Rig Veda Sukta 70
Mandala 7Sukta 707 Mantras

Sukta 70

Sukta 7.70

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

In diesem kurzen Hymnus ruft Vasiṣṭha die Aśvinau an, „zu uns zu kommen“, ihren irdischen Sitz einzunehmen und schnelle, heilende, schatzbringende Hilfe zu bringen. Die Zwillinge werden als innige Mächte gepriesen, die durch Wasser und Pflanzen wirken, Heilmittel, Gedeihen und rechte Führung verleihen, während der Dichter ein wohlgeflochtenes Gebet um dauerhafte svasti (Wohlergehen) darbringt.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.70

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AshvinauAśvinau

    Twin youthful gods, swift as horses, physicians of the gods, rescuers in peril, and bringers of boons; they arrive quickly to the sacrifice and accept the poet’s well-crafted praise.

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ विश्ववाराश्विना गतं नः प्र तत्स्थानमवाचि वां पृथिव्याम् । अश्वो न वाजी शुनपृष्ठो अस्थादा यत्सेदथुर्ध्रुवसे न योनिम् ॥

Kommt zu uns, o Aśvins, die ihr alle begehrenswerten Gaben gewährt; hier auf Erden ist euer Sitz verkündet. Wie ein mächtiges Ross, wie ein sieghafter Renner, fest im Rücken, nehmt ihr Stand — wenn ihr euch in das stallende Schoß (yoni) setzt, in den sicheren Grund unseres Werdens.

Mantra 2

सिषक्ति सा वां सुमतिश्चनिष्ठातापि घर्मो मनुषो दुरोणे । यो वां समुद्रान्त्सरितः पिपर्त्येतग्वा चिन्न सुयुजा युजानः ॥

An uns hefte sich eure glückseligste, rechte Gesinnung; im Menschenhaus wird die innere Glut (gharmá) entzündet. Der, der euch die Meere und die Flüsse füllt, der spannt selbst die Schnellen zu vollkommener Anspannung an, ohne etwas schlecht angeschirrt zu lassen.

Mantra 3

यानि स्थानान्यश्विना दधाथे दिवो यह्वीष्वोषधीषु विक्षु । नि पर्वतस्य मूर्धनि सदन्तेषं जनाय दाशुषे वहन्ता ॥

Welche Standorte ihr auch setzt, o Aśvins — in den weittragenden Höhen des Himmels, in den heilenden Pflanzen, unter den Völkern —, auf dem Gipfel des Berges sitzend, tragt ihr dem opfernden Menschen den Antrieb der Fülle zu.

Mantra 4

चनिष्टं देवा ओषधीष्वप्सु यद्योग्या अश्नवैथे ऋषीणाम् । पुरूणि रत्ना दधतौ न्यस्मे अनु पूर्वाणि चख्यथुर्युगानि ॥

Am innigsten, o Götter, in den Pflanzen und in den Wassern erlangt ihr, was von den ṛṣi zu gewinnen ist. Viele Schätze legt ihr in uns nieder, und ihr lasst uns der Reihe nach die früheren Yuga schauen, damit die alten Wirkungen zur Erkenntnis für den heutigen Weg werden.

Mantra 5

शुश्रुवांसा चिदश्विना पुरूण्यभि ब्रह्माणि चक्षाथे ऋषीणाम् । प्रति प्र यातं वरमा जनायास्मे वामस्तु सुमतिश्चनिष्ठा ॥

Selbst als Hörende, o Aśvins, schaut ihr auf die vielen inspirierten Sprüche der ṛṣi. Kommt hervor dem Menschen entgegen mit der besten Gabe; in uns sei eure innerste sumatí, das rechte Sinnen.

Mantra 6

यो वां यज्ञो नासत्या हविष्मान्कृतब्रह्मा समर्यो भवाति । उप प्र यातं वरमा वसिष्ठमिमा ब्रह्माण्यृच्यन्ते युवभ्याम् ॥

Euer Opfer, o Nāsatyas, reich an Gaben, wird zum wahren Kampfgefährten, wenn das brahman, die inspirierte Rede, recht geformt ist. Kommt heran und vorwärts mit der besten Gabe zu Vasiṣṭha; diese brahman-Formeln werden für euch beide in den Rhythmus gesetzt.

