Rig Veda Sukta 101
Mandala 10Sukta 10112 Mantras

Sukta 101

Sukta 10.101

Devata

Agni, Uṣas, Dadhikrāvan; supported by Indra (indra-vat)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 10.101 opening)

هذا النشيد نداءٌ جماعيّ للإيقاظ موجَّه إلى زمرةٍ من الرفاق المتوافقين، لكي يُضرِموا أغني معًا ويُطلقوا حركة القربان (اليَجْنَة)، مستدعين الفجر (أوشاس) وددهيكرَافان، مع إندرا حليفًا مُقوِّيًا (إندرا-فَت). وبصورٍ حيةٍ عن صنع العربة، وتنشيط «الخيول» (القوى الحيوية)، وملء الأحواض/الأوعية، يُصوِّر اليَجْنَة عملًا منسَّقًا ماهرًا يظفر بالقوة والرخاء والحركة الظافرة. ويختتم بالحثّ على عملٍ حاسم، وباستدعاء إندرا صراحةً ليشرب السُّوما ويمنح العون.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.101

Mantras

Mantra 1

उद्बुध्यध्वं समनसः सखायः समग्निमिन्ध्वं बहवः सनीळाः । दधिक्रामग्निमुषसं च देवीमिन्द्रावतोऽवसे नि ह्वये वः ॥

استيقظوا، يا رفاقَ القلبِ الواحد؛ معًا أوقدوا أغني، أنتم الكثيرون، أهلَ عشٍّ واحد. دَدهيكرَافان، وأغني، والإلهة أُشَس (الفجر)—هؤلاء أدعوهم للنزول عونًا، ومعهم إندرا قوّةً مُصاحِبة.

Mantra 2

मन्द्रा कृणुध्वं धिय आ तनुध्वं नावमरित्रपरणीं कृणुध्वम् । इष्कृणुध्वमायुधारं कृणुध्वं प्राञ्चं यज्ञं प्र णयता सखायः ॥

اجعلوا أفكاركم مُنغَّمةً ووسِّعوها؛ واصنعوا السفينةَ التي تُساق بالمِجذاف. أَعِدّوا السهم؛ وهيِّئوا القوّةَ الحاملةَ للسلاح. قودوا اليَجْنَةَ إلى الأمام، مستقيمةَ المسير، يا رفاق.

Mantra 3

युनक्त सीरा वि युगा तनुध्वं कृते योनौ वपतेह बीजम् । गिरा च श्रुष्टिः सभरा असन्नो नेदीय इत्सृण्यः पक्वमेयात् ॥

اشدّوا المحاريثَ إلى النير؛ وابسطوا الأنْيَار. في الرَّحِمِ المُهَيَّأ ازرعوا هنا البِذار. لتكن دعوتُنا وطاعتُنا المُسارِعةُ مع القوّةِ الحاملةِ للأثقال؛ فليدنُ منّا الرِّبحُ الناضجُ سريعًا.

Mantra 4

सीरा युञ्जन्ति कवयो युगा वि तन्वते पृथक् । धीरा देवेषु सुम्नया ॥

يُقَيِّدُ الكَفَيَةُ (الرُّؤَاةُ) المَحَارِيثَ؛ ويَبْسُطُونَ النِّيرَانَ مُتَفَرِّقَةً، كُلٌّ فِي مَوْضِعِهِ. ثَابِتُونَ حُكَمَاءُ فِي الآلِهَةِ، بِقُوَّةِ حُسْنِ النِّيَّةِ وَالنِّعْمَةِ (سُمْنَا).

Mantra 5

निराहावान्कृणोतन सं वरत्रा दधातन । सिञ्चामहा अवतमुद्रिणं वयं सुषेकमनुपक्षितम् ॥

نَقُّوا مَجَارِي الدُّعَاءِ (آهَافَا)؛ وَضَعُوا الأَرْسَانَ (فَرَتْرَا) مُتَّسِقَةً مُتَنَاغِمَةً. نَحْنُ نُرِيدُ أَنْ نَصُبَّ البِئْرَ المَرْفُوعَةَ فِي دَاخِلِنَا—مَرْوِيَّةً حَسَنًا، غَيْرَ مَنْقُوصَةٍ—لِكَيْ يَتَهَيَّأَ حَقْلُ الفِعْلِ الدَّاخِلِيِّ.

Mantra 6

इष्कृताहावमवतं सुवरत्रं सुषेचनम् । उद्रिणं सिञ्चे अक्षितम् ॥

إِذَا صُنِعَ مَجْرَى الِاسْتِدْعَاءِ (آهَافَا) صُنْعًا صَحِيحًا، صَارَتِ البِئْرُ حَسَنَةَ القِيَادِ وَحَسَنَةَ السَّقْيِ؛ فَاسْكُبُوا العَيْنَ المَرْفُوعَةَ—غَيْرَ نَاضِبَةٍ، غَيْرَ مُنْفَدَةٍ—لِتَثْبُتَ الوَفْرَةُ الدَّاخِلِيَّةُ.

