Rig Veda Sukta 44
Mandala 4Sukta 447 Mantras

Sukta 44

Sukta 4.44

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama

Devata

Aśvinau

Chandas

Jagatī or Triṣṭubh (uncertain from single verse; requires scan)

Dieser kurze Aśvin-Hymnus des Vāmadeva ruft die Zwillingsreiter an, rasch in ihrem weithin eilenden goldenen Wagen — dem „Treffpunkt der Strahlen“ — heranzukommen und sich dem Opfer anzuschließen. Der Dichter bittet sie, den honigsüßen Soma zu trinken, dem Verehrer Schatz und Lebenskraft zu verleihen und den Sänger mit ihrer gnädigen Gunst zu schützen, wo immer sie gemeinsam anzutreffen sind.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.44

Mantras

Mantra 1

तं वां रथं वयमद्या हुवेम पृथुज्रयमश्विना संगतिं गोः । यः सूर्यां वहति वन्धुरायुर्गिर्वाहसं पुरुतमं वसूयुम् ॥

Diesen euren Wagen rufen wir heute, o Aśvins, herbei – weithin rasend, der Sammelplatz der Strahlen (der Lichtkühe). Er trägt Sūryā, reich an angespanntem Lebensodem, Träger des inspirierten Wortes, überaus reich, ein Sucher und Spender wahrer Schätze.

Mantra 2

युवं श्रियमश्विना देवता तां दिवो नपाता वनथः शचीभिः । युवोर्वपुरभि पृक्षः सचन्ते वहन्ति यत्ककुहासो रथे वाम् ॥

Ihr beiden, o Aśvins, göttliche Mächte, gewinnt euch jene Śrī – das leuchtende Glück –, o Söhne des Himmels, durch eure wirksamen Kräfte. Um eure strahlende Gestalt drängen sich die Rosse und tragen sie voran, wenn die hochkammigen eurem Wagen ziehen.

Mantra 3

को वामद्या करते रातहव्य ऊतये वा सुतपेयाय वार्कैः । ऋतस्य वा वनुषे पूर्व्याय नमो येमानो अश्विना ववर्तत् ॥

Wer richtet euch heute die dargebrachte Opfergabe zu – wer wendet sich euch zu um Beistand oder um das Trinken der gepressten Soma, mit Hymnen? Oder wer, den uralten Pfad des Ṛta suchend, tritt vor, in Verehrung sich verneigend, o Aśvins?

Mantra 4

हिरण्ययेन पुरुभू रथेनेमं यज्ञं नासत्योप यातम् । पिबाथ इन्मधुनः सोम्यस्य दधथो रत्नं विधते जनाय ॥

Naht euch diesem Opfer, o Nāsatyas, auf eurem goldenen, reichspendenden Wagen. Trinkt wahrlich den honigsüßen Soma, den somischen; und legt den Schatz in den Menschen, der dient und das Opferwerk bereitet.

Mantra 5

आ नो यातं दिवो अच्छा पृथिव्या हिरण्ययेन सुवृता रथेन । मा वामन्ये नि यमन्देवयन्तः सं यद्ददे नाभिः पूर्व्या वाम् ॥

Kommt zu uns vom Himmel und von der Erde her auf eurem goldenen, wohlrollenden, wohlgefügten Wagen. Nicht sollen euch andere Gottsucher zurückhalten, wenn hier bei uns der uralte Nabelpunkt eurer Gemeinschaft gesetzt ist.

Mantra 6

नू नो रयिं पुरुवीरं बृहन्तं दस्रा मिमाथामुभयेष्वस्मे । नरो यद्वामश्विना स्तोममावन्त्सधस्तुतिमाजमीळ्हासो अग्मन् ॥

Nun, o Dasras, wunderwirkende Aśvins, formt uns einen reichen rayi—weit und groß, voll vieler heldischer Kräfte—auf beiden Seiten unseres Seins. Denn die Männer, die euch den Gesang brachten—das unmittelbare Lob und den vorwärts treibenden Ruf—sind gekommen, ihr Preiswürdigen.

