Rig Veda Sukta 2
Mandala 1Sukta 29 Mantras

Sukta 2

Sukta 1.2

Rishi

Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra

Devata

Vāyu

Chandas

Gāyatrī

El Rig Veda 1.2 es un himno temprano de ofrenda de Soma que primero invita a Vāyu, el veloz Aliento de Vida, a acudir al sacrificio y beber el Soma preparado. Luego la invocación se amplía a deidades en pareja —Vāyu con Indra y, por último, Mitra-Varuṇa— buscando poder inspirado, energía victoriosa y el orden recto discerniente (dakṣa) necesario para una acción sagrada eficaz.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.2

Mantras

Mantra 1

वायवा याहि दर्शतेमे सोमा अरंकृताः । तेषां पाहि श्रुधी हवम् ॥

Oh Vāyu, ven, tú, el Visible, el luminoso y hermoso. Estos Somas están dispuestos, debidamente preparados. Bebe de ellos; escucha nuestro llamado.

Mantra 2

वाय उक्थेभिर्जरन्ते त्वामच्छा जरितारः । सुतसोमा अहर्विदः ॥

Oh Vāyu, por los himnos-uktha los cantores se enardecen hacia ti; los que han prensado el Soma, conocedores del Día luminoso, te llaman cerca.

Mantra 3

वायो तव प्रपृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशुषे । उरूची सोमपीतये ॥

Oh Vāyu, hacia el dador llega tu vaca lechera que se derrama ampliamente, el torrente; luminosa, de vasto alcance, para el beber del Soma.

Mantra 4

इन्द्रवायू इमे सुता उप प्रयोभिरा गतम् । इन्दवो वामुशन्ति हि ॥

Oh Indra y Vāyu, acercaos a estos Soma exprimidos, llevados por sus fuerzas de deleite; pues las gotas de Soma, en verdad, os anhelan.

Mantra 5

वायविन्द्रश्च चेतथः सुतानां वाजिनीवसू । तावा यातमुप द्रवत् ॥

Oh Vāyu e Indra, vosotros dos advertid los Soma exprimidos, señores de plenitud y de fuerza victoriosa; venid—apresuraos hacia (la bebida) de rápido fluir que corre hacia vosotros.

Mantra 6

वायविन्द्रश्च सुन्वत आ यातमुप निष्कृतम् । मक्ष्वित्था धिया नरा ॥

Oh Vāyu e Indra, venid hacia quien exprime el Soma; acercaos a la ofrenda dispuesta; pronto—así, oh dos héroes, por el pensamiento despertado (hacia la Verdad).

Mantra 7

मित्रं हुवे पूतदक्षं वरुणं च रिशादसम् । धियं घृताचीं साधन्ता ॥

Invoco a Mitra, de dakṣa purificada e intachable, y a Varuṇa, destructor del daño. Que ellos realicen en nosotros el pensamiento que fluye como ghee luminoso — claro, recto y eficaz.

Mantra 8

ऋतेन मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा । क्रतुं बृहन्तमाशाथे ॥

Por Ṛta, el poder del Orden-Verdad, oh Mitra y Varuṇa — acrecentadores de Ṛta, tocadores de Ṛta — concedednos el gran kratu, la vasta y luminosa voluntad de la acción recta.

Mantra 9

कवी नो मित्रावरुणा तुविजाता उरुक्षया । दक्षं दधाते अपसम् ॥

Que Mitra y Varuṇa — los dos kavi, ampliamente nacidos, de vasta morada protectora — pongan en nosotros dakṣa, el poder discerniente de la recta formación, para el cumplimiento del apas, la obra eficaz.

Inside Sukta 2

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct call to Vāyu—radiant and swift—to come to the well-prepared Soma and hear the worshipper’s summons.

  2. Development

    The hymn reinforces readiness of the offering and the necessity of divine attention, then expands to the cooperative arrival of Vāyu with Indra, joining breath and power.

