Companion to “Vedic and Philological Studies” (Vol.1) by Mukund Ainapure

Companion to Vedic and Philological Studies

Volume I

Companion Series is meant as an aid to the systematic study of the major works on the Veda by Sri Aurobindo for those interested in the mystical interpretation of the Veda.

The Companion Series is available for both the major works on the Veda by Sri Aurobindo – Secret of the Veda (Vol. I & II) and Hymns to the Mystic Fire (Vol. I-IV).

The present volume provides the original Sanskrit verses (Riks) from the Rig Veda in Devanagari (without accents), translated and cited by Sri Aurobindo in Vedic and Philological Studies (Part Two, Mandala 1). The compiler has provided the Padpātha (in Devanagari as well as Roman Transcription) under each verse in which all euphonic combinations (sandhi) are resolved into the original and separate words and even the components of compound words (samās) indicated; and matched each Sanskrit word in the Padpātha with the corresponding English word in the Translation using superscripts, followed by footnotes providing alternative meaning(s) of words and explanatory Notes based on Sri Aurobindo’s writings.

In the Foreword to the first edition of Hymns to the Mystic Fire, (1946) Sri Aurobindo stated that “.…to establish on a scholastic basis the conclusions of the hypothesis (mystical interpretation) it would have been necessary to prepare an edition of the Rig-veda or of a large part of it with a word by word construing in Sanskrit and English, Notes explanatory of the important points …..” This compilation series is a humble attempt in providing such ‘word by word construing in Sanskrit and English’ of selected verses of the Rig Veda with explanatory Notes.

Book Details

Author: Mukund Ainapure
Print Length: 227
Publisher: Mukund Ainapure
Original source:
Submitted by: Mukund Ainapure
Book format: Pdf
Language: English

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Companion to Vedic and Philological Studies – Volume I

SUKTA 2 

वायवा याहि दर्शतेमे सोमा अरंकृताः ।

तेषां पाहि श्रुधी हवं ॥ 01.002.01 ॥

वायो¹ इति । आ² । याहि³ । दर्शत⁴ । इमे⁵ । सोमाः⁶ । अरम्ऽकृताः⁷ ।

तेषाम्⁸ । पाहि⁹ । श्रुधि¹⁰ । हवम्¹¹ ॥

vāyo iti ǀ ā ǀ yāhi ǀ darśata ǀ ime ǀ somāḥ ǀ aram-kṛtāḥ ǀ

teṣām ǀ pāhi ǀ śrudhi ǀ havam ǁ

⁴O seeing ¹Master of Life, ^2,3come; ⁷ready are ⁵these ⁶pressings of the Wine; ⁹drink ⁸of them, ¹⁰hear ¹¹our call. [14/199]

^2,3Come, ¹O Vayu ⁴visible, ⁵these are (ie here are) ⁶the Somas (ie Soma-pourings) ⁷made ready, ⁹drink ⁸of them, ¹⁰hear ¹¹our call. [14/357]

¹O Vayu, ⁴O beautiful one, ⁵lo these ⁶Soma-powers ⁷in their array (is it not a battle-array?), ⁹protect ⁸them, ¹⁰hear ¹¹their call! [14/54]

¹ Vayu is he who exists or moves pervading the whole world. The meaning “to blow” is of subsequent development and attached only to the physical aspect of Matariswan manifesting in gross matter as the Wind. It is more prominent in the word वातः [14/349]. Vayu is the Lord of Life. By the ancient Mystics life was considered to be a great force pervading all material existence and the condition of all its activities. It is this idea that was formulated later on in the conception of the Prana, the universal breath of life. All the vital and nervous activities of the human being fall within the definition of Prana, and belong to the domain of Vayu. [15/309]

⁶ Juices of immortality. सोमः, bliss, delight, ananda, nectar, the God of the Moon. [14/350]

⁷ drawn up in array, ready for battle [14/350-1]. Three possible senses suggest themselves; made sufficient, laboriously worked, (both senses leading to the idea of ready, prepared), or made war upon, attacked, taking अरः in the sense of war, just as अरिः means a warrior, fighter, enemy. [14/356]

[Notes]

The three first verses complete the first movement of the hymn, which is a hymn of the Soma-offering to the gods who lead towards the Truth. The first of these is Vayu [vāyo], master of the life or vital principle. Vayu has the first draught of the Soma, the Wine of Delight or Joy of things expressed or generated in the body of man by the pressure of the divine sensations, those which seek with the electrical force of the divine mind, the pure rasa of things. The Soma juices [somāḥ] are ready [aram-kṛtāḥ] — the immortalising joy in the mind, the amrita in the body. The Life-force is to drink [pāhi] of these [teṣām] … [14/359]