Rig Veda Sukta 44
Mandala 7Sukta 445 Mantras

Sukta 44

Sukta 7.44

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (probable; Book 7 attribution)

Devata

Multideity invocation headed by Dadhikrāvan; includes Aśvins, Uṣas, Agni, Bhaga, Indra, Viṣṇu, Pūṣan, Brahmaṇaspati, Ādityas, Dyāvāpṛthivī, Waters, Svaḥ

Chandas

Jagatī or Tr̥ṣṭubh-mix (probable; long enumerative cadence suggests Jagatī tendencies)

Este breve himno de Vasiṣṭha se abre con un amplio y deliberado recuento de potencias divinas auxiliares, encabezadas por Dadhikrāvan, para establecer protección, claridad y el recto movimiento en la vida y en el rito. Vincula el despertar al alba y el encendido de Agni con la eliminación de duritā (tránsitos dañinos, cruces peligrosos) y la obtención de una senda segura, alineada con el ṛta. El propósito del himno es práctico y espiritual: asegurar un paso auspicioso, el orden correcto y una escucha divina atenta para el sacrificante.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.44

Mantras

Mantra 1

दधिक्रां वः प्रथममश्विनोषसमग्निं समिद्धं भगमूतये हुवे । इन्द्रं विष्णुं पूषणं ब्रह्मणस्पतिमादित्यान्द्यावापृथिवी अपः स्वः ॥

Primero os invoco, Dadhikrāvan, a los Aśvins y a Uṣas; invoco a Agni encendido y a Bhaga para el auxilio. A Indra y a Viṣṇu, a Pūṣan y a Brahmaṇaspati, a los Ādityas, al Cielo y a la Tierra, a las Aguas y a Svar, el mundo luminoso: venid como potencias de ayuda en nosotros.

Mantra 2

दधिक्रामु नमसा बोधयन्त उदीराणा यज्ञमुपप्रयन्तः । इळां देवीं बर्हिषि सादयन्तोऽश्विना विप्रा सुहवा हुवेम ॥

Despertando a Dadhikrāvan con reverencia, alzándonos y avanzando hacia el sacrificio, asentamos a la diosa Iḷā en el asiento sagrado, sobre el barhis; nosotros, los inspirados, llamamos a los Aśvins con buen llamado, a los de fácil invocación.

Mantra 3

दधिक्रावाणं बुबुधानो अग्निमुप ब्रुव उषसं सूर्यं गाम् । ब्रध्नं माँश्चतोर्वरुणस्य बभ्रुं ते विश्वास्मद्दुरिता यावयन्तु ॥

Despierto hacia Dadhikrāvan, hablo cerca de Agni, a Uṣas, a Sūrya, a Gā́m, el rayo de luz. Al resplandeciente, a la fuerza leonada de Varuṇa: que aparten de nosotros todos los malos caminos y todo mal.

Mantra 4

दधिक्रावा प्रथमो वाज्यर्वाग्रे रथानां भवति प्रजानन् । संविदान उषसा सूर्येणादित्येभिर्वसुभिरङ्गिरोभिः ॥

Dadhikrāvan, el primero, el corcel vencedor, se vuelve el que va a la cabeza de los carros, conociendo el camino. Está en concordia con Uṣas y con Sūrya, con los Ādityas, los Vasus y los Aṅgirasas: potencias de luz ordenada que guían el avance.

Mantra 5

आ नो दधिक्राः पथ्यामनक्त्वृतस्य पन्थामन्वेतवा उ । शृणोतु नो दैव्यं शर्धो अग्निः शृण्वन्तु विश्वे महिषा अमूराः ॥

Que Dadhikrāvan unja para nosotros el sendero transitable, para que sigamos la Senda del Ṛta, el orden recto y verdadero. Que Agni, la hueste divina, nos oiga; y que todas las potencias poderosas, no extraviadas, escuchen.

Inside Sukta 44

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A comprehensive summons of aid: Dadhikrāvan first, then the key deities of dawn, fire, fortune, protection, and cosmic order.

  2. Development

    The hymn moves from naming powers to activating them—awakening, speaking near to Agni, and aligning with the dawn-sun radiance that dispels inner and outer obstacles.

  3. Climax

    The prayer that all duritā be driven away and that the traveller/sacrificer be set upon the ṛtasya panthāḥ—right, true passage.

  4. Where it settles

    A closing request for divine hearing: Agni as the ‘divine host’ listens, and all mighty, unbewildered powers attend, confirming protection and right-going.

