Rig Veda Sukta 33
Mandala 4Sukta 3311 Mantras

Sukta 33

Sukta 4.33

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (attributed for Mandala 4; hymn to the Rbhus)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 4.33; verse-level confirmation may vary by recension)

Dieser Hymnus ruft die R̥bhus — Ṛbhu, Vibhvā und Vāja — als göttliche Kunsthandwerker an, die von rascher Eingebung bewegt Formen vollenden und Fülle für Götter und Menschen mehren. Er preist ihr wahrhaftes Sprechen, ihre Treue zur svadhā (ihrem angeborenen Gesetz) und ihre wunderbaren Werke, die selbst von Tvaṣṭṛ anerkannt werden, und endet mit der Bitte, dem Opfernden beim dritten Soma-Pressen «vasūni» (wahre Reichtümer) zu begründen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.33

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • RbhusRbhus (R̥bhus: Ṛbhu, Vibhvā, Vāja) as powers of divine craftsmanship and perfection

    In the Rig Veda the R̥bhus are semi-divine master-craftsmen who ‘make’ and ‘perfect’, fashioning radiant forms, renewing what is worn, and producing marvels swiftly, in truth and skill.

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र ऋभुभ्यो दूतमिव वाचमिष्य उपस्तिरे श्वैतरीं धेनुमीळे । ये वातजूतास्तरणिभिरेवैः परि द्यां सद्यो अपसो बभूवुः ॥

Zu den Rbhus sende ich mein Wort wie einen Boten; ich preise die hellglänzende Dhenu, die Kuh des Überflusses, ausgebreitet als Lager (für den Suchenden). Die vom Wind Getriebenen, mit schnellen Rossen, wurden sogleich zu wirkkräftigen Werkern, die den Himmel umfangen — Mächte wirksamen Handelns.

Mantra 2

यदारमक्रन्नृभवः पितृभ्यां परिविष्टी वेषणा दंसनाभिः । आदिद्देवानामुप सख्यमायन्धीरासः पुष्टिमवहन्मनायै ॥

Als die Rbhus das Rechte für die beiden Eltern schufen — die umschließenden Sitze und den Schmuck durch ihre Kunstkräfte — da traten sie in die Freundschaft der Götter ein. Die Seher festen Erkennens brachten Mehrung und Nahrung zur Freude des Geistes.

Mantra 3

पुनर्ये चक्रुः पितरा युवाना सना यूपेव जरणा शयाना । ते वाजो विभ्वाँ ऋभुरिन्द्रवन्तो मधुप्सरसो नोऽवन्तु यज्ञम् ॥

Die, welche die beiden Eltern wieder jung machten, obgleich sie gealtert dalagen wie ein abgenutzter Opferpfahl (yūpa) — mögen jene Rbhus, Vāja, Vibhvā und Ṛbhu, erfüllt von Indras Kraft und von Süße triefend, unser Opfer schützen.

Mantra 4

यत्संवत्समृभवो गामरक्षन्यत्संवत्समृभवो मा अपिंशन् । यत्संवत्समभरन्भासो अस्यास्ताभिः शमीभिरमृतत्वमाशुः ॥

Denn ein volles Jahr bewachten die Rbhus die Kuh; denn ein Jahr lang formten und vollendeten die Rbhus sie; denn ein Jahr lang trugen sie ihre leuchtenden Glanzkräfte — durch jene Werke rechten Könnens erlangten sie Unsterblichkeit.

Mantra 5

ज्येष्ठ आह चमसा द्वा करेति कनीयान्त्रीन्कृणवामेत्याह । कनिष्ठ आह चतुरस्करेति त्वष्ट ऋभवस्तत्पनयद्वचो वः ॥

Der Älteste sprach: »Zwei Becher sollt ihr machen«; der Jüngere sprach: »Drei wollen wir machen«; der Jüngste sprach: »Vier sollt ihr machen«. O Rbhus, Tvaṣṭṛ billigte jenes Wort von euch — euer gestaltendes Wort, das das Gefäß der Wonne vermehrt.

