Hymn 10.71 on Knowledge

This hymn, also known as the Jnana Sukta, is dedicated to the origin and nature of sacred knowledge and speech. It describes how the wise use speech to express their inner realizations.

Rishi: Brihaspati Angirasa | Devata: Jnanam (Knowledge) | Chandas: Virat-trishtubh

Verse 10.71.11

This verse specifically describes the four different functions performed by the four main categories of priests (Hotṛ, Udgātṛ, Brahmā, and Adhvaryu) during a Vedic sacrifice, illustrating the diversity of expertise required to uphold the sacred order.

Sanskrit

ऋ॒चां त्व॒: पोष॑मास्ते पुपु॒ष्वान्गा॑य॒त्रं त्वो॑ गायति॒ शक्व॑रीषु । ब्र॒ह्मा त्वो॒ वद॑ति जातवि॒द्यां य॒ज्ञस्य॒ मात्रां॒ वि मि॑मीत उ त्वः ॥ ११ ॥

Word-by-Word

ऋचाम् (of the Rigvedic verses) | त्वः (one/somebody) | पोषम् (nourishing/mastery) | आस्ते (sits/is occupied with) | पुपुष्वान् (prospering/increasing) | गायत्रम् (the Gayatri/Saman chant) | त्वो (another) | गायति (sings) | शक्वरीषु (in the Shakvari meters) | ब्रह्मा (the Brahma priest) | त्वो (another) | वदति (speaks/declares) | जातविद्याम् (knowledge of all that exists) | यज्ञस्य (of the sacrifice) | मात्राम् (the measure/rules) | वि मिमीते (measures out/prepares) | उ त्वः (and yet another).

Translation

One (the Hotṛ) is occupied with the mastery of the Rigvedic verses; another (the Udgātṛ) sings the Saman chants in the Shakvari meters; another (the Brahmā) declares the secret knowledge of existence; and yet another (the Adhvaryu) measures out the actual proportions of the sacrifice.

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Reference: Rig Veda