Rishi as Seer of the Mantra — Not Composer
Nirukta (Yaska) · 1 · Verse 20
niruktarishimantra-seerrevelationvedic-rishiyaska
Sanskrit Original
साक्षात्कृतधर्माण ऋषयो बभूवुः। ते अवरेभ्यः अमनुष्यवद् उपदिशन्तः मन्त्रान् दर्शयन्तः। ऋषयः मन्त्राणां न कर्तारः, किन्तु द्रष्टारः॥
sākṣātkṛtadharmāṇa ṛṣayo babhūvuḥ | te avarebhyaḥ amanuṣyavad upadiśantaḥ mantrān darśayantaḥ | ṛṣayaḥ mantrāṇāṃ na kartāraḥ, kintu draṣṭāraḥ ||
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The Rishis were those who directly perceived/realised the dharma (cosmic law). They revealed the mantras to later generations in a superhuman way. The Rishis are not the authors/composers of mantras — they are the seers (draṣṭā). This is Yaska's foundational statement on Vedic revelation.