1.22.1
१३-१४ द्यावापृथिव्यौ, १५ पृथिवी, १६ विष्णुर्देवा वा, १७-२१ विष्णुः |
गायत्री |
प्रा॒त॒र्युजा॒ वि बो॑धया॒श्विना॒वेह ग॑च्छताम् |
अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ||
WAKEN the Aśvin Pair who yoke their car at early morn: may they Approach to drink this Soma juice.
Awaken the Ashvin pair who yoke their car at early morn; may they approach to drink this Soma juice.
The Ashvins (Nasatyas) are twin physicians and dawn-riders of Vedic devotion. Yoking at prātaḥ links them to ushas-time healing and mobility of grace. Awakening them is both literal dawn liturgy and inner call to activate the twin faculties of healing insight and swift aid before the day's Soma of experience.
Begin the day by activating complementary strengths—care and speed, diagnosis and delivery—before consuming the day's demands. Hold a wide map of helpers—healers, energizers, protectors, ground, and measuring vision—rather than demanding one force to do every job.
1.22.2
या सु॒रथा॑ र॒थीत॑मो॒भा दे॒वा दि॑वि॒स्पृशा॑ |
अ॒श्विना॒ ता ह॑वामहे ||
We call the Aśvins Twain, the Gods borne in a noble car, the best Of charioteers, who reach the heavens.
We call the twin Ashvins, gods borne in a noble car, best of charioteers, who reach the heavens. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
As supreme charioteers who attain 'divam', the Ashvins model guided spiritual locomotion—skillful navigation between realms. Their noble car ('ratha') is the vehicle of grace that carries help to the distressed, famous in later Itihāsa echoes of divine rescue. Ashvins, Savitar, Agni, Devapatnīs, Dyāvāpṛthivī, and Viṣṇu form a complete morning-to-paramaṃ-padam itinerary of grace.
Honor navigators who can move help across difficult terrain—logistics, mentoring, crisis response—as sacred skill. Sequence the day from awakening care through generative light to grounded shelter and a highest reference point kept visible.
1.22.3
या वां॒ कशा॒ मधु॑म॒त्यश्वि॑ना सू॒नृता॑वती |
तया॑ य॒ज्ञं मि॑मिक्षतम् ||
Dropping with honey is your whip, Aśvins, and full of pleasantness Sprinkle therewith the sacrifice.
Your whip, O Ashvins, drips with honey and is full of pleasantness; sprinkle the sacrifice therewith.
The madhu-dripping whip is paradoxical gentle goad—urgency sweetened by honey. Sprinkling the yajña with this pleasantness sanctifies effort with ānanda rather than harsh compulsion. Vedic symbolism often treats madhu as both delight and wisdom-essence. Seers lighting Viṣṇu's supreme station teach that stuti is contemplative kindling of the highest dhāma.
Motivate with sweetness and clarity, not humiliation. The best 'urgency' feels like honeyed guidance. Illuminate your highest station by vigilant, song-loving attention; ideals stay lit only when communities keep watch.
1.22.4
न॒हि वा॒मस्ति॑ दूर॒के यत्रा॒ रथे॑न॒ गच्छ॑थः |
अश्वि॑ना सो॒मिनो॑ गृ॒हम् ||
As ye go thither in your car, not far, O Aśvins, is the home Of him who offers Soma juice.
As you go there in your car, O Ashvins, the home of the Soma-offerer is not far. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Divine nearness: the Ashvins' path finds the soma-presser's home close at hand. Bhakti implication—sincere offering collapses distance between human hearth and twin healers. Accessibility of divinity to the domestic altar is classic Kanva warmth. This Kanva panorama mirrors Sanātana plurality: distinct Devatās for distinct functions, culminating in Viṣṇu's measuring strides that gather the worlds into one ṛta-imprint.
Make help routes short. Support systems should feel nearby to those doing real work, not bureaucratically remote. Hold a wide map of helpers—healers, energizers, protectors, ground, and measuring vision—rather than demanding one force to do every job.
1.22.5
हिर॑ण्यपाणिमू॒तये॑ सवि॒तार॒मुप॑ ह्वये |
स चेत्ता॑ दे॒वता॑ प॒दम् ||
For my protection I invoke the golden-handed Savitar. He knoweth, as a God, the place.
