Sukta 60
Sukta 3.60
Viśvāmitra Gāthina (traditional for much of Maṇḍala 3; specific hymn 3.60 traditionally to the Ṛbhus by Viśvāmitra)
Ṛbhus (Saudhanvanas), divine artisans of perfection
Jagatī (probable for 3.60.1 due to longer cadence)
This hymn praises the Ṛbhus (Saudhanvanas), the divine craftsmen whose “well-wrought deeds” perfect the works of sacrifice and raise mortals toward excellence. It invites them to the ritual space by the “kinship of mind,” celebrates their immeasurable skill and glory with Indra near the pressed Soma, and culminates in a joint summons for Indra-with-Ṛbhus to come to the offering with manifold guidance for the seeker.
Mantras
Mantra 1
इहेह वो मनसा बन्धुता नर उशिजो जग्मुरभि तानि वेदसा । याभिर्मायाभिः प्रतिजूतिवर्पसः सौधन्वना यज्ञियं भागमानश ॥
यहाँ आए, वीर लोग, मन से जुड़ के। ज्ञान लेकर यह खोजने वाले आए हैं। अपनी शक्ति से यह काम किए। सुधन्वन के बेटे यज्ञ का हिस्सा पाए। वो अपनी शक्ति से जीत गए।
Mantra 2
याभिः शचीभिश्चमसाँ अपिंशत यया धिया गामरिणीत चर्मणः । येन हरी मनसा निरतक्षत तेन देवत्वमृभवः समानश ॥
अपनी शक्ति से उन्होंने प्याले बनाए। उसी ज्ञान से चमड़ी से गाय बनाई। मन से उन्होंने दो घोड़े बनाए। इसी शक्ति से रिभु लोग देवता बन गए।
Mantra 3
इन्द्रस्य सख्यमृभवः समानशुर्मनोर्नपातो अपसो दधन्विरे । सौधन्वनासो अमृतत्वमेरिरे विष्ट्वी शमीभिः सुकृतः सुकृत्यया ॥
रिभु लोग, मनु के बेटे, इंद्र के दोस्त बन गए। अपना काम शुरू किया और शक्ति बढ़ा दी। सुधन्वन के बेटे अमरत्व की तरफ बढ़े। अपनी कला से सब ठीक किया। अच्छा काम किया और अच्छा फल पाया।
Mantra 4
इन्द्रेण याथ सरथं सुते सचाँ अथो वशानां भवथा सह श्रिया । न वः प्रतिमै सुकृतानि वाघतः सौधन्वना ऋभवो वीर्याणि च ॥
रिभुस और इंद्र एक ही रथ में चले जाते हैं। सोम पीया जा चुका है, वो उसके पास हैं। अब वो शक्ति के मालिक बन गए हैं, चमकदमक के साथ। कोई भी गाने वाला इनके काम को नाप नहीं सकता। सौधनवन रिभुस के काम इतने बड़े हैं कि कोई उनकी हद नहीं बता सकता।
Mantra 5
इन्द्र ऋभुभिर्वाजवद्भिः समुक्षितं सुतं सोममा वृषस्वा गभस्त्योः । धियेषितो मघवन्दाशुषो गृहे सौधन्वनेभिः सह मत्स्वा नृभिः ॥
इंद्र, रिभुस तेरे साथ हैं जो शक्ति से भरे हैं। सोम तैयार है, उसे अपने हाथों में ले और पी। जो लोग यज्ञ करते हैं, उनके घर आके खुश हो। सौधनवन लोग भी तेरे साथ हैं। उनके साथ मिलकर आनंद ले।
Mantra 6
इन्द्र ऋभुमान्वाजवान्मत्स्वेह नोऽस्मिन्त्सवने शच्या पुरुष्टुत । इमानि तुभ्यं स्वसराणि येमिरे व्रता देवानां मनुषश्च धर्मभिः ॥
इंद्र, तेरे पास रिभुस की शक्ति है। इस यज्ञ में हमारे साथ आ और खुश हो। बहुत लोग तारीफ करते हैं तेरी। यह सब शक्तियाँ तेरे लिए तैयार हैं। देवताओं के नियम और इंसानों के धरम के हिसाब से सब कुछ सेट है।
Mantra 7
इन्द्र ऋभुभिर्वाजिभिर्वाजयन्निह स्तोमं जरितुरुप याहि यज्ञियम् । शतं केतेभिरिषिरेभिरायवे सहस्रणीथो अध्वरस्य होमनि ॥
इंद्र, रिभुस और तेज़ घोड़े तेरे साथ हैं। शक्ति लेकर आ, इस गाने वाले की स्तुति सुन। यज्ञ के लिए यह सब सही है। सौ जगह से तू देख सकता है, हज़ारों रास्तों का मालिक है तू। यज्ञ की जगह पर हाज़िर हो जा।
Inside Sukta 60
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct invitation—‘here, here’—calling the Ṛbhus by mental kinship and knowledgeable recognition of their crafted works.
