Sukta 33
Sukta 10.33
Pūṣan (inner guide) with Viśve Devāḥ as protectors
This hymn presents Pūṣan as the inner guide carried “within,” while the Viśve Devāḥ stand as collective protectors against danger and hostile forces. It blends a travel-and-protection motif with a moral teaching: one must not transgress the gods’ vrata (cosmic law), and true expansion comes through right yoking—disciplined alignment with divine order.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र मा युयुज्रे प्रयुजो जनानां वहामि स्म पूषणमन्तरेण । विश्वे देवासो अध मामरक्षन्दुःशासुरागादिति घोष आसीत् ॥
They harnessed me forward, the leaders among men; I was bearing Pūṣan within. Then all the gods protected me: ‘Duḥśāsu has come!’—such was the cry.
Mantra 2
सं मा तपन्त्यभितः सपत्नीरिव पर्शवः । नि बाधते अमतिर्नग्नता जसुर्वेर्न वेवीयते मतिः ॥
My ribs burn me on every side like rival wives; ignorance presses me down—nakedness, exhaustion. My thought does not tremble away like fear.
Mantra 3
मूषो न शिश्ना व्यदन्ति माध्य स्तोतारं ते शतक्रतो । सकृत्सु नो मघवन्निन्द्र मृळयाधा पितेव नो भव ॥
Like mice they gnaw at me—my very strength—O hundred-powered one, at your singer. Even once, O bounteous Indra, have mercy; then be to us like a father.
Mantra 4
कुरुश्रवणमावृणि राजानं त्रासदस्यवम् । मंहिष्ठं वाघतामृषिः ॥
The seer chose Kuruśravaṇa, the king Trāsadasyava, most liberal to the singers of the Word.
Mantra 5
यस्य मा हरितो रथे तिस्रो वहन्ति साधुया । स्तवै सहस्रदक्षिणे ॥
He whose chariot is borne by the three bright steeds—may he, moving in the right and skillful way, be affirmed by our praise, the Lord of a thousand powers of giving.
Mantra 6
यस्य प्रस्वादसो गिर उपमश्रवसः पितुः । क्षेत्रं न रण्वमूचुषे ॥
He whose utterances are of an increasing sweetness—(utterances) of Upamaśravas, the son of the Father—have spoken like a delightful field: a wide ground of growth for the soul’s increase.
Mantra 7
अधि पुत्रोपमश्रवो नपान्मित्रातिथेरिहि । पितुष्टे अस्मि वन्दिता ॥
Come here, O son Upamaśravas, offspring of Mitrātithi; I am one who praises you—standing upon the Father’s foundation, I offer you my reverence.
Mantra 8
यदीशीयामृतानामुत वा मर्त्यानाम् । जीवेदिन्मघवा मम ॥
If I could hold mastery among the immortals—or even among mortals—then may my Maghavan live indeed within me: the Lord of plenitude sustaining the soul’s life.
Mantra 9
न देवानामति व्रतं शतात्मा चन जीवति । तथा युजा वि वावृते ॥
He does not live—even with a hundred selves—who oversteps the law of the Gods; only by union in the right yoking does one widen out into the true becoming.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pūṣan is the Vedic guide of paths and safe passages. In this hymn he is presented as an inner guide—something the worshipper ‘carries within’ while moving through danger.
The Viśve Devāḥ are the ‘All-Gods,’ a collective form of divine protection. They represent the unified powers that guard the worshipper when threats arise and when one stays aligned with ṛta.
It teaches that no one truly thrives by crossing the gods’ law (vrata). Real growth and freedom come from ‘right yoking’—disciplined alignment of action and mind with divine order.