Rig Veda Sukta 48
Mandala 5Sukta 485 Mantras

Sukta 48

Sukta 5.48

Devata

Unclear in isolation; verse imagery suggests a cosmic formative power spreading waters in the cloud (often linked in RV diction to Parjanya/Indra’s rain-action or to a goddess-like māyā-power).

这首短歌沉思一位“具幻力者”(māyinī/māyin)的生成之力:她/他在云中聚敛诸水,又铺展广阔的境域;同时也唤起那执持雷霆之力,使昼与夜各安其序。末尾点名伐楼那(Varuṇa)为衣饰华美、四面之神力,其广大不可度量;由他而来,分配福分的薄伽(Bhaga)与推动万物的娑毗多(Savitṛ)赐予可欲之财富。

Mantras

Mantra 1

कदु प्रियाय धाम्ने मनामहे स्वक्षत्राय स्वयशसे महे वयम् । आमेन्यस्य रजसो यदभ्र आँ अपो वृणाना वितनोति मायिनी ॥

何时我们方能将心念转向那至爱的居处——那伟大者,具自有的王权与自有的光荣?当那大织者(Mayinī),在云中摄取诸水,以其造化之力铺展广阔的界域。

Mantra 2

ता अत्नत वयुनं वीरवक्षणं समान्या वृतया विश्वमा रजः । अपो अपाचीरपरा अपेजते प्र पूर्वाभिस्तिरते देवयुर्जनः ॥

她们扩展那能承载勇士之力的运作之智;以同一共同的法则,她们拓宽整个中界。诸水——有的向前流,有的向后回——奔涌激荡;而求神之民越过先前的界限而推进。

Mantra 3

आ ग्रावभिरहन्येभिरक्तुभिर्वरिष्ठं वज्रमा जिघर्ति मायिनि । शतं वा यस्य प्रचरन्त्स्वे दमे संवर्तयन्तो वि च वर्तयन्नहा ॥

以榨石——由白昼与黑夜——那造作者举起至强的金刚雷霆,向那具幻力者高擎。其自家之中,诸力循轨运行,或使诸日合拢,又复使之分开。

Mantra 4

तामस्य रीतिं परशोरिव प्रत्यनीकमख्यं भुजे अस्य वर्पसः । सचा यदि पितुमन्तमिव क्षयं रत्नं दधाति भरहूतये विशे ॥

我观其行迹,如斧之劈击;其锋面相对而立——那光辉形相之前锋。我又见他将宝藏安置于滋养丰足之居;于是为那呼求扶持之族,他确立赐福之恩。

Mantra 5

स जिह्वया चतुरनीक ऋञ्जते चारु वसानो वरुणो यतन्नरिम् । न तस्य विद्म पुरुषत्वता वयं यतो भगः सविता दाति वार्यम् ॥

他以舌而动,四面之尊自振其势——华美披衣的伐楼那(Varuṇa),奋力对抗那分裂为敌者。我们不能度量其圆满之人力与广大;因为由他,薄伽(Bhaga)、萨维特利(Savitṛ)赐下可欲之财。

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn’s final verse explicitly names Varuṇa, so Varuṇa is the clearest devatā. Earlier verses use ‘māyinī/māyin’ and rain-thunder imagery that can overlap with Indra/Parjanya language, but the culmination points to Varuṇa’s sovereignty and order.

In this context māyinī is a ‘shaper’ or ‘formative power’—the capacity that skillfully arranges and manifests, pictured as gathering the waters in the cloud and spreading out the wide realm.

Bhaga represents the apportioning of shares and good fortune, and Savitṛ represents the impelling power that sets things in motion. The verse presents their gift-giving as operating from, or grounded in, Varuṇa’s larger sovereignty and order.

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