Sukta 40
Sukta 2.40
Gṛtsamada (and/or the Gṛtsamada lineage)
Triṣṭubh (likely for RV 2.40)
تستدعي هذه الترتيلة ذات الأبيات الستة على وزن تريشْتوب الإلهين المزدوجين سوما وبوشان بوصفهما مُنْتِجَيْن مشتركين للوفرة وحُرّاسًا يُثبِّتان «السُّرّة» (nābhi) للخلود والرخاء في العوالم وفي عابدِهما. وتلتمس منهما أن يُوسِّعا المنبعَ المركزي للزيادة—الثروةَ والقوتَ والقوى المُثمِرة—مع إيقاظ البصيرة ومنح الحماية، لتختتم ببركةٍ تشمل حضور أديتي الحافظ.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
सोमापूषणा जनना रयीणां जनना दिवो जनना पृथिव्याः । जातौ विश्वस्य भुवनस्य गोपौ देवा अकृण्वन्नमृतस्य नाभिम् ॥
يا سوما ويا بوشَن، يا مُولِّدَي الوفرة، مُولِّدَي السماء، مُولِّدَي الأرض—وُلدتما حارسينِ لكلّ ما يصير؛ وجعلكما الآلهةُ سُرّةَ الخلودِ ومركزَه.
Mantra 2
इमौ देवौ जायमानौ जुषन्तेमौ तमांसि गूहतामजुष्टा । आभ्यामिन्द्रः पक्वमामास्वन्तः सोमापूषभ्यां जनदुस्रियासु ॥
هذان الإلهانِ، حين يولدان، يلتذّان؛ وهذان يُخفِيان الظلماتِ التي لا ترضى ولا تُطيع. بهما يُنضِجُ إندرا الناضجَ في غيرِ الناضج؛ وبسُوما وبوشَن يُولِّدُ القطعانَ اللامعةَ من النور.
Mantra 3
सोमापूषणा रजसो विमानं सप्तचक्रं रथमविश्वमिन्वम् । विषूवृतं मनसा युज्यमानं तं जिन्वथो वृषणा पञ्चरश्मिम् ॥
يا سوما ويا بوشَن، إنكما تُسيِّران العربةَ التي تقيسُ فضاءَ الرَّجَس (الحيّزَ الأوسط)، ذاتَ السبعِ عجلات، السائرةَ في كلِّ شيء؛ الواسعةَ الالتفاف، المقرونةَ بالعقل—تلك القوّةَ ذاتَ الخمسةِ أزمّةٍ تُطلقانها في المسير، أيّها القويّان.
Mantra 4
दिव्यन्यः सदनं चक्र उच्चा पृथिव्यामन्यो अध्यन्तरिक्षे । तावस्मभ्यं पुरुवारं पुरुक्षुं रायस्पोषं वि ष्यतां नाभिमस्मे ॥
أحدُهما أقامَ مقعدَه عاليًا في السماء؛ والآخرُ على الأرض وفي الفضاءِ الأوسط. فليَبسطا لنا مركزَ الزيادةِ ومحورَها—وفرةَ الغنى، كثيرةَ القوى المرغوبة، مثمرةً في نموّاتٍ شتّى—في داخلنا.
Mantra 5
विश्वान्यन्यो भुवना जजान विश्वमन्यो अभिचक्षाण एति । सोमापूषणाववतं धियं मे युवाभ्यां विश्वाः पृतना जयेम ॥
أحدُهما وَلَدَ جميعَ العوالم؛ والآخرُ يمضي مُشاهِدًا كلَّ شيء. يا سوما ويا بوشَن، اسندا فكرتي/إلهامي؛ وبكما معًا لعلّنا نغلبُ كلَّ المعارك.
Mantra 6
धियं पूषा जिन्वतु विश्वमिन्वो रयिं सोमो रयिपतिर्दधातु । अवतु देव्यदितिरनर्वा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥
لِيُحْيِ Pūṣan، المُحَرِّكُ لِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ، بَصِيرَتَنَا؛ وَلْيَجْعَلْ Soma، سَيِّدُ الْوَفْرَةِ، الْوَفْرَةَ فِينَا. وَلْتَحْمِنَا Aditi الإِلَهِيَّةُ، الَّتِي لَا تُخْطِئُ؛ وَلْنَنْطِقْ بِالْوَاسِعِ الْعَظِيمِ فِي الْمَجْلِسِ، أَغْنِيَاءَ بِقُوًى رُوحِيَّةٍ شَدِيدَةٍ مُنِيرَةٍ.