  3. Climax

    The paired invocation urges the gods to hasten to the swiftly flowing Soma-delight, stressing immediacy, force, and fulfillment at the sacrifice.

  4. Where it settles

    The scope broadens to Mitra-Varuṇa, ending with a prayer for dakṣa—rightly ordering intelligence—so the sacred work (apas) is successfully formed and completed.

The deity: Vāyu

  • In the VedaVāyu is praised as darśata (radiant/beautiful to behold), swift-coming to the call, and the first recipient of Soma at the pressing; he is invited to drink and to listen (śrudhi) to the hymn’s summons.
  • Cosmic functionAs Wind and Breath, Vāyu circulates life and motion, linking earth and midspace, carrying offerings and prayers, and energizing the gods’ approach to the sacrifice; with Indra he supports victorious force, and with Mitra-Varuṇa he upholds order and right discernment.
  • Inner significanceVāyu signifies prāṇa—the vital current that makes aspiration effective; Soma becomes the refined delight/essence offered into consciousness, awakening clarity, strength, and right formation (dakṣa) for the soul’s work (apas).

The seer

  • Madhucchandas VaiśvāmitraVaiśvāmitra (descendant/line of Viśvāmitra; traditionally linked with the Kuśika/Vaiśvāmitra family) · An early ṛṣi of Mandala 1, renowned for concise Gāyatrī hymns that open the Rig Veda’s sacrificial sequence and for shaping the invitatory style of Soma liturgy.

Famous verses

śrudhī havam
Verse 1.2.1Sets the hymn’s core action: inviting Vāyu to approach, drink the prepared Soma, and ‘hear the call,’ establishing Vāyu as the first responder in the Soma rite.Read verse 1.2.1 →
वायविन्द्रश्च चेतथः सुतानां वाजिनीवसू । तावा यातमुप द्रवत् ॥
Verse 1.2.5Highlights the dual synergy of Vāyu and Indra—breath and victorious force—urging them to recognize the pressed Soma and come quickly to the offering.Read verse 1.2.5 →
dakṣaṃ dadhāte apasam
Verse 1.2.9Concludes with Mitra-Varuṇa granting dakṣa (discerning power/right formation) for apas (effective work), giving the hymn a finishing aim beyond offering: successful right action.Read verse 1.2.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Swift and near-at-hand to invocation
  • First Soma-drinker in many Soma rites
  • Life-giving breath and mover of energies
  • Radiant/visible presence (darśata)
  • Listener to prayer (śrudhi havam)
  • Works in synergy with Indra’s power and Mitra-Varuṇa’s order

Also by this seer

  • Traditionally associated with RV 1.1–1.10 (including the Agni opening hymn RV 1.1)
  • Early Mandala 1 Gāyatrī-style invocations used as models for later Soma-yajña call-and-response patterns

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma (pressing/straining) and set it forth as ‘araṃkṛta’ (rightly arranged).
  • Recite the opening Gāyatrī to invite Vāyu to approach and drink.
  • Repeat invocations as the Soma is presented, emphasizing listening/acceptance of the call.
  • Invoke the dual pair Vāyu–Indra to ‘take cognizance’ of the pressed Soma and hasten to the offering.
  • Conclude with an appeal to Mitra-Varuṇa for dakṣa (right discernment) to accomplish the rite’s intended work (apas).

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (suta soma)
  • Soma-libations (graha offerings)
  • Accompanying praise/hymn as an offering of speech (vāc)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is an invitatory Soma hymn: it calls Vāyu to come quickly, drink the prepared Soma, and attend to the worshipper’s prayer, ensuring the rite becomes effective.

In many Soma-pressing traditions Vāyu is treated as the first Soma-drinker; as breath and swift motion, he represents the immediate energizing of the sacrifice.

The closing prayer asks Mitra-Varuṇa to place dakṣa (right discernment and skilled ordering) in the worshipper so the ritual ‘work’ (apas) is properly formed and fulfilled.

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