Etymology of Surya — The Sun
Nirukta (Yaska) · 12 · Verse 1
niruktasuryaetymologysunsolaryaska
Sanskrit Original
सूर्यः कस्मात्? सुवत्यर्थान् — प्रेरयति प्राणिनः। सुनोति वा — रश्मिभिः सोमं निष्पीडयति। सरति वा आकाशे — गच्छतीत्यर्थः॥
sūryaḥ kasmāt? suvaty arthān — prerayati prāṇinaḥ | sunoti vā — raśmibhiḥ somaṃ niṣpīḍayati | sarati vā ākāśe — gacchatīty arthaḥ ||
🤖 AI GeneratedAI Generated
Why is the Sun called Sūrya? (1) From "su" (to impel) — he who impels/motivates all beings; (2) From "su" (to press) — one who extracts the Soma through rays; (3) From "sṛ" (to move) — one who moves through the sky. The Sun is the great cosmic mover.