Sukta 43
Sukta 7.43
Vasiṣṭha (family book 7; hymn attributed to Vasiṣṭhas)
Dyāvāpṛthivī (Heaven-and-Earth) with broader ritual address to the divine powers through the yajña
Tr̥ṣṭubh (probable)
This five-verse hymn of the Vasiṣṭhas opens by praising Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (Heaven-and-Earth) as the vast foundation strengthened by reverent speech in the yajña. It then shifts to the practical liturgy of inviting the Gods to the barhis, asking Agni to consecrate the rite and protect the sacrificer’s “divine becoming” from hostility. The close is a collective prayer for lasting welfare (svasti), steadiness, and uninjured participation in shared prosperity.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र वो यज्ञेषु देवयन्तो अर्चन्द्यावा नमोभिः पृथिवी इषध्यै । येषां ब्रह्माण्यसमानि विप्रा विष्वग्वियन्ति वनिनो न शाखाः ॥
Forward in the sacrifices the god-seeking seers chant for you; with acts of reverence they strengthen Heaven and Earth for the gaining of the impulsion. Their inspired formulations, unequalled, spread out in all directions like branches from a living tree.
Mantra 2
प्र यज्ञ एतु हेत्वो न सप्तिरुद्यच्छध्वं समनसो घृताचीः । स्तृणीत बर्हिरध्वराय साधूर्ध्वा शोचींषि देवयून्यस्थुः ॥
Let the sacrifice go forward like a swift horse to the goal; rise up, united in mind, you streams of clarified light. Spread the sacred seat for the faultless journey; let the flames stand upright, godward, in their luminous intensities.
Mantra 3
आ पुत्रासो न मातरं विभृत्राः सानौ देवासो बर्हिषः सदन्तु । आ विश्वाची विदथ्यामनक्त्वग्ने मा नो देवताता मृधस्कः ॥
Let the gods sit upon the sacred seat, as sons around a mother, sustaining her on the summit. O Agni, anoint the wide-ranging sacred session; let not the hostile force touch our divine becoming.
Mantra 4
ते सीषपन्त जोषमा यजत्रा ऋतस्य धाराः सुदुघा दुहानाः । ज्येष्ठं वो अद्य मह आ वसूनामा गन्तन समनसो यति ष्ठ ॥
May those adorable streams of the Truth press forward to the delight, richly milking their abundance. Come today, harmonized in mind, to your highest greatness, to the supreme plenitude of the Vasus.
Mantra 5
एवा नो अग्ने विक्ष्वा दशस्य त्वया वयं सहसावन्नास्क्राः । राया युजा सधमादो अरिष्टा यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
So, O Agni, show thy favour among our peoples; with thee, O strong one, we become unharmed and unshaken. Joined with the plenitude, in the common delight, intact—do you Powers guard us always with your harmonies of well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (Heaven-and-Earth) are praised as the cosmic supports, while Agni is invoked to consecrate the ritual and the Gods are invited to sit on the barhis.
It asks that the sacrifice be properly established, that the divine powers attend the ritual, that hostile forces not disturb the worship, and that the community receive lasting well-being (svasti) and prosperity.
It is an image of intimate protection and support: the ritual seat (barhis) is treated like a nurturing mother, and the Gods gather closely, sustaining and blessing the rite and the sacrificer.