What are the three commandments/rules of Savitar for attaining his grace?

 

Rishi vāmadeva gautama says (Rig Veda 4.53.5) that with his three commandments/rules, Savitar guards us.

Rig Veda 4.53.5 :: Ṛṣi - vāmadeva gautama

trir antarikṣaṃ savitā mahitvanā trī rajāṃsi paribhus trīṇi rocanā |

tisro divaḥ pṛthivīs tisra invati tribhir vratair abhi no rakṣati tmanā ||

Savitar (encompasses) the midspace three times in his greatness; he encompasses the three dusky realms and the three realms of light. He speeds the three heavens and the three earths. With his three commandments he guards us by himself.

—-

Now, the question is - what are the three commandments/rules of Savitar?

The BRAHMAN or formless GOD, was being referred to in Rig Veda by different epithets, viz., AGNI, INDRA, VARUNA, MITRA, SAVITUR, ADITI, etc.

The Commandments or vows or Laws or rules, laid down by the BRAHMAN or formless GOD, for spiritual seekers. And, those have been followed by all the ancient rishis of Rig Veda, ie., gṛtsamada, viswamitra, vāmadeva, etc, to the present day rishis like Shri Ramana Maharshi.

—-

This is not the only Rik in Rig Veda, wherein the commandments of Varuna and Mitra or Ādityas or Indra or Agni, are mentioned. Consider the following.

Rig Veda 2.27.8 :: Ṛṣi - gṛtsamada

tisro bhūmīr dhārayan trīm̐r uta dyūn trīṇi vratā vidathe antar eṣām |

ṛtenādityā mahi vo mahitvaṃ tad aryaman varuṇa mitra cāru ||

They uphold the three earths and the three heavens. Three are their commandments within the ritual distribution. By truth is your greatness great, Ādityas. That is dear (to you), o Aryaman, Mitra, and Varuṇa.

—-

Those commandments or rules will make a serious spiritual aspirant fit to receive the DIVINE knowledge, hitherto remained concealed/dormant within oneself.

Realising the hidden DIVINITY or resulting in SELF-REALISATION is symbolised with release of concealed water/cows/Sun in a pen/cave by the BRAHMAN or GOD, was described by the rishis in different epithets of INDRA/BRIHASPATI, etc.

Hence, it is mandatory to follow those commandments by any serious spiritual aspirant. These are applicable to all humans.

—

It was not mentioned explicitly in the Rig Veda , as to what the three commandments of the BRAHMAN are. Hence, we can only infer them from different references available in the Rig Veda.

Interestingly, the treatment reserved for deniers of those commandments - ajuṣṭān, avratān, was explicitly mentioned.

Rig Veda 9.73.8 :: Ṛṣi - pavitra

ṛtasya gopā na dabhāya sukratus trī ṣa pavitrā hṛdy antar ā dadhe | vidvān sa viśvā bhuvanābhi paśyaty avājuṣṭān vidhyati karte avratān ||

The herdsman (protector) of truth is not to be tricked: his will is strong. He has set three filters within his heart. Knowing, he looks upon all living creatures. He jabs the disgusting deniers of commandments down into the pit.

—

The following are my inferences as to what the 3 commandments of the Savitur/Varuna/Adityas, are.

—-

1. ऋतस्य पन्थाम् - ṛtasya panthām - The path of truth

In spiritual domain, abiding by the TRUTH - by thoughts, speech and action - is sine qua non. This will purify one internally (thoughts), one’s speech and finally one’s action.

Patañjali lists five yamas in his Yoga Sūtras,among which Satya - Truthfulness is one.

Rig Veda stated time and again that following the path of TRUTH is mandatory.

Rig Veda 7.44.5 :: Ṛṣi - vasiṣṭha

आ नो दधिक्राः पथ्यामनक्त्वृतस्य पन्थामन्वेतवा उ । शृणोतु नो दैव्यं शर्धो अग्निः शृण्वन्तु विश्वे महिषा अमूराः ॥

ā no dadhikrāḥ pathyām anaktv ṛtasya panthām anvetavā u |

śṛṇotu no daivyaṃ śardho agniḥ śṛṇvantu viśve mahiṣā amūrāḥ ||

Let Dadhikrā anoint our pathway, for us to follow along the path of truth. Let the divine troop and Agni hear us. Let all the buffaloes, who are never fooled, hear us.

—

Please note ṛtasya panthām - path of truth, in the above Rik.

—-

Hence, in my view, ऋतम् - ṛtam - abiding by the path of TRUTH is the first commandment.

—-

2. अस्तेय -asteya - non-committing of any theft or misdeed

Theft/deceits is called स्तेय - steya. The status of being non-committing of any theft or misdeed is called अस्तेय -asteya.

The spiritual practitioner is expected to follow the path of अस्तेय -asteya.

Ṛṣi Vasiṣṭha prays to Varuṇa (King), the BRAHMAN, to relieve him from any past deceits/misdeeds (द्रुग्धानि - drugdhāni) committed, as a calf is being released from the thief.

Rig Veda 7.86.5

अव द्रुग्धानि पित्र्या सृजा नोऽव या वयं चकृमा तनूभिः । अव राजन्पशुतृपं न तायुं सृजा वत्सं न दाम्नो वसिष्ठम् ॥
ava drugdhāni pitryā sṛjā no 'va yā vayaṃ cakṛmā tanūbhiḥ | ava rājan paśutṛpaṃ na tāyuṃ sṛjā vatsaṃ na dāmno vasiṣṭham ||

English translation:

Release from us ancestral deceits and those that we ourselves have committed. O king, release Vasiṣṭha from his bond like a cattle-stealing thief, like a calf.

—-

Thus, follow the path of अस्तेय -asteya (non-committing of any theft or misdeed ) might be the second commandment.

—-

3. aparigraha (अपरिग्रह) - non-possessiveness, non-greed, and non-attachment

Parigraha (परिग्रह) refers to possession, hoarding, attachment to material possessions, or grasping, stemming from the roots pari ("all sides") and graha ("to seize/grab"). It signifies the desire for and attachment to wealth, status, or items beyond one's needs , often causing spiritual, mental, or moral bondage.

aparigraha (अपरिग्रह) means non-possessiveness, non-greed, and non-attachment, taking only what is necessary , freeing oneself from material dependency, and letting go of hoarding—both physically and emotionally—to achieve inner peace and spiritual growth.

Ṛṣi gṛtsamada śaunaka in Rig Veda advises to inculcate aparigraha (अपरिग्रह) for spiritual growth.

(to be understood in esoteric sense only).

Rig Veda 2.23.16

मा नः स्तेनेभ्यो ये अभि द्रुहस्पदे निरामिणो रिपवोऽन्नेषु जागृधुः । आ देवानामोहते वि व्रयो हृदि बृहस्पते न परः साम्नो विदुः ॥

mā naḥ stenebhyo ye abhi druhas pade nirāmiṇo ripavo 'nneṣu jāgṛdhuḥ | ā devānām ohate vi vrayo hṛdi bṛhaspate na paraḥ sāmno viduḥ ||

English translation:

(Give) us not to thieves, the cheats , lurking in the track of deceit, who have become greedy for our supplies and (who) declare the crushing power of the gods (but set it) aside in their heart. Br̥haspati, they do not know (anything) beyond the sāman-chant (itself).

—-