Muni's PlaySaraswati in the Rig Veda
Mandala 1, Hymn 3 (Verses 10–12)
Rishi: Madhuchhandas | Devata: Saraswati | Chandas: Gayatri
Verse 1.3.10
Sanskrit
पावका नः सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती ।
यज्ञं वष्टु धियावसुः ॥
Word-by-Word
पावका (Purifier) | नः (our) | सरस्वती (Saraswati) | वाजेभिः (with riches/strength) | वाजिनीवती (full of plenty) | यज्ञं (sacrifice) | वष्टु (may she desire) | धियावसुः (wealthy in wisdom).
Translation
May the purifying Saraswati, rich in food and strength, desire our sacrifice, she who is wealthy in wisdom.
Verse 1.3.11
Sanskrit
चोदयित्री सूनृतानां चेतन्ती सुमतीनाम् ।
यज्ञं दधे सरस्वती ॥
Word-by-Word
चोदयित्री (Impeller) | सूनृतानां (of true/pleasant words) | चेतन्ती (awakener) | सुमतीनाम् (of noble thoughts) | यज्ञं (sacrifice) | दधे (upholds) | सरस्वती (Saraswati).
Translation
The impeller of true words and the awakener of noble thoughts, Saraswati upholds the sacrifice.
Verse 1.3.12
Sanskrit
महो अर्णः सरस्वती प्र चेतयति केतुना ।
धियो विश्वा वि राजति ॥
Word-by-Word
महो (mighty) | अर्णः (flood/ocean) | सरस्वती (Saraswati) | प्र चेतयति (makes known/illumines) | केतुना (by her light/sign) | धियो (intellects) | विश्वा (all) | वि राजति (brightly shines over).
Translation
Saraswati illumines the mighty flood with her light and shines brightly over all intellects.
Mandala 2, Hymn 41 (Verse 16)
Rishi: gṛtsamada śaunaka | Devata: Saraswati | Chandas: Anushtubh
Verse 2.41.16
Sanskrit
अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति ।
अप्रशस्ता इव स्मसि प्रशस्तिमम्ब नस्कृधि ॥
Word-by-Word
अम्बितमे (Best of mothers) | नदीतमे (Best of rivers) | देवितमे (Best of goddesses) | सरस्वति (Saraswati) | अप्रशस्ताः (un-praised/un-glorified) | इव (like) | स्मसि (we are) | प्रशस्तिम् (glory/fame) | अम्ब (O Mother) | नः (for us) | कृधि (grant).
Translation
Best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses, Saraswati; we are as if without renown, O Mother, grant us glory and excellence.
Mandala 10, Hymn 17 (Verses 7–9)
Rishi: devaśravā yāmāyana | Devata: Saraswati | Chandas: Trishtubh
Verse 10.17.7
Sanskrit
सरस्वतीं देवयन्तो हवन्ते सरस्वतीमध्वरे तायमाने ।
सरस्वतीं सुकृतो अह्वयन्त सरस्वती दाशुषे वार्यं दात् ॥
Word-by-Word
सरस्वतीं (Saraswati) | देवयन्तो (pious/seeking gods) | हवन्ते (invoke) | सरस्वतीम् (Saraswati) | अध्वरे (sacrifice) | तायमाने (while being performed) | सरस्वतीं (Saraswati) | सुकृतो (righteous) | अह्वयन्त (called upon) | सरस्वती (Saraswati) | दाशुषे (to the giver) | वार्यं (boons/choice things) | दात् (may she give).
Translation
The pious invoke Saraswati while the sacrifice is performed; the righteous call upon her, and may she grant boons to the giver.
Verse 10.17.8
Sanskrit
सरस्वति या सरथं ययाथ स्वधाभिर्देवि पितृभिर्मदन्ती ।
आसद्यास्मिन्बर्हिषि मादयस्वानमीवा इष आ धेह्यस्मे ॥
Word-by-Word
सरस्वति (Saraswati) | या (who) | सरथं (same chariot) | ययाथ (travels) | स्वधाभिः (with Svadha offerings) | देवि (Goddess) | पितृभिः (with Fathers) | मदन्ती (rejoicing) | आसद्य (seated) | अस्मिन् (on this) | बर्हिषि (sacred grass) | मादयस्व (revel) | अनमीवा (health-giving) | इष (food/vigor) | आ धेहि (bestow) | अस्मे (upon us).
Translation
O Saraswati, who travels in the same chariot with the Fathers, rejoicing in the Svadha offerings; sit on this sacred grass, rejoice, and bestow health-giving food upon us.
Verse 10.17.9
Sanskrit
सरस्वतीं यां पितरो हवन्ते दक्षिणा यज्ञमभिनक्षमाणाः ।
सहस्रार्घमिळो अत्र भागं रायस्पोषं यजमानेषु धेहि ॥
Word-by-Word
सरस्वतीं (Saraswati) | यां (whom) | पितरो (Fathers) | हवन्ते (invoke) | दक्षिणा (moving South/Right) | यज्ञम् (sacrifice) | अभिनक्षमाणाः (approaching) | सहस्रार्घम् (thousandfold-valuable) | इळः (of food) | अत्र (here) | भागं (share) | रायस्पोषं (increase of wealth) | यजमानेषु (among sacrificers) | धेहि (bestow).
Translation
That Saraswati, whom the Fathers invoke when approaching the sacrifice from the South; bestow here a thousandfold share of nourishment and increase of wealth upon the sacrificers.
Reference: Rig Veda