Translations of Rig Veda Suktas 33-121 by M.P. Pandit

HYMN 35

Rishi: HIRANYASTUPA Deity: SAVITR

1. First I invoke Agni for our weal. I invoke Mitra and Varuna to guard the sacrifice. I invoke Night which is the support of the mobile world. I invoke Savitr for our increase.

Night: the opposite of Day, womb of all creation, source of the manifestation of the world, base of all that is unmanifest.

Savitr: Luminous Surya, the impeller of all.

2. Moving along the dark firmanent, duly establishing the immortal and the mortal, God Savitr comes in his golden chariot, beholding the worlds.

The lower world is wrapped in darkness. Thence arises Surya of conscient Radiance. Golden hue is the opposite of the dark. The sun of golden radiance lights up the immortal and the mortal and establishes them in their due place. By this right placement, the functions of both are regulated. The work of the mortal is sacrifice yielding immortality. The work of the immortal Gods is to help the mortals.

3. The God (Savitr), moves by the upward path and the downward. Worthy of sacrifice, he comes with his two white horses. Destroying all evils, God Savitr comes from the beyond.

The ascent and descent of the Truth-Light in the inner sacrifice is well known.

God Savitr radiates the world-impelling Light.

4. Adorable, of varied hues, Savitr mounts the chariot, large, endowed with golden opulences, with golden yoke, bearing the might to disperse darkness from the regions.

5. The white-footed tawny steeds of Savitr drawing the chariot with golden yoke, have manifested light to the peoples. The peoples ever stand in the presence of the divine Savitr. All the worlds stand likewise.

The peoples and worlds to whom light has been brought by the white coursers harnessed to the golden chariot, reach and abide in the source of all light. Worlds and peoples who have not thus obtained the light, continue in the dark; their’s are the ’sunless’ worlds.

6. Of the three worlds of light, two are in the proximity of Savitr. The third is the dwelling of the all-ruling Surya. The immortal Gods stay resorting to Savitr, as the car on the linch-pin. Let him who knows this declare it.

Like the three Earths, the three Heavens are well-known in the Veda. Of these two are proximate to Savitr, the third is his own dwelling, only the heroes can attain to it, thence they do not return.

7. Happy-winged ray (of the sun), profound of sight, powerful, lighted up the upper regions, leading to felicity. Where now is this Surya? who knows? What heavenly regions are pervaded by this ray?

This is evidently not the common ray of the sun.

8. He lighted up the eight quarters; illumined the three terrestrial desert regions and the seven streams; thus arrived God Savitr with golden sight, giving choice gifts to the giver.

Desert regions of Matter, Life and Mind bereft of the nourishing waters of light and strength. The seven rivers are activised to fertilise these dry fields.

9. Golden-handed, all-beholding, God Savitr moves between the earth and heaven. He dispels distress. Across the dark firmament he attains to the meridian of the sun in the sky.

Arisen for the upliftment of the sacrificer, God Savitr lights up the three regions, depells all sickness, and reaches the zenith in the sky.

10. May the golden-handed, mighty one, well-guiding, rich, come making us happy. Lauded every night, the God is present repelling the demoniac Yatudhanas,

11. O Savitr, come to us by the sky-paths, perfected of old, dustless, well-laid, easy to traverse. O God, protect us, speak to us.

Paths laid by the ancient Rishis, Angiiasas and others.