Rig Veda Sukta 73
Mandala 8Sukta 7318 Mantras

Sukta 73

Sukta 8.73

Rishi

Atri (probable, as the hymn repeatedly references Atraye; traditional attribution to Atri or Atris in Aśvin hymns)

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable: short refrain-like structure; exact meter requires full hymn scan)

Dieser Aśvin-Hymnus ruft die Zwillingsgötter, die göttlichen Ärzte, immer wieder auf: Sie sollen aufstehen, ihren Wagen anjochen und nahe herankommen, damit ihre Hilfe dem Verehrer „nah und sitzend“ innewohne. Mit refrainartiger Eindringlichkeit bittet er um schnelle Rettung, Stärkung und das Zerschlagen der hemmenden Finsternis, als würde eine Festung gestürmt. Ziel ist unmittelbarer Beistand — Heilung, Schutz und die Wiederherstellung von ṛta (rechter Ordnung) in Leben und Geist.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.73

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AshvinsMantras 1-8Aśvins

    The Aśvins are youthful twin gods who ride a swift chariot, arrive at dawn, and act as divine physicians and rescuers, hearing the call quickly and bringing remedies, protection, and renewed vitality.

  • AshvinauMantras 9-15, 17-18Aśvinau (dual)
  • UshasMantra 16Uṣas (Dawn) explicitly

Mantras

Mantra 1

उदीराथामृतायते युञ्जाथामश्विना रथम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

O Aśvins, erhebt euch für den Sucher der Wahrheit; spannt euren Wagen an. Nahe sei uns eure Hilfe, in uns möge sie sich setzen.

Mantra 2

निमिषश्चिज्जवीयसा रथेना यातमश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Schneller als ein Augenblinzeln, o Aśvins, kommt auf eurem allerschnellsten Wagen. Nahe sei uns eure Hilfe, in uns möge sie sich setzen.

Mantra 3

उप स्तृणीतमत्रये हिमेन घर्ममश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

O Aśvins, breitet für Atri den warmen gharma (ghr̥ma) mit der Kühle aus. Nahe sei uns eure Hilfe, in uns möge sie sich setzen.

Mantra 4

कुह स्थः कुह जग्मथुः कुह श्येनेव पेतथुः । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Wo seid ihr? Woher seid ihr gekommen? Wohin seid ihr wie ein Falke geflogen? Nah bei uns, in uns, möge eure Hilfe sich niedersetzen.

Mantra 5

यदद्य कर्हि कर्हि चिच्छुश्रूयातमिमं हवम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Wann immer — heute, zu jeder Zeit — ihr diesen Ruf vernehmt, o Aśvins: Nah bei uns, in uns, möge eure Hilfe sich niedersetzen.

Mantra 6

अश्विना यामहूतमा नेदिष्ठं याम्याप्यम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

O Aśvins, am Wege am meisten angerufen, gehe ich zu eurer nächsten, vertrauten Nähe; nah bei uns, in uns, möge eure Hilfe sich niedersetzen.

Mantra 7

अवन्तमत्रये गृहं कृणुतं युवमश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Schafft dem Atri ein Haus, behütet und geschützt, o ihr beiden Aśvins; nahe bei uns sei eure Hilfe fest gegründet.

Mantra 8

वरेथे अग्निमातपो वदते वल्ग्वत्रये । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Wählt Agni: die Glut spricht ein schönes Wort für Atri; nahe bei uns sei eure Hilfe fest gegründet.

Mantra 9

प्र सप्तवध्रिराशसा धारामग्नेरशायत । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Vorwärts legt sich die siebenfach gehaltene Kraft, aus Sehnsucht, als strömender Strom des Agni nieder; nahe und wahrhaft gegenwärtig sei eure Hilfe.

Mantra 10

इहा गतं वृषण्वसू शृणुतं म इमं हवम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Kommt her, ihr beiden Vṛṣaṇvasū, reich an sieghafter Kraft; hört diesen meinen Ruf. Nah und wirklich gegenwärtig sei eure Hilfe.

Mantra 11

किमिदं वां पुराणवज्जरतोरिव शस्यते । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Was ist dies, das man von euch rühmt, als wäre es uralt, wie eine Erzählung der Alten? Nah und wirklich gegenwärtig sei eure Hilfe.

Mantra 12

समानं वां सजात्यं समानो बन्धुरश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Eins ist eure Verwandtschaft, eins euer gemeinsames Band, o Aśvins. Nah und wirklich gegenwärtig sei eure Hilfe.

Mantra 13

यो वां रजांस्यश्विना रथो वियाति रोदसी । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Euer Wagen, o Aśvins, der durch die weiten Räume fährt und über die beiden Welten dahineilt — nahe sei eure Hilfe, wahrhaft gegenwärtig.

Mantra 14

आ नो गव्येभिरश्व्यैः सहस्रैरुप गच्छतम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Kommt zu uns heran, tretet nahe mit tausendfachem Reichtum an leuchtenden Herden und schnellen Kräften; nahe sei eure Hilfe, wahrhaft gegenwärtig.

Mantra 15

मा नो गव्येभिरश्व्यैः सहस्रेभिरति ख्यतम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Zieht nicht an uns vorüber, ihr Ruhmreichen, mit euren tausendfachen Lichtern und schnellen Energien; nahe sei eure Hilfe, wahrhaft gegenwärtig.

