Ṛgveda · Maṇḍala 1 · Sūkta 17

Ṛk 1.17.4

Indra, Varuṇa · Medhātithi Kāṇva

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Saṃhitā

यु॒वाकु॒ हि शची॑नां यु॒वाकु॑ सुमती॒नां ।
भू॒याम॑ वाज॒दाव्नां॑ ॥

युवाकु हि शचीनां युवाकु सुमतीनाम् |
भूयाम वाजदाव्नाम् ||

yuvā́ku hí śácīnām yuvā́ku sumatīnā́m ǀ
bhūyā́ma vājadā́vnām ǁ

yuvāku hi śacīnāṃ yuvāku sumatīnām |
bhūyāma vājadāvnām ||

Padapāṭha

यु॒वाकु॑ । हि । शची॑नाम् । यु॒वाकु॑ । सु॒ऽम॒ती॒नाम् ।
भू॒याम॑ । वा॒ज॒दाव्ना॑म् ॥

युवाकु । हि । शचीनाम् । युवाकु । सुऽमतीनाम् ।
भूयाम । वाजदाव्नाम् ॥

yuvā́ku ǀ hí ǀ śácīnām ǀ yuvā́ku ǀ su-matīnā́m ǀ
bhūyā́ma ǀ vājadā́vnām ǁ

yuvāku ǀ hi ǀ śacīnām ǀ yuvāku ǀ su-matīnām ǀ
bhūyāma ǀ vājadāvnām ǁ

References

Maṇḍala · Sūkta · Ṛk
01.017.04
Aṣṭaka · Adhyāya · Varga · Ṛk
1.1.32.04
Maṇḍala · Anuvāka · Ṛk
01.04.061
Devatā देवता
Indra, Varuṇa
Ṛṣi ऋषि
Medhātithi Kāṇva
Chandas छन्दस्
Gāyatrī, Pādanicṛt
Svara स्वरः
षड्जः

Text and interpretations from the Ṛgveda database of theveda.org.in.

Ṛgveda 1.17.4

Interpretations

Kapali Shastri

Translation

Tr. As the strength of the Powers, the strength of the right thinkings, may we be of the donors of plenitude.

Commentary

hi because ; sacinām of the powers; yuvāku virility; sumatinām of right thinkings; yuvāku virility ; bhūyāma may we become (Benedictive to denote prayer. The elision of s is Vedic); therefore 'we seek Indra and Varuna closest' (in the previous Rik); of Powers or of right thinkings, of what kind ? vājadāvnām they who give dadati, plenitude vāja, is vājadāvānaḥ (termination vanip, Vedic). May we be the beings of strength of the Powers that give plenitude, of the auspicious or good activities of Intelligence, is the purport. Let us be possessed of or become the strength itself that belongs to the Powers that gift plenitude or to the activities of Intelligence. Therefore we desire them closest so that this may come to be. Commented upon otherwise, there is no connection with the previous Rik. This is that: because we are the strength of the Powers, because we are the strength of right thinkings, therefore may we be among the gods who gift the plenitude.

Footnote

By deciding upon the meaning of the word yuvāku the trouble in understanding the purport of the Mantra will be mitigated. The word yuvāku is arrived by applying the termination kaku in Unadi sutras to the root yu to mix. That which is mixed is the meaning. This meaning of Sayana's is useful in commenting ritualistically. The form yuvāku is used in this Rik twice. The first yuvāku of faci is a subs-tance connected with the rituals and oblation in the form of Soma mixed with water and other substances. But the second yuvāku of sumati is the laud connected with the Ritviks 'mixed' with laudable virtues. These two are accom-plished. Therefore, in the ritualist context, the purport of the Mantra is, let us be among the sovereign donors of food, vā jadāvnām. In many places Sayana has it : he who desires you is yuvāku. In the passage dasrā puvākavaḥ sutāḥ' we have explained the same as virile, strong Soma-juices. There, following the comment of Sayana in 3.62.1, we spoke of strength as denoted by the term yuva. Here too yuvāku means endowed with virility or strength. If according to the optional theory of Skandasvainin, the singular be said to be used in the place of the plural, yuvākavah, we accept it.