Rig Veda Sukta 39
Mandala 4Sukta 396 Mantras

Sukta 39

Sukta 4.39

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for many hymns in Maṇḍala 4; this Dadhikrā praise belongs to the same family collection)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Este himno de seis versos alaba a Dadhikrāvan, la fuerza-caballo veloz y vencedora, y pide que su rapidez y su impulso triunfal lleven al cantor más allá de los peligros y de los pasos difíciles. Las Auroras (Uṣas) son invocadas como despertadoras que ponen al adorante en el movimiento correcto; luego el himno se expande en una plegaria protectora de bienestar, llamando brevemente a dioses aliados (Maruts, Mitra–Varuṇa, Agni, Indra) para asegurar svasti (plenitud/entereza). La nota final es transformadora: se pide a Dadhikrāvan que haga fragante/luminoso el «frente» de la conciencia y que conduzca las fuerzas vitales hacia adelante a través de cruces limitantes.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.39

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • DadhikraMantra 1Dadhikrā with support of Uṣas (Dawns) as awakeners
  • DadhikravanMantras 2-4, 6Dadhikrāvan

    Dadhikrāvan is celebrated as āśu (swift), jiṣṇu (conquering), and vājín (bearing plenitude/strength), a horse-like divine power whose rushing movement brings protection, success, and forward passage.

  • Mitra-VarunaMantra 5Mitra-Varuṇa as bestowers

Mantras

Mantra 1

आशुं दधिक्रां तमु नु ष्टवाम दिवस्पृथिव्या उत चर्किराम । उच्छन्तीर्मामुषसः सूदयन्त्वति विश्वानि दुरितानि पर्षन् ॥

Al veloz Dadhikrā—ahora lo alabaremos y lo proclamaremos desde el Cielo y desde la Tierra. Que las Uṣas, las Auroras que se alzan, me despierten y me hagan pasar más allá de toda aflicción y de todo trance difícil.

Mantra 2

महश्चर्कर्म्यर्वतः क्रतुप्रा दधिक्राव्णः पुरुवारस्य वृष्णः । यं पूरुभ्यो दीदिवांसं नाग्निं ददथुर्मित्रावरुणा ततुरिम् ॥

Proclamo la grandeza del corcel Dadhikrāvan, toro de muchos tesoros, que colma la intención de poder. A él, resplandeciente como Agni, vosotros, Mitra y Varuṇa, lo habéis dado a los muchos pueblos: el veloz vencedor.

Mantra 3

यो अश्वस्य दधिक्राव्णो अकारीत्समिद्धे अग्ना उषसो व्युष्टौ । अनागसं तमदितिः कृणोतु स मित्रेण वरुणेना सजोषाः ॥

Quien ha dispuesto el acto sagrado, la ofrenda, para Dadhikrāvan, la potencia del Caballo, cuando Agni está encendido en la amplia apertura de Uṣas — que Aditi lo haga sin culpa, sin falta interior; que viva en concordia, en un mismo acuerdo con Mitra y Varuṇa.

Mantra 4

दधिक्राव्ण इष ऊर्जो महो यदमन्महि मरुतां नाम भद्रम् । स्वस्तये वरुणं मित्रमग्निं हवामह इन्द्रं वज्रबाहुम् ॥

Puesto que hemos comprendido a Dadhikrāvan como la gran plenitud de alimento y fuerza, y hemos mantenido en la conciencia el Nombre auspicioso de los Maruts — por nuestro bienestar invocamos a Varuṇa y a Mitra, a Agni y a Indra, de brazo del Vajra.

Mantra 5

इन्द्रमिवेदुभये वि ह्वयन्त उदीराणा यज्ञमुपप्रयन्तः । दधिक्रामु सूदनं मर्त्याय ददथुर्मित्रावरुणा नो अश्वम् ॥

Como si llamaran a Indra, por ambos lados invocan, alzándose y avanzando hacia el sacrificio. Mitra y Varuṇa nos han otorgado, para el camino del mortal, a Dadhikrāvan — el corcel impulsor que conduce a la victoria.

Mantra 6

दधिक्राव्णो अकारिषं जिष्णोरश्वस्य वाजिनः । सुरभि नो मुखा करत्प्र ण आयूंषि तारिषत् ॥

He forjado (el himno) para Dadhikrāvan, para el corcel vencedor de la plenitud. Que haga fragante y luminoso nuestro frente, nuestra guía; que impulse hacia delante nuestras fuerzas vitales, más allá de los cruces que limitan.

