तन्तुं तन्वन्रजसो भानुमन्विहि ज्योतिष्मतः पथो रक्ष धिया कृतान्। अनुल्बणं वयत जोगुवामपो मनुर्भव जनया दैव्यं जनम्॥
tantuṃ tanvan rajaso bhānum anv ihi jyotiṣmataḥ patho rakṣa dhiyā kṛtān । anulbaṇaṃ vayata joguvām apo manur bhava janayā daivyaṃ janam ॥
Meaning of Tantuṃ Tanvan Rajaso Bhānum
Human beings should perform noble deeds while carrying forward their traditions and knowledge. Walk the enlightened, just path shaped by wisdom. Embrace the virtues of noble people, stay thoughtful, and foster others who are filled with divine qualities.
Word by word
- तन्तुम्tantum
the thread
तन्तु
- तन्वन्tanvan
stretching out, weaving
√तन्
- रजसःrajasaḥ
of the atmosphere or luminous space
रजस्
- भानुम्bhānum
the radiance, the sun
भानु
- अनु इहिanv ihi
follow, go after
अनु + √इ
Sandhi: anu + ihi gives anv ihi.
- ज्योतिष्मतःjyotiṣmataḥ
luminous, filled with light
ज्योतिस् + मतुप्
- पथःpathaḥ
the paths
पथिन्
- रक्षrakṣa
protect, preserve
√रक्ष्
- धियाdhiyā
through insight, thought or sacred understanding
धी
- कृतान्kṛtān
made, fashioned
√कृ
- अनुल्बणम्anulbaṇam
smooth, unentangled or free from defect
अन् + उल्बण
- वयतvayata
weave, extend
√वे
Second-person plural imperative.
- जोगुवाम्joguvām
of those who repeatedly invoke or praise
A difficult Vedic form, commonly understood as a genitive plural.
- अपःapaḥ
works, sacred deeds
अपस्
- मनुः भवmanur bhava
become Manu, become truly human
मनु; √भू
Sandhi: manuḥ + bhava gives manur bhava.
- जनयjanaya
bring forth, generate
√जन्
- दैव्यम्daivyam
divine, godly
देव
- जनम्janam
a person or people
जन
Commentary
The mantra develops a sequence of weaving, light and human formation. Tantu, the thread, and the act of stretching or weaving it suggest work that continues and connects, while bhānu and jyotiṣmat point toward radiance and luminous paths. Those paths are dhiyā kṛtān, made through insight, thought or sacred understanding, and the command rakṣa asks that they be protected. The closing words, manur bhava janayā daivyaṃ janam, are especially memorable: become Manu, or become truly human, and bring forth a divine or godly person. The verse thus moves from preserving a radiant path to embodying and transmitting elevated human qualities. Within Rigveda 10.53, this is a Vedic ritual hymn associated with Agni, and traditional interpretations connect its thread, paths and deeds with sacrifice and sacred action. The supplied meaning reads the same imagery for contemporary life as carrying forward tradition and knowledge, following a just path shaped by wisdom, and nurturing people of divine character. That is an expansive modern application rather than a literal translation of every Vedic expression, particularly the difficult phrase joguvām apo. Even so, its central ethical emphasis remains close to the mantra's imperative force: act thoughtfully, guard what is luminous, become fully human and help noble qualities arise in others.
Original Post
More from Rigveda
View source pageसुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.
स्वस्ति न इन्द्रो वृद्धश्रवाः स्वस्ति नः पूषा विश्ववेदाः। स्वस्ति नस्तार्क्ष्यो अरिष्टनेमिः स्वस्ति नो बृहस्पतिर्दधातु॥
svasti na indro vṛddhaśravāḥ svasti naḥ pūṣā viśvavedāḥ । svasti nas tārkṣyo ariṣṭanemiḥ svasti no bṛhaspatir dadhātu ॥
A Rigveda svasti mantra in which Indra, Pushan, Tarkshya and Brihaspati are each asked to bestow well-being upon us.
समानी व आकूतिः समाना हृदयानि वः। समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति॥
samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hṛdayāni vaḥ । samānam astu vo mano yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥
The closing verse of the Rigveda prays for united intention, united hearts and united minds, so that people may dwell together in good fellowship.
More subhashitams on Knowledge
View topic pageनित्यं परिचरेच्चैव तद्वै सुकृतमुत्तमम्। कीर्तिं पुण्यं यशो लोकान् प्राप्स्यसे राजसत्तम॥
nityaṃ paricareccaiva tadvai sukṛtamuttamam । kīrtiṃ puṇyaṃ yaśo lokān prāpsyase rājasattama ॥
Daily service is praised as an excellent deed that brings merit, renown and higher realms.
ज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
शुचित्वं त्यागिता शौर्यं सामान्यं सुखदुःखयोः। दाक्षिण्यं चानुरक्तिश्च सत्यता च सुहृद्गुणाः॥
śucitvaṃ tyāgitā śauryaṃ sāmānyaṃ sukhaduḥkhayoḥ । dākṣiṇyaṃ cānuraktiśca satyatā ca suhṛdguṇāḥ ॥
Purity, generosity, courage, steadiness in joy and sorrow, courtesy, affection, and truthfulness are the qualities of a true friend.