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Hymn 34: The Three Modes of Help
Rişhi: Hiraņyastūpaĥ Angirasaĥ
MANTRA
(1.34.1): ENTREATIES OF WISE
O Knowers, be ready for us thrice;
Your vehicle is all-pervading and so is your gift, O Ashvins;
Your union is regulated as that of day and night;
Do yield to the entreaties of the wise.
trish chin no adyā bhavatam navedasā
three, ., us, now, be (ready), Knowers,
vibhur vām yāma uta rātir ashvinā;
all-pervading, your, vehicle, and, gift, Ashvins,
yuvor hi yantram himyeva vāsaso
your, ., union (is regulated), like night, day,
abhyāyamsenyā bhavatam manīşhibhiĥ.
yield to the entreaties, become, wise.
Details:
In the inner sacrifice, the figure three
signifies the triple world and its corresponding trio within,
e.g., body, life and mind, their respective attributes. Here it
denotes the different divisions of time for the performance of
the inner sacrifice.
navedasa:
The meaning according to Yāska is, “those who do not know the
Veda''. The meaning given here is: those know what to do at
the right time.
himyeva vāsasaĥ:
like night and day; it is translated by the moderns as, “like a
garment worn in winter season''. This translation is not correct
as the word yantram regulator has no place. The
relationship of the two Ashvins is compared elsewhere to a pair
of nostrils, two hands, (2.39), so that the comparison to day
and night is appropriate. See also the subsection “Ashvins as
twin powers'' in the essay in the beginning of this section.
MANTRA
(1.34.2): CAR WITH HONEY
Three are the firm fellies of your car carrying honey;
All know of its travel to the Light, the beloved of Soma;
Three pillars of support are fixed on the car;
O Ashvins, you journey thrice by day and thrice by night.
trayaĥ pavayo madhuvāhane rathe
three, firm fellies, (vehicle) carrying Soma, car,
somasya venām anu vishva id viduĥ;
of Soma, beloved, (travel) towards, all, ., know,
trayaĥ skambhāsaĥ skabhitāsa ārabhe
three, pillars, established, supporting,
trir naktam yāthas trirv ashvinā divā.
three, nights, journey, thrice, O Ashvins, days.
Details:
Vena is the enjoyable or Supreme Light, which is
the beloved and goal of Soma. Hence the car travels to
Vena.
S. thinks Vena is the spouse of Soma and the car
is going to the marriage of Soma with Vena. But no
Puraņa
book mentions such an incident.
Night associated with darkness or Ignorance denotes the triple
world below, Day denotes the ever-lit triple world above.
MANTRA
(1.34.3): FAULTLESS YAJŇA
O Ashvins, thrice on the same day you render the yajňa
faultless.
Today sprinkle our yajňa thrice with the celestial sap.
O Ashvins, the opulent and forceful impulsions
Are sprinkled by you day and night for us.
samāne ahan trir avadyagohanā
same, day, three, make the yajňa faultless,
trir adya yajňam madhunā mimikşhatam;
three, now, yajňa, Soma or celestial sap, sprinkle,
trir vājavatīr işho ashvinā
yuvam
three, opulent, impulsions, Ashvins, you,
doşhā asmabhyam uşhasash cha pinvatam.
night, for us, day, and, sprinkle.
Details:
thrice:
may refer to the three bodies.
sprinkle:
make our yajňa full of the sap or essence.
avadyagohana:
avadya is the fault which has been removed, gohana
means those who trace the hiding place or covering. The phrase
refers to Ashvins who make the yajňa faultless by tracing and
removing the hidden defects.
MANTRA
(1.34.4): DWELLINGS AND PROTECTION
Come thrice to our dwellings and thrice to those who are
favourable to us;
Come thrice to our sacrifice deserving protection and teach us
the three ways of (protection in the inner yajňa);
Reach to us thrice the gratifying fruit (of yajňa);
Shower thrice on us the delectable sap like rain.
trir vartir yātam trir anuvrate jane
three, dwellings, come, three, favourable to us, persons,
triĥ suprāvye tredheva shikşhatam;
three, deserving protection, three ways, teach (us) (thrice),
trir nāndyam vahatam ashvinā yuvam
thrice, the gratifying fruit, reach (us), Ashvins, you,
triĥ pŗkşho asme akşhareva pinvatam.
three, delectable, to us, like water or rain, sprinkle.
