Rig Veda 7.45.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 45, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.45
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
आ देवो यातु सविता सुरत्नोऽन्तरिक्षप्रा वहमानो अश्वैः । हस्ते दधानो नर्या पुरूणि निवेशयञ्च प्रसुवञ्च भूम ॥
ā devó yātu savitā́ su-rátnō ’ntárikṣa-prā́ váhamāno áśvaiḥ | háste dádhāno náryā purū́ṇi niveśáyañ ca prásuvañ ca bhū́ma ||
سویتر، خدائی محرک سچے خزانوں سے بھرا، ہمارے پاس آئے، اپنے گھوڑوں پر درمیانی دنیہ میں چلتا ہوا۔ اپنے ہاتھ میں انسانی روح کے لیے بہت سے انعام پکڑے ہوئے، وہ ہمیں صحیح مسکن میں بٹھائے اور ہمارے کاموں کے صحیح بھیجنے پر آگے بھیجے۔
Word by Word
- आ
- hither; forth (towards)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)
- देवः
- the godNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- यातु
- let (him) come/goVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot या (धातु)
- सविता
- SavitarNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (देवः सविता) / appositionRoot सवितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुरत्नः
- rich in good treasuresAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā-विशेषणRoot सु-रत्न (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय-समास)
- अन्तरिक्षप्राः
- filling/pervading the mid-airAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वेदिक रूप: -प्राः < -प्राः/-प्राः)Role Kartā-विशेषणRoot अन्तरिक्ष-प्रा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
- वहमानः
- being borne / moving (along)Verb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā-विशेषणRoot वह् (धातु) + शानच्
- अश्वैः
- with horsesNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- हस्ते
- in (his) handNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधानः
- holding; bearingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā-विशेषणRoot धा (धातु) + शानच्
- नर्या
- manly; pertaining to menAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (नर्या = नर्याणि, वेदिक संक्षेप)Role Karma-विशेषणRoot नर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरूणि
- many (things)Adjective/Pronoun-likeनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot पुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
- निवेशयन्
- causing to settle/enter; establishingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā-विशेषणRoot नि-विश् (धातु) + णिच् (caus.) + शतृ
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च (निपात)
- प्रसुवन्
- impelling; setting in motion; bestowingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā-विशेषणRoot प्र-√सू (धातु) + शतृ
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयRoot च (निपात)
- भूम
- may we be; let us becomeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन (वेदिक: भूम = भवाम)Root भू (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- सुरत्नोऽन्तरिक्षप्राः = सुरत्नः + अन्तरिक्षप्राः (विसर्ग + अ → ओऽ)
- अश्वैः । हस्ते (पदविराम)
- पुरूणि निवेशयञ्च = पुरूणि + निवेशयन् + च (न् + च → ञ्च)
- प्रसुवञ्च = प्रसुवन् + च (न् + च → ञ्च)
- भूम = वेदिक लोट् 1पु.बहु
- (भू) ‘भवाम’ इत्यर्थे
The meaning
Outer meaning
May Savitṛ, the divine impeller rich in treasures, come through the mid-region borne by his steeds. Holding many boons in his hand for man, may he settle us in the right dwelling and impel us forward in our works.
Inner meaning
Savitṛ is the supreme Impulsion that sets the inner and outer life in right motion. His ‘steeds’ are the dynamic forces of action and thought carrying the divine intention through the intermediate plane (antarikṣa: life-mind). He bears in his hand naryā purūṇi—gifts for the evolving human soul: right tendencies, capacities, and openings. He both ‘settles’ (niveśayan) the being into its true poise/inner home and ‘sends forth’ (prasuvañ) the works as a consecrated outward expression—action rooted in inner right station.
Universal truth
A higher impulsion is needed for right living: first establish inner poise and right place, then let action proceed as a true expression of the soul’s intention rather than restless compulsion.
Themes
solar-impulsion, right-action, guidance-and-bestowal
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.45.1-4, RV 7.46 (related Vasiṣṭha themes), RV 3.62.10 (Sāvitrī Gāyatrī—parallel Savitṛ current, different rishi)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha’s Savitṛ invocations often stress right impulsion and right order in works—action as yajña aligned with truth.
Significance
Here the seer asks not merely for motion but for right dwelling and right sending-forth—inner establishment preceding outer activity, a key yogic principle.
The deity
- Devata
- Savitṛ
- Epithets
- deva (divine), suratna (rich in good treasures), antarikṣaprā (moving through the mid-region)
- Related deities
- Sūrya, Pūṣan, Bhaga, Mitra-Varuṇa
Cosmic role
The initiator and regulator of movement; he impels sun-like rhythms, awakens beings, and directs works toward their true formation.
Inner power
Divine impulsion (pravṛtti) purified into right action; establishes inner poise and then energizes outward expression.
