Ragozin2 says that the root R means to flow.

One can compare the Greek word `rheo'3 and the English
word 'river' to it. Thus, literally the word Rta means to keep the world flowing and therefore, it is the
flow of natural phenomena, supreme law, and cosmic order.

The word `Rta' can be derived from three different roots-

1)4 R (3 P.P.) Iryati, which means to go.
2)Ai R (1 P.P.) Rcchati, which means to move, to go, to rise or to tend towards.

3)-4 R (5 P.P.) Rnoti means to injure, hurt.

Keith4 had given three different meanings of the word `Rta'. The triple sense is as follows-

1.The physical order of the Universe.

2.The religious order of sacrificial rites.
3.The moral order of right behaviour.
One can find various illustrate expressing these meanings of the concept of Rta which are discussed as
follows-

Rta as the physical order of the Universe. -

In the Itveda at one place it is stated that according to Rta the rivers flow s. Similarly it is stated that
the dawn is not only born of Rta 6 its regularity is also governed by Rta. By Rta, moon and stars keep
their courses and the alternations of day and night take place. By Rta the sun shone and lighted up the
host of mornings' and it travels among along the path of Rta 8. The year is the wheel of Rta with its
twelve spokes9. These illustrations make it clear that the natural phenomena such as the flow of water,
regular appearance of the Sun, the Moon, The cycle of the day and night led to the thought that the
universe is bound by the regular course of order. This flow of regular order led to the concept of Rta. It is
interesting to know that another word developed from the root R is Rtu. It means either the menstrual
discharge in women, which suggests the sense of flowing or Rtu in the sense of season which reflects on the
cyclic order of the nature. Thus, the idea of movement or flow inherent in the concept of Rta is derived from
the actual order of the phenomenal world. The ordered phenomena of nature must have led to the conception
of harmony in the Vedic mind and, hence, it came to be regarded as a value by itself. Rta is regarded as the
foundation of all laws and order. This cosmic significance of Rta is seen in fAveda10. This characteristic of
11
Rta is acknowledged in the Atharvaveda also. Following picture clearly explains the concept of Rta as
physical order.