Rig Veda Sukta 85
Mandala 8Sukta 859 Mantras

Sukta 85

Sukta 8.85

Dieser kurze Aśvin-Hymnus lädt die Nāsatyas wiederholt ein, rasch auf den Ruf des Dichters zu kommen und den honigsüßen Soma zu trinken. Er bittet die göttlichen Zwillinge, sicheren Schutz (chardiḥ) zu bringen, die inspirierte Rede des Sängers zu stärken und das Opfer durch ihr rechtzeitiges Erscheinen und ihren Beistand fruchtbar zu machen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.85

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AshvinsMantras 1-2Aśvins (Nāsatyas)

    The Aśvins are youthful twin horsemen, swift as thought, famed as healers and rescuers who arrive at dawn in a radiant chariot to aid worshippers.

  • AshvinauMantras 3-9Aśvinau (the Ashvin twins / Nā́satyā)

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ मे हवं नासत्याश्विना गच्छतं युवम् । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Kommt zu meinem Ruf, o Nāsatyas, o Aśvins, ihr beiden; kommt zum Trank des honigsüßen Soma.

Mantra 2

इमं मे स्तोममश्विनेमं मे शृणुतं हवम् । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Diesen meinen Lobgesang, o Aśvins—diesen meinen Ruf, hört ihn; kommt zum Trank des honigsüßen Soma.

Mantra 3

अयं वां कृष्णो अश्विना हवते वाजिनीवसू । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Dieser Sucher, Kṛṣṇa, ruft euch, o Aśvins, ihr Herren der vājins, — den honigsüßen Soma zu trinken.

Mantra 4

शृणुतं जरितुर्हवं कृष्णस्य स्तुवतो नरा । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Hört den Ruf des Sängers — des Kṛṣṇa, der preist, o ihr heldischen Zwillinge — zum Trank des honigreichen Soma.

Mantra 5

छर्दिर्यन्तमदाभ्यं विप्राय स्तुवते नरा । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Kommt, ein weites Obdach bringend — unangreifbar — zum inspirierten ṛṣi, der preist, o ihr heldischen Zwillinge — zum Trank des honigreichen Soma.

Mantra 6

गच्छतं दाशुषो गृहमित्था स्तुवतो अश्विना । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Geht zum Haus des Gebenden — so, des Lobpreisenden, o Aśvins — zum Trank des honigsüßen Soma.

Mantra 7

युञ्जाथां रासभं रथे वीड्वङ्गे वृषण्वसू । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Spannt den Esel an den Wagen, o Vīḍvaṅga, o Vṛṣaṇvasū — zum Trank des honigsüßen Soma.

Mantra 8

त्रिवन्धुरेण त्रिवृता रथेना यातमश्विना । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Kommt, o Aśvins, mit dem dreijochigen, dreifach umlaufenden Wagen — zum Trank des honigsüßen Soma.

Mantra 9

नू मे गिरो नासत्याश्विना प्रावतं युवम् । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥

Nun stützt meine Lieder, o Nāsatyas, o Aśvins; fördert ihr beide sie voran – zum Trank des honigsüßen Soma.

Inside Sukta 85

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons: the poet calls the Nāsatyas/Aśvins to come to him for the drinking of honeyed Soma.

  2. Development

    The invitation expands into specific petitions—bring unassailable shelter and come to the praising seer—while the refrain keeps the ritual focus on Soma-drinking.

  3. Climax

    The prayer turns to efficacy: the Aśvins are asked to ‘carry forward’ and uphold the poet’s words, making the hymn and rite powerful.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes with renewed invocation and support for the utterances, sealing the relationship: arrival, Soma-drinking, protection, and empowered speech.

The deity: Aśvins

  • In the VedaThey are addressed as Nāsatyas (“true/not-failing ones”), bringers of help, shelter, and well-being, and eager drinkers of Soma.
  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from night to day, restoring vitality, health, and fortunate movement; they ensure safe passage, timely assistance, and the renewal that accompanies dawn and the opening of the sacrifice.
  • Inner significanceThey symbolize the quick, harmonizing powers that heal inner fragmentation—restoring clarity, confidence, and the ‘right timing’ of insight—so that speech (giraḥ) becomes effective and life regains forward momentum.

The seer

  • Kṛṣṇa (ascription uncertain in many recensions for RV 8.85)A poet-voice in Mandala 8 associated with lively Aśvin-invocations and refrain-driven Soma invitations; the exact traditional attribution of this specific sukta is not uniformly preserved.

Famous verses

madhvaḥ somasya pītaye
Verse 8.85.1Sets the core ritual action of the sukta: an urgent invitation to the Aśvins to arrive and drink the honeyed Soma, establishing the refrain-driven structure.Read verse 8.85.1 →
chardiḥ … adābhyam
Verse 8.85.5Highlights the boon sought alongside Soma participation—chardiḥ (broad shelter/peace) that is adābhya (unassailable)—showing the Aśvins as protectors and benefactors.Read verse 8.85.5 →
नू मे गिरो नासत्याश्विना प्रावतं युवम् । मध्वः सोमस्य पीतये ॥
Verse 8.85.9Brings the hymn to its functional peak by asking the Aśvins to uphold and propel the poet’s speech (giraḥ), linking divine aid to the success of mantra and sacrifice.Read verse 8.85.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin deities
  • Swift arrival (dawn-associated)
  • Healers and rescuers
  • Protective shelter (chardiḥ)
  • Truthfulness/reliability (Nāsatya)
  • Chariot-borne, horse-linked imagery
  • Soma-enjoyers and ritual allies

Also by this seer

  • Aśvin-focused and Soma-inviting hymns across Rigveda Mandala 8 (traditional ascriptions vary by śākhā/anukramaṇī).
  • Use of compact Anuṣṭubh-style praise with recurring refrain (madhvaḥ somasya pītaye) typical of several late-family collections in Book 8.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma offering and recitation setting (ṛtvij/poet ready with praise).
  • Invoke the Aśvins by name (Nāsatyā, Aśvinā), requesting their swift approach.
  • Offer the honeyed Soma with the recurring invitation to drink (pītaye).
  • Ask for chardiḥ (secure shelter), unassailable protection, and well-being for the worshipper.
  • Conclude by requesting support for the hymns/utterances (giraḥ) so the rite moves forward successfully.

Offerings

  • Soma (honeyed/madhumat)
  • Optional accompanying oblations customary in Soma sessions (ghee/clarified butter in ancillary offerings)

Frequently Asked Questions

They are the youthful twin deities of dawn, famous for swift help, healing, and rescue. Here they are invited to attend the rite and bless the worshipper.

Because the main ritual purpose is to invite the Aśvins to the Soma offering. The repeated refrain keeps the focus on their arrival and participation in the sacrifice.

It asks for secure, unassailable shelter (peace and protection) and for support of the poet’s utterances so the prayer and ritual become effective.

Ask anything about Sukta 85 of the Rig Veda

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