Muni's PlayYama in the Rig Veda
Mandala 10, Hymn 14 (Verses 1, 2, 12)
Verse 10.14.1
Rishi: Yama Vaivasvata | Devata: Yama | Chandas: Trishtubh
Sanskrit
परेयिवांसं प्रवतो महीरनु बहुभ्यः पन्थामनुपस्पशानम् ।
वैवस्वतं संगमनं जनानां यमं राजानं हविषा दुवस्य ॥
Word-by-Word
परेयिवांसं (Who has passed) | प्रवतः (heights) | महीः (mighty) | अनु (along) | बहुभ्यः (for many) | पन्थाम् (path) | अनुपस्पशानम् (found/spied out) | वैवस्वतं (son of Vivasvat) | संगमनं (assembler) | जनानां (of people) | यमं (Yama) | राजानं (King) | हविषा (with oblation) | दुवस्य (honor).
Translation
Honor with offerings King Yama, the son of Vivasvat, the assembler of people, who found the path for many and passed along the mighty heights.
Verse 10.14.2
Rishi: Yama Vaivasvata | Devata: Yama | Chandas: Trishtubh
Sanskrit
यमो नो गातुं प्रथमो विवेद नैषा गव्यूतिरपभर्तवा उ ।
यत्रा नः पूर्वे पितरः परेयुरेना जज्ञानाः पथ्या अनु स्वाः ॥
Word-by-Word
यमः (Yama) | नः (for us) | गातुं (path/way) | प्रथमः (first) | विवेद (found) | न (never) | एषा (this) | गव्यूतिः (pasture/realm) | अपभर्तवा (to be taken away) | उ (indeed) | यत्रा (where) | नः (our) | पूर्वे (ancient) | पितरः (Fathers) | परेयुः (departed) | एना (by these paths) | जज्ञानाः (born) | पथ्याः (paths) | अनु (along) | स्वाः (their own).
Translation
Yama was the first to find the way for us; this realm can never be taken away. Our ancient fathers have departed by the very same paths that all born here must follow.
Verse 10.14.12
Rishi: Yama Vaivasvata | Devata: Yama/Messenger | Chandas: Trishtubh
Sanskrit
उरूणसावसुतृपा उदुम्बलौ यमस्य दूतौ चरतो जनाँ अनु ।
तावस्मभ्यं दृशये सूर्याय पुनर्दातमसुमद्येह भद्रम् ॥
Word-by-Word
उरूणसौ (broad-nosed) | असुतृपौ (life-satisfying) | उदुम्बलौ (powerful) | यमस्य (Yama’s) | दूतौ (messengers) | चरतः (wander) | जनान् (among people) | तौ (they) | अस्मभ्यं (to us) | दृशये (for seeing) | सूर्याय (the Sun) | पुनर्दातम् (give back) | असुम् (life) | अद्य (today) | इह (here) | भद्रम् (auspiciousness).
Translation
May Yama’s two broad-nosed, powerful messengers, who wander among men, grant us the grace to behold the Sun again, and restore to us today a blessed and vital life.
Reference: Rig Veda