Rig Veda Sukta 86
Mandala 8Sukta 865 Mantras

Sukta 86

Sukta 8.86

Rishi

Viśvaka

Chandas

Jagatī (12-syllable cadence typical for longer pādas; refrain-like closing)

Dieser kurze Jagatī-Hymnus ruft die Aśvins als wunderbare Zwillingsheiler und Freudenbringer an und bittet sie, das „verkörperte Wesen zu gestalten“ (tanūkṛ-) und das Band der Freundschaft ungebrochen zu bewahren. In den refrainartig wiederkehrenden Bitten erinnert der Seher Viśvaka an die Wohltaten der Aśvins und deutet ihre Hilfe als Schutz der vitalen Ganzheit, des Gedeihens und einer standhaften Gefährtenschaft unter Ṛta (kosmischer Ordnung).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.86

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AshvinauMantras 1-3Aśvinau (Dasrā, Bhiṣajā, Mayobhūvā)

    The Aśvins are the youthful divine twins, swift riders who arrive at dawn, famed as Dasrā (“wondrous ones”), Bhiṣajā (“healers/physicians”), and Mayobhūvā (“bringers of delight and well-being”).

  • SavitriMantra 5Savitṛ (Savitā)

Mantras

Mantra 1

उभा हि दस्रा भिषजा मयोभुवोभा दक्षस्य वचसो बभूवथुः । ता वां विश्वको हवते तनूकृथे मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥

Ihr beide seid wahrlich wundertätig, ihr beide seid Heiler, ihr beide seid Spender der Wonne; ihr seid zu Mächten der Kunstfertigkeit und des inspirierten Wortes geworden. Darum ruft euch Viśvaka zur Gestaltung des leiblichen Wesens: trennt uns nicht, löst nicht das Band der Freundschaft.

Mantra 2

कथा नूनं वां विमना उप स्तवद्युवं धियं ददथुर्वस्यइष्टये । ता वां विश्वको हवते तनूकृथे मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥

Wie sollte nun der im Sinn Verwirrte zu euch nahen und euch preisen, wenn ihr beide nicht die erleuchtete Einsicht gewährt zum Streben nach besserem Gut? Darum ruft euch Viśvaka zur Gestaltung des leiblichen Wesens: trennt uns nicht, löst nicht das Band der Freundschaft.

Mantra 3

युवं हि ष्मा पुरुभुजेममेधतुं विष्णाप्वे ददथुर्वस्यइष्टये । ता वां विश्वको हवते तनूकृथे मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥

Denn ihr beide habt diesem wahrlich Wachstum in Fülle verliehen – selbst dem Viṣṇāpū – im Streben nach dem besseren Gut. Darum ruft euch Viśvaka zur Gestaltung des leibhaftigen Wesens: trennt uns nicht, löst das Band der Freundschaft nicht.

Mantra 4

उत त्यं वीरं धनसामृजीषिणं दूरे चित्सन्तमवसे हवामहे । यस्य स्वादिष्ठा सुमतिः पितुर्यथा मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥

Und jenen Helden, den geradlenkenden Herrn der Füllen, rufen wir, auch wenn er selbst in der Ferne steht, zur Hilfe. Dessen süßeste gute Gesinnung wie die eines Vaters ist – er lockere und zerstreue unsere Gemeinschaft nicht; er entlasse uns nicht aus dem Band der Kameradschaft.

Mantra 5

ऋतेन देवः सविता शमायत ऋतस्य शृङ्गमुर्विया वि पप्रथे । ऋतं सासाह महि चित्पृतन्यतो मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥

Durch Ṛta, die Wahrheitsordnung, wird der Gott Savitṛ still und stiftet Frieden; das Horn des Ṛta hat er weit in seiner Weite ausgebreitet. Für uns hat er Ṛta errungen, selbst gegen die Mächtigen, die im Kampf drängen – er lockere unsere Gemeinschaft nicht, er entlasse uns nicht aus dem Band der Kameradschaft.

Inside Sukta 86

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by praising the Aśvins as wondrous healers and joy-bringers, competent in skill (dakṣa) and inspired speech (vacas).

