Rig Veda Sukta 29
Mandala 2Sukta 297 Mantras

Sukta 29

Sukta 2.29

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

En este himno de siete versos en triṣṭubh, Gṛtsamada invoca a los Ādityas —en especial a Mitra y Varuṇa— como guardianes del ṛta (orden cósmico y moral) para que mantengan lejos la culpa oculta y la desviación interior. El poeta busca misericordia, guía correcta en el «camino medio» de la Verdad y una participación continua en la prosperidad y en la palabra comunitaria, que es «bṛhat» (lo Vasto), sostenida por una fuerza heroica interior.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.29

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AdityasMantras 1-2, 4-6Ādityas (especially Varuṇa and Mitra)

    The Ādityas are “dhṛtavrataḥ”, holders of firm vows, who oversee truthfulness, right conduct, and the bonds that sustain the world; Mitra embodies concord and right relationship, while Varuṇa is the kingly guardian who knows hidden transgressions and releases from bonds through grace.

  • Mitra-VarunaMantra 3Mitra-Varuṇa
  • AditiMantra 3
  • VarunaMantra 7Varuṇa (Āditya)

Mantras

Mantra 1

धृतव्रता आदित्या इषिरा आरे मत्कर्त रहसूरिवागः । शृण्वतो वो वरुण मित्र देवा भद्रस्य विद्वाँ अवसे हुवे वः ॥

Oh Ādityas, de voto firme, potencias impetuosas, mantened lejos de mí la culpa secreta que se mueve como un impulso oculto. A vosotros que escucháis — oh divinos Varuṇa y Mitra, conocedores del bien — os invoco en busca de amparo.

Mantra 2

यूयं देवाः प्रमतिर्यूयमोजो यूयं द्वेषांसि सनुतर्युयोत । अभिक्षत्तारो अभि च क्षमध्वमद्या च नो मृळयतापरं च ॥

Vosotros, oh dioses, sois la sabiduría que va delante; sois la fuerza. Alejáis de lejos nuestras enemistades. Como señores, sed pacientes con nosotros; hoy y también en adelante, sednos propicios y sanadnos.

Mantra 3

किमू नु वः कृणवामापरेण किं सनेन वसव आप्येन । यूयं नो मित्रावरुणादिते च स्वस्तिमिन्द्रामरुतो दधात ॥

¿Qué haremos, pues, por vosotros por otro medio, qué por alguna ganancia meramente superficial, oh Vasus? Vosotros — Mitra y Varuṇa, y Aditi — disponed para nosotros el bienestar; y tú, Indra con los Maruts, establécelo.

Mantra 4

हये देवा यूयमिदापयः स्थ ते मृळत नाधमानाय मह्यम् । मा वो रथो मध्यमवाळृते भून्मा युष्मावत्स्वापिषु श्रमिष्म ॥

Sí, oh dioses, en verdad sois las aguas del refrigerio; tened compasión de mí, que me afano y estoy oprimido. Que vuestro carro no se aparte del camino medio de la Verdad (ṛta); que no nos cansemos en los logros que están con vosotros.

Mantra 5

प्र व एको मिमय भूर्यागो यन्मा पितेव कितवं शशास । आरे पाशा आरे अघानि देवा मा माधि पुत्रे विमिव ग्रभीष्ट ॥

Que uno de vosotros me haya medido mucha culpa, como un padre reprende al hijo jugador. Lejos estén los lazos, lejos los males, oh dioses; no me apreséis por causa del hijo, como el pajarero prende a su presa.

Mantra 6

अर्वाञ्चो अद्या भवता यजत्रा आ वो हार्दि भयमानो व्ययेयम् । त्राध्वं नो देवा निजुरो वृकस्य त्राध्वं कर्तादवपदो यजत्राः ॥

Volveos hoy hacia nosotros, oh dignos del sacrificio, para que yo, temeroso en el corazón, halle en vosotros liberación. Salvadnos, oh dioses, de la astucia de la fuerza lobuna; salvadnos del que causa la caída, oh venerables.