For my protection I invoke golden-handed Savitar; he knows, as a god, the place. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Savitar, the impeller of rising light, is 'hiraṇyapāṇi'—golden-handed distributor of luminous energy. Knowing 'the place' marks divine spatial wisdom—right placement of beings and boons. Protection ('ava') under Savitar is shelter within solar-cosmic order. Ashvins, Savitar, Agni, Devapatnīs, Dyāvāpṛthivī, and Viṣṇu form a complete morning-to-paramaṃ-padam itinerary of grace.
Seek guidance from those who understand context and placement. Protection often means being rightly situated, not merely shielded. Sequence the day from awakening care through generative light to grounded shelter and a highest reference point kept visible.
1.22.6
अ॒पां नपा॑त॒मव॑से सवि॒तार॒मुप॑ स्तुहि |
तस्य॑ व्र॒तान्यु॑श्मसि ||
That he may send us succour, praise the Waters’ Offspring Savitar: Fain are we for his holy ways.
That he may send us aid, praise Savitar, offspring of the Waters; we yearn for his holy ways. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Savitar as 'apām napāt'-linked offspring of waters weds solar impulse to aquatic origin—tejas born from apas. Yearning for his 'vratāni' (holy ways/ordinances) is longing for disciplined luminous living. Stuti here is instrumental to receiving 'avas'. Seers lighting Viṣṇu's supreme station teach that stuti is contemplative kindling of the highest dhāma.
Aspire to habits that are both energizing and orderly. Craving good routines is healthier than craving only outcomes. Illuminate your highest station by vigilant, song-loving attention; ideals stay lit only when communities keep watch.
1.22.7
वि॒भ॒क्तारं॑ हवामहे॒ वसो॑श्चि॒त्रस्य॒ राध॑सः |
स॒वि॒तारं॑ नृ॒चक्ष॑सम् ||
We call on him, distributer of wondrous bounty and of wealth, On Savitar who looks on men.
We call on him, distributor of wondrous bounty and wealth, on Savitar who looks upon men. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Savitar as 'vareṇya' bounty-distributor who 'paśyati' humankind affirms solar providence with witness. Divine looking is benevolent surveillance of human need. Wondrous gifts ('citram') under Savitar are creative, not merely quantitative, abundance. This Kanva panorama mirrors Sanātana plurality: distinct Devatās for distinct functions, culminating in Viṣṇu's measuring strides that gather the worlds into one ṛta-imprint.
Leaders who truly see people distribute opportunity more fairly. Visibility plus generosity defines good stewardship. Hold a wide map of helpers—healers, energizers, protectors, ground, and measuring vision—rather than demanding one force to do every job.
1.22.8
सखा॑य॒ आ नि षी॑दत सवि॒ता स्तोम्यो॒ नु न॑: |
दाता॒ राधां॑सि शुम्भति ||
Come hither, friends, and seat yourselves Savitar, to be praised by us, Giving good gifts, is beautiful.
Come hither, friends, and seat yourselves; Savitar, to be praised by us, giving good gifts, is beautiful.
Inviting friends to sit while praising beautiful gift-giving Savitar blends fellowship with solar devotion. Saundarya (beauty) of the deity models aesthetic dimension of dharma. Communal seating before stuti echoes sabhā culture around sacred presence. Ashvins, Savitar, Agni, Devapatnīs, Dyāvāpṛthivī, and Viṣṇu form a complete morning-to-paramaṃ-padam itinerary of grace.
Combine community gathering with celebration of generous, beautiful leadership. Shared seating builds belonging before asks. Sequence the day from awakening care through generative light to grounded shelter and a highest reference point kept visible.
1.22.9
अग्ने॒ पत्नी॑रि॒हा व॑ह दे॒वाना॑मुश॒तीरुप॑ |
त्वष्टा॑रं॒ सोम॑पीतये ||
O Agni, hither bring to us the willing Spouses of the Gods, And Tvaṣṭar, to the Soma draught.
O Agni, bring hither to us the willing spouses of the Gods, and Tvashtar, to the Soma draught. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Agni as conveyor brings Devapatnīs and Tvashtar (divine artisan) to Soma—expanding the guest-list of yajña. Willing goddesses affirm śakti's consenting participation. Tvashtar's presence links creative fashioning to the delight of offering. Seers lighting Viṣṇu's supreme station teach that stuti is contemplative kindling of the highest dhāma.
