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Sukta 4.40
Vāmadeva Gautama
Dadhikrāvan (primary); associated powers: Uṣas, Apas, Agni, Sūrya, Bṛhaspati, Angirasa
Triṣṭubh (probable)
Is mantra mein Dadhikravan ka gun-gaan hai. Ye ek tez aur vijayi shakti hai, jise devta ghoda ya suraj pakshi jaisi taakat samajhte hain. Ye gaayak ko aage badhne ke liye prerna deta hai. Uski gati hawa jaisi tez hai aur wo raksha bhi karta hai. Ant mein ek hams ki baat aati hai jo kai jagah baithta hai. Isse ye pata chalta hai ki wo khud satya aur vyavastha ka roop hai.
Mantra 1
दधिक्राव्ण इदु नु चर्किराम विश्वा इन्मामुषसः सूदयन्तु । अपामग्नेरुषसः सूर्यस्य बृहस्पतेराङ्गिरसस्य जिष्णोः ॥
Ab hum Dadhikravan ka naam lenge. Saari subahein mujhe aage badhaayein. Paani ki subahein, Agni ki subahein, Surya ki subahein, Brihaspati ki subahein, Angirasa ki subahein. Yeh sab jeetne wali taakaat hain.
Mantra 2
सत्वा भरिषो गविषो दुवन्यसच्छ्रवस्यादिष उषसस्तुरण्यसत् । सत्यो द्रवो द्रवरः पतंगरो दधिक्रावेषमूर्जं स्वर्जनत् ॥
Yeh ek taakat wala being hai jo khub taakat laata hai. Woh roshni ki kiran dhundhta hai aur badai paata hai. Woh subahein aage badhaata hai, bahut tez chalta hai. Woh sach mein daudta hai, daudne walo mein sabse aage hai, udkar jaata hai. Dadhikravan hum mein taakat aur roshni paida karta hai.
Mantra 3
उत स्मास्य द्रवतस्तुरण्यतः पर्णं न वेरनु वाति प्रगर्धिनः । श्येनस्येव ध्रजतो अङ्कसं परि दधिक्राव्णः सहोर्जा तरित्रतः ॥
Jab woh tezi se daudta hai, hawa uske peeche bhaagti hai. Jaise patte udte hain, waise hi hawa usko follow karti hai. Jaise baaz udta hai aur uske pankh kaanpte hain, waise hi Dadhikravan ki taakat usko gher leti hai jab woh paar kar raha hota hai.
Mantra 4
उत स्य वाजी क्षिपणिं तुरण्यति ग्रीवायां बद्धो अपिकक्ष आसनि । क्रतुं दधिक्रा अनु संतवीत्वत्पथामङ्कांस्यन्वापनीफणत् ॥
Yeh ashwa bhagwan ki den hai jo bada tezi se daudta hai. Uski gardan mein patta bandha hai, paas se pakda hai. Dadhikra naam hai iska, jo man ki ichcha ke hisaab se chalta hai. Raste mein mod lete hai, seedha karta hai, har mod ko samajh ke chalta hai.
Mantra 5
हंसः शुचिषद्वसुरन्तरिक्षसद्धोता वेदिषदतिथिर्दुरोणसत् । नृषद्वरसदृतसद्व्योमसदब्जा गोजा ऋतजा अद्रिजा ऋतम् ॥
Hans roop wala bhagwan hai yeh. Saaf jagah rehta hai, aasman ke paas bhi hai. Yajna ke vedii par bhi baithta hai, ghar mein mehman ban ke aata hai. Logon ke dil mein hai, sabse upar hai, sachchai mein hai, aasman mein hai. Paani se janma, roshni se janma, dharam se janma, pahad se janma, aur khud dharam hai.
Dadhikrāvan is praised as a swift, victorious divine force—often pictured like a powerful steed or solar-bird energy—that carries the worshipper forward and protects the undertaking.
The hymn links Dadhikrāvan to a whole chain of supportive powers: dawn-renewal (Uṣas), purification (Waters), fiery will (Agni), illumination (Sūrya), and inspired sacred speech/priestly force (Bṛhaspati/Aṅgirasa).
It says the ‘Swan’—a symbol of pure, luminous consciousness—is present in many places (sky, altar, home, within people) and is born from waters and light; ultimately it is identified with Ṛta, the principle of truth and right order.
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