Rig Veda Sukta 183
Mandala 10Sukta 1833 Mantras

Sukta 183

Sukta 10.183

Devata

A generative tapas-born power (often read in context with fertility/progeny rites; addressed as a presence to be born)

Dieser kurze, spät-rigvedische Hymnus ruft eine aus Tapas geborene, zeugende Macht an, sie möge „geboren werden“ und Nachkommenschaft schenken – besonders den ersehnten Sohn – samt Wohlstand. Der Seher beansprucht eine innere Schau dieser Kraft als bewusst, im Rhythmus der Jahreszeiten wirkend und leibhaftig; der Hymnus kulminiert in einer Ich-Offenbarung einer im Innern wohnenden Schöpferin, die den Embryo in die Pflanzen legt und die Geburt durch alle Welten hindurch trägt.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.183

Mantras

Mantra 1

अपश्यं त्वा मनसा चेकितानं तपसो जातं तपसो विभूतम् । इह प्रजामिह रयिं रराणः प्र जायस्व प्रजया पुत्रकाम ॥

Ich schaute dich mit dem Geist, wach und unterscheidend, aus Tapas geboren und durch Tapas offenbar geworden. Hier, sich freuend an Nachkommenschaft, hier an der Fülle des Seins, werde geboren, gehe hervor: zeuge durch deine Schöpferkraft, o Sohnverlangen.

Mantra 2

अपश्यं त्वा मनसा दीध्यानां स्वायां तनू ऋत्व्ये नाधमानाम् । उप मामुच्चा युवतिर्बभूयाः प्र जायस्व प्रजया पुत्रकामे ॥

Ich schaute dich mit dem Geist, im entflammten Schauen, in deinem eigenen Leib, zur rechten Zeit wirkend. Erhebe dich über mich und werde eine junge Frau voll Kraft; werde geboren, bringe hervor durch schöpferische Nachkommenschaft – o Sohnbegehren, o Wille zur neuen Geburt.

Mantra 3

अहं गर्भमदधामोषधीष्वहं विश्वेषु भुवनेष्वन्तः । अहं प्रजा अजनयं पृथिव्यामहं जनिभ्यो अपरीषु पुत्रान् ॥

Ich setzte den Keim in die Heilkräfte, in die oṣadhī; ich bin in allen Welten innen. Ich lasse die Nachkommenschaft auf Erden entstehen; ich gebe den Geburten ihre Söhne in den fernen Weiten.

Inside Sukta 183

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Inner vision: the seer ‘beholds with the mind’ a conscious power born of tapas and asks it to be born here with progeny and wealth.

  2. Development

    The power is further visualized as embodied and laboring in the right season, urged to rise and become a youthful, potent presence over the petitioner.

  3. Climax

    A decisive first-person revelation: the deity speaks as the universal indwelling creatrix who places the embryo in plants and pervades all worlds.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into assurance of continuity—births receive sons, creation proceeds, and the sought progeny-blessing is grounded in cosmic immanence.

The deity: Tapas-jātā Prajā-jananī Śakti

  • In the VedaDescribed as ‘seen with the mind,’ conscious and discerning (cekītāna), born of tapas and manifested by tapas; envisioned as seasonally laboring in her own body and rising as a youthful woman of power; finally speaking as an all-pervading source who ‘places the embryo in the plants’ and generates offspring on earth.
  • Cosmic functionTo animate conception, gestation, and successful birth; to distribute fertility through oṣadhīs (plants/medicinal powers) and to ensure continuity of lineages and beings across realms.
  • Inner significanceThe creative will and concentrated heat of transformation (tapas) that turns intention into manifestation—psychologically, the focused generative impulse; spiritually, the immanent Shakti-like presence that births new life, new formations, and renewed vitality.

The seer

  • AnonymusA late Mandala 10 voice associated with fertility/progeny rites and a distinctly introspective, visionary style (manasā ‘I saw with the mind’).

Famous verses

tapasó jātáṃ tapasó vibhūtam
Verse 10.183.1Establishes the hymn’s core: the tapas-born, tapas-manifest generative power is invoked to ‘be born’ and to grant prajā and rayi, explicitly in a putrakāma (son-desiring) context.Read verse 10.183.1 →
ṛtvye nādhamānām
Verse 10.183.2Introduces ṛtu (right season) and the striking feminine imagery (yuvatī), framing fertility as timely, embodied, and ascending protective power.Read verse 10.183.2 →
ahaṃ garbham adadhām oṣadhīṣu
Verse 10.183.3Culminates in a universal ‘I’ (aham) proclamation of immanent creative agency—placing the embryo in oṣadhīs and sustaining births across worlds—key for later Shakti/Vāc resonances.Read verse 10.183.3 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Tapas-born and tapas-manifest
  • Mentally beheld (inner vision)
  • Seasonal/ṛtu-aligned fertility
  • Embodied, youthful, rising power (yuvatī)
  • Immanent in all worlds (viśveṣu bhuvaneṣu antaḥ)
  • Embryo-placing and progeny-bestowing
  • Linked with oṣadhīs (healing plants) and life-force

Also by this seer

  • RV 10.183 (attributed as an anonymous/unknown seer hymn in the Rigvedic tradition)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare a quiet domestic or āhavanīya fire setting; establish purity and intention (saṅkalpa) for progeny and well-being.
  • Recite RV 10.183.1 to invoke the tapas-born power and request ‘prajā’ and ‘rayi’ (offspring-force and prosperity).
  • Recite RV 10.183.2 emphasizing ṛtu (right season) and the rising youthful power; pray for conception/quickening and protective strength.
  • Recite RV 10.183.3 as an affirmation of the indwelling creatrix who places the embryo and sustains births; conclude with blessings for mother, child, and household.
  • Optionally conclude with a simple śānti-style closing (well-being for all beings) and distribute consecrated water/food as prasāda-like sharing.

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (ghee) oblations into fire
  • Milk or sweet pāyasa (as a fertility-associated food)
  • Oṣadhi-related offering or presence (herbs/medicinal plants symbolically placed)
  • Water libation and simple grains (as household prosperity tokens)

Frequently Asked Questions

It primarily prays for successful progeny (prajā), especially the blessing of a son in a putrakāma context, along with prosperity (rayi) and life-continuity.

Rather than a single named god like Indra or Agni, the hymn addresses a tapas-born generative Power—an immanent creative presence that brings conception and birth and is described as present within all worlds.

It portrays fertility as a cosmic, life-pervading process: the creative Power ‘places the embryo in the plants,’ linking healing, vitality, and reproduction as one continuous force in nature.

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