Include creative makers and empowering partners in celebrations of success—not only the solo 'hero' figures. Illuminate your highest station by vigilant, song-loving attention; ideals stay lit only when communities keep watch.
1.22.10
आ ग्ना अ॑ग्न इ॒हाव॑से॒ होत्रां॑ यविष्ठ॒ भार॑तीम् |
वरू॑त्रीं धि॒षणां॑ वह ||
Most youthful Agni, hither bring their Spouses, Hotrā, Bhāratī, Varūtrī, Dhiṣaṇā, for aid.
Most youthful Agni, bring hither their spouses—Hotra, Bharati, Varutri, Dhishana—for aid. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Named liturgical goddesses—Hotrā (invocation), Bhāratī (sacred speech), Varūtrī (protective envelopment), Dhiṣaṇā (inspired intellect)—map feminine powers of ritual cognition. Youthful Agni fetching them stresses renewing fire as activator of vāk-śakti. This Kanva panorama mirrors Sanātana plurality: distinct Devatās for distinct functions, culminating in Viṣṇu's measuring strides that gather the worlds into one ṛta-imprint.
Activate distinct supportive capacities: calling out, clear language, protection, and sharp insight—each deserves a name and role. Hold a wide map of helpers—healers, energizers, protectors, ground, and measuring vision—rather than demanding one force to do every job.
1.22.11
॥
अ॒भि नो॑ दे॒वीरव॑सा म॒हः शर्म॑णा नृ॒पत्नी॑: |
अच्छि॑न्नपत्राः सचन्ताम् ||
Spouses of Heroes, Goddesses, with whole wings may they come to us With great protection and with aid.
Spouses of heroes, goddesses, may they come to us with whole wings, with great protection and aid. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Whole wings ('sarvatātā') suggest complete, unclipped power of flight—goddesses arriving in full śakti. As hero-spouses they complement virya with protective grace. The prayer for mahā-protection frames feminine divinity as formidable shelter, not passive ornament. Ashvins, Savitar, Agni, Devapatnīs, Dyāvāpṛthivī, and Viṣṇu form a complete morning-to-paramaṃ-padam itinerary of grace.
Invite complete, unstinted support from capable partners. Half-empowered help cannot give great protection. Sequence the day from awakening care through generative light to grounded shelter and a highest reference point kept visible.
1.22.12
॥
इ॒हेन्द्रा॒णीमुप॑ ह्वये वरुणा॒नीं स्व॒स्तये॑ |
अ॒ग्नायीं॒ सोम॑पीतये ||
Indrāṇī, Varuṇānī, and Agnāyī hither I invite, For weal, to drink the Soma juice.
I invite Indrani, Varunani, and Agnayi hither for well-being, to drink the Soma juice. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
The three chief patnīs—Indrāṇī, Varuṇānī, Agnāyī—embody śakti of will, moral expanse, and fire. Inviting them for 'śam' (weal) and Soma affirms that sovereignty, ṛta, and transformative flame each have a conscious feminine presence in Vedic theology. Seers lighting Viṣṇu's supreme station teach that stuti is contemplative kindling of the highest dhāma.
Balance institutional life with the relational and empowering dimensions of authority, ethics, and transformative passion. Illuminate your highest station by vigilant, song-loving attention; ideals stay lit only when communities keep watch.
1.22.13
म॒ही द्यौः पृ॑थि॒वी च॑ न इ॒मं य॒ज्ञं मि॑मिक्षताम् |
पि॒पृ॒तां नो॒ भरी॑मभिः ||
May Heaven and Earth, the Mighty Pair, bedew for us our sacrifice, And feed us full with nourishments.
May Heaven and Earth, the mighty pair, bedew our sacrifice for us and feed us full with nourishments.
Dyāvāpṛthivī as parental dual feed the yajña with moisture and nourishment—macrocosmic parents sustaining microcosmic rite. Bedewing sacrifice links atmospheric blessing to altar success. Full feeding affirms Earth-Heaven as providers within ṛta. This Kanva panorama mirrors Sanātana plurality: distinct Devatās for distinct functions, culminating in Viṣṇu's measuring strides that gather the worlds into one ṛta-imprint.
