इषे त्वा ऊर्जे त्वा वायवः स्थ देवहित्ता देवो वः सविता प्रार्पयतु श्रेष्ठतमाय कर्मणे
iṣe tvā ūrje tvā vāyavaḥ stha devahitto devo vaḥ savitā prārpayatu śreṣṭhatamāya karmaṇe
Study Guide on Yajurveda Adhyāya 1 Section 3
Act 1
Act I: Consecration of the Offering and Implements
Verses 1, 2
अग्नये त्वा जुष्टं गृह्णामि देवस्य त्वा सवितुः प्रसवेऽश्विनोर्बाहुभ्यां पूष्णो हस्ताभ्याम्
agnaye tvā juṣṭaṃ gṛhṇāmi devasya tvā savituḥ prasave'śvinorbāhubhyāṃ pūṣṇo hastābhyām
📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context
In these opening mantras of the third section, the Yajurveda establishes the metaphysical foundation of ritual action. Every physical object touched—whether grass, wood, or water—is elevated from the mundane to the divine plane. By addressing the implements as receptacles of 'iṣa' (refreshment/food) and 'ūrja' (strength/sap), the ritualist acknowledges that all vital sustenance originates from the Divine.
💭 Flowing Translation
Verse 1: For food I take you, for strength I take you, empowered by Savitar.
Verse 2: I accept you for Agni, guided by the divine hands of the Ashvins and Pūṣan.
📝 Scholar's Reading Note
Sāyaṇa interprets these verses literally regarding the preparation of sacrificial items, whereas Sri Aurobindo sees them as psychological keys for preparing the human mind and prana for divine reception.
📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown
Verse 1
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| इषे | iṣe | for sap or food |
| त्वा | tvā | thee |
| सविता | savitā | the divine impeller |
Verse 2
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अग्नये | agnaye | for Agni |
| गृह्णामि | gṛhṇāmi | I take / I seize |
| अश्विनोः | aśvinoḥ | of the two Ashvins |
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Memory Hook
Remember 'Iṣe Ūrje' as the breath of life infused into sacred instruments by Savitar and Agni.