Sukta 48
Rishi: Not specified in the excerpt (svastivācana formulaic unit)
Devata: Chandas (Gāyatrī) personified; ‘Śyena’ as carrier-form
Chandas: Gāyatrī (explicit)
Mantras
Mantra 1
स्वस्तिवाचनम्। श्येनोऽसि गायत्रच्छन्दा अनु त्वा रभे । स्वस्ति मा सं वहास्य यज्ञस्योदृचि स्वाहा
Thou art the Falcon, with Gāyatrī for thy metre: in accordance therewith I lay hold of thee. In safety bear me wholly to the sacrifice’s farthest reach—svāhā!
Mantra 2
ऋभुरसि जगच्छन्दा अनु त्वा रभे । स्वस्ति मा सं वहास्य यज्ञस्योदृचि स्वाहा
Thou art R̥bhu, with Jagatī for thy metre: in accordance therewith I lay hold of thee. In safety bear me wholly to the sacrifice’s farthest reach—svāhā!
Mantra 3
वृषासि त्रिष्टुप्छन्दा अनु त्वा रभे । स्वस्ति मा सं वहास्य यज्ञस्योदृचि स्वाहा
Thou art the Bull, with Triṣṭubh for thy metre: in accordance therewith I lay hold of thee. In safety bear me wholly to the sacrifice’s farthest reach—svāhā!
Frequently Asked Questions
It is recited for svasti—safe, obstacle-free progress and successful completion of a sacrifice or ritual sequence.
The hymn treats these metres (chandas) as protective powers; aligning speech with them is believed to stabilize and ‘carry’ the rite to its intended end.
Not from this excerpt. The key act is correct recitation and intention; if performed in a fire-rite, one may optionally accompany each svāhā with a small ghee oblation.