Mantra 7

इयं मनीषा इयमश्विना गीरिमां सुवृक्तिं वृषणा जुषेथाम् । इमा ब्रह्माणि युवयून्यग्मन्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Dies ist der Gedanke, dies ist das Lied für euch, o Aśvins; nehmt an, o Starke, diese wohlgewobene Rede. Diese brahman-Formeln sind zu euch gekommen in jugendlicher Kraft; behütet uns immer mit euren Mächten des rechten Seins, mit svastí.

Inside Sukta 70

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons: the all-boon-giving Aśvins are invited to come and be seated upon the earth for the sacrificer.

  2. Development

    Their power is unfolded as swift, firm support and as intimate healers working through waters and medicinal plants, granting treasures and insight into the ordered succession of ages (yugāni).

  3. Climax

    The hymn highlights their bestowal of many ‘ratnas’ and the revelatory seeing of prior ages—linking healing and prosperity with awakened knowledge.

  4. Where it settles

    The poet offers the final, well-woven utterance and asks for continual protection—‘guard us always with svasti.’

The deity: Aśvinau

  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from darkness to light (dawn’s approach), restore health and wholeness, and connect celestial powers to human need through timely intervention.
  • Inner significanceThe Aśvins symbolize the rapid, harmonizing intelligence that heals imbalance—bringing clarity, renewal, and practical help at life’s thresholds (crisis, change, beginnings).

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (one of the Seven Ṛṣis; associated with the Vasiṣṭha family of Mandala 7) · Foremost seer-poet of Mandala 7, celebrated for hymns to Varuṇa–Mitra and for shaping royal-sacrificial theology and ethical vision (ṛta, truth-order).

Famous verses

आ विश्ववाराश्विना गतं नः प्र तत्स्थानमवाचि वां पृथिव्याम् । अश्वो न वाजी शुनपृष्ठो अस्थादा यत्सेदथुर्ध्रुवसे न योनिम् ॥
Verse 7.70.1Sets the hymn’s ritual frame: an urgent invitation and enthronement of the Aśvins on earth, with vivid imagery of stable, firm support for becoming.Read verse 7.70.1 →
चनिष्टं देवा ओषधीष्वप्सु यद्योग्या अश्नवैथे ऋषीणाम् । पुरूणि रत्ना दधतौ न्यस्मे अनु पूर्वाणि चख्यथुर्युगानि ॥
Verse 7.70.4Central theological move: the Aśvins as healers present in waters and plants, granting attainable boons to seers and revealing the ordered sequence of ages.Read verse 7.70.4 →
yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Verse 7.70.7Concluding dedication and protection-prayer: the hymn is offered as a ‘well-woven’ speech and ends with the request for constant svasti.Read verse 7.70.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin deities
  • Youthful (nāsatyā)
  • Swift, horse-associated
  • Healers/physicians
  • Rescuers and benefactors
  • Dawn-linked arrivals
  • Bestowers of treasures and well-being (svasti)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Mandala 7 (Vasiṣṭha-maṇḍala)
  • Notable Varuṇa hymns (e.g., RV 7.86–7.89)
  • Hymns to Agni and Indra within Mandala 7 (family collection)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish a calm, orderly space (ṛta).
  • Recite the invitatory verses calling the Aśvins to ‘come’ and ‘take their seat’ on earth.
  • Offer oblations while praising their swiftness and stabilizing support (dhruva yoni imagery).
  • Invoke their healing presence through waters and plants (āpas, oṣadhis) for remedies and vigor.
  • Conclude with acceptance-formula: ask them to enjoy the well-woven hymn and guard with svasti.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Soma libation (where applicable)
  • Simple food offerings associated with Aśvin worship (e.g., milk/curds in later practice)

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins are twin youthful gods known for swift help, healing, and rescue. Here they are invited to come quickly, accept praise, and protect the worshipper with well-being (svasti).

Waters (āpas) and plants (oṣadhis) are traditional sources of cleansing and medicine. The sukta presents the Aśvins as powers working through these natural remedies to restore health and strength.

The poet asks the Aśvins to arrive, take their seat at the rite, place treasures and vitality within the people, and guard them continually with auspicious protection and right-being (svasti).

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