Nasadiya Sukta
Nasadiya Sukta: An Inquiry into Creation
Introduction
The Nasadiya Sukta is one of the most famous hymns in the Rigveda, found in Mandala 10, Hymn 129. It is often referred to as the Creation Hymn and is revered for its profound philosophical inquiry into the origin of the universe and existence itself. Unlike many other hymns of the Rigveda, which offer praises to the gods or invoke natural elements, the Nasadiya Sukta stands out for its deep sense of wonder and skepticism regarding the nature of creation.
Text and Structure
The Nasadiya Sukta consists of seven verses. It is written in poetic form and asks fundamental questions about the nature of the universe, the origin of creation, and the role of the gods in that creation. The hymn does not present definitive answers, which makes it quite unique in its philosophical approach. It presents a narrative that explores the time before creation, questioning what existed before the cosmos came into being and whether anyone can ever truly know how the universe was formed.
Translation and Meaning
Verse 1
The hymn begins by describing a time when nothing existed — neither the heavens nor the earth, nor space, nor life. It reflects a state of non-existence and non-consciousness. There was neither death nor immortality, and there was no distinction between night and day.
Verse 2
There was only an undifferentiated abyss, without distinction of form or substance. Out of this void, some force or energy, described vaguely as "That One" (perhaps referring to an undefined cosmic principle or being), arose. The hymn suggests that this force may have been propelled by "tapas" (heat or internal energy).
Verse 3
Desire (or kama) arose in this "One" or cosmic principle, which may have been the primal seed of creation. From this, the first forms of existence may have emerged. It reflects on how desire and will are central forces in the emergence of creation.
Verse 4
The hymn continues with an inquiry into how the cosmos was shaped and formed. The poet speaks of sages who, through contemplation, could discern connections between the existent and non-existent, suggesting the process of creation involved the transformation from potential to actual.
Verse 5
It reflects on the idea of "cosmic waters" or a primordial ocean from which life emerged. It raises the possibility that these waters were an early form of existence or the medium through which creation began.
Verse 6
The hymn moves toward the conclusion that even the gods themselves came after creation, implying that they are not the creators of the universe. The origin of everything, even the gods, is questioned.
Verse 7
The final verse is perhaps the most significant, as it admits that no one truly knows the origin of the universe — not even the gods. It suggests that perhaps only "That One", the cosmic principle, knows, but even that is uncertain. The poet acknowledges the limits of human and divine knowledge about the mystery of existence.
Philosophical Themes
The Nasadiya Sukta is highly philosophical and is sometimes seen as a precursor to later Upanishadic thought. It explores themes such as cosmic skepticism, non-theism, creation as a process, and speculative thought.
Oldest Available Manuscripts and Preservation
The Nasadiya Sukta, like other hymns of the Rigveda, was transmitted orally for centuries before being committed to writing. The earliest available manuscripts of the Rigveda date back to the 11th century CE, though the oral tradition that preserved these hymns is far older, likely dating back to around 1500-1200 BCE.
Selected Sloka: Rigveda 10.129.1
"Meaning: There was neither non-existence nor existence then; There was neither the realm of space nor the sky beyond. What covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping? Was there water, bottomlessly deep?" नासदासीन नो सदासीत तदानीं:नासदासीन नो सदासीत तदानीं नासीद्रजो नो व्योमापरो यत |
किमावरीवः कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भः किमासीद गहनं गभीरम् || ||
"At that time, neither non-existence was there, nor existence." This phrase suggests that at the very beginning, before the creation of the cosmos, there was neither the concept of existence (sat) nor non-existence (asat). This reflects a state beyond duality, where neither the known reality nor its opposite was present.
नासीद्रजो नो व्योमापरो यत:
"There was neither the realm of space, nor the sky beyond." The cosmos, including the sky and space as we understand them, had not yet come into being. This describes an absolute void or an undifferentiated state.
किमावरीवः कुह कस्य शर्मन्नम्भः किमासीद गहनं गभीरम्:
"What covered it? Where was it? In whose protection? What was that deep unfathomable water?" The poet asks fundamental questions about the nature of creation. The origin of everything is a mystery—what surrounded this primal state, and where could it have come from? The reference to "deep unfathomable water" reflects a symbolic element, as in many ancient cosmologies, water represents the primordial substance from which creation arises.
{{ सन्धि विच्छेद (Sandhi breakage):-
1. नासदासीन:
Sandhi Viccheda: न + असत् + आसीत्
Viccheda meaning: न = not, असत् = non-existence, आसीत् = was.
Meaning: There was no non-existence.
2. नो सदासीत:
Sandhi Viccheda: न + उ + सत् + आसीत्
Viccheda meaning: न = not, उ = indeed, सत् = existence, आसीत् = was.
Meaning: Nor was there existence.
3. तदानीं:
Sandhi Viccheda : तदा + अनिं
Viccheda meaning: तदा = at that time, अनिं = then.
Meaning: At that time.
4. नासीद्रजः:
Sandhi Viccheda : न + आसीत् + रजः
Viccheda meaning: न = not, आसीत् = was, रजः = atmosphere or dust.
Meaning: There was no dust/air/atmosphere.
5. नो वयोमापरो यत्:
Sandhi Viccheda : न + उ + वयोम + अपरः + यत्
Viccheda meaning: न = not, उ = indeed, वयोम = sky, अपरः = beyond, यत् = what.
Meaning: There was no sky beyond.
6. किमावरीवः:
Sandhi Viccheda : किम् + आवरीवः
Viccheda meaning: किम् = what, आवरीवः = covered.
Meaning: What covered (it)?
7. कुह:
Viccheda meaning: कुह = where.
Meaning: Where (was it)?
8. कस्य शर्मन्:
Sandhi Viccheda : कस्य + शर्मन्
Viccheda meaning: कस्य = of whom, शर्मन् = protection.
Meaning: Under whose protection?
9. अम्भः:
Viccheda meaning: अम्भः = water.
Meaning: Water.
10. किमासीद:
Sandhi Viccheda : किम् + आसीत्
Viccheda menaing: किम् = what, आसीत् = was.
Meaning: What was?
11. गहनं गभीरम्:
Viccheda meaning: गहनम् = deep, गभीरम् = unfathomable.
Meaning: Deep and unfathomable.
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Themes and Symbolism:
Mystery of Creation: The hymn does not offer clear answers but rather raises profound philosophical questions about the origins of existence itself. It reflects on a time before time, where even the distinction between "being" and "non-being" was not applicable.
Duality: The verse challenges the traditional binary of existence and non-existence, space and void. This state before creation seems to transcend ordinary categories of thought.
Cosmic Waters: Many ancient cultures, including the Vedic tradition, speak of a primordial ocean or waters from which the universe emerged. This metaphorical "deep, unfathomable water" symbolizes the mystery and the potentiality of creation.
Conclusion
The Nasadiya Sukta remains one of the most significant and thought-provoking hymns of the Rigveda. It showcases early Vedic civilization's philosophical and metaphysical inquiries into the origins of existence and the nature of reality. Its openness to doubt, acknowledgment of the limits of knowledge, and its poetic brilliance have made it a subject of fascination for scholars, philosophers, and spiritual seekers across the world.
Litterateur
Page article "Nasadiya Sukta" -by Dr. Kalinkaar Dipendra
References
- Rigveda, Ganga S. Sharma, Sanskrit Sahitya Prakashan, 2016. (Rig. 10.129). ISBN: 978-93-5065-223-7
Last updated on
October 2, 2024
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