Details:
akşhara:
a synonym for water.
MANTRA
(1.34.5): FELICITIES AND INSPIRATION
O Ashvins, you reach us the wealth thrice;
Come thrice to the assembly of Gods and increase (our)
intelligence;
Increase thrice our good fortune and bring us inspiration
thrice.
The daughter of Sūrya has mounted your car of three
wheels.
trir no rayim vahatam ashvinā
yuvam
three, us, felicities, reach (us), O Ashvins, you,
trir devatātā trir utāvatam dhiyaĥ;
three, assembly of Gods, thrice, increase, the intelligence,
triĥ saubhagatvam trir uta
shravāmsi
thrice, the good fortune, thrice, ., inspiration,
nas trişhţham vām sūre duhit āruhad ratham.
us, (the car) with three wheels, your, Sūrya, daughter,
mounted, the car.
Details:
Sūrya,
the daughter of Sun, is the beloved of Ashvins.
utāvatam:
uta + avatam, also + increase.
MANTRA (1.34.6): HAPPINESS AND MEDICINES
Ashvins, give us thrice the Divine Medicines;
Give us thrice the earthly medicines and those of the midregion;
Give to my son the protective happiness of the rişhi Shamyu;
Give us the happiness of the three planes, O Guardians of the
auspicious.
trir no ashvinā divyāni bheşhajā
thrice, to us, Ashvins, heavenly, medicines,
triĥ pārthivāni trir u dattam adbhyaĥ;
thrice, the earthly ones, thrice, ., reach (us), mid-region,
omānam shamyor mamakāya sūnave
protective happiness, rişhi Shamyu, my, sons,
tridhātu sharma vahatam shubhaspatī.
three substances or planes, happiness, reach (us), O Guardians
of the auspicious.
Details:
Terms like son, offspring, progeny signify the opulences that
accrue to the yajamāna engaged in the inner sacrifice.
tridhātu:
three planes: the physical, vital, mental.
Shamyu:
a historical figure, a model of peaceful felicity. sham:
happiness and peace. Medicaments remove illnesses of various
kinds.
adbhyaĥu:
medicaments from the place of waters, the mid-region.
omānam:
happiness.
MANTRA
(1.34.7): YOU COME FROM A FAR OFF PLACE
Ashvins, adorable day by day,
Going around our earth, repose in the substances of three
planes;
O Ashvins, lords of the car, you come from far off places to our
three-fold earth,
Just as the life-force of the soul resorts to its dwelling.
trir no ashvinā yajatā dive
dive
thrice, our, Ashvins, adorable, day, day,
pari tridhātu pŗthivīm ashāyatam;
around, the three planes, earth, repose,
tisro nāsatyā rathyā parāvata
three, Ashvins, lords of the car, from far off places,
ātmeva vātaĥ svasarāņi gachchhatam.
like the soul, life-force, their own dwellings, go.
Details:
May the Ashvins come from their station far away
to the earth-altar of our body even as the life-breath to its
body.
ātmeva vāta:
life-breath or life-force associated with the soul ātma.
MANTRA
(1.34.8): GUARD THE SUN
O Ashvins, thrice (is the Soma distilled) by the seven
mother-streams;
Three are the receptacles (of Soma); Soma offering is done in
three ways;
Moving above the three earths,
You guard the Sun in the heaven, established by day and by
night.
trir ashvinā sindhubhiĥ saptamātŗbhis
traya
thrice, Ashvins, streams, seven mothers, thrice,
āhāvās tredhā havişh kŗtam;
receptacles or vessels, thrice, offering (Soma), done,
tisraĥ pŗthivīr upari pravā divo
three, earths, above, go, heaven,
nākam rakşhethe dyubhir aktubhir hitam.
Sun, guard, day, night, establish.