Remember dependence on sky-systems and earth-systems for every human project. Sustainability is parental reciprocity. Hold a wide map of helpers—healers, energizers, protectors, ground, and measuring vision—rather than demanding one force to do every job.
1.22.14
तयो॒रिद् घृ॒तव॒त् पयो॒ विप्रा॑ रिहन्ति धी॒तिभि॑: |
ग॒न्ध॒र्वस्य॑ ध्रु॒वे प॒दे ||
Their water rich with fatness, there in the Gandharva's steadfast place, The singers taste through sacred songs.
Their fatness-rich water, there in the Gandharva's steadfast place, the singers taste through sacred songs.
Waters rich in 'ghṛta'-like fatness in the Gandharva's firm seat point to subtle, celestial nourishment accessed through saṃgīta/stuti. Gandharva realm mediates beauty and sacred sound. Singers 'taste' via song—art as mode of partaking divine rasa. Ashvins, Savitar, Agni, Devapatnīs, Dyāvāpṛthivī, and Viṣṇu form a complete morning-to-paramaṃ-padam itinerary of grace.
Aesthetic practice can be a real way of receiving nourishment—art and music as access to deeper sustenance. Sequence the day from awakening care through generative light to grounded shelter and a highest reference point kept visible.
1.22.15
स्यो॒ना पृ॑थिवि भवानृक्ष॒रा नि॒वेश॑नी |
यच्छा॑ न॒: शर्म॑ स॒प्रथ॑: ||
Thornless be thou, O Earth, spread wide before us for a dwelling-place: Vouchsafe us shelter broad and sure.
Be thornless, O Earth, spread wide before us as a dwelling-place; grant us shelter broad and sure. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Prithivi as 'anuṣṭhā' thornless expanse is the prayer for hospitable land—foundation of gṛhastha and settlement dharma. Broad, sure shelter ('śarma') from Earth mother is security without violence to the land's own being. Classic Bhūmi-sūkta seed. Seers lighting Viṣṇu's supreme station teach that stuti is contemplative kindling of the highest dhāma.
Design habitats and policies that remove needless 'thorns'—hazards, exclusions—while keeping shelter spacious and reliable. Illuminate your highest station by vigilant, song-loving attention; ideals stay lit only when communities keep watch.
1.22.16
अतो॑ दे॒वा अ॑वन्तु नो॒ यतो॒ विष्णु॑र्विचक्र॒मे |
पृ॒थि॒व्याः स॒प्त धाम॑भिः ||
The Gods be gracious unto us even from the place whence Viṣṇu strode Through the seven regions of the earth!
May the Gods be gracious to us even from the place whence Vishnu strode through the seven regions of the earth.
Vishnu's stride through seven earthly regions introduces the Trivikrama mystery. Grace flowing from that striding-place means blessing sourced in all-pervading divine measure. The seven regions evoke completeness of terrestrial span under one divine foot-law. This Kanva panorama mirrors Sanātana plurality: distinct Devatās for distinct functions, culminating in Viṣṇu's measuring strides that gather the worlds into one ṛta-imprint.
Seek goodwill rooted in principles that cover the whole field—not favors tied to a narrow corner. Hold a wide map of helpers—healers, energizers, protectors, ground, and measuring vision—rather than demanding one force to do every job.
1.22.17
इ॒दं विष्णु॒र्वि च॑क्रमे त्रे॒धा नि द॑धे प॒दम् |
समू॑ह्लमस्य पांसु॒रे ||
Through all this world strode Viṣṇu; thrice his foot he planted, and the whole Was gathered in his footstep's dust.
Through all this world strode Vishnu; thrice he planted his foot, and the whole was gathered in his footstep's dust.
The three steps (Trivikrama) reclaim the worlds; all gathered in the dust of his footstep signals that multiplicity returns into the imprint of the One measurer. This is among Mandala 1's most theologically dense Vishnu verses—vyāpti (pervasion) as salvific act, later flowering in Vāmana-Trivikrama Itihāsa/Purāṇa.
