Rig Veda Sukta 119
Mandala 1Sukta 11910 Mantras

Sukta 119

Sukta 1.119

Rishi

Kakṣīvān Dairghatamasa (traditional for RV 1.119)

Devata

Aśvinau

Chandas

Jagatī (probable for RV 1.119.1; longer line typical of Jagatī)

Is mantra mein Ashvin devtaon ko subah subah bulaya ja raha hai. Unka bahut taakat wala rath yagya ke liye aana chahiye. Yeh dono bhai logon ki jaan bachate hain aur bimari theek karte hain. Unhone Rebha ko bachaya, Atri ko thanda kiya, aur Vandana ki umar badha di. Pedu ko ek safed ghoda Shveta diya jisne dushmano pe jeet dilayi. Yeh dono jaldi aate hain, madad karte hain, aur ladai mein saath dete hain. Inki wajah se insaan sach mein jeeta hai aur surakshit rehta hai.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.119

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ वां रथं पुरुमायं मनोजुवं जीराश्वं यज्ञियं जीवसे हुवे । सहस्रकेतुं वनिनं शतद्वसुं श्रुष्टीवानं वरिवोधामभि प्रयः ॥

Main tumhari rath ko bula raha hoon. Woh rath mein bahut taakat hai, dimaag se chalta hai, ghode tez hain. Isse humari zindagi achhi chale. Us rath ke hazaar jhande hain, woh jeeta hai, usmein sab kuchh hai. Woh sunta hai aur raasta bana ke aata hai hamari taraf.

Mantra 2

ऊर्ध्वा धीतिः प्रत्यस्य प्रयामन्यधायि शस्मन्त्समयन्त आ दिशः । स्वदामि घर्मं प्रति यन्त्यूतय आ वामूर्जानी रथमश्विनारुहत् ॥

Soch upar jaati hai aur aage badhti hai. Charon taraf se log aate hain stuti karne. Main yeh garam bhog meetha bana deta hoon. Madad karne wale uski taraf jaate hain. Urja tumhari rath mein baith jaati hai, Ashwin brothers.

Mantra 3

सं यन्मिथः पस्पृधानासो अग्मत शुभे मखा अमिता जायवो रणे । युवोरह प्रवणे चेकिते रथो यदश्विना वहथः सूरिमा वरम् ॥

Jab log ladte hain aur ek dusre se aage badhne ki koshish karte hain, us waqt tumhari rath dikh jaati hai. Woh rath neeche se upar aati hai. Ashwin brothers, tum veer ko uski pasand ki cheez tak le jaate ho.

Mantra 4

युवं भुज्युं भुरमाणं विभिर्गतं स्वयुक्तिभिर्निवहन्ता पितृभ्य आ । यासिष्टं वर्तिर्वृषणा विजेन्यं दिवोदासाय महि चेति वामवः ॥

Bhujyu ko tumne bacha liya. Woh samundar mein phansa hua tha, lekin tumne apni taakat se use utha liya aur wapas laa diye. Tumne jeet ka raasta liya, tum bade ho. Divodas ke liye tumhari badi madad saaf dikh jaati hai.

Mantra 5

युवोरश्विना वपुषे युवायुजं रथं वाणी येमतुरस्य शर्ध्यम् । आ वां पतित्वं सख्याय जग्मुषी योषावृणीत जेन्या युवां पती ॥

Ashwin bhaiyon, tumhari shakti ke liye Vani ne rath taiyaar kiya. Woh rath jawani se juda hai aur tumhari sena ka hai. Ek ladki tumhare paas aayi dosti ke liye. Usne tum dono ko apna swami chuna.

Mantra 6

युवं रेभं परिषूतेरुरुष्यथो हिमेन घर्मं परितप्तमत्रये । युवं शयोरवसं पिप्यथुर्गवि प्र दीर्घेण वन्दनस्तार्यायुषा ॥

Tum dono ne Rebha ko bachaya jab usko dabav mein dala gaya tha. Atri ke liye tumne zyada garam aag ko thanda kiya. Shayu ki madad ko tumne bada kiya. Aur Vandana ko tumne lambi umar tak pahunchaya.

Mantra 7

युवं वन्दनं निॠतं जरण्यया रथं न दस्रा करणा समिन्वथः । क्षेत्रादा विप्रं जनथो विपन्यया प्र वामत्र विधते दंसना भुवत् ॥

Tum dono ne Vandana ko maut ke ilaake se azaad kiya. Jaise koi karigar purana rath chalaane ke liye theek karta hai. Tumne rishi ko us khet se bahar nikala apni shakti se. Jo log bhagwan ki puja karte hain, unke liye tumhari yeh kala saaf dikhti hai.

Mantra 8

अगच्छतं कृपमाणं परावति पितुः स्वस्य त्यजसा निबाधितम् । स्वर्वतीरित ऊतीर्युवोरह चित्रा अभीके अभवन्नभिष्टयः ॥

Tum dono uske paas gaye jo door se madad maang raha tha. Uske apne baap ne use zabardasti daboch ke rakha tha. Tumhari madad jaldi pahunchi aur kaam aayi. Jo ichcha thi woh poori hui.

