Nasaadiya Suktham

Few days back i accidentally read few quotes in the Times of India from Nasaadiya Suktham.

Then i started searching the net to get different interpretations and commentaries on it.

It turned out that the Nasaadiya Suktham (after the incipit ná ásat "not the non-existent") is the 129th hymn of the 10th Mandala of the Rigveda. It is concerned with cosmology/creation and talks about the origin of the universe. The key point is ‘Not ever’. Nothing here is ‘ever’. Everything changes. Everything changes fast. That is the nature of this universe. There is nothing ‘ever’ including the primordial purusha.

What interested me most was the questioning and contemplative spirit of Vedic Rishi who wrote this Suktham. The Rishi who wrote this Suktham comes out as one with childlike curiosity and is probably awestruck with grandeur of creation. The standout line is "He surely knows, or may be He does not!”

I mean what a refreshing change from the dogma pursued by later day religions, and it is immensely appealing to the modern, scientific mindas he allows spirituality to coexist with science.

What's most likeable about the Rishi who wrote this Suktham is that he doesn't sound like the final authority on this subject, a subject which is still being debated after 3500 years he wrote this Suktham.

BTW, this Suktham is supposed to explain the conditions before the Big-Bang.

Given below is the translation of the Suktham (Partly taken from Radhakrishnan& Moore's Indian Philosophy and partly taken from the translation by Raimundo Panicker)

nAsadAsIn no sadAsIt tadAnIM nAsId rajo no vyomAparo yat
kimAvarIvaH kuha kasya sharmannambhaH kimAsId gahanaM gabhIram

At first was neither Being nor Non-Being.
There was not air nor yet sky beyond
What was it wrapping? Where in? In whose protection?
Was water there, unfathomable and deep?

na mRtyurAsIdamRtaM na tarhi na rAtryA ahna AsItpraketaH
AnIdavAtaM svadhayA tadekaM tasmAddhAnyan na paraH kiM canAsa

Neither death nor immortaility controls it;
And it does not have the appearance of one who dwells in darkness.
That one fetched all the fires/heat till the end to conciliate (make peace) with itself.
Hence there was nothing outside of this rich being whatsoever.

tama AsIt tamasA gULamagre.apraketaM salilaM sarvamAidam
tuchyenAbhvapihitaM yadAsIt tapasastanmahinAjAyataikam

Darkness was there, all wrapped around the darkness,
Without distinctive marks, this all was water.
Then that which was hidden by Void,
that One, emerging, stirring,
through power of Ardor (Tapas), came to be.


kAmastadagre samavartatAdhi manaso retaH prathamaM yadAsIt
sato bandhumasati niravindan hRdi pratISyAkavayo manISA

Desire entered the one in the beginning:
It was the earliest seed, of thought the product.
The sages searching in their hearts with wisdom.
Found out the bond of being in non-being.

tirashcIno vitato rashmireSAmadhaH svidAsI.a.a.at
retodhAAsan mahimAna Asan svadhA avastAt prayatiH parastAt

A crosswise line cut Being from Nonbeing,
But was the one above or was it under?
Creative force was there, and fertile power:
Below was energy, above was impulse:

ko addhA veda ka iha pra vocat kuta AjAtA kuta iyaMvisRSTiH
arvAg devA asya visarjanenAthA ko veda yataAbabhUva

Who knows for certain? Who shall here declare it?
Whence was it born, and whence came this creation?
Even the Gods came after its emergence.
Then who can tell from whence it came to be?

iyaM visRSTiryata AbabhUva yadi vA dadhe yadi vA na
yo asyAdhyakSaH parame vyoman so aN^ga veda yadi vA naveda

None knoweth whence creation has arisen:
And whether he has or has not produced it:
He who surveys it in the highest heaven,
He surely knows or may be He does not!