Mantra 6

सत्यमूचुर्नर एवा हि चक्रुरनु स्वधामृभवो जग्मुरेताम् । विभ्राजमानाँश्चमसाँ अहेवावेनत्त्वष्टा चतुरो ददृश्वान् ॥

Wahrheit sprachen die Männer; denn wahrlich taten sie das Werk. Ihrer eigenen svadhā folgend gelangten die Rbhus zu diesem (Vollzug). Tvaṣṭṛ, der Schauende, erkannte — wie an einem einzigen Tag — die vier Becher, strahlend von Glanz.

Mantra 7

द्वादश द्यून्यदगोह्यस्यातिथ्ये रणन्नृभवः ससन्तः । सुक्षेत्राकृण्वन्ननयन्त सिन्धून्धन्वातिष्ठन्नोषधीर्निम्नमापः ॥

Zwölf Tage lang, in der Gastfreundschaft des Agohya, jubelten die Ṛbhus, ihrem Ziel nachstrebend. Sie machten die Fluren fruchtbar; sie leiteten die Ströme; sie setzten die Pflanzen auf das dürre Land; sie lenkten die Wasser in die Niederungen – durch rechtes Können ordnend die Bewegungen des Lebens.

Mantra 8

रथं ये चक्रुः सुवृतं नरेष्ठां ये धेनुं विश्वजुवं विश्वरूपाम् । त आ तक्षन्त्वृभवो रयिं नः स्ववसः स्वपसः सुहस्ताः ॥

Die, welche den wohlgefügten Wagen schufen, den besten für den Weg der Menschen, und die die Kuh schufen, allstürmend, allgestaltig, die alle Formen trägt – mögen jene Ṛbhus uns rayí, die Fülle des Seins, zurechtschnitzen: reich an eigener Kraft, reich an rechten Werken, mit Händen vollendeter Kunst.

Mantra 9

अपो ह्येषामजुषन्त देवा अभि क्रत्वा मनसा दीध्यानाः । वाजो देवानामभवत्सुकर्मेन्द्रस्य ऋभुक्षा वरुणस्य विभ्वा ॥

Denn die Götter nahmen ihre Werke an, da sie, mit Entschluss und Geist, sinnenvoll auf das Ziel gerichtet, nachdachten. Vāja wurde unter den Göttern der Gutwirkende; Ṛbhukṣā für Indra, und Vibhvā für Varuṇa – ein jeder nahm seinen Platz ein als vollendete Kraft in der göttlichen Ordnung.

Mantra 10

ये हरी मेधयोक्था मदन्त इन्द्राय चक्रुः सुयुजा ये अश्वा । ते रायस्पोषं द्रविणान्यस्मे धत्त ऋभवः क्षेमयन्तो न मित्रम् ॥

Die, welche für Indra die beiden fahlen (harī) schufen, die sich an erleuchteter Einsicht und am Hymnus berauschen, und die die Rosse vollkommen angeschirrt machten—o Ṛbhus, legt in uns Mehrung von rāyí und nährender Fülle, und die Reichtümer des Seins, unseren Frieden fördernd wie ein Freund.

Mantra 11

इदाह्नः पीतिमुत वो मदं धुर्न ऋते श्रान्तस्य सख्याय देवाः । ते नूनमस्मे ऋभवो वसूनि तृतीये अस्मिन्त्सवने दधात ॥

Jetzt, im Gang dieses Tages, haben die Götter euch die Wonne des Soma-Tranks und die erhobene Freude ausgegossen—nicht ohne die Freundschaft dessen, der sich abmühte und im Suchen ermattete. Darum, o Ṛbhus, legt nun in uns die Güter; in diesem dritten Savana setzt sie uns fest.

Inside Sukta 33

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The seer sends his word ‘like a messenger’ to the R̥bhus and praises the bright Cow of abundance, introducing them as swift, wind-driven powers of effective action.

  2. Development

    The hymn unfolds their character: truth-speaking, adherence to svadhā, and their astonishing works—especially the shining cups—so perfect that Tvaṣṭṛ recognizes them.

  3. Climax

    Their workmanship is presented as immediate, radiant accomplishment (the cups ‘seen in a day’), revealing perfection as the fruit of truth and right action.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn turns to prayer: since Soma-joy is granted in the day’s movement, the R̥bhus are asked to place ‘vasūni’—true riches and plenitudes—within the worshipper at this third pressing.