Mantra 7

माहं मघोनो वरुण प्रियस्य भूरिदाव्न आ विदं शूनमापेः । मा रायो राजन्त्सुयमादव स्थां बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Que no pierda yo, oh Varuṇa, la amada cercanía del dador generoso, ni caiga en el vacío y la carencia. Oh Rey, que no me aparte del sendero bien guiado de la plenitud; que proclamemos lo Vasto en la asamblea, dotados de heroica fuerza interior.

Inside Sukta 29

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by naming the Ādityas as steadfast upholders of law and begging them to keep far away the ‘rahasū’—the secret, subtle fault.

  2. Development

    The poet moves from confession and appeal to attentive hearing, to a broader request for mercy, refreshment, and guidance so the divine chariot does not deviate from the truthful ‘middle way.’

  3. Climax

    A concentrated plea for protection from falling away—from truth, from the right path of abundance, and from the supportive presence of the bounteous giver—under Varuṇa’s kingship.

  4. Where it settles

    It ends with a communal aspiration: to remain on the well-guided path and to ‘speak the Vast’ in the assembly, endowed with inner heroic strength (suvīrāḥ).

The deity: Ādityas

  • Cosmic functionThey maintain ṛta by regulating moral law, social contracts, and cosmic regularity, protecting the truthful and correcting or restraining disorder through their sovereign oversight.
  • Inner significanceThey represent the inner conscience and the power of self-regulation: the capacity to recognize subtle fault, return to the true ‘middle way,’ and live in integrity that supports both prosperity and clear speech in community.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu (Bhārgava) lineage; traditionally associated with the Gṛtsamada family of seers in Mandala 2 · Principal seer of much of Rigveda Mandala 2, noted for hymns that blend ethical introspection with praise of deities upholding ṛta, especially Mitra-Varuṇa and Agni

Famous verses

dhṛtavratā ādityāḥ
Verse 2.29.1Programmatic invocation: defines the Ādityas as dhṛtavrata guardians and frames the hymn as a prayer to avert hidden fault and receive protective help.Read verse 2.29.1 →
madhyamavāḻ ṛte
Verse 2.29.4Central ethical-ritual image: the gods as ‘āpayaḥ’ (refreshing waters) and the request that their chariot not miss the ‘middle way’ of ṛta—an enduring metaphor for right measure.Read verse 2.29.4 →
bṛhad vadema
Verse 2.29.7Concluding summit: fear of losing the dear presence of the generous giver and falling into emptiness, paired with the aspiration to ‘speak the Vast’ in the assembly with inner strength.Read verse 2.29.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • dhṛtavrata (steadfast in law)
  • ṛta-pāla (guardians of Truth/Order)
  • omniscient oversight of hidden fault
  • grace and release from bonds
  • social harmony and covenant (Mitra)
  • sovereign kingship and moral authority (Varuṇa)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rigveda Mandala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada)
  • Hymns to Agni establishing the sacrificial order and priestly mediation (Mandala 2 core Agni cycle)
  • Praise hymns to Indra and allied deities in Mandala 2 emphasizing protection, right action, and prosperity

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and inner resolve (saṅkalpa) for truthfulness and restraint
  • Kindling/attention to Agni as witness, then inviting the Ādityas as dhṛtavrata guardians
  • Recite the sūkta (or selected mantras) with emphasis on confession/averting ‘secret fault’ and requesting mercy
  • Offer oblations while mentally aligning with ṛta (truthful speech, right measure, ‘middle path’)
  • Conclude with a prayer for continued prosperity, right guidance, and strong communal expression (vidatha)

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (ghee) oblations into Agni
  • Soma libation where applicable
  • Simple water offering/ācamana as symbolic ‘āpayaḥ’ (refreshing waters)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises the Ādityas, with special focus on Mitra and Varuṇa—deities who uphold ṛta (truth and right order) and oversee both social and moral law.

It asks them to keep away hidden or “secret” fault, to be gracious to one under pressure, and to guide the worshipper on the true middle path without falling into error or loss.

It means speaking with clarity and greatness in the community or ritual assembly—truthful, expansive speech that reflects alignment with ṛta and is supported by inner strength (suvīra).

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