  2. Development

    Viśvaka grounds his plea in remembered benefactions: the twins’ capacity to foster abundance and well-being, and their readiness to respond to sincere calling.

  3. Climax

    The recurring refrain becomes the emotional peak—an urgent request that they “shape the embodied being” and not loosen the bond of friendship/aid that sustains life.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into assurance through Ṛta-oriented stability: divine help is framed as the preservation of order, peace, and unbroken companionship for the worshipper.

The deity: Aśvinau

  • In the VedaThey rescue, restore, and renew—granting health, longevity, safe passage, and prosperity to devotees who call them.
  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from night to day and from disorder to restored harmony, bringing timely aid, rejuvenation, and auspicious beginnings; their interventions re-knit life, strength, and fortune in the human sphere.
  • Inner significanceThey symbolize the twin powers of restoration—physical healing and psychological reassurance—helping the seeker reintegrate body, breath, and mind, and preserving supportive bonds (sakhyā) that sustain the self through crisis.

The seer

  • ViśvakaA relatively obscure Rigvedic seer in Mandala 8 associated with Aśvin hymns that emphasize healing, embodied well-being (tanū), and the safeguarding of sakhyā (bonded friendship/support).

Famous verses

mā no vi yauṣṭaṃ sakhyā mumocatam
Verse 8.86.1Programmatic verse naming the Aśvins as Dasrā, Bhiṣajā, Mayobhūvā and stating the hymn’s central petition—tanūkṛ- (right formation/repair of the embodied being) and preservation of sakhyā (supportive bond).Read verse 8.86.1 →
mā no vi yauṣṭaṃ sakhyā mumocatam
Verse 8.86.3Highlights the Aśvins’ proven beneficence in granting growth and abundance, reinforcing why they are trusted helpers for prosperity and betterment.Read verse 8.86.3 →
ऋतेन देवः सविता शमायत ऋतस्य शृङ्गमुर्विया वि पप्रथे । ऋतं सासाह महि चित्पृतन्यतो मा नो वि यौष्टं सख्या मुमोचतम् ॥
Verse 8.86.5Links the prayer to Ṛta (cosmic order) and peace-bringing divine governance, underscoring that healing and stability are expressions of restored order against conflict.Read verse 8.86.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin divine horsemen
  • Dawn-associated arrival and swift help
  • Healers and restorers (bhiṣaj)
  • Bringers of joy and well-being (mayo-bhū)
  • Rescuers in peril and grantors of prosperity
  • Allies who maintain friendship/companionship (sakhyā)

Also by this seer

  • Attributed authorship within Rig Veda Mandala 8 Aśvin-related material (including RV 8.86) characterized by refrained invocations and healing/prosperity petitions.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare a clean seat and kindle/maintain the household fire (or lamp) with a calm, focused intention for health and wholeness.
  • Invoke the Aśvins by name and epithets (Dasrā, Bhiṣajā, Mayobhūvā), welcoming their dawn-like arrival.
  • Recite the hymn (or selected verses) with emphasis on the refrain-like petition: “mā no vi yauṣṭaṃ sakhyā mumocatam” (do not sever/release our fellowship).
  • Offer oblations while mentally requesting tanūkṛ- (right shaping of the embodied being), relief from affliction, and increase of well-being.
  • Conclude with a brief silent dedication, asking that restored order (ṛta) and supportive companionship remain firm through the day.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into fire
  • Milk/curd or sweet offering (pāyasa) where customary
  • Water libation and simple flowers (optional, non-vedic adjunct)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises the Aśvins (Aśvinau), the divine twin helpers known as wondrous ones (Dasrā), healers (Bhiṣajā), and bringers of well-being (Mayobhūvā).

It asks them to restore and “shape” the embodied person (tanūkṛ-), bring well-being and growth, and not loosen the bond of supportive friendship (sakhyā) that keeps one safe and whole.

It is especially suited to dawn, the Aśvins’ time, as a morning prayer for health, protection, and steady support through the day, often alongside a simple ghee offering or quiet recitation.

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