- Development
Their māyā as formative skill is praised; they are shown as attaining the rightful sacrificial share and moving with Indra near the pressed Soma, endowed with splendour and mastery.
- Climax
The hymn stresses the immeasurability of their well-wrought deeds and heroic acts—no singer can fully ‘measure’ them—heightening awe and trust in their power to perfect the rite.
- Where it settles
A final, practical summons: Indra, together with the Ṛbhus and swift powers, is asked to come to the hymn and offering-place, granting keen perceptions and manifold guidance to the seeker.
The deity: Ṛbhus
- In the VedaThe Ṛbhus are praised as youthful, ingenious, and “well-working” artisans who accomplish astonishing transformations through māyā (skillful formative power), earning a sacrificial share and moving in fellowship with Indra near Soma.
- Cosmic functionThey represent the cosmic principle of perfected formation—refining and renewing forms, restoring vigor, and enabling the sacrifice to become an effective bridge between human offering and divine response.
- Inner significanceInwardly, the Ṛbhus signify disciplined intelligence and craftsmanship of consciousness: the capacity to reshape habits, sharpen perception (ketu), and make one’s inner instruments fit for higher knowledge and fruitful action.
The seer
- Viśvāmitra GāthinaGāthin (Kauśika/Viśvāmitra lineage; traditionally connected with the Viśvāmitras of Maṇḍala 3) · A royal-turned-seer celebrated for visionary hymns that unite political power, spiritual aspiration, and precise sacrificial speech; widely associated with the core Viśvāmitra corpus of Ṛgveda Maṇḍala 3.
Famous verses
iha iha ("here, here")
इन्द्रेण याथ सरथं सुते सचाँ अथो वशानां भवथा सह श्रिया । न वः प्रतिमै सुकृतानि वाघतः सौधन्वना ऋभवो वीर्याणि च ॥śataṃ ketebhiḥ ("with a hundred perceptions")
Attributes of the deity
- Divine artisanship and perfection (sukṛta)
- Transformative māyā as skill, not illusion
- Youthful vigor and creative ingenuity
- Association with Soma-pressing and sacrificial efficacy
- Companionship with Indra and empowerment of seekers
- Immeasurable deeds beyond ordinary comparison
Also by this seer
- Major portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 3 traditionally attributed to the Viśvāmitras
- Hymns to Agni and Indra emphasizing right invocation and victorious power (e.g., within RV 3.1–3.62 traditional attributions)
- Later tradition associates Viśvāmitra with the Gāyatrī mantra (RV 3.62.10), though this is outside the present sukta
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and establish Agni; set the ritual space as a place of “fit share” (yajñiya bhāga).
- Press Soma and begin praise; invite the Ṛbhus ‘here, here’ as divine artisans of the rite.
- Recite verses extolling their sukṛta (well-wrought works) and their fellowship with Indra at the Soma.
- Ask for mastery, splendour (śrī), and keen perceptions (ketu) for the sacrificer and community.
- Conclude with a joint summons for Indra with the Ṛbhus to arrive at the homa-place and accept offerings.
- Seal the rite with concluding oblations and blessings for increase (vāja) and successful completion of the adhvara.
Offerings
- Soma libation (primary)
- Ghee/clarified butter oblations
- Oblations into Agni (homa)
- Praises (stoma) as the verbal offering
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ṛbhus are divine artisan-beings (called Saudhanvanas) praised for extraordinary skill and “well-wrought” works that perfect and renew the forms used in sacrifice and life.
The hymn portrays them as companions near the pressed Soma: Indra embodies victorious power, while the Ṛbhus embody perfected skill—together they bring prosperity, mastery, and ritual success.
It asks the gods to come to the offering-place, accept Soma and praise, and grant abundance (vāja), splendor (śrī), and sharp, guiding perceptions (ketu) to the seeker and the community.
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