Mantra 9

उत स्या वां मधुमन्मक्षिकारपन्मदे सोमस्यौशिजो हुवन्यति । युवं दधीचो मन आ विवासथोऽथा शिरः प्रति वामश्व्यं वदत् ॥

Tumhari woh madhumakkhi aa rahi hai jo shahad layi hai. Som ras ki khushi mein woh ga rahi hai. Ushij ka beta tumhe bula raha hai. Tum dono ne Dadhich ke mann ko khola. Phir ghode ke sar ne tumse baat ki aur raaz bataya.

Mantra 10

युवं पेदवे पुरुवारमश्विना स्पृधां श्वेतं तरुतारं दुवस्यथः । शर्यैरभिद्युं पृतनासु दुष्टरं चर्कृत्यमिन्द्रमिव चर्षणीसहम् ॥

Ashwin bhai, tum dono Pedu ko izzat dete ho. Ek safed taakat dete ho jo dusron par jeet leti hai. Yeh taakat aise chamakti hai jaise hathiyar chamak rahe hon. Ladai mein isse paar karna mushkil hai. Yeh bade kaam karti hai, jaise Indra logon ko sambhalta hai.

Inside Sukta 119

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons to the Aśvins’ chariot—many-powered, mind-swift, sacrifice-worthy—so the worshipper may live fully under their protection.

  2. Development

    The hymn builds authority through remembered deeds: saving from confinement, cooling destructive heat, increasing saving help, and extending life—showing the Twins as masters of reversal and restoration.

  3. Climax

    The boon of triumphant power is pictured through Pedu’s aid and the white steed Śveta, an overcomer in rivalries and hard battles.

  4. Where it settles

    The praise resolves into confident petition: may the Aśvins hear, come close to the offering, widen the paths, and grant life, safety, and victory.

The deity: Aśvinau

  • In the VedaThe Aśvins are the youthful twin deities who arrive in a radiant, swift chariot at dawn, famed as physicians and rescuers who hear the call and bring boons—health, longevity, safe passage, and victory.
  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from night to day, restoring vitality and order at the liminal hour; they “set right” what is endangered—body, journey, or fate—by swift intervention.
  • Inner significanceThe harmonizing twin powers of awakening: prompt discernment and effective action that heal distress, cool excess, and carry the seeker beyond limitation into wider life and light.

The seer

  • Kakṣīvān DairghatamasaĀṅgirasa (Dīrghatamas lineage; traditionally connected with the Bhṛgu/Āṅgiras poet families) · A prominent early Rigvedic seer celebrated for vivid Aśvin hymns and for weaving personal need, mythic exempla, and ritual invitation into a single persuasive praise-song.

Famous verses

jīvase huve
Verse 1.119.1Sets the hymn’s ritual posture: the formal invitation to the Aśvins’ many-powered chariot and the explicit aim of ‘living truly’ through their arrival at the offering.Read verse 1.119.1 →
युवं रेभं परिषूतेरुरुष्यथो हिमेन घर्मं परितप्तमत्रये । युवं शयोरवसं पिप्यथुर्गवि प्र दीर्घेण वन्दनस्तार्यायुषा ॥
Verse 1.119.6A compact catalogue of signature Aśvin miracles—protection, cooling, increase of saving help, and extension of lifespan—capturing their healer-rescuer identity.Read verse 1.119.6 →
युवं पेदवे पुरुवारमश्विना स्पृधां श्वेतं तरुतारं दुवस्यथः । शर्यैरभिद्युं पृतनासु दुष्टरं चर्कृत्यमिन्द्रमिव चर्षणीसहम् ॥
Verse 1.119.10Culminates in the victory motif: the Aśvins empower Pedu with Śveta, a luminous force that overcomes rivalries and is ‘hard to cross’ in battle, linking healing aid with triumphant strength.Read verse 1.119.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin youthful helpers
  • Swift chariot with fast horses
  • Healers and restorers
  • Dawn-associated, liminal protectors
  • Givers of longevity and safe passage
  • Rescuers in peril and crisis
  • Bestowers of strength/victory (e.g., Pedu’s Śveta)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 1 hymns traditionally attributed to Kakṣīvān (notably a cluster of Aśvin and allied praise hymns, including RV 1.116–1.126 in many traditional listings)
  • Associated in tradition with the Dīrghatamas poetic line, known for layered, symbolic diction

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the fire (Agni) and seat the rite; orient the rite to the dawn approach of the Aśvins.
  • Recite the opening invitation, calling the many-powered chariot to come toward the offering (prayaḥ).
  • Praise by recalling their exemplary rescues (Rebha, Atri, Vandana, Śayu), establishing confidence in their help.
  • State the specific petitions: life, widening of paths, protection, and empowering gifts.
  • Conclude with a victorious boon-request (Pedu/Śveta motif), sealing the hymn as a request for overcoming rivalries and obstacles.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Soma/libation where Soma-rite is in place
  • Simple food offerings (prayaḥ) and sweet oblations customary in Aśvin worship

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins are the youthful twin gods who arrive at dawn in a swift chariot. In the Rig Veda they are famed for healing, rescuing those in danger, and granting long life and safe passage.

The hymn asks the Aśvins to come to the offering, protect the worshipper, widen the paths (remove obstacles), and grant vitality and longevity—supported by examples of their past rescues.

Pedu and Śveta represent the Aśvins’ gift of conquering power. The ‘white’ (luminous) steed symbolizes a force that overcomes rivalries and hardships, turning divine help into practical victory.

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