Tat savitur varenyam: meaning
The verse of the Gayatri Mantra
तत् सवितुर् वरेण्यं
भर्गो देवस्य धीमहि
धियो यो नः प्रचोदयात्
tat savitur vareṇyaṃ / bhargo devasya dhīmahi / dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt
That most desirable thing, which belongs to Savitṛ: the radiance of the god. May we take it in and hold it in our minds. May he stir our thoughts into life.
Words
तत् tatthat
सवितुर् saviturof SavitṛFrom Sanskrit sū, to set in motion; Savitṛ is 'the one who stirs'.
वरेण्यं vareṇyaṃmost desirableFrom Sanskrit vṛ, to choose: worth choosing.
भर्गो bhargoradianceSanskrit bhargas, radiance, in its form before a following voiced sound.
देवस्य devasyaof the godSanskrit deva, god, usually linked with div, to shine.
धीमहि dhīmahimay we holdTraditionally linked to dhyai or dhī, to meditate; some modern scholars derive it from dhā, to receive or place.
धियो dhiyothoughtsSanskrit dhī, thought or insight.
यो yowho
नः naḥour
प्रचोदयात् pracodayātmay he stirSanskrit pra (forward) plus cud, to urge on.