Sukta 55
Sukta 6.55
Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) tradition (Mandala 6 attribution)
Unclear from provided excerpt alone; dual address (vām) with ‘napāt’ and ‘āghṛṇe’ suggests a paired power; often such epithets can touch Pūṣan/Agni/Sūrya lineages—requires confirmation from full sukta 6.55 header in a critical index
Triṣṭubh (probable; confirm in critical edition)
This short hymn primarily praises Pūṣan as the guide and protector of right movement (ṛta), invoked to “come” and to become the charioteer who leads the worshipper safely. It blends imagery of travel and harnessing—Pūṣan drawn by goats—with a deeper request for release from constraints and for prosperous, luminous guidance in life’s paths.
Mantras
Mantra 1
एहि वां विमुचो नपादाघृणे सं सचावहै । रथीॠतस्य नो भव ॥
Come to us, O radiant Napat of release; let us join ourselves with you in companionship. Become for us the charioteer of the Truth (ṛta), leading our movement.
Mantra 2
रथीतमं कपर्दिनमीशानं राधसो महः । रायः सखायमीमहे ॥
We seek as friend the supreme charioteer, the bearer of the braided power, the lord of vast plenitudes, companion of the inner wealth.
Mantra 3
रायो धारास्याघृणे वसो राशिरजाश्व । धीवतोधीवतः सखा ॥
O radiant one, thou art a stream of inner wealth, a heap of good dwelling; O Ajāśva, friend of the ever-striving thinker.
Mantra 4
पूषणं न्वजाश्वमुप स्तोषाम वाजिनम् । स्वसुर्यो जार उच्यते ॥
Now we would praise Pūṣan Ajāśva, the bringer of plenitude of force; he is called the lover of the radiant sister—he who cleaves to the luminous Dawn within.
Mantra 5
मातुर्दिधिषुमब्रवं स्वसुर्जारः शृणोतु नः । भ्रातेन्द्रस्य सखा मम ॥
I have voiced (this) to the Mother’s intimate support; may the sister’s beloved hear us—he who is Indra’s brother and my comrade: may he take up our call within.
Mantra 6
आजासः पूषणं रथे निशृम्भास्ते जनश्रियम् । देवं वहन्तु बिभ्रतः ॥
May the goats, well-harnessed, bear Pūṣan on the chariot—Pūṣan who is the people’s inner splendour; may they carry the god, upholding him within the movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn resolves into praise of Pūṣan. While the opening uses a dual-address style, later verses explicitly name Pūṣan and use his characteristic imagery (like the goat-drawn chariot).
It means the deity is asked to lead the worshipper’s movement according to ṛta—truth, right order, and the straight path—so actions and journeys reach a good end without going astray.
Goats are Pūṣan’s traditional draft animals in Vedic imagery. They symbolize practical, steady conveyance and the safe carrying of divine guidance into real-world travel and daily life.