Sukta 49
Sukta 4.49
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for RV 4.49)
Indra-Bṛhaspati (dual)
Triṣṭubh (probable; requires confirmation)
এই সংক্ষিপ্ত সূক্তে যুগল শক্তি ইন্দ্র ও বৃহস্পতিকে আহ্বান করা হয়েছে—তাঁরা যেন নিবেদিত হবি ও সোম গ্রহণ করেন এবং যজমানের উক্থ (গম্ভীর স্তোত্র) ও মদ (আনন্দ/উদ্দীপনা) দ্বারা প্রসন্ন হন। প্রার্থনা করা হয়েছে যে এই দেবযুগল দাতার গৃহে প্রতিষ্ঠিত হোন এবং ‘রয়ি’—সমৃদ্ধি ও বিজয়দায়ক বৃদ্ধি—প্রচুর ও বিস্তৃতভাবে দান করুন; যা অশ্ব, প্রাচুর্য এবং ‘শতগুণ’ বিকাশের রূপে প্রকাশ পায়।
Mantras
Mantra 1
इदं वामास्ये हविः प्रियमिन्द्राबृहस्पती । उक्थं मदश्च शस्यते ॥
হে ইন্দ্র ও বৃহস্পতী, তোমাদের মুখের জন্য এই প্রিয় হবি নিবেদিত। এবং উচ্চারিত উক্থ ও মদ (উল্লাস) ঘোষিত হচ্ছে।
Mantra 2
अयं वां परि षिच्यते सोम इन्द्राबृहस्पती । चारुर्मदाय पीतये ॥
হে ইন্দ্র–বৃহস্পতি! এই সোম তোমাদের জন্য চারিদিকে ঢালা হচ্ছে—মদ (আনন্দ-উন্মাদ) জাগাবার জন্য মনোহর, অন্তরে পান করার জন্য।
Mantra 3
आ न इन्द्राबृहस्पती गृहमिन्द्रश्च गच्छतम् । सोमपा सोमपीतये ॥
হে ইন্দ্র–বৃহস্পতি! আমাদের কাছে এসো; আমাদের গৃহে—অস্তিত্বের গৃহে—এসো; হে ইন্দ্রও—সোমপাঃ! সোমপানের জন্য (অন্তরে) পান করো।
Mantra 4
अस्मे इन्द्राबृहस्पती रयिं धत्तं शतग्विनम् । अश्वावन्तं सहस्रिणम् ॥
হে ইন্দ্র–বৃহস্পতি! আমাদের মধ্যে শাতগ্বিন্ রয়ি স্থাপন করো—বৃদ্ধির শত প্রেরণায় পূর্ণ; অশ্ববান্—গতিশীল শক্তির অশ্বে সমৃদ্ধ; সহস্রিন্—হাজারগুণ বিস্তৃত।
Mantra 5
इन्द्राबृहस्पती वयं सुते गीर्भिर्हवामहे । अस्य सोमस्य पीतये ॥
হে ইন্দ্র ও বৃহস্পতী! সোম নিংড়ানো হলে আমরা স্তোত্রগীত/প্রেরিত বাণীর দ্বারা তোমাদের আহ্বান করি—এই সোমের পান ও অন্তর্গ্রহণের জন্য।
Mantra 6
सोममिन्द्राबृहस्पती पिबतं दाशुषो गृहे । मादयेथां तदोकसा ॥
হে ইন্দ্রা-বৃহস্পতী! দাতার গৃহে সোম পান করো; সেই নিবাসেই আনন্দিত হও—তাকে আমাদের অন্তরে তোমাদের স্থির আসন করো।
Inside Sukta 49
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by presenting a ‘dear offering’ for the two deities’ mouths and declaring the uktha and mada as active, living praise (RV 4.49.1).
- Development
It moves from invitation and praise to concrete requests: may the divine pair accept Soma, favor the giver, and place in the worshippers a rich, victorious rayi marked by abundant increase (e.g., RV 4.49.4).
- Climax
The peak is the direct, intimate summons: ‘Drink the Soma in the house of the giver’—a request for immediate divine presence and delight within the sacrificer’s space (RV 4.49.6).
- Where it settles
The hymn resolves by seeking settled indwelling and sustained blessing—divine joy becoming stability (a lasting ‘seat’) and prosperity for the community of worshippers.
The deity: Indra-Bṛhaspati
- In the VedaIndra is the mighty soma-drinking hero who breaks obstacles and wins the spoils; Bṛhaspati is the lord of sacred speech (brahman), the priestly power who opens the way through inspired word and rite. Together they are invoked as a complementary pair—force and insight—receiving the offering and empowering the sacrificer.
- Cosmic functionThey secure victory and increase: Indra as the conquering power that clears impediments, and Bṛhaspati as the ordering intelligence that establishes right ritual, right counsel, and the opening of hidden riches.
- Inner significanceThe hymn figures an inner alliance of will and illumination: Indra as decisive energy and courage, Bṛhaspati as guiding wisdom and mantra-born clarity. Their ‘dwelling’ in the giver suggests stabilizing inspired power within the practitioner—so action and understanding work in harmony.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva as a seer of the Gautamas; traditional attribution in Mandala 4) · A principal seer of the Fourth Maṇḍala, renowned for powerful Indra hymns and for voicing profound, visionary insights (including the celebrated self-realization verses attributed to Vāmadeva).
Famous verses
idaṃ vām āsye haviḥ priyam
asme ... rayiṃ dhattaṃ
somam ... pibataṃ dāśuṣo gṛhe
Attributes of the deity
- Dual invocation (warrior power + priestly wisdom)
- Soma-enjoying, praise-loving deities
- Bestowers of rayi (prosperity, increase, success)
- Establishers of a blessed ‘home’/seat for divine force
- Supporters of inspired speech (uktha) and ecstatic uplift (mada)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 is largely attributed to Vāmadeva and his family line (Gautamas).
- Hymns to Indra, Agni, and allied deities across RV 4 (family collection).
- Tradition associates Vāmadeva with the famous declaration of identity-realization in RV 4.26–4.27 (often cited in later Vedāntic reflection).
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the offering (havis) and Soma; seat the intention that the deities ‘come to the mouth’ of the rite (receive the oblation).
- Recite the uktha (solemn praise) to invite Indra-Bṛhaspati and to intensify mada (uplift/joy) in the rite.
- Offer havis into the fire (where applicable) and present Soma for drinking, invoking their presence in the sacrificer’s dwelling.
- Petition for rayi: abundant increase, strength, and expansive wealth (symbolized by horses and thousandfold plenty).
- Conclude by asking the divine pair to rejoice and remain established (tad-okasā) in the giver’s home/seat.
Offerings
- Soma (pressed and offered for drinking)
- Havis (oblations—commonly ghee and ritual food offerings, per Soma rite conventions)
- Uktha (formal chant/praise as a ‘verbal offering’)
Frequently Asked Questions
They are called as a pair: Indra represents victorious power and force, while Bṛhaspati represents sacred speech, priestly wisdom, and right guidance. Together they bring success through both strength and insight.
It asks the deities to accept the offering and Soma, to be present in the giver’s home, and to place within the worshippers abundant rayi—prosperity, increase, and victorious well-being.
On the ritual level it means the gods are invited to make the sacrificer’s space their seat and favor it. On an inner level it suggests stabilizing divine strength and inspired clarity within the practitioner.
Ask anything about Sukta 49 of the Rig Veda
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