Sukta 35
Sukta 4.35
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for RV 4.35)
Triṣṭubh (probable; needs metrical verification)
This hymn invites the Ṛbhus—divine artisan-seers famed for perfect skill—to come to the Soma pressing and share in the treasure of the offering alongside Indra. It recalls their wonder-works (renewing the Parents, fashioning the gods’ drinking-cup, and making Indra’s swift tawny steeds) to justify their right to the third pressing and its rapturous strength.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
इहोप यात शवसो नपातः सौधन्वना ऋभवो माप भूत । अस्मिन्हि वः सवने रत्नधेयं गमन्त्विन्द्रमनु वो मदासः ॥
रिभु भाई, यहाँ आओ। तुम शक्ति के बेटे हो, तुम्हारा काम है। पीछे मत जाओ। इस सोम पानी में एक खज़ाना है तुम्हारे लिए। तुम्हारी खुशी इंद्र के साथ चले। इंद्र के साथ मिलकर मज़ा लो।
Mantra 2
आगन्नृभूणामिह रत्नधेयमभूत्सोमस्य सुषुतस्य पीतिः । सुकृत्यया यत्स्वपस्यया चँ एकं विचक्र चमसं चतुर्धा ॥
रिभु भाइयों के लिए खज़ाना आ गया। सोम का पानी पीने को मिल रहा है, बिल्कुल फ्रेश है। इन्होंने अपनी कला से एक प्याला बनाया, और उसको चार हिस्सों में बाँट दिया। एक प्याला, चार हिस्से, कमाल का काम किया।
Mantra 3
व्यकृणोत चमसं चतुर्धा सखे वि शिक्षेत्यब्रवीत । अथैत वाजा अमृतस्य पन्थां गणं देवानामृभवः सुहस्ताः ॥
इन्होंने प्याला चार हिस्सों में किया। एक ने कहा, दोस्त, यह काम सीख ले। फिर इन लोगों ने अमरत्व का रास्ता ढूँढ लिया। रिभु भाइयों ने अच्छे हाथों से काम किया और भगवान लोगों की कंपनी में पहुँच गए।
Mantra 4
किम्मयः स्विच्चमस एष आस यं काव्येन चतुरो विचक्र । अथा सुनुध्वं सवनं मदाय पात ऋभवो मधुनः सोम्यस्य ॥
यह प्याला किसका था, जो तुमने चार हिस्सों में किया? तुमने कमाल की कला दिखाई। अब सोम का पानी निकालो, मज़े के लिए। रिभु भाई, इस मधुर पानी को पियो। इसका स्वाद बहुत अच्छा है।
Mantra 5
शच्याकर्त पितरा युवाना शच्याकर्त चमसं देवपानम् । शच्या हरी धनुतरावतष्टेन्द्रवाहावृभवो वाजरत्नाः ॥
अपनी कला से इन्होंने अपने माँ बाप को फिर से जवान बना दिया। उसी कला से भगवान के लिए प्याला बनाया। उसी कला से इंद्र के दो घोड़े बनाए, जो तीर जैसी तेज़ हैं। रिभु भाइयों के पास खज़ाना और शक्ति है।
Mantra 6
यो वः सुनोत्यभिपित्वे अह्नां तीव्रं वाजासः सवनं मदाय । तस्मै रयिमृभवः सर्ववीरमा तक्षत वृषणो मन्दसानाः ॥
जो कोई तुम्हारे लिए सोम रस निकालता है, वोह भी पूरा दिल से, उसके लिए एक खास ताकत बनाओ। यह र्भु देवता कहते हैं कि उस आदमी को संपत्ति दो, जिमें हर तरह की ताकत हो। वोह लोग जो खुश होके यह काम करते हैं, वोह इस ताकत को उसके अंदर बसा देते हैं।
Mantra 7
प्रातः सुतमपिबो हर्यश्व माध्यंदिनं सवनं केवलं ते । समृभुभिः पिबस्व रत्नधेभिः सखीँर्याँ इन्द्र चकृषे सुकृत्या ॥
इंद्र, सुबह सोम रस पिया करते थे। दोपहर का वक्त भी उनका ही था। यह र्भु देवता भी साथ में पिया करते थे, क्योंकि इंद्र ने उनको अपना दोस्त बना लिया था। यह सब मिल के खुश होके पिया करते थे।
Mantra 8
ये देवासो अभवता सुकृत्या श्येना इवेदधि दिवि निषेद । ते रत्नं धात शवसो नपातः सौधन्वना अभवतामृतासः ॥
यह र्भु देवता पहले इंसान थे, फिर अपनी मेहनत से देवता बन गए। आसमान में बैठ के देखते हैं सब कुछ। सौधन्वन के बेटे कहलाते हैं, ताकत के पुत्र हैं। अब वोह अमर हो गए हैं, कभी नहीं मरते।
Mantra 9
यत्तृतीयं सवनं रत्नधेयमकृणुध्वं स्वपस्या सुहस्ताः । तदृभवः परिषिक्तं व एतत्सं मदेभिरिन्द्रियेभिः पिबध्वम् ॥
जब र्भु देवता ने तीसरी बार सोम रस निकाला, तब वोह बड़ा खास था। उनके हाथ में काम आता था, इसलिए वोह अच्छा कर पाए। अब वोह भी उस रस को पिया करते हैं, और उससे उनकी ताकत बढ़ जाती है।
Inside Sukta 35
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct summons: the Ṛbhus, ‘offspring of force,’ are called to approach the pressing and not hold back; their ‘treasure’ is present in the Soma rite, moving in Indra’s wake.
