Sukta 2
Sukta 1.2
Madhucchandas Vaiśvāmitra
Gāyatrī
Rig Veda 1.2 is an early Soma-offering hymn that first invites Vāyu, the swift Life-Breath, to come to the sacrifice and drink the prepared Soma. It then widens the invocation to paired deities—Vāyu with Indra, and finally Mitra-Varuṇa—seeking inspired power, victorious energy, and the discerning right-order (dakṣa) needed for effective sacred action.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
वायवा याहि दर्शतेमे सोमा अरंकृताः । तेषां पाहि श्रुधी हवम् ॥
वायु, आ जाओ। देखो कितना अच्छा लग रहा है। यह सोम रस तैयार है। इसको पियो और हमारी आवाज़ सुनो, हम तुम्हे बुला रहे हैं।
Mantra 2
वाय उक्थेभिर्जरन्ते त्वामच्छा जरितारः । सुतसोमा अहर्विदः ॥
हे वायु, लोग अपनी आवाज़ उठा के तुम्हे पुकारते हैं। यह लोग सोम पी करके आए हैं जो रोशनी का दिन जानते हैं। वो तुम्हे बुला रहे हैं ताकि साँस में ताकत आए।
Mantra 3
वायो तव प्रपृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशुषे । उरूची सोमपीतये ॥
वायु, तुम्हारी खुशी की नदी आती है उसके पास जो देना जानता है। यह रोशनी फैला के आती है, सोम पीने के लिए। इससे अंदर की खुशी बढ़ती है।
Mantra 4
इन्द्रवायू इमे सुता उप प्रयोभिरा गतम् । इन्दवो वामुशन्ति हि ॥
इंद्र और वायु, इन सोम के पास आओ। यह खुशी लेकर आते हैं। सोम की बूंदें तुम्हे बुला रही हैं। आओ और अंदर की ताकत और आज़ाद साँस जगा दो।
Mantra 5
वायविन्द्रश्च चेतथः सुतानां वाजिनीवसू । तावा यातमुप द्रवत् ॥
वायु और इंद्र, तुम दोनों सोम को देखते हो। तुम दोनों ताकत और जीत के मालिक हो। आओ जल्दी, यह खुशी तुम्हारी तरफ दौड़ रही है।
Mantra 6
वायविन्द्रश्च सुन्वत आ यातमुप निष्कृतम् । मक्ष्वित्था धिया नरा ॥
वायु और इंद्र, उसके पास जल्दी आओ जो सोम रख के बैठा है। यह भगवान के लिए है। तुम दोनों ताकत हो, सच के लिए सोच के आओ।
Mantra 7
मित्रं हुवे पूतदक्षं वरुणं च रिशादसम् । धियं घृताचीं साधन्ता ॥
मैं मित्र को बुलाता हूँ जो साफ और सही काम करता है। वरुण को भी बुलाता हूँ जो बुराई को खत्म करता है। इन दोनों की यह दुआ है कि हमारे मन में सही सोच आए। वह सोच साफ हो, सीधी हो, और काम आए।
Mantra 8
ऋतेन मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा । क्रतुं बृहन्तमाशाथे ॥
मित्र और वरुण सच्चाई की शक्ति से बड़े होते हैं। सच्चाई को अपनाते हैं। इनसे यह प्रार्थना है कि वो हमें बड़ी और उजियारी इच्छा दें। ताकि हमारा मन सच के साथ चले।
Mantra 9
कवी नो मित्रावरुणा तुविजाता उरुक्षया । दक्षं दधाते अपसम् ॥
मित्र और वरुण दोनों रिशि हैं। दोनों बड़े हैं और जगह भी उनकी खुली है। इनसे यह आशा है कि वो हमें सही फैसला लेनी समझ दें। ताकि हम अपना काम सही से पूरा कर सकें।
Inside Sukta 2
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct call to Vāyu—radiant and swift—to come to the well-prepared Soma and hear the worshipper’s summons.
- Development
The hymn reinforces readiness of the offering and the necessity of divine attention, then expands to the cooperative arrival of Vāyu with Indra, joining breath and power.
- Climax
The paired invocation urges the gods to hasten to the swiftly flowing Soma-delight, stressing immediacy, force, and fulfillment at the sacrifice.
- Where it settles
The scope broadens to Mitra-Varuṇa, ending with a prayer for dakṣa—rightly ordering intelligence—so the sacred work (apas) is successfully formed and completed.
The deity: Vāyu
- Cosmic functionAs Wind and Breath, Vāyu circulates life and motion, linking earth and midspace, carrying offerings and prayers, and energizing the gods’ approach to the sacrifice; with Indra he supports victorious force, and with Mitra-Varuṇa he upholds order and right discernment.
- Inner significanceVāyu signifies prāṇa—the vital current that makes aspiration effective; Soma becomes the refined delight/essence offered into consciousness, awakening clarity, strength, and right formation (dakṣa) for the soul’s work (apas).
The seer
- Madhucchandas VaiśvāmitraVaiśvāmitra (descendant/line of Viśvāmitra; traditionally linked with the Kuśika/Vaiśvāmitra family) · An early ṛṣi of Mandala 1, renowned for concise Gāyatrī hymns that open the Rig Veda’s sacrificial sequence and for shaping the invitatory style of Soma liturgy.
Famous verses
śrudhī havam
वायविन्द्रश्च चेतथः सुतानां वाजिनीवसू । तावा यातमुप द्रवत् ॥dakṣaṃ dadhāte apasam
Attributes of the deity
- Swift and near-at-hand to invocation
- First Soma-drinker in many Soma rites
- Life-giving breath and mover of energies
- Radiant/visible presence (darśata)
- Listener to prayer (śrudhi havam)
- Works in synergy with Indra’s power and Mitra-Varuṇa’s order
Also by this seer
- Traditionally associated with RV 1.1–1.10 (including the Agni opening hymn RV 1.1)
- Early Mandala 1 Gāyatrī-style invocations used as models for later Soma-yajña call-and-response patterns
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the Soma (pressing/straining) and set it forth as ‘araṃkṛta’ (rightly arranged).
- Recite the opening Gāyatrī to invite Vāyu to approach and drink.
- Repeat invocations as the Soma is presented, emphasizing listening/acceptance of the call.
- Invoke the dual pair Vāyu–Indra to ‘take cognizance’ of the pressed Soma and hasten to the offering.
- Conclude with an appeal to Mitra-Varuṇa for dakṣa (right discernment) to accomplish the rite’s intended work (apas).
Offerings
- Pressed Soma (suta soma)
- Soma-libations (graha offerings)
- Accompanying praise/hymn as an offering of speech (vāc)
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an invitatory Soma hymn: it calls Vāyu to come quickly, drink the prepared Soma, and attend to the worshipper’s prayer, ensuring the rite becomes effective.
In many Soma-pressing traditions Vāyu is treated as the first Soma-drinker; as breath and swift motion, he represents the immediate energizing of the sacrifice.
The closing prayer asks Mitra-Varuṇa to place dakṣa (right discernment and skilled ordering) in the worshipper so the ritual ‘work’ (apas) is properly formed and fulfilled.
Ask anything about Sukta 2 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.