In ritual
Where it is used
Savitṛ invocations in morning rites and before undertakings; auspicious commencement
आ दे॒वो या॑तु सवि॒ता सु॒रत्नो॑ऽन्तरिक्ष॒प्रा वह॑मानो॒ अश्वै॑: । हस्ते॒ दधा॑नो॒ नर्या॑ पु॒रूणि॑ निवे॒शय॑ञ्च प्रसु॒वञ्च॒ भूम॑ ॥
आ । दे॒वः । या॒तु॒ । स॒वि॒ता । सु॒ऽरत्नः॑ । अ॒न्त॒रि॒क्ष॒ऽप्राः । वह॑मानः । अश्वैः॑ । हस्ते॑ । दधा॑नः । नर्या॑ । पु॒रूणि॑ । नि॒ऽवे॒शय॑न् । च॒ । प्र॒ऽसु॒वन् । च॒ । भूम॑ ॥
ā | devaḥ | yātu | savitā | su-ratnaḥ | antarikṣa-prāḥ | vahamānaḥ | aśvaiḥ | haste | dadhānaḥ | naryā | purūṇi | ni-veśayan | ca | pra-suvan | ca | bhūma
44
4×11; balanced petitions with strong forward cadence in the second hemistich.
Expansive and uplifting; carries a ‘coming’ motion then a ‘settling/impelling’ resolution.
Creates uplift with stability—motivates action while calming restlessness.
- सविता (savitā)
- Literal: Savitṛ, the impeller. Symbolic: the divine impulsion that initiates right movement and evolution
- सुरत्नः (suratnaḥ)
- Literal: rich in good treasures. Symbolic: bestower of true inner wealth—clarity, strength, right joy
- अन्तरिक्षप्राः (antarikṣaprāḥ)
- Literal: filling/moving through the mid-region. Symbolic: working in the life-mind plane where most human striving occurs
- अश्वैः (aśvaiḥ)
- Literal: with horses. Symbolic: forces of action/vital energies carrying the divine impulsion
- हस्ते दधानः (haste dadhānaḥ)
- Literal: holding in the hand. Symbolic: direct, conscious dispensing of boons/powers into the instruments
- नर्या पुरूणि (naryā purūṇi)
- Literal: many boons for men. Symbolic: soul-aiding gifts: right discernment, courage, ordered energy, luminous initiative
- निवेशयन् (niveśayan)
- Literal: settling, establishing. Symbolic: placing the being in its true inner station/poise
- प्रसुवन् (prasuvañ)
- Literal: impelling forth, generating. Symbolic: sending works into manifestation under divine guidance
Sāvitra invocations in daily rites; suitable for stimulations of pravṛtti (right activity), departures, and consecratory moments where Savitṛ is invoked to impel the sacrifice.
Dawn/morning; before work, travel, study, or ritual sequences
Inviting Savitṛ’s presence and impulsion; seeking right establishment and successful initiation of works
A daily ‘right-start’ mantra: invoke higher impulsion, find inner seat, then begin tasks as offering.
savitā from √sū 'to set in motion, impel' → the power that releases and directs energies. niveśayan: causative/participle sense from ni+√viś 'enter, settle' → inner 'right station' or poise. prasuvan: from pra+√sū 'impel forth'—not mere physical birth but forward propulsion of works and consciousness.
right impulsion (savana/savana-like setting in motion), establishment (niveśa) as inner poise, boons as spiritual treasures (ratna)
Savitṛ’s impulsion is the rhythmic law that sets beings into right movement and right timing.
Right dwelling and right sending-forth imply truth-based alignment of inner and outer life.
From inner establishment (niveśa) to manifestation (prasava): a miniature creation-process in the individual.
Karmayoga seed within Vedic frame: action proceeds from inner alignment with the Divine Impeller.
dawn/morning (Savitṛ’s typical hour)
Antarikṣa = life-mind field; horses = prāṇic/action forces; solar impulsion = awakening of right initiative.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The advent of Savitṛ as the cosmic Impeller arriving with steeds: a mythic descent of the solar will that both 'settles' (niveśa) and 'impels forth' (prasava) human energies into right movement—an archetype of initiation into ordered action.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yā 'go' (yātu) and √vah 'carry' (vahamānaḥ) are core IE motion verbs; the solar impeller function parallels Indo-Iranian sacral semantics. ratna 'treasure' participates in a broad IE poetic economy of 'goods/boons' granted by gods, though the lexical cognacy is less direct than the inherited semantic pattern.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi requests not only gifts but a twofold inner governance: Savitṛ must establish the being (niveśayan) and propel works (prasuvan). The devatā is thus guide and energizer; the human offers invocation and receptivity, seeking alignment of action with the divine impulsion.
Invoke the Divine Impeller: establish inner poise first, then let action arise as guided movement.
ājñā (right direction) and maṇipūra (right execution)
Inhale ‘ā devo yātu savitā’; exhale ‘niveśayañ ca prasuvañ ca’—feel settling then forward impulse.
Inspired equanimity; ready, rightly oriented action.
Before beginning work: (1) call Savitṛ to the life-mind (antarikṣa), (2) feel his ‘hand’ placing a boon—clarity or courage—into you, (3) sit inwardly in the right dwelling (quiet center), (4) start the task as prasava—divinely impelled offering.
Udatta emphasis naturally on savitā, suratnaḥ, aśvaiḥ; keep the paired cadence ‘niveśayañ ca prasuvañ ca’ even and flowing.
Let the first half ‘come’ (ā…yātu) rise gently; second half ‘settle then impel’—slight pause after niveśayan, then a forward push into prasuvañ.
savitā: short i, clear t., suratno: keep ‘su-rat-no’ (no extra vowel)., antarikṣaprā: articulate kṣ (k+ṣ) cleanly., niveśayan: ś is palatal; keep ‘ve’ long-ish by accent, not by vowel length.
Warm, luminous, steady; avoid haste—Savitṛ’s impulsion is ordered.
3
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