Verses 1
देवस्य त्वा सवितुः प्रसवेऽश्विनोर्बाहुभ्यां पूष्णो हस्ताभ्याम्। आ ददेऽग्नेर्भगोऽसि विशां त्वा मन्मना दधेऽदित्या रास्न्याऽदितेः शर्म्म महिषस्य यकृत्।
devasya tvā savituḥ prasave'śvinorbāhubhyāṁ pūṣṇo hastābhyām। ā dade'gnerbhago'si viśāṁ tvā manmanā dadhe'dityā rāsnā'diteḥ śarma mahiṣasya yakṛt।
In this opening act, the sacrificer aligns individual action with cosmic forces. By invoking Savitṛ for impulse, the Aśvins for healing action, and Pūṣan for nourishing support, the ritual action is elevated from mundane labor to a sacred co-creation with the universe.
Verse 1: Taking the divine offering with the grace and strength of cosmic deities.
Sāyaṇa interprets the action literally as the grasping of the ritual implements, whereas Sri Aurobindo sees the weapons and implements as symbols of the purified psychological faculties.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सवितुः | savituḥ | of the divine instigator/sun |
| बाहुभ्याम् | bāhubhyām | by the two arms |
Remember Act I as the awakening of divine agency through the arms of the Aśvins and the impulse of Savitṛ.
Verses 2
आपो देवीरुपह्वयामहे यसु क्षयथ जीवसे। उरु शंसं न ऊर्जम्।
āpo devīruphayāmahe yasu kṣayatha jīvase। uru śaṁsaṁ na ūrjam।
The focus shifts entirely to the divine waters (āpaḥ). These waters represent both the physical flowing rivers and the subtle currents of consciousness and divine grace that wash away impurities and nourish the spiritual seeker.
Verse 2: We call upon the goddess waters for life and boundless energy.
Traditional commentaries focus on the ritual sprinkling of water, while esoteric readings view the waters as the primordial flow of ānanda (bliss).
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| आपः | āpaḥ | waters |
| देवीः | devīḥ | divine/shining |
| ऊर्जम् | ūrjam | vital energy/strength |
Act II is the flow of grace: invoking the divine Waters for living energy (ūjas).