One coherent standard can gather fragmented domains. Clear foundational 'steps' organize complexity better than endless local patches. Sequence the day from awakening care through generative light to grounded shelter and a highest reference point kept visible.
1.22.18
त्रीणि॑ प॒दा वि च॑क्रमे॒ विष्णु॑र्गो॒पा अदा॑भ्यः |
अतो॒ धर्मा॑णि धा॒रय॑न् ||
Viṣṇu, the Guardian, he whom none deceiveth, made three steps; thenceforth Establishing his high decrees.
Vishnu the Guardian, whom none deceives, made three steps; thenceforth establishing his high decrees.
As 'gopā' undeceivable, Vishnu's three steps found 'dhāma'/decrees—law established by pervasion. Guardianship plus unfoolability plus cosmic pacing yields stable ordinance. Sanātana reading: dharma rests on all-seeing sustaining presence. Seers lighting Viṣṇu's supreme station teach that stuti is contemplative kindling of the highest dhāma.
Set rules only after truly covering the territory. Undeceivable oversight plus wide understanding makes policy durable. Illuminate your highest station by vigilant, song-loving attention; ideals stay lit only when communities keep watch.
1.22.19
विष्णो॒: कर्मा॑णि पश्यत॒ यतो॑ व्र॒तानि॑ पस्प॒शे |
इन्द्र॑स्य॒ युज्य॒: सखा॑ ||
Look ye on Viṣṇu's works, whereby the Friend of Indra, close-allied, Hath let his holy ways be seen.
Look upon Vishnu's works, whereby the Friend of Indra, close-allied, has let his holy ways be seen. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Vishnu as Indra's 'sakha' reveals vratāni through works ('karmāṇi')—divine friendship visible in action. Contemplating Vishnu's works is early karma-darśana: see the sacred in enacted pervasion and aid. Alliance of Indra-Vishnu pairs will with sustaining expanse. This Kanva panorama mirrors Sanātana plurality: distinct Devatās for distinct functions, culminating in Viṣṇu's measuring strides that gather the worlds into one ṛta-imprint.
Study allies' tangible works to learn their values. Partnership becomes visible through shared accomplishment. Hold a wide map of helpers—healers, energizers, protectors, ground, and measuring vision—rather than demanding one force to do every job.
1.22.20
तद् विष्णो॑: पर॒मं प॒दं सदा॑ पश्यन्ति सू॒रय॑: |
दि॒वी॑व॒ चक्षु॒रात॑तम् ||
The princes evermore behold that loftiest place where Viṣṇu is, Laid as it were an eye in heaven.
The princes evermore behold that loftiest place where Vishnu is, set like an eye in heaven. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Suris (inspired princes/seers) continually behold Vishnu's paramaṃ padam—the supreme station like a heavenly eye. This verse seeds later Upaniṣadic and Vaiṣṇava meditation on the highest abode. The eye-in-heaven image unites vision, vigilance, and transcendence. Ashvins, Savitar, Agni, Devapatnīs, Dyāvāpṛthivī, and Viṣṇu form a complete morning-to-paramaṃ-padam itinerary of grace.
Keep a shared highest reference point—purpose, integrity—visible to leaders like a constant navigational star. Sequence the day from awakening care through generative light to grounded shelter and a highest reference point kept visible.
1.22.21
॥
तद् विप्रा॑सो विप॒न्यवो॑ जागृ॒वांस॒: समि॑न्धते |
विष्णो॒र्यत् प॑र॒मं प॒दम् ||
This, Viṣṇu's station most sublime, the singers, ever vigilant, Lovers of holy song, light up.
This, Vishnu's most sublime station, the singers, ever vigilant, lovers of holy song, light up. May the listener take this not as museum verse but as a living call into sacred relationship.
Vigilant singers who love 'brahma' (holy song) illuminate Vishnu's supreme padam—stuti as lighting of the highest. The sukta ends not in petition alone but in contemplative kindling: consciousness lights what it loves. Classic Vedic epistemology—song reveals the highest seat. Seers lighting Viṣṇu's supreme station teach that stuti is contemplative kindling of the highest dhāma.
Communities that stay attentive and love meaningful expression keep their highest ideals illuminated—and livable. Illuminate your highest station by vigilant, song-loving attention; ideals stay lit only when communities keep watch.