Sukta 47
Sukta 4.47
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4)
Vāyu (with Soma-invitation motif)
Jagatī (probable; RV 4 commonly uses Jagatī/Triṣṭubh in such invocations—requires pad-count confirmation)
Diese kurze Hymne ist eine dringliche Soma-Einladung an Vāyu, den schnellen, lichtglänzenden Wind, mit der Bitte, angespannt mit seinen Niyut-Rossen zu kommen und den ersten Anteil des Soma zu trinken. Dann weitet sie sich zu einem gemeinsamen Ruf an Indra und Vāyu aus, auf einem Wagen heranzufahren, Schutz und Stärke zu bringen und den Verehrern ihre so sehr begehrten, angespannten Kräfte fest zu verleihen.
Mantras
Mantra 1
वायो शुक्रो अयामि ते मध्वो अग्रं दिविष्टिषु । आ याहि सोमपीतये स्पार्हो देव नियुत्वता ॥
O Vāyu, leuchtende Macht, ich bringe dir den ersten Anteil der Süße, des Honigs, unter den himmelwärts gerichteten Strebungen. Komm her zum Trinken des Soma, begehrenswerter Gott, angeschirrt mit deinen geordneten Gespannen (niyút), den Rossen der Kraft.
Mantra 2
इन्द्रश्च वायवेषां सोमानां पीतिमर्हथः । युवां हि यन्तीन्दवो निम्नमापो न सध्र्यक् ॥
Indra und Vāyu, ihr beide seid des Trankes dieser Soma-Wogen würdig; denn zu euch drängen die Tropfen unwiderstehlich, wie Wasser in die Senke hinab—geradewegs an ihren bestimmten Ort.
Mantra 3
वायविन्द्रश्च शुष्मिणा सरथं शवसस्पती । नियुत्वन्ता न ऊतय आ यातं सोमपीतये ॥
O Vāyu und Indra, Herren der Kraft, kommt mit eurer Macht auf einem Wagen vereint; mit den Niyuts angeschirrt, kommt zu unserer Hilfe, kommt zum Soma-Trank.
Mantra 4
या वां सन्ति पुरुस्पृहो नियुतो दाशुषे नरा । अस्मे ता यज्ञवाहसेन्द्रवायू नि यच्छतम् ॥
Welche Niyuts von euch, so sehr begehrt, o ihr zwei starken Männer, dem Spender zuteilwerden—die gewährt uns; o Indra und Vāyu, Träger des Opfers, befestigt sie in uns.
Inside Sukta 47
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct, vivid invitation to Vāyu as luminous power, bringing him the first essence of Soma-delight.
- Development
The hymn shifts from the single deity to the dual form Indra-Vāyu, emphasizing shared chariot, might, and readiness to help.
- Climax
The plea that the two ‘yoked energies’ (niyutaḥ)—highly desired and effective—arrive for Soma-drinking and for protection.
- Where it settles
A concluding request that those sacrifice-bearing powers be firmly granted and established ‘in us,’ sealing the rite with an inward bestowal.
The deity: Vāyu
- In the VedaVāyu is praised as śukra (bright/pure), swift and desirable, coming with niyut (yoked teams/energies) to the Soma-drinking; with Indra he is invoked as a strong pair who ride together and carry the sacrifice.
- Cosmic functionAs Wind/Breath he moves between heaven and earth, quickening life, carrying offerings and inspiration; in the Indra-Vāyu dyad he channels power (Indra) through motion and prāṇa (Vāyu) to make the rite effective.
- Inner significanceVāyu signifies prāṇa—clarity, vitality, and the dynamic force that brings the ‘first essence’ of delight into conscious experience; with Indra he represents energized will guided by right movement, enabling inner steadiness and victorious aspiration.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva as a Gautama seer) · A major Rigvedic seer of Mandala 4, renowned for powerful invocatory poetry and for hymns that link outer deities with inner illumination and inspired speech.
Famous verses
somapītaye
sarathaṃ
yajñavāhasā
Attributes of the deity
- Swift approach to the Soma-pressing
- Śukra (luminous, purifying)
- Niyutvat (possessing ordered/yoked energies)
- Yajñavāhasa (sacrifice-bearing, especially with Indra)
- Helper and protector (ūtī)
- Linked with the ‘first share’ of Soma
Also by this seer
- Primary seer associated with many hymns of Rig Veda Mandala 4 (Vāmadeva family collection)
- Hymns to Indra, Agni, the Aśvins, and allied deities within RV 4 (traditional attribution across the mandala)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the Soma pressing and seating for the invited deities.
- Recite the opening invitation to Vāyu, offering the ‘first essence’/first share of Soma.
- Invoke Vāyu to arrive with his niyut teams and take the Soma-drink.
- Expand the call to Indra-Vāyu to come together on one chariot for help (ūtī).
- Petition the pair to ‘set’ or establish their much-desired niyut-powers within/among the worshippers and the rite.
Offerings
- Soma (first share/agra)
- Associated oblations customary to Soma rites (supporting offerings to the yajña/fire)
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn invites Vāyu to come quickly and drink the first share of Soma, and asks Indra-Vāyu together to bring help, strength, and firmly established power to the worshippers.
Vāyu is portrayed as arriving swiftly with ordered, yoked energies (niyut) to receive Soma early; this symbolizes prāṇa-like vitality and the quickening of the rite’s effectiveness.
In this hymn, niyut refers to Vāyu’s yoked teams or ordered energies—his controlled powers of movement and force—requested as a boon to support the sacrifice and the sacrificer.
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