Inside Sukta 39

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct proclamation of praise to the swift Dadhikrā, voiced ‘from Heaven and Earth,’ coupled with the request that the rising Dawns awaken the singer and ferry him beyond all duritāni.

  2. Development

    Dadhikrā is contemplated as nourishment and force (iṣ/ūrj), and the hymn broadens into a well-being frame (svasti), briefly summoning major protective and ordering powers—Maruts, Mitra–Varuṇa, Agni, and Indra.

  3. Climax

    The recognition of Dadhikrāvan as a great plenitude and protective momentum, sufficient to ground a comprehensive invocation of cosmic supports for inner and outer safety.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends with a crafted offering of speech to the conquering steed and a final boon: may he make the leading edge of life fragrant/bright and carry the life-forces forward across limiting crossings.

The deity: Dadhikrāvan

  • In the VedaHe is linked with auspiciousness and with the morning awakening, as the Dawns rouse the worshipper to align with his victorious momentum.
  • Cosmic functionHe embodies victorious speed and the power of safe crossing—driving the chariot of life through peril, opening paths, and securing prosperity and well-being in the day’s course.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, Dadhikrāvan signifies the awakened life-force and disciplined impulse that turns aspiration into effective action: the power that carries the mind beyond wrong turns (duritāni) and establishes a clear, luminous ‘front’ (mukhā) for right movement.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva family of Maṇḍala 4) · A principal seer of the Fourth Maṇḍala, renowned for hymns that unite heroic vitality with inner awakening—often reading the gods as powers that lift the human being beyond obstruction (duritāni).

Famous verses

ati viśvāni duritāni parṣan
Verse 4.39.1Sets the hymn’s core program: praise of Dadhikrā’s swiftness, the Dawns as awakeners, and the central prayer to pass beyond all duritāni (difficult passages/wrong movements).Read verse 4.39.1 →
svastaye varuṇam mitram agniṃ havāmaha
Verse 4.39.4Expands the Dadhikrā praise into a svasti-prayer, explicitly calling Mitra–Varuṇa, Agni, and Indra; it shows how this hymn integrates personal momentum with cosmic order and protection.Read verse 4.39.4 →
surabhi no mukhā karat
Verse 4.39.6Concluding benediction: the hymn is ‘fashioned’ as an offering to the conquering steed, requesting a transformed, auspicious ‘front’ (mukhā) and forward-carriage of the life-powers.Read verse 4.39.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Swift (āśu)
  • Conquering/victorious (jiṣṇu)
  • Vigorous, plenitude-bearing (vājín)
  • Protector in crossings and difficult passages
  • Awakening ally of Uṣas (Dawns)
  • Bringer of svasti (well-being) and auspiciousness

Also by this seer

  • A large portion of Rigveda Maṇḍala 4 is attributed to Vāmadeva and his family line
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, and the Viśve Devāḥ in RV 4 (family collection)
  • Tradition also remembers Vāmadeva as a paradigmatic ṛṣi of inspired speech (brahman) and victorious prayer (stotra)

The rite, step by step

  • Begin at dawn (or before sunrise) with a brief saṅkalpa for safe passage and right movement
  • Kindle or honor the household fire (Agni) or a lamp; establish a clean, quiet space
  • Recite RV 4.39 sequentially, emphasizing the opening praise of Dadhikrā and the request to pass beyond duritāni
  • Optionally add a short invocation for svasti calling the allied deities named in the hymn (Mitra–Varuṇa, Agni, Indra, Maruts)
  • Conclude with a closing prayer that the ‘front’ (mukhā) be made surabhi—clear, auspicious, and fit for leadership—and that life-powers move forward

Offerings

  • Ghee or sesame oil into fire (if performing a homa-style offering)
  • Milk/curds or simple white offerings symbolically resonant with horse/strength and morning freshness
  • Water libation (ācamanīya/arghya) at dawn
  • Flowers or fragrant substances (as a gesture aligned with surabhi)

Frequently Asked Questions

Dadhikrāvan is a divine “steed-power” praised for swift, conquering movement. In this hymn he represents victorious momentum that protects the worshipper and carries them safely beyond obstacles.

Uṣas are asked to “awaken” the singer as they rise. Dawn symbolizes the start of right action and clear perception, helping the worshipper move beyond wrong turns and difficult passages.

The hymn repeatedly seeks safe passage beyond duritāni (hard crossings, errors, dangers) and asks for svasti (well-being). It concludes by praying that the leading edge of life and consciousness be made auspicious and that the life-forces move forward.

Ask anything about Sukta 39 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play