Sukta 183
Sukta 1.183
Aśvinau
This short Aśvin hymn invokes the twin divine healers to yoke their wondrous chariot—swift as thought—and arrive safely at the sacrificer’s well-prepared dwelling. The poet asks for protection on the way, offers them their appointed share, and celebrates the passage from darkness to the farther shore through their aid, seeking nourishment, clearing of obstacles, and swift-giving power.
Mantras
Mantra 1
तं युञ्जाथां मनसो यो जवीयान्त्रिवन्धुरो वृषणा यस्त्रिचक्रः । येनोपयाथः सुकृतो दुरोणं त्रिधातुना पतथो विर्न पर्णैः ॥
अपनी रथ को जोड़ो, जो दिमाग से भी तेज़ है। यह रथ तीन स्थानों वाली है और तीन पहिये वाली है। इससे तुम अच्छे से बने घर पहुँचते हो। इसका नीव तीन हिस्सों पर है और तुम उड़ते हो जैसे पंखों वाले पक्षी।
Mantra 2
सुवृद्रथो वर्तते यन्नभि क्षां यत्तिष्ठथः क्रतुमन्तानु पृक्षे । वपुर्वपुष्या सचतामियं गीर्दिवो दुहित्रोषसा सचेथे ॥
तुम्हारी अच्छी चलने वाली रथ ज़मीन पर चलती है। जब तुम खड़े हो जाते हो, तो तुम दोनों अपनी इच्छा के साथ बढ़ते हो। यह गीत तुम्हारी खूबसूरती के साथ जुड़े। हे सवेरा, आसमान की बेटी, तुम भी इनके साथ चलो।
Mantra 3
आ तिष्ठतं सुवृतं यो रथो वामनु व्रतानि वर्तते हविष्मान् । येन नरा नासत्येषयध्यै वर्तिर्याथस्तनयाय त्मने च ॥
उस अच्छी चलने वाली रथ पर सवार हो जाओ जो तुम्हारे नियम फ़ॉलो करती है। यह रथ भेंट के साथ भरी हुई है। इससे, हे वीर, हे नासत्य, तुम जागने की शक्ति लाने जाते हो। बच्चे के लिए और खुद के लिए सही रास्ता लाते हो।
Mantra 4
मा वां वृको मा वृकीरा दधर्षीन्मा परि वर्क्तमुत माति धक्तम् । अयं वां भागो निहित इयं गीर्दस्राविमे वां निधयो मधूनाम् ॥
ना भेड़िया तुम्हे पकड़े, ना भेड़ियाँ तुम्हे तकलीफ़ दे। कोई तुम्हे घेर ना ले, ना तुम्हे पीछे से पकड़ के जलाए। यहाँ तुम्हारा हिस्सा रखा है, यह गीत है। हे चमत्कार करने वाले, यहाँ मीठापन के ख़ज़ाने तुम्हारे लिए हैं।
Mantra 5
युवां गोतमः पुरुमीळ्हो अत्रिर्दस्रा हवतेऽवसे हविष्मान् । दिशं न दिष्टामृजूयेव यन्ता मे हवं नासत्योप यातम् ॥
गोतम तुम्हे बुलाता है, अत्रि भी तुम्हारी बहुत तारीफ़ करता है। हे चमत्कार करने वाले, वो मदद के लिए भेंट के साथ तुम्हे पुकारता है। मेरे बुलाने पर आओ जैसे कोई सीधा दिशा में जाता है। हे नासत्य, मेरे पास आओ।
Mantra 6
अतारिष्म तमसस्पारमस्य प्रति वां स्तोमो अश्विनावधायि । एह यातं पथिभिर्देवयानैर्विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥
हम अंधेरे से पार हो गए, उस तरफ पहुँच गए। अश्विन भाइयों, तुम्हारे लिए यह स्त्रोत बनाया है। देवताओं के रास्ते से यहाँ आओ। हम चाहते हैं कि रास्ता साफ हो, आगे बढ़ने की ताकत मिले, और जल्दी-जल्दी मिलने वाली बरकत मिले।
Inside Sukta 183
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
An urgent invitation: yoke the Aśvins’ chariot—faster than mind—and come to the worshiper’s prepared dwelling.
- Development
The hymn blends vivid chariot imagery with practical concerns: safe travel, warding off threats, and placing before them their rightful share and sweet praise.
- Climax
The turning point is the declaration of having crossed beyond darkness to its farther shore—an experiential victory attributed to Aśvin help.
- Where it settles
A final call to come by the divine paths, so the community may gain nourishment, removal of obstruction, and quick, generous bestowal.
The deity: Aśvinau
- In the VedaThe Aśvins are youthful twin gods who arrive at dawn in a radiant chariot, famed as rescuers, physicians, and bringers of boons. They are invoked to come quickly, protect the worshiper, and bestow sweetness (madhu), vitality, and successful passage through peril.
- Cosmic functionThey mediate transitions—night to dawn, danger to safety, illness to health—guiding beings across liminal thresholds and restoring wholeness.
- Inner significanceThe twin powers of prompt help and right guidance: the capacity to move from confusion (‘darkness’) to clarity, from blockage to flow, and from depletion to renewed energy.
The seer
- Agastya (traditional attribution)Āgastya / Māna (Agastya’s family line; traditional Vedic attribution varies by śākhā) · A major Vedic seer associated with powerful hymns, especially to the Maruts and other deities; revered in later tradition as a southern-ranging ṛṣi and a master of tapas and mantra.
Famous verses
manaso yo javīyān (swifter than mind)
ayaṃ vām bhāgo nihita (here is your portion laid down)
atāriṣma tamasas pāram asya (we have crossed to the farther shore of darkness)
Attributes of the deity
- Twin divine helpers
- Swift chariot-travelers
- Healers and restorers
- Rescuers in संकट (peril)
- Associated with dawn and renewal
- Bestowers of ‘madhu’ (sweetness, delight, sap)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Mandala 1 hymns in the Agastya cluster (traditional grouping around RV 1.165–1.191, with some variation)
- Numerous hymns in Rig Veda Mandala 1 traditionally ascribed to Agastya, especially Marut-related compositions
- Later Sanskrit tradition: Agastya as a prominent sage in Itihāsa-Purāṇa narratives (attributional, not Rigvedic)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the offering place and seat for the Aśvins (a welcoming ‘well-built home’ imagery).
- Recite the opening verses inviting them to yoke their swift chariot and come by the deva-paths.
- Offer their ‘bhāga’ (portion) with protective petitions for an unharmed approach.
- Conclude with thanksgiving/affirmation for crossing beyond darkness and request for iṣa (nourishment), vṛjana (clearing), and jīradānu (swift-giving power).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Soma (where integrated into Soma liturgy)
- Madhu / sweet drink offerings (symbolic ‘treasures of sweetness’)
- Oblations into the fire (havis)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aśvins are twin Vedic gods known for swift help, healing, and rescue. The hymn calls them to arrive quickly in their chariot and bless the worshiper with safety and vitality.
It means moving from a state of danger, confusion, or hardship into safety and clarity. The poet credits the Aśvins for enabling this passage and then asks for continued support and strength.
It fits best at dawn in morning recitations or offerings, especially where Aśvin praise is customary. The worshiper invites the twins, offers their portion, asks for protection, and seeks nourishment and obstacle-removal.
Ask anything about Sukta 183 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.