The deity: Dadhikrāvan

  • In the VedaDadhikrāvan is praised as a swift, auspicious power—often horse-like—invoked at the start for momentum, protection, and successful going; around him the hymn gathers dawn-light deities (Uṣas, Sūrya), the fire of offering (Agni), and guardians of order and fortune (Ādityas, Bhaga, Varuṇa-allusion). The catalog-like invocation treats the gods as coordinated helpers of one rite and one right course.
  • Cosmic functionTo set movement on the correct track: awakening the sacrifice, opening the day, kindling fire, securing fortune, guarding the cosmic law, and ensuring safe passage through spaces, waters, and the luminous realm (svaḥ).
  • Inner significanceThe ‘right path’ (ṛtasya panthāḥ) becomes an inner discipline: aligned intention, clear perception at dawn, and steady will (Agni) that removes distortions and leads action without confusion.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Book 7 family of seers) · Foremost seer of Mandala 7 and a paradigmatic ṛṣi of ṛta, royal priesthood, and hymn-craft; closely associated with the Bharata/Tr̥tsu tradition and the classic Vasiṣṭha-style Agni and Varuṇa hymns.

Famous verses

दधिक्रां वः प्रथममश्विनोषसमग्निं समिद्धं भगमूतये हुवे । इन्द्रं विष्णुं पूषणं ब्रह्मणस्पतिमादित्यान्द्यावापृथिवी अपः स्वः ॥
Verse 7.44.1Programmatic opening: a rare, dense enumeration that frames the hymn as a coordinated call to multiple divine functions—speed, dawn, fire, fortune, protection, guidance, prayer-power, cosmic supports.Read verse 7.44.1 →
दधिक्रावाणं बुबुधानो अग्निमुप ब्रुव उषसं सूर्यं गाम् । ब्रध्नं माँश्चतोर्वरुणस्य बभ्रुं ते विश्वास्मद्दुरिता यावयन्तु ॥
Verse 7.44.3Links awakening to illumination and protection: addresses Agni–Uṣas–Sūrya and asks that all duritā (dangerous crossings/evils) be driven away—central to the hymn’s protective intent.Read verse 7.44.3 →
ṛtasya panthām
Verse 7.44.5Doctrinal and practical culmination: ‘the path of ṛta’ is explicitly requested, with Dadhikrāvan empowering right movement and Agni/Viśve Devāḥ granting attentive hearing and steady guidance.Read verse 7.44.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Auspicious swiftness and forward drive (Dadhikrāvan)
  • Dawn-awakening and illumination (Uṣas, Sūrya)
  • Ritual ignition and attentive hearing (Agni)
  • Fortune and allotment (Bhaga)
  • Protection and victory-force (Indra)
  • Right stride and ordered expansion (Viṣṇu)
  • Guidance on roads and journeys (Pūṣan)
  • Prayer-power and sacred formulation (Brahmaṇaspati)
  • Law and guardianship of ṛta (Ādityas/Varuṇa)
  • Cosmic support: Heaven–Earth, Waters, Svaḥ

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Mandala 7 (majority of hymns attributed to the Vasiṣṭha family)
  • Noted RV themes: Agni as household/ritual leader; Varuṇa and the moral-cosmic law (ṛta)
  • Later tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with key roles in Itihāsa-Purāṇa lineages (as a brahmarṣi and royal preceptor)

The rite, step by step

  • Begin at dawn with mental ‘awakening’ (bubudhānaḥ), facing the light; establish intention to follow ṛta.
  • Kindle or honor the household fire (Agni samiddha) and recite the opening roll-call of deities as helpers.
  • Invoke the light-powers (Uṣas, Sūrya, ‘go’/ray, bradhna) for clarity and the removal of duritā (harmful passages).
  • Conclude by requesting Dadhikrāvan to ‘anoint’ the fit path (pathyām anaktu) and asking Agni and the Viśve Devāḥ to hear and confirm the rite.
  • Optionally seal with a silent resolve (saṅkalpa) to act in accordance with ṛta throughout the day.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Simple oblations appropriate to dawn rites (milk/curds where customary)
  • Water libation or respectful sprinkling (symbolic alignment with ‘āpah’)
  • Verbal offering: well-formed praise (stoma) to Brahmaṇaspati and the divine host

Frequently Asked Questions

Dadhikrāvan is an auspicious, swift power often pictured like a divine horse. In this hymn he is invoked first to give momentum, protection, and a safe, successful course for the rite and for life’s journeys.

The hymn treats the sacrifice and the day’s beginning as a coordinated act needing multiple supports: light (Uṣas, Sūrya), fire and will (Agni), fortune (Bhaga), protection (Indra), guidance (Pūṣan), sacred speech (Brahmaṇaspati), and cosmic order (Ādityas).

It means moving in harmony with the true order—right timing, right action, and clear intention. Practically, it is a prayer for safe passage and obstacle-removal; inwardly, it is a request for disciplined, undeluded conduct.

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