मनन Manana · ReflectStep 5 of 9
Nāsadīya Sūkta · Ṛgveda 10.129.4
Verse 4The first seed of mind
कामस्तदग्रे समवर्तताधि मनसो रेतः प्रथमं यदासीत् ।
सतो बन्धुमसति निरविन्दन्हृदि प्रतीष्या कवयो मनीषा ॥
kāmas tad agre sam avartatādhi manaso retaḥ prathamaṃ yad āsīt |
sato bandhum asati nir avindan hṛdi pratīṣyā kavayo manīṣā ||
Meaning
In the beginning desire arose in it, which was the first seed of mind. Searching in their hearts with wisdom, the poets found the bond of being in non-being.
Word by word
Words joined in recitation are shown split. Where sounds change at the joins, the dictionary form is given under the word.
Reflection
The first thing to stir is kāma, desire, and the hymn calls it the first seed of mind. Before there is thought, there is wanting. Then the seers, the kavis, search within their hearts, and there they find the bond, the bandhu, that ties being to non-being. In Indian thought the heart is where knowing happens. And bandhu becomes a lasting idea: hidden links between the person and the cosmos, so that to look deep within is also to look at the origin of things.
The audio plays the chant, the meaning, then the reflection. Tap any word to jump there.