Rigveda 1.1.1

Rigveda 1.1.1

Details

Veda – Rigveda Samhita

Mandal – First

Sukta - Navarcham Sukta

Mantra – First

Rishi – Madhucchanda vaishwamitra

Devta –Agni

Chanda – Gayatri chanda

Mantra

agni/m iiLe puro/hitaM yaj~na/sya deva/m Rtvi/jam ho/taaraM ratnadhaa/tamam

The God, who is the first, he makes us move forward, he is the savior. He is available in front of us in the form of this universe. He is the divine actuator of this great divine ritual of generation, propagation and dissolution of the creation. That means he is always conducting this ritual of creation’s thorough running cycle. He adoles us to do pure and moral karma. He gives us the sky, air, fire, water & earth to live our life purposefully. I worship only the supreme God, who promotes me to follow the ultimate enlighten path. I propose my prayers only to him and benignly ask him to fulfil my gracious desires.

Meaning of words

ॐ

Interpretation – The god

Literal Meaning – The great sound, Pranava, Naad.

Reference -  Mandukyopanishad 0.1 

ओमित्येदक्षरमिद्ँ सर्वं त्स्योपव्यख्यनं भूतं भवभ्दविष्यदिति सर्वमोङ्कार एव । यच्चान्यत् त्रिकालातीतं तदप्योङ्कार एव ॥१॥

om ity etad aksharam idam sarvam tasy’ opavyakhyanam bhutam bhavad bhavishyad iti sarvam on-kara eva, yac c’ anyat tri-kal’- atitam tad apy on-kara eva

OM is the never decaying “The God” and the complete universe is his nearest explanation. Whatever which was existed in past, existing in present and may exist in future, combined everything is OM. Also whatever which is not bound by these three times, is also OM.

Om ity etad – Om is the

Aksharam – Never decaying, never changing, the God.

Idam- This

Sarvam – Everything, The universe is

Tasya- His

Opvyakhyanam- Nearest Explanation, Nearest Glorification

Bhutam-  The past , Been

Bhavad- The present , Being

Bhavishyad – The future , Becoming

Iti – That is

Sarvam- everything, all things in all times

On-kara eva – are omkara

Yat c’ –and those who

Anyat – others, are not mentioned

Tri-kal’-atitam- Other than combined in three tenses.

Tad- That

Apy- Also

On-kara- Omkara

Eva – is.

अग्निम्

Interpretation – The first , moving On the front

Literal meaning – Fire, Heat, energy, wave, current, Flow, Devine energy, moving, changing etc.

Reference – Nirukta 7.14

अग्निम् । अग्रनिम् ॥ अग्निः कस्मात् । अग्रणीर् भवती । अग्रं यज्ञेषु प्रणीयते । अङं नयति संनममानः ॥

Agnim, agranim, agni-h kasmat, agranir bhavati , agram yagyeshu praniyate, angam nayati sanmaman-h

Yaska has given three derivation of word agni. First is spiritual, second divine, third physical.

agranir bhavati - he is the first. This suggests the meaning as “the god”.

agram yagyeshu praniyate- He is accepted on front most position in all rituals , this suggests agni as a very important devta.

angam nayati sanmaman-h- He accepts everything graciously. Or he burns and desolate all things.

According to prof. T. Burrow , agni is derived from root Ag with n suffix containing i. He also thinks this is a noun-word of adjective-root. For example turni, prashni, vahni etc are comparable. ( The Sanskrit language, p.156,183)

According to Prof. Keigi, agni word is derived from displacement-meaning root Aj, and agni means “one who moves” ( The Rigveda, Note 119)

ईळे

Interpretation – I worship

Literal meaning – I worship

Reference – Nirukta 7.15

याचामि । ईळिर् अध्येषणाकर्मा पूजाकर्मा वा ।

Yachami , iler adhyeshnakarma poojakrma va.

Yachami - who worship.

iler adhyeshnakarma poojakrma va- worship is done by the person who is trying on the first place.

Reference- Ashtadhyayi (8.1.28)

तिङ्ङतिङः

Tingngatinga-h

It is a generalized word, applicable on everyone, on the behalf of everyone.

पुरोहितं

Interpretation – Who nourishes our body/life with purpose of the wellbeing of all. Literal meaning – The priest.

Reference – Nirukta (2.12)

पुर एनं दधति ।

Pur enam dadhati.

Reference - Taitariya Samhita

पुर एनं दधते ।

Pur enam dadhate.

Purohit ( The God ) is the one who nourishes our body & universe combined forces of the sky, air, fire, water & earth to live our life. But this life is to be lived purposefully, for the benefit of all. It is singular word, means only the one.

Connecting with first three words- Purohit is the one Who is The God ( OM ), and who is the first among all (Agni), and who nourishes the universe ( Puro ) with his powers to make life purposeful( hitam ). I worship ( iLe ) him only.

यज्ञस्य देवम् ऋत्विजम्

Interpretation – The actuator of the divine ritual of generation, propagation & dissolution of the creation or life.

Literal meaning – the priest of the Sacrificing Ritual

Reference – rigrthdeepika 1.1.1 ( Sri Venkatamadhav )

यज्ञस्य धूस्थानं स्वेस्वे काले देवानां यष्टारम्।

Ygyasya dhusthanam svesve kaale devanam yashtaram.

होतारं

Interpretation – conjurer

Literal meaning – Priest

Reference – Aeteiriya Brhaman 1.28

अग्निर् वै देवानां होता ।

Agnir vai devanam hota.

Agni is the conjurer of devtas.

रत्नधातमम्

Interpretation – Fulfill the gracious desires.

Literal meaning – Give the precious stones.

Reference – rigrthdeepika 1.1.1 ( Sri Venkatamadhav )

रमणीयानां धनानां दातृतमम् ।

Ramaniyanam Dhananam Datratamam .

The benefit is receivable as per the desire & deserve-ability.