apabhartavai

 

The Sanskrit term “apabhartavai” (अपभर्तवै; also spelled ápa-bhartavaí) 

is an infinitive verb meaning “to take away” or “to carry off,” particularly 

found in Vedic texts such as the Rigveda (x, 14, 2).

Etymology and Formation

The word apabhartavai is derived from the root “bhṛ” (to bear or carry)

with the prefix “apa-”, which often conveys separation, removal, or "away

from" in Sanskrit. The resulting compound essentially conveys the sense 

of taking away or removing something

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The grammatical form of apabhartavai in the Rigveda is an infinitive 

(sometimes referred to as dative infinitive), indicating an action rather 

than a direct subject or tense. In Vedic Sanskrit, such forms are commonly 

used to describe ritual actions or natural phenomena metaphorically.

Scriptural Reference

The term appears in the Rigveda (x, 14, 2), commonly understood as “taking 

away” within a hymn context

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Its root apa-bharaṇī is closely related to other Sanskrit compounds like

apabharani, though apabharani usually specifically refers to a Nakshatra 

(lunar mansion) or celestial context

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Usage

In Sanskrit literature:

Apabhartavai is primarily used in religious and Vedic hymns where divine 

forces or natural entities are described as moving, taking away, or carrying 

off something, often in symbolic terms.

Beyond Vedic texts, it can be interpreted in general Sanskrit as removal, 

carrying away, or withdrawal of something.

In summary, apabhartavai means “to take away” or “to carry off” and 

represents an infinitive verb form used in Vedic Sanskrit, particularly in 

the Rigveda, with roots in the verb bhṛ and the prefix apa-

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