Sukta 90
Sukta 1.90
This hymn is a prayer to the collective “Immortal Powers” (amṛtāḥ)—often understood as the Ādityas and allied guardians of ṛta—to grant svasti (well-being), protection, and a secure inner and outer peace. It asks that hostile forces and ill-will be driven away, while the worlds of experience (night, dawn, earth-region, and heaven) become “honeyed” (madhu), i.e., harmonious, auspicious, and supportive of right living.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
ऋजुनीती नो वरुणो मित्रो नयतु विद्वान् । अर्यमा देवैः सजोषाः ॥
वरुण और मित्र हमें सीधा रास्ता दिखाएं, वो जानते हैं सही रास्ता क्या है। अर्यमन भी उनके साथ मिलकर हमें सही दिशा में ले चलाएं।
Mantra 2
ते हि वस्वो वसवानास्ते अप्रमूरा महोभिः । व्रता रक्षन्ते विश्वाहा ॥
यह तीनों देवता असली मालिक हैं धन के, कोई धोखा नहीं देते। अपनी बड़ी शक्ति से वो रोज़ धरम की बात संभाल के रखते हैं।
Mantra 3
ते अस्मभ्यं शर्म यंसन्नमृता मर्त्येभ्यः । बाधमाना अप द्विषः ॥
जो अमर हैं, वो हमें सुरक्षा दें। हम इंसान हैं, हमें शांति चाहिए। दुश्मन ताकतें दूर भाग जाएँ।
Mantra 4
वि नः पथः सुविताय चियन्त्विन्द्रो मरुतः । पूषा भगो वन्द्यासः ॥
इंद्र और मरुत देवता हमारे रास्ते साफ करें। पूषन और भग भी साथ दें। हमारा काम आसान हो और हम आगे बढ़ें।
Mantra 5
उत नो धियो गोअग्राः पूषन्विष्णवेवयावः । कर्ता नः स्वस्तिमतः ॥
रोशनी हमारे सोच को सही दिशा में ले जाए। पूषन और विष्णु हमारे साथ चलें। हमारी भला हो और सब ठीक रहे।
Mantra 6
मधु वाता ऋतायते मधु क्षरन्ति सिन्धवः । माध्वीर्नः सन्त्वोषधीः ॥
हवा मीठी चले, सच्चाई के साथ। नदियाँ मीठा पानी बहाएँ। सारी जड़ी-बूटियाँ हमें अच्छा करें और खुशी दें।
Mantra 7
मधु नक्तमुतोषसो मधुमत्पार्थिवं रजः । मधु द्यौरस्तु नः पिता ॥
रात और सवेरा दोनों हमारे लिए मीठा हो। यह धरती जहाँ हम चलते हैं वो भी मीठी हो। आसमान जो हमारा बाप है वो भी मीठा हो। सब जगह खुशी और सही बात होनी चाहिए।
Mantra 8
मधुमान्नो वनस्पतिर्मधुमाँ अस्तु सूर्यः । माध्वीर्गावो भवन्तु नः ॥
जंगल के पेड़-पौधे हमारे लिए मीठा हों। सूरज भी मीठा हो। गाय जो हमें दूध देती हैं वो भी मीठी हों। सब हमें खुशी और ज्ञान दें।
Mantra 9
शं नो मित्रः शं वरुणः शं नो भवत्वर्यमा । शं न इन्द्रो बृहस्पतिः शं नो विष्णुरुरुक्रमः ॥
मित्र हमें शांति दें। वरुण भी शांति दें। अर्यमन भी हमें शांति दें। इंद्र और बृहस्पति शांति दें। विष्णु जो बड़े कदम रखते हैं वो भी शांति दें। सब हमारे मन में शांति लाएं।
Inside Sukta 90
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Invocation of the beneficent Immortal Powers who possess true riches and guard the ordinances of right working.
- Development
Requests intensify for ongoing protection: that these powers preserve ṛta, grant sheltering peace to mortals, and actively drive away hostile forces.
- Climax
The ‘madhu’ vision: night, dawn, the earthly realm, and heaven are prayed to become honeyed—an image of universal auspiciousness permeating all planes of experience.
- Where it settles
The hymn settles into a tone of assured well-being: protection, harmony, and a world-order aligned with ṛta, so the worshipper may live and act without obstruction.
The deity: Collective Immortal Powers, commonly read as Ādityas / guardians of ṛta, invoked for svasti
- In the VedaThey grant sheltering peace (śarma) to mortals and repel adversarial forces (dviṣaḥ).
- Cosmic functionTo uphold ṛta (cosmic order), maintain the lawful rhythm of days and seasons, and provide protective auspiciousness (svasti) so life can proceed without obstruction from inimical powers.
- Inner significanceThe ‘Immortal Powers’ symbolize the stabilizing faculties of truth, clarity, and right discernment that protect one’s inner law (vrata) and create a secure, benevolent mental atmosphere—turning experience ‘honeyed’ rather than bitter or conflicted.
Famous verses
vratā rakṣante viśvāhā
śarma yaṃsan… apa dviṣaḥ
madhu naktam utoṣaso
Attributes of the deity
- amṛta (deathless, sustaining)
- ṛta/vrata-protecting (guardians of right order)
- protective (granting śarma, removing hostility)
- beneficent wealth-bestowing (vasu/vasavān)
- harmonizing (madhu—sweetening of experience)
Also by this seer
- Attributed in the Rigvedic corpus as an ‘anukta’ rishi hymn; no stable additional hymn-attribution can be asserted from the provided context alone.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare a clean, quiet space; establish intention for svasti (well-being) and protection.
- Invoke the collective deities as ‘amṛtāḥ’—guardians of ṛta—requesting protection of vratas (right order) in one’s life.
- Recite the sukta steadily, with special emphasis on verses asking for śarma (shelter/peace) and removal of dviṣ (hostility).
- Conclude with a silent resolve to align conduct with ṛta (truthful speech, right action), reinforcing the hymn’s ‘vrata’ theme.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into the fire (if performed with agni)
- Water oblation (ārghya) or simple libation
- Optional: soma-substitute offerings in later practice (symbolic), or flowers/incense in non-śrauta settings
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a prayer for svasti (well-being) and protection, asking the Immortal Powers who uphold cosmic order to grant peace and drive away hostile influences.
They are a collective group of divine guardians—often understood as the Ādityas and allied deities—who protect ṛta (right order) and support human life with auspiciousness.
“Madhu” literally means honey, and in this hymn it signifies sweetness, harmony, and auspiciousness—wishing that all times and realms of experience become supportive and rightly ordered.
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