Details:
Soma, the essence of delight of all existence, is prepared by
the radiant powers of the sevenfold Being. Its three receptacles
of matter, life and mind are ready. O Ashvins, drinkers of
honey, accept this Soma and travel above the three worlds
and guard there the supreme Light. Working day and night, the
high heaven, nākam or svar, has been formed for us
and in us by the (inner) sacrificers. Guard it for us.
Seven mother streams: Sevenfold Being made of the three lower
planes of matter, life, mind, the three higher planes of sat,
chit, ānanda and the link-world between them,
mahas or svar.
MANTRA
(1.34.9): WHERE IS THE CAR?
Where are the three wheels of your triangular car?
Where are the three pillars which support the seats in the car?
When will the powerful ass be yoked (to the car)
To arrive at the yajňa, O Ashvins?
kva trī chakrā trivŗto
rathasya
where, three, wheels, triangular, of the car,
kva trayo vandhuro ye sanīļāĥ;
where, three (pillars), supports (for the seats), those, seats,
kadā yogo vājino
rāsabhasya
when, yoked, powerful, ass,
ena yajňam nāsaty opayāthaĥ.
with (the car), yajňa, Ashvins, arrive.
Details:
The idea is: we are ready, but your car is not yet to be
seen; be quick of grace, may the car come with you.
Ass is vāhana, carrier of Ashvins.
sanīļa:
good seats, nida is seat; interchange of ļ and d is
common.
MANTRA
(1.34.10): SUN IMPELS YOUR CAR
O Ashvins, you come (now); the oblation is ready;
With your honey-drinking mouths, drink the sweet offerings;
Before the (break of) the dawn, God Savitŗ impels towards the
Supreme Truth
Your wonderful and luminous car.
ā nāsatyā gachchhatam hūyate havir
., Ashvins, come, is offered, oblation,
madhvaĥ pibatam madhupebhir āsabhiĥ;
sweet offerings, drink, honey - drinking, mouths,
yuvorhi pūrvam savit oşhaso ratham ŗtāya
your, earlier to, God Savitŗ , the dawn Uşha, car, to the
Supreme-Truth,
chitram ghŗtavantam işhyati.
wonderful, luminous, impels.
Details:
The God Sūrya, Sun, impels you; hence drink the Soma
quickly.
MANTRA
(1.34.11): YOU STAY WITH US
O Swift Ashvins, come to our yajňa here with the
thrice-eleven gods
To accept the sweet Soma;
Increase our life-span; completely efface our blemishes;
Repel the haters: you stay with us.
ā nāsatyā tribhir ekādashair iha
., swift Ashvins, thrice, eleven, here (to this yajňa),
devebhir yātam madhupeyam ashvinā;
with gods, come, (to take) the sweet Soma, Ashvins,
pra āyus tārişhţam nī rapāmsi
mŗkşhatam
., life-span, increases, completely, blemishes, clean,
sedhatam dveşho bhavatam sachābhuvā.
repel, haters, be, stay with us.
Details:
In each of the three planes there are eleven
gods totalling thirty three. The exact identity of these Gods is
not known. The eleven Gods appearing in the Purāņa are
not the same.
ā + yātam:
come.
pra + tārişhţam:
increase superbly.
ni + mŗkşhatam:
completely efface.
MANTRA
(1.34.12): OUR AFFLUENCE AND INCREASE
O Ashvins, in your car which traverses the three worlds,
Bring us the wealth endowed with auspicious power;
For our protection I call you and pray that you listen to us;
You be present in our activities for affluence and increase.
ā no ashvinā trivŗtā
., us, Ashvins, traversing the three worlds,
rathena ārvāncham rayim vahatam suvīram;
car, towards (us), wealth, carry, (endowed with) auspicious
power,
shŗņvantā vām avase johavīmi
listen, you, for our protection, (I) invite,
vŗdhecha no bhavatam vājasātau.
for our increase, and, us, be, in our works for affluence.
Details:
The car traverses the three worlds and hence the Ashvins can bring us the wealth from all these worlds. In the
last line there is a prayer for the Ashvins to be present
in all the activities of the seers which bring in various types
of felicities but also cause an overall increase or heightening
in their spiritual awareness. |
