References
Yogic Application
Chanting Notes
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