Mantra 7

प्रीणीताश्वान्हितं जयाथ स्वस्तिवाहं रथमित्कृणुध्वम् । द्रोणाहावमवतमश्मचक्रमंसत्रकोशं सिञ्चता नृपाणम् ॥

أبهِجوا قوى الحياة (الخيول) وانالوا ما وُضع أمامكم؛ واصنعوا حقًّا العربةَ الحاملةَ للسلامة والرفاه. واسكبوا في الحوضِ الداعي، وفي البئرِ ذاتِ العجلاتِ الحجرية والوعاءِ الممسوكِ بإحكام—املأوا «شرابَ الرجال» (nṛpāṇam) الذي يسند كيانَنا السيّد.

Mantra 8

व्रजं कृणुध्वं स हि वो नृपाणो वर्म सीव्यध्वं बहुला पृथूनि । पुरः कृणुध्वमायसीरधृष्टा मा वः सुस्रोच्चमसो दृंहता तम् ॥

أقيموا الحِمى/السياج (vraja)، فهو شرابُكم المُقيم؛ واخيطوا الدروعَ، كثيرةً واسعة. وأقيموا أمامكم التحصيناتِ الحديديةَ غيرَ المُقتحَمة؛ ولا تدعوا الكأسَ يرشح—شدّوه توثيقًا.

Mantra 9

आ वो धियं यज्ञियां वर्त ऊतये देवा देवीं यजतां यज्ञियामिह । सा नो दुहीयद्यवसेव गत्वी सहस्रधारा पयसा मही गौः ॥

توجَّهوا إلينا للعون: الفِكرة (dhī) اللائقةُ باليَجْنَة (yajña)، أيها الآلهة—الإلهةُ «الفِكرة»، جديرةُ العبادة، يَجْنِيّة، هنا. لِتَحْلِبْ لنا، كَبَقَرَةٍ تمضي إلى المرعى، الجداولَ العظيمة—ذاتَ الألفِ مجرى—بِلبنِ القوتِ الغزير.

Mantra 10

आ तू षिञ्च हरिमीं द्रोरुपस्थे वाशीभिस्तक्षताश्मन्मयीभिः । परि ष्वजध्वं दश कक्ष्याभिरुभे धुरौ प्रति वह्निं युनक्त ॥

هَلُمّ؛ اسكُبِ القُوّةَ الشَّقراءَ في حِضنِ الحوضِ الخشبيّ؛ وبأزاميلَ كالحجرِ صُغْها صوغًا مُحكَمًا. واحتَضِنُوها من حولِها بعَشْرِ أَحْزِمَةٍ؛ وعلى النِّيرَيْنِ كِلَيْهِما اربِطوا حامِلَ النّار—واقرِنوا الإرادةَ بقُوَّتَيْها المزدوجتَيْنِ.

Mantra 11

उभे धुरौ वह्निरापिब्दमानोऽन्तर्योनेव चरति द्विजानिः । वनस्पतिं वन आस्थापयध्वं नि षू दधिध्वमखनन्त उत्सम् ॥

على النِّيرَيْنِ كِلَيْهِما يمضي الحامِلُ، يَرتَشِفُ، كطفلٍ في الرَّحِم، ذاكَ «ذو الميلادَيْن». أَقيموا «فانَسْپَتي» سيِّدَ الغابةِ في الغابة؛ ضَعوه راسخًا—مُستَخرِجينَ النَّبعَ بالحَفْر.

Mantra 12

कपृन्नरः कपृथमुद्दधातन चोदयत खुदत वाजसातये । निष्टिग्र्यः पुत्रमा च्यावयोतय इन्द्रं सबाध इह सोमपीतये ॥

يا أيّها العُمّال، ارفعوا العملَ وأَقدِموه إلى الأمام؛ ادفعوا، واحفِروا، لِفَوْزِ الوَفْرَة. يا نِشْتيغْرْيا، أَنهِضْ ابنَكَ للعَون—واجلبْ إندرا مع رِفاقِه إلى ههنا لِيَشرَبَ السُّوما.

Inside Sukta 101

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct exhortation: wake up, unite in mind, and kindle Agni together; invoke Dadhikrāvan, Agni, and Dawn with Indra as supporting power (10.101.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn develops a ‘ritual-as-craft’ vision—right preparation, energizing the team’s powers (horses), building the well-being-bearing chariot, and filling the vessels that sustain the rite (e.g., 10.101.7).