Inside Sukta 40
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma and Pūṣan are hailed as begetters of riches and of heaven and earth, born as guardians of all existence and set as the nābhi of immortality.
- Development
The hymn differentiates their cosmic stations (one aloft, one on earth/mid-space) and turns this cosmology into a practical request: may they spread the center of increase—wealth, nourishment, and fruitful powers—within the worshipper/community.
- Climax
The concentrated petition that the dual gods “spread the nābhi” of rāyas-poṣa for us—an image of prosperity radiating from a single sacred center.
- Where it settles
A closing triad of boons: Pūṣan quickens insight (dhī), Soma bestows plenitude (rayi), and Aditi protects, ending with the aspiration to speak the Vast (bṛhat) in the assembly with strong progeny/powers (suvīrāḥ).
The deity: Soma–Pūṣan
- In the VedaTogether they are described as “begetters” of riches, heaven, and earth, and as the two guardians (gopau) of all becoming, placed by the gods as the nābhi (central hub) of amṛta (immortality).
- Cosmic functionSoma sustains divine vitality and the upward movement toward amṛta through consecrated exhilaration; Pūṣan secures nourishment, safe passage, and the right distribution of goods across earth and mid-space. In tandem they stabilize the cosmic economy of life—sap, food, wealth, and the protected routes by which these circulate.
- Inner significanceSoma signifies inner delight, luminous inspiration, and the nectar of concentrated consciousness; Pūṣan signifies the guiding intelligence that leads the seeker on the right path and converts inspiration into steady growth and practical well-being. Their shared “nābhi” points to an inner center where spiritual vitality and worldly increase are harmonized.
The seer
- GṛtsamadaGṛtsamada (Bhārgava) lineage; traditionally connected with the Bhṛgu-gotra stream · Principal seer of much of Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for hymns that establish stable ritual order and invoke deities for protection, prosperity, and right inspiration (dhī) in the sacrifice.
Famous verses
amṛtasya nābhim
rāyas poṣaṃ … nābhim
bṛhad vadema vidathe
Attributes of the deity
- Begetters of abundance (rayīṇām jananā)
- Guardians/protectors of becoming (bhuvanasya gopau)
- Establishers of the nābhi (central hub) of immortality
- Nourishment, increase, and prosperity (poṣa)
- Guidance and safe passage (Pūṣan)
- Invigorating sacred essence and lordship of wealth (Soma as rayipatí)
Also by this seer
- Large portion of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada and his lineage)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, and allied deities emphasizing protection (rakṣas), increase (poṣa), and victorious strength (vīrya)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire (Agni) and establish a calm, ordered ritual space.
- Open with an invocation to Soma–Pūṣan as joint guardians and begetters of heaven/earth, affirming them as the nābhi of amṛta.
- Offer oblations while reciting verses that request spreading of rāyas-poṣa (increase of riches and nourishment) and protection across the three realms (dyu, pṛthivī, antarikṣa).
- Conclude with the benediction: Pūṣan to quicken dhī (insight), Soma to place rayi (plenitude), and Aditi to protect; end with a communal aspiration to speak the “Vast” in the assembly.
- Optionally follow with śānti-style closing and distribution of consecrated remnants (where customary).
Offerings
- Soma (where ritually appropriate) or symbolic soma substitute in later practice
- Ghee (ājya) oblations into Agni
- Milk/curds and grains as nourishing offerings (annāhuti)
- Optional sweet offerings (madhu) as a prosperity symbol
Frequently Asked Questions
Soma represents the sacred, invigorating essence that supports vitality and immortality, while Pūṣan is the nourishing protector and guide of right paths. Invoked together, they unite inner inspiration with outward nourishment and safe, fruitful increase.
It means “the navel (center/hub) of immortality.” The hymn imagines Soma–Pūṣan as a central source from which life, prosperity, and divine vitality radiate into the worlds and into the worshipper.
It asks for prosperity and nourishment (rāyas-poṣa), the quickening of insight (dhī), protection (especially through Aditi), and the strength to speak truthfully and expansively (“the Vast”) in the communal assembly.
Ask anything about Sukta 40 of the Rig Veda
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