Mantra 7

इहेह यद्वां समना पपृक्षे सेयमस्मे सुमतिर्वाजरत्ना । उरुष्यतं जरितारं युवं ह श्रितः कामो नासत्या युवद्रिक् ॥

Hier und hier, wo immer ihr zusammenkommt, möge uns dieser gute Sinn gehören—reich an vā́ja und Schatz. Schützt den Sänger; denn in euch, o Nāsatyas, hat das Verlangen Zuflucht genommen, auf euch hinblickend.

Inside Sukta 44

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by calling the Aśvins’ wide-racing chariot, envisioned as a luminous meeting-point of the rays and bearer of Sūryā.

  2. Development

    The poet draws the Twins toward the ongoing sacrifice, highlighting their golden, abundant vehicle and their readiness to drink the honeyed Soma and reward the devoted worshipper.

  3. Climax

    A direct ritual invitation peaks: “Come to this yajña… drink the Soma… place the treasure,” crystallizing the exchange between rite and divine generosity.

  4. Where it settles

    It resolves with a protective, intimate plea—may their rich ‘good thought’ be ours wherever they are together, and may they guard the singer who takes refuge in them.

The deity: Aśvinau

  • In the VedaThe Aśvins are youthful divine Twins, swift riders in a radiant (often golden) chariot, bringers of help at need, physicians and rescuers who come at dawn and respond quickly to the call of the singer.
  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from night to day, restore and renew life, and connect the human rite to the arriving light—bringing protection, health, prosperity, and auspicious movement to the sacrifice.
  • Inner significanceThey symbolize the awakening powers that ‘arrive quickly’ when invoked: the twin capacities of intuition and effective action, healing and integration, that carry the seeker from obscurity toward clarity and abundance.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva) gotra · A major Rigvedic seer of Mandala 4, celebrated for powerful, luminous praise-poetry and for hymns that blend ritual precision with inner aspiration toward divine help and plenitude.

Famous verses

saṃgatiṃ goḥ
Verse 4.44.1Sets the hymn’s signature imagery: the Aśvins’ chariot as swift, luminous, and connected with Sūryā and the ‘cows/rays’ of light—establishing the dawn-arrival motif and the power of inspired speech.Read verse 4.44.1 →
pibātha in madhunaḥ somyasya
Verse 4.44.4The clearest ritual core: invitation to approach the sacrifice in the golden chariot, drink the honeyed Soma, and bestow treasure upon the officiant/worshipper.Read verse 4.44.4 →
uruṣyataṃ jaritāram
Verse 4.44.7Concluding protective petition: asks for sumati rich in strength and treasure, and explicitly requests protection of the singer who takes refuge in the Nāsatyas.Read verse 4.44.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin deities (dual form)
  • Swift, wide-ranging chariot
  • Golden brilliance and dawn-association
  • Healers/rescuers, protectors of the devotee
  • Lovers of Soma and participants in yajña
  • Bestowers of wealth (ratna), strength (vāja), and well-being (sumati)

Also by this seer

  • Principal seer of much of Rigveda Mandala 4 (numerous sūktas attributed to Vāmadeva)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, the Aśvins, and allied deities across Mandala 4
  • Associated in later tradition with exemplary rishi status and inspired speech (ṛṣi-vāc)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the offering space and recite the invitatory verses calling the Aśvins’ chariot to the rite
  • Offer and present Soma; invite the Twins to ‘come near’ (upa yātam) and partake of the honeyed draught
  • Recite praise describing their radiant chariot and beneficence, linking their coming with the ‘rays/cows of light’
  • State petitions: protection of the singer, good thought (sumati), vitality, and treasure (ratna)
  • Conclude with a final protective appeal and affirmation of reliance on the Nāsatyas

Offerings

  • Soma (honeyed, somya madhu)
  • Ghee/oblations customary to the rite (as part of yajña setting)
  • Poetic praise (stotra) as an offering of speech

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins (also called Nāsatyā) are divine twin deities known for swift help, healing, protection, and their radiant chariot associated with dawn.

It calls them to come quickly to the sacrifice, drink the honeyed Soma, protect the poet-singer, and place treasure, strength, and well-being in the worshipper.

In Vedic imagery, ‘cows’ often symbolize rays or luminous powers; calling the chariot a “meeting-place of the rays” ties the Aśvins’ arrival to dawn’s light and renewal.

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