Sukta 43
Sukta 2.43
Gṛtsamada (traditional attribution for RV 2.43)
Triṣṭubh (probable; verify against pada-count of full text tradition)
This brief hymn addresses the Śakuni/Śakunta (omen-bird) as a truthful speaker aligned with ṛta, whose calls are read as meaningful signs in ritual and daily life. The poet praises the bird’s “twofold voice” as if it were a trained chanter, and repeatedly petitions it to utter auspicious, purifying speech from every direction. The sukta thus sacralizes omen-hearing: sound in nature becomes a channel for blessing, right understanding (sumati), and success in the assembly.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रदक्षिणिदभि गृणन्ति कारवो वयो वदन्त ऋतुथा शकुन्तयः । उभे वाचौ वदति सामगा इव गायत्रं च त्रैष्टुभं चानु राजति ॥
गाने वाले लोग दाएँ तरफ जाके गाते हैं। चिड़िया भी सीज़न के हिसाब से आवाज़ करती हैं। यह दोनों तरह की आवाज़ चलाता है जैसे कोई गाना गाता है। यह दोनों चाल में चलता है, दोनों तरह से चमकता है।
Mantra 2
उद्गातेव शकुने साम गायसि ब्रह्मपुत्र इव सवनेषु शंससि । वृषेव वाजी शिशुमतीरपीत्या सर्वतो नः शकुने भद्रमा वद विश्वतो नः शकुने पुण्यमा वद ॥
चिड़िया, तू गाता है जैसे मंदिर में कोई गाता है। तू बोलता है जैसे कोई पंडित बोलता है। तू ताकत से आता है जैसे बैल और तेज़ घोड़ा। हर तरफ से हमें अच्छा बता, हर तरफ से हमें साफ रास्ता दिखा।
Mantra 3
आवदँस्त्वं शकुने भद्रमा वद तूष्णीमासीनः सुमतिं चिकिद्धि नः । यदुत्पतन्वदसि कर्करिर्यथा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥
अरे पक्षी, हमें अच्छा बता। चुप-चाप बैठ के भी हमारे दिमाग में सही बात डाल दे। जब तू उड़के आवाज़ करे, जैसे कोई गाना गा रहा हो, तब हम भी सबके सामने बड़ी बात करें और हिम्मत वाले बन जाएं।
Inside Sukta 43
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn begins by observing auspicious movement and praise: singers acclaim, while birds ‘speak’ in season with ṛta, establishing nature as meaningful and ordered.
- Development
The bird is elevated through ritual metaphors—Udgātṛ, Sāman-chanter, brahma’s ‘son’—so its call becomes authoritative speech within sacrifice.
- Climax
A repeated, urgent petition: “speak to us the good… speak the fortunate/purifying from all directions,” turning omen into blessing and guidance.
- Where it settles
The poet seeks sumati even in silence and prays that, as the bird calls and rises, humans may speak the ‘Vast’ in the assembly and gain heroic strength (suvīra).
The deity: Śakuni/Śakunta
- Cosmic functionMediator of signs: it marks direction, time, and auspiciousness, translating the ordered rhythms of nature (seasons, movements, rightward course) into intelligible guidance for human action.
- Inner significanceThe capacity to hear truth in subtle signals—cultivating discernment, auspicious interpretation, and inner alignment so that one’s speech becomes ‘vast’ and effective in the vidatha (assembly).
The seer
- GṛtsamadaBhārgava (of the Bhr̥gu line; traditionally connected with the Gṛtsamada branch) · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 2, noted for hymns of strong ritual clarity and for articulating how praise (stuti) aligns humans with ṛta and divine favor.
Famous verses
ubhe vācau vadati
sarvato naḥ śakune bhadram ā vada
bṛhad vadema
Attributes of the deity
- ṛta-aligned speech (truth-order)
- seasonal/time-keeping signifier (ṛtuthā)
- directional auspiciousness (rightward/pradakṣiṇa)
- twofold voice (ubhe vācau)
- likened to Sāman-chant (udgātṛ imagery)
- bringer of bhadra and puṇya (good and purifying fortune)
- awakener of sumati (right understanding)
Also by this seer
- Major attribution for much of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (Gṛtsamada hymns)
- Hymns to Agni and Indra in Maṇḍala 2 emphasizing correct invocation and protection
- Several Maṇḍala 2 suktas framing speech, praise, and ritual order as vehicles of power
The rite, step by step
- Sit facing the ritual space (or intended direction of travel/undertaking) and establish silence (tūṣṇīm) to ‘hear’ signs without agitation.
- Recite RV 2.43.1 acknowledging the bird’s rightward course and ṛta-seasonal speech; mentally align with ṛta.
- Recite RV 2.43.2 as a direct petition: ask for bhadra (good) and puṇya (purifying fortune) ‘from every side’ (sarvataḥ/viśvataḥ).
- Recite RV 2.43.3 requesting sumati even in silence, and strength of ‘vast speech’ in the vidatha (assembly/ritual gathering).
- Conclude with a brief intention (saṅkalpa): undertake the act only with clarity, auspiciousness, and benevolent speech.
Offerings
- Ghee or simple oblation into Agni (if performed with a fire)
- Water libation (ācamana/pariṣecana) as a symbol of purification (puṇya)
- Optional grains or a small food offering placed outdoors, acknowledging the bird as a messenger of ṛta
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn addresses the Śakuni/Śakunta, an omen-bird whose call is treated as meaningful speech aligned with ṛta (cosmic order).
It repeatedly asks the bird to “speak the good” and “speak the purifying/fortunate” from every direction, and to awaken right understanding (sumati) in the listener.
In Vedic terms it is about ṛta: hearing nature’s rhythms as ordered and truthful, and using that hearing to cultivate clarity, auspicious action, and effective speech in ritual and community.
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