- Development
The hymn builds authority by recounting signature marvels accomplished through śacī (effective skill): rejuvenation, perfected vessels, and Indra’s swift bearers—linking artisan power to divine enjoyment of Soma.
- Climax
The third pressing is named as a ratna-bearing outpouring fashioned for them; the poured Soma is explicitly offered for their drinking together with Indra-like exhilaration and awakened faculties (indriya).
- Where it settles
The invitation culminates in participation: drink, rejoice, and thereby confirm the reciprocal bond—human offering and divine empowerment—so the sacrifice yields wealth, force, and right enjoyment.
The deity: Ṛbhus
- In the VedaThey are praised for marvels such as renewing the Parents to youth, making the divine drinking-cup, and crafting Indra’s steeds—thereby earning a share in the Soma.
- Cosmic functionThey represent the power that perfects forms: refining, renewing, and multiplying the capacities of the world and the sacrifice; they help “make fit” the vessels and forces through which the gods partake and act (especially in Indra’s Soma-driven might).
- Inner significanceThe Ṛbhus symbolize disciplined craftsmanship of consciousness—skill that converts raw impulse into luminous capacity. Their ‘works’ mirror inner renewal (youthfulness of vital powers), the purified ‘cup’ of receptivity, and the harnessed energies (Indra’s horses) that carry will and insight swiftly toward the goal.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Aṅgirasa-associated seer-line in Book 4) · A major Ṛgvedic seer of Mandala 4, noted for powerful Indra-oriented inspiration and for hymns that link ritual efficacy with inner illumination (often later read through the lens of Vāmadeva’s visionary identity-teachings).
Famous verses
ratnadheyaṃ
śacyākarta
tṛtīyaṃ savanam
Attributes of the deity
- Divine artisans/craftsmen (śacī-kṛt)
- Renewers and refiners (restoring youth, perfecting forms)
- Allied with Soma and the third pressing
- Closely linked with Indra’s empowerment (harī, indriya-strength)
- Bearers of treasures and plenitude (vāja, ratna)
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Ṛgveda Mandala 4 traditionally attributed to Vāmadeva Gautama
- Indra hymns emphasizing victory, inspiration, and Soma (e.g., clusters within RV 4.16–4.33 in traditional attributions)
- Hymns engaging the Ṛbhus and sacrificial craftsmanship themes within Book 4’s Aṅgirasa current
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the Soma pressing place and vessels; kindle and steady the ritual fires.
- Press Soma and strain it; set out the cups (camasa) and portions for invited deities.
- Invoke the Ṛbhus to ‘come here’ and not withdraw, affirming their right to the treasure in this savana.
- Recite their deeds (renewing the Parents, making the cup, shaping Indra’s steeds) as a liturgical warrant for their participation.
- Offer Soma portions to the Ṛbhus in association with Indra; request that their skill and Indra’s power increase the sacrificer’s strength and wealth.
- Conclude with the invitation to drink what is poured out, joined with the exhilarations that awaken the indriya-powers.
Offerings
- Soma (especially the third pressing)
- Clarified butter (ghee) and customary oblations accompanying Soma rites
- Praise/recitation (stotra/śastra-style laud) as the principal ‘offering’ of remembrance of their works
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ṛbhus are divine craftsmen who became godlike through perfect skill. The hymn praises their famous works and invites them to the Soma offering.
The Ṛbhus are closely linked with Indra because their craftsmanship supports his power—especially his Soma-driven strength and his two tawny steeds. So the hymn invites them to rejoice in the offering ‘following Indra.’
It is the third Soma pressing (tṛtīya savana), a later round of Soma preparation and offering. RV 4.35 treats it as a special, treasure-bearing portion prepared for the Ṛbhus to drink.
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