Ṛgveda · Maṇḍala 1 · Sūkta 42

Ṛk 1.42.1

Pūṣan · Kaṇva Ghaura

The whole sūkta Link

Saṃhitā

सं पू॑ष॒न्नध्व॑नस्तिर॒ व्यंहो॑ विमुचो नपात् ।
सक्ष्वा॑ देव॒ प्र ण॑स्पु॒रः ॥

सम् पूषन्न् अध्वनस् तिर व्य् अंहो विमुचो नपात् |
सक्ष्वा देव प्र णस् पुरः ||

sám pūṣannádhvanastira vyáṃho vimuco napāt ǀ
sákṣvā deva prá ṇaspuráḥ ǁ

sam pūṣann adhvanas tira vy aṃho vimuco napāt |
sakṣvā deva pra ṇas puraḥ ||

Padapāṭha

सम् । पू॒ष॒न् । अध्व॑नः । ति॒र॒ । वि । अंहः॑ । वि॒ऽमु॒चः॒ । न॒पा॒त् ।
सक्ष्व॑ । दे॒व॒ । प्र । नः॒ । पु॒रः ॥

सम् । पूषन् । अध्वनः । तिर । वि । अंहः । विऽमुचः । नपात् ।
सक्ष्व । देव । प्र । नः । पुरः ॥

sám ǀ pūṣan ǀ ádhvanaḥ ǀ tira ǀ ví ǀ áṃhaḥ ǀ vi-mucaḥ ǀ napāt ǀ
sákṣva ǀ deva ǀ prá ǀ naḥ ǀ puráḥ ǁ

sam ǀ pūṣan ǀ adhvanaḥ ǀ tira ǀ vi ǀ aṃhaḥ ǀ vi-mucaḥ ǀ napāt ǀ
sakṣva ǀ deva ǀ pra ǀ naḥ ǀ puraḥ ǁ

References

Maṇḍala · Sūkta · Ṛk
01.042.01
Aṣṭaka · Adhyāya · Varga · Ṛk
1.3.24.01
Maṇḍala · Anuvāka · Ṛk
01.08.078
Devatā देवता
Pūṣan
Ṛṣi ऋषि
Kaṇva Ghaura
Chandas छन्दस्
Gāyatrī
Svara स्वरः
षड्जः

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

Ṛgveda 1.42.1

Interpretations

Kapali Shastri

Introduction

Pushan is one of the Adityas. He nourishes. Though the home of all the Gods is high above, yet their main station or field of action differs. Thus the abode of Indra, Lord of the divine Mind, is the Mind station, Svar. Agni is stationed on earth. The Maruts belong to the mid-region, the Life-world. Similarly the other Gods preside over their respective places and carry on their activities. Though Pushan, the Aditya, belongs to the third station, still because he is the lord of mother earth, supports and nourishes her, his station is taken as the earth. When he nourishes, by his Adityapower, the outer earth-field, physical Matter, and the inner physical consciousness and is himself nourished and manifest, then comes Usha, the Deity of the dawn of higher Consciousness. And when the Ashvins espouse Usha, he adopts these health-givers, who effect increasing nourishment, as parents. Nourished thus, Pushan Aditya showers the bounty of Indra and becomes his brother. Ultimately he becomes the brother of earth and the quarters.

Even after the slaying of Vritra, the Panis – Asuras - obstruct the path of the sacrificer, steal the cows; other haters of the Gods harass the devotee on the upward course, directly or indirectly, by robbing him of his wealth - cows etc. - , veiling the path, showing wrong directions. It is here that the work of Pushan is specially seen. The trafficking doings of the Panis and the like do not affect God Pushan. He is the lord of the Paths. He does not lose cattle. Pushan aids in the effort of the sacrificer to reach the sun-world, even while living.

Pushan nourishes the sacrificer as well as the earth. He is the progeny of Aditya as Indra who showers the wealth of knowledge, light, strength; elder to Ushas, he protects the earth; brother of Indra, master of the route of the sacrificer, he guards the path, searches out the sacrificer, urges his effort.

Commentary

O Pushan, convey us over the road, eliminate obstruction. Son of Indra (Aditya), O God, be close ahead of us.