Let us familiarise ourselves with Rigveda - Page 9

Let us familiarise ourselves with Rigveda - Page 9Let us now consider a benedictory verse which is normally chanted by the vādhyār (priest) at the commencement of all auspicious functions in the house as also as part of āśīrvāda mantras.


ऋषिः - सावित्री सूर्या । छन्दः - त्रिष्टुप् । दॆवता - नृणाम् विवाह मन्त्राः आशीः प्रायाः * ।

नवो नवो भवति जायमानॊह्नाङ्कॆतुर् उषसां ऎत्यग्रम् ।
भागन्दॆवॆभ्योविदधात्यायन् प्रचन्द्रमा स्तिरते दीर्घम् आयुः ॥ ऋ. वॆ.१०.८५.१९

navo navo bhavati jāyamānohnāṅketur uṣasāṃ etyagram |
bhāgandevebhyovidadhātyāyan pracandramā stirate dīrgham āyuḥ || ṛ. ve.10.85.19

நவோ நவோ பவதி ஜாயமாநொஹ்நாங்கேதுர் உஷஸாம் எத்யக்ரம் |
பாகந்தேவேப்யோவிததாத்யாயந் ப்ரசந்த்ரமா ஸ்திரதே தீர்கம் ஆயுஃ || ரு. வெ.௧0.௮௫.௧௯

चन्द्रमा जायमानः = being born (daily) with a new kalā (phase) candra
नवः नवः भवति = becomes new everyday
अह्नाम् कॆतुः = flag-bearer of the day
उषसाम् अग्रम् एति = comes before the dawn
आ-यन् देवेभ्यः भागम् विदधाति = he thus conveys (creates) oblations to the devas
दीर्घम् आयुः प्रतिरते = (and) bestows long life.

Note :-

The reference to "becomes new everyday" seems to denote the waxing moon or śukḷapakṣa, while "comes before dawn as the flagbearer of the day" indicates the waning moon or kṛṣṇapakṣa. because the Newmoon and Fullmoon days (and the two next days - pratipada) are are prescribed as most suitable for devayajñas, the moon is figuratively described as providing oblations (havirbhaaga) to the devas. That candra is also considered as bestowing long life due to his innate happy disposition as well as the blessings of the devas (to the yajamāna). 

* It will be observed that the idea of "devatā" is not always the deva who is extolled by a verse; here, it gives a brief account of what this verse is about.