The deity: R̥bhus

  • In the VedaThey are praised for effective action (apas), luminous workmanship, and for works so exact that even Tvaṣṭṛ (the divine fashioner) acknowledges them.
  • Cosmic functionThey represent the cosmic principle of formation and refinement: turning raw potential into perfected manifestation, multiplying plenitude, and restoring vitality—especially in the sacrificial and solar order where right work yields increase.
  • Inner significanceThe R̥bhus symbolize disciplined intelligence and skill (yoga of work): the capacity to remake one’s instruments (mind, speech, senses) into ‘shining vessels,’ align with one’s svadhā, and convert effort into joy, clarity, and abundance.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva) gotra · A major seer of Maṇḍala 4, celebrated for visionary hymns that unite ritual precision with inner (psychological) illumination; associated with inspired speech and the discovery of divine powers through tapas and insight.

Famous verses

प्र ऋभुभ्यो दूतमिव वाचमिष्य उपस्तिरे श्वैतरीं धेनुमीळे । ये वातजूतास्तरणिभिरेवैः परि द्यां सद्यो अपसो बभूवुः ॥
Verse 4.33.1Sets the invocation’s tone: inspired speech is dispatched to the R̥bhus, and their swift, wind-driven effective action is linked to cosmic encompassing of heaven and abundance imagery (the bright cow).Read verse 4.33.1 →
satyam ūcur… anu svadhām
Verse 4.33.6A doctrinal center: the R̥bhus ‘spoke Truth’ and ‘did the work,’ following svadhā; the verse highlights their radiant craftsmanship acknowledged by Tvaṣṭṛ, emblematic of perfected ritual and perfected being.Read verse 4.33.6 →
tṛtīye asmin savane dadhāta
Verse 4.33.11Concluding petition and ritual placement: connects Soma gladness with the friendship of the laboring seeker and asks the R̥bhus to establish ‘vasūni’ specifically in the third pressing—clear liturgical application.Read verse 4.33.11 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Divine craftsmanship and perfection
  • Truth-speaking and right execution of work (satyam + apas)
  • Swift, wind-driven inspiration (vātajūta)
  • Luminous transformation and renewal
  • Multiplication of abundance (cow/wealth imagery)
  • Association with Soma and the third pressing
  • Recognized by Tvaṣṭṛ as consummate makers

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 4 (many hymns attributed to Vāmadeva)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, Soma, the Aśvins, and the R̥bhus within the Vāmadeva collection
  • Vāmadeva is also remembered in later Vedic/Upaniṣadic tradition (e.g., the ‘Vāmadeva-vidyā’ motif of realized identity)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma-pressing space and kindle/steady the sacred fires (Agni as ritual support).
  • At the appropriate Soma pressing, invite the R̥bhus with praise of their apas (effective works) and svadhā (innate law).
  • Recite the hymn with attention to ‘truth’ (satyam) and craftsmanship imagery—cups, radiance, abundance-cow—aligning the rite with precision.
  • Offer Soma and associated oblations while petitioning for ‘vasūni’ (true riches) and for the rite to be ‘well-made’ (free of flaw).
  • Conclude by affirming friendship with the laboring seeker (śrānta) and requesting the R̥bhus to establish plenitude in the sacrificer and community.

Offerings

  • Soma libations (especially at the third pressing)
  • Ghee/clarified butter into the fire
  • Ritual praise (stotra/śastra as offering of speech)

Frequently Asked Questions

The R̥bhus are a triad—Ṛbhu, Vibhvā, and Vāja—praised as divine craftsmen who perfect and renew forms. In this hymn they stand for flawless skill, truth in action, and the power to multiply abundance.

Tvaṣṭṛ is the divine fashioner. The hymn says he recognizes the R̥bhus’ work—shining cups—showing that their craftsmanship is so perfect it is acknowledged by the cosmic artisan himself, a model for a well-made sacrifice.

A Soma sacrifice has three main pressings in a day. The hymn’s final verse asks the R̥bhus to place ‘vasūni’ (true riches) in the worshipper specifically at the third pressing, linking the praise to a clear ritual moment.

Ask anything about Sukta 33 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play