Mantra 16

अरुणप्सुरुषा अभूदकर्ज्योतिॠतावरी । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Uṣas wurde zu rot aufleuchtendem Glanz und schuf das Licht, sie, die im Gesetz der Ṛta wandelt; nahe sei und wahrhaft gegenwärtig eure Hilfe.

Mantra 17

अश्विना सु विचाकशद्वृक्षं परशुमाँ इव । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

O Aśvins, klar möge es aufleuchten — wie ein Baum, den der Axtträger sichtbar macht; nahe sei und wahrhaft gegenwärtig eure Hilfe.

Mantra 18

पुरं न धृष्णवा रुज कृष्णया बाधितो विशा । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

Durchbreche, wie ein Kühner, der eine Burg zerschlägt, den, den die Schwärze in den vielen Völkern bedrängt; nahe sei und wahrhaft gegenwärtig eure Hilfe.

Inside Sukta 73

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct awakening-call: the Aśvins are asked to rise, yoke their chariot, and come to the truth-seeker; the refrain prays that their help be near and firmly present.

  2. Development

    The poet intensifies the invitation—‘come here, hear my call’—highlighting their vigor and readiness to respond, turning the hymn into a rhythmic, insistently repeated summons.

  3. Climax

    A forceful plea for breakthrough: the Aśvins are asked to smash obstruction like a fortress, liberating those oppressed by ‘blackness’ across the peoples/forces of life.

  4. Where it settles

    The refrain returns as a settling assurance: the desired end is not only external rescue but the inward ‘seating’ of divine help—steady protection and restored order.

The deity: Aśvins

  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from darkness to light (night to dawn), restore health and wholeness, and rapidly intervene to save beings from danger, disorder, and affliction.
  • Inner significanceThey symbolize the twin powers of prompt grace and practical healing—clarity that arrives at the threshold of awakening, restoring balance, courage, and right orientation when the mind is oppressed by ‘blackness’ (tamas/obstruction).

The seer

  • Atri (probable; Atraya/Atraye is repeatedly invoked)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the most ancient Rigvedic seers; associated with luminous insight, the Ātreya lineage, and hymns that call the gods as close helpers—especially the Aśvins as rescuers and healers.

Famous verses

anti ṣad bhūtu vām avaḥ
Verse 8.73.1Sets the program of the whole hymn: rise, yoke the chariot, come to the seeker of ṛta; introduces the hallmark refrain requesting near, abiding help.Read verse 8.73.1 →
ihā gataṃ … śṛṇutam me imaṃ havam
Verse 8.73.10A clear, accessible invocation: ‘come here… hear my call,’ addressing the Aśvins as vṛṣaṇvasū (rich in victorious power), reinforcing their immediacy and responsiveness.Read verse 8.73.10 →
puraṃ na … ā ruja
Verse 8.73.18Expresses the hymn’s peak intensity: a prayer to break oppressive darkness/obstruction ‘like a fortress,’ showing the Aśvins as decisive liberators, not only gentle healers.Read verse 8.73.18 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin deities (dual form)
  • Swift chariot-borne helpers
  • Healers/physicians
  • Rescuers in संकट (distress)
  • Associated with dawn and renewal
  • Bring strength (vṛṣan-vasū: ‘rich in victorious force’)
  • Restore ṛta and well-being

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Mandala 5 is traditionally associated with the Atri/Ātreya family of seers (many hymns attributed to Ātreyas).
  • Multiple Aśvin-related invocations across the Rigveda are linked to the Ātreya tradition (family-style refrains and urgent calls for aid).
  • Later Vedic and Itihāsa-Purāṇa tradition remembers Atri among the great ṛṣis and as a progenitor of an influential gotra.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare a clean seat and a small fire or lamp (if in a domestic setting).
  • Begin with a brief saṅkalpa: seeking ṛta, health, and protection.
  • Invoke the Aśvins as swift riders; mentally ‘yoke the chariot’ (ratha-yoga) and invite their nearness.
  • Recite the hymn (or selected verses) with emphasis on the recurring refrain asking that their help be near and present.
  • Offer oblations while repeating the refrain (where appropriate) as a sealing prayer for immediate aid.
  • Conclude with a quiet moment of receptivity—imagining their ‘help seated within’ (inner stabilization) and dedicating the merit to right order in life.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into fire (where applicable)
  • Milk or soma-substitute offerings (symbolic nourishment)
  • Honey/sweet offering (madhu) as a traditional Aśvin-associated sweetness
  • Water libation and simple flowers in non-fire settings

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins are twin Vedic deities known for swift arrival, healing, and rescue. This hymn calls them like urgent helpers who come at dawn and restore strength and well-being.

It asks that the Aśvins’ help be “near” and “seated/present” for the worshipper. The idea is not only distant blessing, but immediate, steady support felt within one’s life and mind.

Call the Aśvins quickly and confidently: they hear, arrive, and remove obstacles—especially the ‘blackness’ of oppression or confusion—so that truth (ṛta), health, and protection can be restored.

Ask anything about Sukta 73 of the Rig Veda

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