Sukta 137
Sukta 10.137
Traditionally attributed in RV to a healer-seer context; commonly associated with the Vāta healing hymn sequence (RV 10.137) in later indices (exact rishi varies by tradition).
Triṣṭubh (common in this section; some recensions may vary)
This brief healing hymn invokes the collective gods as restorative powers to lift a fallen person back into strength, even if illness is linked with fault or misstep. It combines prayer, protective blessing, and the ritual-psychological act of “mantra-touch,” driving away yakṣma (wasting disease) and re-establishing wholeness (anāmaya).
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
उत देवा अवहितं देवा उन्नयथा पुनः । उतागश्चक्रुषं देवा देवा जीवयथा पुनः ॥
हे भगवान, जो डूब गया है उसे ऊपर उठाओ। जो नीचे गिर गया है उसे फिर से खड़ा कर दो। किसी ने गलती कर दी हो तो भी उसे माफ़ कर दो। उसे फिर से ज़िंदा कर दो, ठीक कर दो।
Mantra 2
द्वाविमौ वातौ वात आ सिन्धोरा परावतः । दक्षं ते अन्य आ वातु परान्यो वातु यद्रपः ॥
हे हवा, दो हवाएँ चल रही हैं। एक नदी की तरफ से आ रही है, दूसरी दूर से आ रही है। एक हवा तुम्हे ताकत दे, और दूसरी बिमारी को भगा दे।
Mantra 3
आ वात वाहि भेषजं वि वात वाहि यद्रपः । त्वं हि विश्वभेषजो देवानां दूत ईयसे ॥
हवा, दवा ले कर आ। हवा, बिमारी को उड़ा ले जा। तू सब की दवा है, तू देवताओं का पैगम्बर है जो उनके पास जाता है।
Mantra 4
आ त्वागमं शंतातिभिरथो अरिष्टतातिभिः । दक्षं ते भद्रमाभार्षं परा यक्ष्मं सुवामि ते ॥
मैं तुम्हारे पास आया हूँ शांति लेकर। मैं तुम्हे अच्छी ताकत ला कर दे रहा हूँ। मैं तुमसे यह बिमारी भगा रहा हूँ।
Mantra 5
त्रायन्तामिह देवास्त्रायतां मरुतां गणः । त्रायन्तां विश्वा भूतानि यथायमरपा असत् ॥
भगवान इस आदमी की रक्षा करें। मरुत गण भी इसकी रक्षा करें। सारी दुनिया इसकी रक्षा करें ताकि यह बिमारी से आज़ाद हो।
Mantra 6
आप इद्वा उ भेषजीरापो अमीवचातनीः । आपः सर्वस्य भेषजीस्तास्ते कृण्वन्तु भेषजम् ॥
पानी दवा है। पानी बिमारी भगाता है। पानी सब की दवा है। यह पानी तुम्हारे लिए दवा बन जाए।
Mantra 7
हस्ताभ्यां दशशाखाभ्यां जिह्वा वाचः पुरोगवी । अनामयित्नुभ्यां त्वा ताभ्यां त्वोप स्पृशामसि ॥
हाथों से काम करते हैं, और जीभ से बात चलती है। यह दोनी चीज़ें बिमारी और गड़बड़ दूर करती हैं। इन दोनों के साथ हम तुम्हे पास से टच करते हैं। ताकि सब ठीक हो जाए और इंसान पूरा हो जाए।
Inside Sukta 137
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct appeal to the gods to lift up what has fallen—reviving the weakened and restoring life even after fault.
- Development
Blessing-language expands: peace and unhurtfulness are brought near; strength (dakṣa) is reinstalled as a positive capacity.
- Climax
Explicit expulsion of yakṣma—the wasting sickness is driven away as the decisive therapeutic act.
- Where it settles
Healing is sealed through embodied ritual: hands and guiding speech/tongue perform mantra-touch to re-establish anāmaya (wholeness, freedom from illness).
The deity: Devāḥ
- Cosmic functionTo restore ṛta-aligned vitality in beings—reintegrating life-breath, strength, and social-spiritual order when illness or decline disrupts them.
- Inner significanceThe many divine powers symbolize the organism’s and psyche’s capacity to reassemble: conscience and forgiveness (release from fault), renewed will and competence (dakṣa), and the healing efficacy of speech joined with touch (mantra + action).
The seer
- Kṣema (traditional/var. healer-seer attribution)Associated in later tradition with the healing-prayer stratum of Maṇḍala 10, especially hymns used for restoring life, strength, and freedom from yakṣma (consumption/wasting illness).
Famous verses
jīvayathā punaḥ
parā yakṣmaṃ suvāmi te
हस्ताभ्यां दशशाखाभ्यां जिह्वा वाचः पुरोगवी । अनामयित्नुभ्यां त्वा ताभ्यां त्वोप स्पृशामसि ॥Attributes of the deity
- Restorative
- Life-giving
- Protective
- Purifying
- Disease-dispelling
- Peace-bringing
- Forgiving/rehabilitating
Also by this seer
- RV 10.137 (healing hymn; traditional attributions vary by recension and anukramaṇī)
- Linked in later ritual-medical usage to Vāta/Ārogya-style healing recitations (application tradition rather than strict authorship)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare a quiet space; seat or lay the patient facing east if possible.
- Light a small ghee lamp or āhavanīya fire (if available) and establish a short śānti intention.
- Recite RV 10.137.1 as an invocation for ‘raising up again’ and restoration to life.
- Recite mid-verses as protective blessings, affirming śānti and ariṣṭatā (uninjuredness).
- Recite RV 10.137.4 while symbolically ‘driving away’ yakṣma (gesture outward or to the ground).
- Recite RV 10.137.7 while performing gentle mantra-touch: place hands lightly on head/shoulders/heart area, aligning speech (jihvā/vāc) with healing intent.
- Conclude with a final blessing for strength (dakṣa) and steadiness; offer thanks to the Devāḥ.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājyāhuti)
- Warm water for sipping/sprinkling (ācamana/prokṣaṇa)
- Simple oblation such as sesame or rice (optional, per household practice)
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a short healing hymn asking the gods to revive a weakened person, restore strength, and remove yakṣma (a wasting sickness).
The hymn recognizes that illness can be felt as tied to error or imbalance; it still asks the gods to forgive and restore the person to life and wholeness.
It is recited as a healing prayer—often with gentle hand-touch and blessings—sometimes alongside a small ghee offering, especially at dawn or during recovery.
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