Ṛgveda · Maṇḍala 1 · Sūkta 20

Ṛk 1.20.8

Ṛbhus · Medhātithi Kāṇva

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Saṃhitā

अधा॑रयंत॒ वह्न॒योऽभ॑जंत सुकृ॒त्यया॑ ।
भा॒गं दे॒वेषु॑ य॒ज्ञियं॑ ॥

अधारयन्त वह्नयो ऽभजन्त सुकृत्यया |
भागं देवेषु यज्ञियम् ||

ádhārayanta váhnayó’bhajanta sukṛtyáyā ǀ
bhāgám devéṣu yajñíyam ǁ

adhārayanta vahnayo 'bhajanta sukṛtyayā |
bhāgaṃ deveṣu yajñiyam ||

Padapāṭha

अधा॑रयन्त । वह्न॑यः । अभ॑जन्त । सु॒ऽकृ॒त्यया॑ ।
भा॒गम् । दे॒वेषु॑ । य॒ज्ञिय॑म् ॥

अधारयन्त । वह्नयः । अभजन्त । सुऽकृत्यया ।
भागम् । देवेषु । यज्ञियम् ॥

ádhārayanta ǀ váhnayaḥ ǀ ábhajanta ǀ su-kṛtyáyā ǀ
bhāgám ǀ devéṣu ǀ yajñíyam ǁ

adhārayanta ǀ vahnayaḥ ǀ abhajanta ǀ su-kṛtyayā ǀ
bhāgam ǀ deveṣu ǀ yajñiyam ǁ

References

Maṇḍala · Sūkta · Ṛk
01.020.08
Aṣṭaka · Adhyāya · Varga · Ṛk
1.2.02.03
Maṇḍala · Anuvāka · Ṛk
01.05.026
Devatā देवता
Ṛbhus
Ṛṣi ऋषि
Medhātithi Kāṇva
Chandas छन्दस्
Gāyatrī
Svara स्वरः
षड्जः

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

Ṛgveda 1.20.8

Interpretations

Kapali Shastri

Translation

Tr. The bearers by their happy deed bore and distributed the sacrificial share of the Gods.

Commentary

vahnayaḥ the bearers, Ribhus who manage the sacrifice to secure immortality and the like for man; sukſtyaya by means of the deed comprising the happy action of fashioning a single bowl into four, etc.; deveșu of the gods (locative for genetive); yajniyam due in sacrifice; bhāgam the portion to be distributed among the gods serverally according to injunction; adhārayanta you bore; abhajanta and apportioned.

When the human consciousness is ready, the Ribhus are able to sustain constant currents of Ananda. Hence they are able, by their fulfilling deed, to distribute and give to each of the gods manifested by the Sacrifice, the appropriate share replete with Ananda. That kind of distribution according to the share is the utmost requirement for the smooth performance and complete fruition of the sacrifice.

This is the purport.

Footnote

The deeds of the Ribhus expounded in this hymn are lauded in other hymns also e.g., of Kutsa, Dirghatamas, Vasishta, Vishvamitra, Vamadeva. In some the function of the Ribhus is described elaborately. For those who wish to know, these are the hymns, calling for study, stating the form, knowledge, action and fulfilment of the Ribhus :- 1.110-111; 1.161; 3.60. 4.33–37.

Thus ends the second group in the Second Chapter of the first Eighth.