  3. Climax

    A surge of imperative action—lift the work, drive forward, dig in for vājasāti—paired with the explicit summoning of Indra to come for Soma-drinking (10.101.12).

  4. Where it settles

    The rite is secured as a coordinated endeavor: with Agni lit, Dawn opened, momentum established, and Indra invited, the sacrificers proceed toward protection, victory, and increase.

The deity: Agni, Uṣas, Dadhikrāvan

  • In the VedaAgni is the kindled fire and divine messenger who carries offerings; Uṣas is the radiant Dawn who awakens life and sets the world to right activity; Dadhikrāvan is the swift, victorious steed-power invoked for speed, prowess, and auspicious momentum; Indra stands as the companion-force who empowers the rite and grants winning.
  • Cosmic functionAgni mediates between humans and gods through oblation; Uṣas opens the day and renews order; Dadhikrāvan propels movement and success; Indra breaks obstacles and secures victory and plenitude for the sacrificers.
  • Inner significanceAgni signifies awakened will and focused aspiration; Uṣas signifies illumination, fresh beginnings, and clarity; Dadhikrāvan signifies disciplined energy and swift right action; Indra signifies courageous force that overcomes inertia and inner foes.

The seer

  • Anonymous (RV 10.101 traditionally classed among late, mixed-author hymns)A pragmatic, ‘work-and-ritual’ style hymn that treats the sacrifice as a coordinated communal enterprise—waking the group, kindling Agni, and mobilizing Indraic victory through right preparation.

Famous verses

ud budhyadhvaṃ samanasaḥ sakhāyaḥ
Verse 10.101.1Programmatic opening that sets the hymn’s communal tone (samanasaḥ), the shared kindling of Agni (sanīḻāḥ), and the distinctive triad-invocation of Dadhikrāvan–Agni–Uṣas with Indra as ally.Read verse 10.101.1 →
प्रीणीताश्वान्हितं जयाथ स्वस्तिवाहं रथमित्कृणुध्वम् । द्रोणाहावमवतमश्मचक्रमंसत्रकोशं सिञ्चता नृपाणम् ॥
Verse 10.101.7Rich symbolic center: energizing the ‘horses’ (vital powers), crafting the auspicious chariot, and filling the trough/vessel imagery that highlights careful ritual preparation and capacity-building.Read verse 10.101.7 →
indraṃ sabādha iha somapītaye
Verse 10.101.12Concluding push that turns exhortation into decisive action and culminates in calling Indra (with companions) specifically for Soma-drinking—linking effort (karma) to divine empowerment.Read verse 10.101.12 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Communal awakening and concord (samanasaḥ)
  • Kindling and mediation (Agni as hotṛ/messenger)
  • Renewal and illumination (Uṣas)
  • Speed, victory, auspicious drive (Dadhikrāvan)
  • Indraic power: overcoming, winning, strengthening
  • Ritual craftsmanship: chariot, vessels, troughs as symbols of prepared capacities

Also by this seer

  • Several hymns in Mandala 10 are transmitted without a secure rishi attribution; RV 10.101 is commonly included among these anonymous/uncertain authorial strata.
  • The diction and imagery align with late Rigvedic ‘collective exhortation’ hymns that emphasize ritual technique, teamwork, and efficacy.

The rite, step by step

  • Assemble the companions/ritual team in shared intention (samanasaḥ).
  • Awaken and commence the rite; kindle Agni together in the common hearth (sanīḻāḥ).
  • Invoke Dadhikrāvan for swift, victorious movement; invoke Uṣas for auspicious opening and clarity.
  • Prepare the ‘chariot’ imagery in practice: ready the ritual course—implements, pressing, and conveyance of offerings.
  • Energize the ‘horses’ (vital powers/assistants) and set the work in motion; ensure orderly distribution of tasks.
  • Fill/prepare vessels and troughs: arrange Soma and libations; make the offering fit for the gods.
  • Call Indra with his companions to the Soma-drinking; request protection, victory, and abundance.
  • Conclude with renewed impetus: continue the work for vājasāti (winning of plenitude) under Indra’s support.

Offerings

  • Soma (primary, explicitly in v.12)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into Agni
  • Libations in prepared vessels/troughs (symbolic of well-made receptacles)

Frequently Asked Questions

It urges a group of companions to wake up, unite in purpose, kindle Agni, and carry out the sacrifice skillfully, so that divine help brings strength, victory, and abundance.

Agni starts and carries the offering, Uṣas opens the day and renews right activity, and Dadhikrāvan represents swift victorious momentum—together they launch the rite with clarity and power.

It means the invocation is supported by Indra’s characteristic power—overcoming obstacles and securing ‘winning’—so the rite is not only performed but made effective and victorious.

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