Sukta 46
Sukta 7.46
Vasiṣṭha
Rudra
Triṣṭubh
Vasishtha ne is mantra mein Rudra ko bada teerandaz bataya hai. Rudra ki shakti bahut tej hai, jo takleef de sakti hai aur theek bhi kar sakti hai. Kavi Rudra se kehta hai ki unka gusse ka prahar hum se door rakhein. Rudra ke paas hazaron dawaiyan hain jo humein bacha sakti hain. Hum apne parivar, bacchon aur zindagi ki suraksha ke liye unse sahara maangte hain. Yeh mantra Rudra ko shant karne aur humein theek rakhne ke liye hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
इमा रुद्राय स्थिरधन्वने गिरः क्षिप्रेषवे देवाय स्वधाव्ने । अषाळ्हाय सहमानाय वेधसे तिग्मायुधाय भरता शृणोतु नः ॥
Yeh shabd Rudra bhagwan ke liye hain, jo dhanush pakde khade rehte hain. Unki teer jaldi chalti hai aur woh apni taakat se chalte hain. Koi unko hara nahi sakta, woh hamesha jeette hain. Unke hathiyar tej hain. Meri baat un tak pahunche aur woh humari sun lein.
Mantra 2
स हि क्षयेण क्षम्यस्य जन्मनः साम्राज्येन दिव्यस्य चेतति । अवन्नवन्तीरुप नो दुरश्चरानमीवो रुद्र जासु नो भव ॥
Rudra bhagwan dharati par rehte hain aur aasman ki bhi baat jaante hain. Woh sab kuch dekhte hain. Bhagwan hamare paas aayein aur hamari raksha karein. Hamare ghar ke aas paas rahein. Rudra bhagwan humein koi takleef na dein aur jaldi hamari madad karein.
Mantra 3
या ते दिद्युदवसृष्टा दिवस्परि क्ष्मया चरति परि सा वृणक्तु नः । सहस्रं ते स्वपिवात भेषजा मा नस्तोकेषु तनयेषु रीरिषः ॥
Rudra ki bijli aasman se gir ke dharti par phailti hai. Woh humse door ho jaaye. Rudra ke paas hazaron dawaiyan hain jo saans deti hain. Woh hamare bacchon ko aur hamare kaam ko nuksan na kare.
Mantra 4
मा नो वधी रुद्र मा परा दा मा ते भूम प्रसितौ हीळितस्य । आ नो भज बर्हिषि जीवशंसे यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
Hey Rudra, humein mat maarna aur humein mat bhagana. Tumhara gussa hum par na padega. Humein bhi apni puja mein jagah de. Humein zinda rahne ki dua de. Tum log hamesha humein achha rakho.
Inside Sukta 46
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by ‘carrying’ words of praise to Rudra the formidable archer, asking that he listen.
- Development
Rudra’s dangerous celestial force is acknowledged—his lightning roaming from heaven over earth—while the poet seeks its diversion and invokes Rudra’s healing capacity.
- Climax
The bold juxtaposition peaks: the same god of sharp weapons is said to hold ‘a thousand medicines,’ making him the supreme healer as well as potential afflicter.
- Where it settles
The hymn resolves in urgent, intimate supplication—‘do not slay us, do not cast us away’—and ends with a request for shared life-boons and enduring svasti-protection.
The deity: Rudra
- In the VedaRudra is praised as the steady-bowed, swift-arrowed, self-powered god (svadhāvan), unconquered and enduring, with keen weapons; yet he is also the possessor of abundant remedies (bheṣajā), capable of turning harm away when properly invoked.
- Cosmic functionHe embodies the sudden, disruptive force in nature—storm, lightning, disease, and their cessation—governing both affliction and healing, and enforcing boundaries through awe-inspiring power.
- Inner significancePsychologically, Rudra represents the fierce transformative energy that can shatter arrogance, purge impurities, and restore wholeness when approached with humility, truth, and restraint; his ‘medicine’ is the alchemy of suffering turned into renewal.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha-gotra); traditionally of the Maitrāvaruṇa line · One of the foremost Ṛgvedic seers of Mandala 7, celebrated for hymns of royal legitimacy, cosmic order (ṛta), and powerful devotional speech; famed in later tradition as the purohita of Sudās and a paradigmatic brahmarṣi.
Famous verses
इमा रुद्राय स्थिरधन्वने गिरः क्षिप्रेषवे देवाय स्वधाव्ने । अषाळ्हाय सहमानाय वेधसे तिग्मायुधाय भरता शृणोतु नः ॥sahasraṃ te … bheṣajā
mā no vadhī rudra
Attributes of the deity
- Steady bow, swift arrows (archer imagery)
- Lightning-like power and suddenness
- Unconquered, enduring strength
- Ambivalent deity: can harm or heal
- Possessor of ‘a thousand medicines’ (bheṣajā)
- Protector of lineage—invoked to spare children and descendants
- Bestower of svasti (well-being) when appeased
Also by this seer
- Principal authorship of much of Rig Veda Mandala 7 (Vasiṣṭha maṇḍala)
- Hymns to Varuṇa-Mitra emphasizing ṛta and moral order (e.g., RV 7.86–7.89)
- Royal and battle-context hymns associated with the Bharatas and Sudās (e.g., RV 7.18)
- Foundational presence in later Itihāsa-Purāṇa traditions as a teacher-sage and exemplar of brahmanical authority
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the sacred seat (barhis) and kindle Agni; establish a calm, orderly space (ṛta-aligned).
- Recite RV 7.46.1 as an opening praise, ‘bearing’ the prayer to the steady-bowed Rudra and requesting that he hear.
- Invoke turning-away of harm with RV 7.46.3, explicitly redirecting Rudra’s ‘lightning’ and calling upon his medicines for protection of children and progeny.
- Offer oblations with a conciliatory intention; maintain a tone of reverence rather than command.
- Conclude with RV 7.46.4 as a direct supplication: ‘Do not slay us… share with us on the barhis,’ followed by a svasti-prayer for ongoing safeguarding.
- Optionally repeat the final plea as a protective refrain, especially in times of fear (storm, illness, social tension).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Soma (where applicable)
- Milk/curds or simple food-offerings (naivedya) in later domestic adaptations
- Fragrant herbs/resins (as a symbolic ‘medicine’ offering, aligned with bheṣajā)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Rudra’s immense power and asks him to turn away harm—especially lightning-like danger and wrath—while granting healing, protection, and well-being for the family and descendants.
In the Veda, Rudra governs sudden affliction (like storm and disease) but also its remedy. The hymn acknowledges his sharp weapons and then appeals to his ‘thousand medicines’ to protect and restore life.
It is traditionally suited for a calming/protective recitation during fire worship or when fearing storms, illness, or misfortune—ending with a humble plea for mercy and ongoing svasti (well-being).
Ask anything about Sukta 46 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
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.
