Rig Veda 10.53.6: Mandala 10, Sukta 53, Mantra 6

Sukta 10.53

Rishi: Agni/Hotṛ-centered cycle (speaker representing the sacrificers seeking the true Hotṛ/Agni)

Devata: The sacrificial workers/energies (Apas/Āpaḥ) and the guiding light (Bhānu); implicit guidance toward Manu-state

Chandas: Trishtubh (probable; requires metrical verification)

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

तन्तुं तन्वन्रजसो भानुमन्विहि ज्योतिष्मतः पथो रक्ष धिया कृतान् । अनुल्बणं वयत जोगुवामपो मनुर्भव जनया दैव्यं जनम् ॥

Transliteration

tántuṃ tanván rájasaḥ bhā́num ánv ihi jyótiṣmataḥ pátho rakṣa dhiyā́ kṛtā́n | anulbaṇáṃ vayata jóguvām ápo mánur bhava janáyā daívyam jánam ||

Translation

Stretching the thread, follow the shining beam through the mid-world; guard the luminous paths fashioned by the thought. Weave the work without a break, O doers of the offering; become Manu, and bring to birth the divine race within.

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Word by Word

• तन्तुम्: thread, warp-thread
• तन्तुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: तन्तु- (प्रातिपदिक; √तन् ‘तान/विस्तार’ से)

• तन्वन्: stretching, extending
• तन्वन्: Kartā
• Type: Verb (participle)
• Root: √तन् (तान्/विस्तार) → तन्वन्त् (वर्तमान कृदन्त/शतृ)

• रजसः: of the space/region (mid-air), of the realm
• रजसः: Sambandha (genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रजस्-

• भानुम्: light, radiance, beam
• भानुम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भानु-

• अन्विहि: follow, go along
• अन्विहि: Kriyā (imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु- + √इ (गति) → अन्वेति/अन्विहि

• ज्योतिष्मतः: of the luminous one / of the light-possessing
• ज्योतिष्मतः: Sambandha (genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्योतिष्मत्- (ज्योतिस् + मतुप्)

• पथः: paths, ways
• पथः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथ्/पथ-

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriyā (imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रक्ष् (पालने)

• धिया: with thought, with insight/prayer
• धिया: Karaṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: धी-

• कृतान्: made, prepared, accomplished
• कृतान्: Karma (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective (past participle)
• Root: √कृ (करणे) → कृत (भूतकृदन्त)

• अनुल्बणम्: without slack/excess; evenly, without looseness
• अनुल्बणम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa
• Type: Adjective/Adverbial (acc.)
• Root: अनु- + उल्बण- (प्रातिपदिक)

• वयत: weave
• वयत: Kriyā (imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वे/वय् (वायने ‘to weave’)

• जोगुवाम्: diligently serving/attending; well-cherished
• जोगुवाम्: Karma (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective (participle)
• Root: √गु/गो (रक्षणे/सेवने) → जोगुवांस् (परिपूर्ण/अभ्यास-रूप कृदन्त)

• अपः: waters
• अपः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्- (आपः)

• मनुः: Manu (the archetypal man/lawgiver)
• मनुः: Kartā (of भव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु-

• भव: become, be
• भव: Kriyā (imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (सत्तायाम्)

• जनय: generate, bring forth
• जनय: Kriyā (imperative action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (जनने) → causative √जनय्

• दैव्यम्: divine
• दैव्यम्: Karma (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दैव्य- (देव- से तद्धित)

• जनम्: people, race, offspring
• जनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन-