Savitr brings the evening

Hymn portrait: Savitr raises his arms at dusk and the world stops work and goes home (RV 2.38); he drives his golden car through the night (RV 1.35).

The story, beat by beat

1. Savitr rises to set things in motion and spreads his broad hands wide.
2. The waters wait on his command and the wind comes to rest.
3. The traveller unyokes his horses; night follows Savitr's rule.
4. The weaver rolls up her web and the craftsman leaves his work half done.
5. Household fires are lit; the one who went out comes home.
6. Wild beasts find their water, birds their woods and nests; Varuna goes to his watery home.
7. No god, not Indra, Varuna, Mitra, Aryaman or Rudra, breaks his law.
8. In RV 1.35 he drives a golden car with two white-footed bays through the dark, and the poet asks where the sun now is.

evening law rest night journey