Rigveda – Mandala 1, Sukta – 35

We shall discuss the hymns, Sukta wise & Mandala wise. Our focus is on the implicit meaning of the various hymns instead of literal translations of the hymns. These purported meanings are based primarily on the English translations by Swami Dharmanand Saraswati of the works done by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
 
Highlights –
This Sukta explains the scientific principles of solar system, gravitation and rotation of cosmic bodies. Rotation of these bodies causes day-night, seasons, years etc. It explains that the sun, fire and electricity born of Agni in the subtle form. The solar and planetary systems are held in proper order and axis by way of gravitation. Earth rotates subtly around the sun.
The hymn wise, purported explanations –
 
Mandala 1 – Sukta – 35
 

1. Men should day and night utilize properly the fire air and sun and then attain happiness. Without this, none can enjoy happiness.
2. As the earth and other worlds uphold men and other creatures, in the same way, the solar world upholds the earth and other spheres by its attracting power or gravitation. God upholds the sun and other worlds by His power. In this way, all worlds are upheld in proper order. Without this, it is not possible for any world with weight and velocity to stay in its axis. Without the rotation of the worlds, it is not possible to have the parts of time like the seconds, hours, days and nights, fortnights, months, seasons and years etc.
3. As in this universe, created by God, the air moving upward and downward, brings below those things that are above and takes upwards them that are below and as the sun with his rays dispels all darkness, sometimes casts aside miseries and manifests happiness and at other times drives away happiness and manifests distress, in the same way, the President of the Assembly and others with their armies should move here and there and having conquered their enemies, should safeguard the interests of the people.
4. As there is the mighty air which is the cause of the sun and other objects and upholder of the solar and other worlds, having the power of gravitation and as there is the sun sustaining all worlds and manifesting all forms with his power and attraction and without them (the air and the sun) not even an atom can be sustained, so a king should maintain kingdom being full of the wealth of virtues.
5. All these are the attributes of the solar world like the light and attraction which uphold the world and properly manifest all objects. The worlds that are near the sun, are illumined by the light of the sun and the air also sustains the people. On account of this, all worlds remain in their axis. So, you should bear all noble virtues and establish justice, maintaining proper order.
6. All works are accomplished with the help of three luminaries the sun, fire and electricity born of Agni in the subtle form. When the souls depart from the bodies they go to Yama-it is said. What is that Yama is the question. The answer is that by Yama is meant here the Vayu or air in the firmament. As there are soldiers and servants as a part of the army, in the same manner, all living beings and the dead are dependent upon the air. The earth, moon. stars and other worlds depend upon the light of the sun.
7. When this earth while rotating around the Sun, covers the light of the sun and creates darkness, then learned persons ask where has the sun gone? The question should be properly answered that he is on the back of the earth. His rotation at his own axis is very subtle, therefore ordinary people cannot know it. Such are also the thoughts of the wise, which all cannot understand.
8. This Solar world illuminating all objects, disintegrating particles, taking them to the firmament through the air and bringing them down brings about charming happiness to all souls. It upholds or sustains the waters on the earth and up to about 50 miles in the firmament in gross subtle, light or heavy forms known technically as Sapta Sindhus. In the same manner, learned persons should maintain all with knowledge and righteousness and should make them happy and blissful.
9. As sun is related with many worlds on account of his gravitation, illumines all objects and enables all to distinguish between light and darkness, you should also be like him, spreading the light of knowledge and dispelling all darkness of ignorance.
10. As air keeps all objects in proper order on account of its attraction and force and as thieves cannot be so powerful in daytime (out of fear) so you should also be. God who has created useful articles like the air, should always be thanked by all.

You, who has created pure paths in the sky or your glorious world for the movement of the Sun and other worlds, in which the Sun-like worlds move according to the rules and all living beings move, preach the paths and qualities of all those things so that we can live here and there.