Sukta 130
Rishi: Late compilation layer (AV 20 is predominantly Ṛgvedic material); specific r̥ṣi not securely assignable for this fragment in isolation.
Devata: Iḍā / Nourishment (functional devatā)
Chandas: Uncertain (fragmentary pāda; likely part of a larger metrical context)
Mantras
Mantra 1
खिलानि । को अर्य बहुलिमा इषूनि
Khila-verses. Who, O noble one, hath abundance of arrows?
Mantra 2
को असिद्याः पयः
Who hath the milk of Asidyā?
Mantra 3
को अर्जुन्याः पयः
Who hath the milk of Arjunī?
Mantra 4
कः कार्ष्ण्याः पयः
Who hath the milk of Kārṣṇī?
Mantra 5
एतं पृच्छ कुहं पृच्छ
Ask of this one; ask—Where is it?
Mantra 6
कुहाकं पक्वकं पृच्छ
Question the conjurer; question the practised deceiver.
Mantra 7
यवानो यतिष्वभिः कुभिः
Barley-armed, among the Yatis, with their crooked devices.
Mantra 8
अकुप्यन्तः कुपायकुः
Unshaken, they devised disturbance.
Mantra 9
आमणको मणत्सकः
Possessed of an amulet, eager for the amulet.
Mantra 10
देव त्वप्रतिसूर्य
O God, thou art a counter-sun.
Mantra 11
एनश्चिपङ्क्तिका हविः
Sin verily—(by) the Panktikās—(is made) an oblation.
Mantra 12
प्रदुद्रुदो मघाप्रति
Forth hast thou run, toward Maghā.
Mantra 13
शृङ्ग उत्पन्न
A horn hath arisen (come forth).
Mantra 14
मा त्वाभि सखा नो विदन्
Let not our comrades find thee out (come upon thee).
Mantra 15
वशायाः पुत्रमा यन्ति
Unto Vaśā’s son they come (draw nigh).
Mantra 16
इरावेदुमयं दत
Let Nourishment take knowledge of this; do ye bestow (it) here.
Mantra 17
अथो इयन्नियन्निति
And further: ‘going—being led down (to order)—thus.’
Mantra 18
अथो इयन्निति
And further: ‘going on—thus.’
Mantra 19
अथो श्वा अस्थिरो भवन्
And further, may the dog become unsteady.
Mantra 20
उयं यकांशलोकका
This yakāṃśa—(a malady) abroad among men.
Frequently Asked Questions
Iḍā/Irā is the personified power of nourishment and right distribution—food, plenty, and the successful placing of benefit with the intended recipient.
It treats impurity or fault (énas) as transferable: by offering havís, the rite symbolically moves the taint out of the person/household and into the offering, where it is carried away by the ritual process.
That imperative functions as a diagnostic tool: it compels disclosure and helps ‘locate’ what is missing or obstructing—after which the nourishment-bestowal refrain can establish the desired gain.