Sukta 44
Sukta 4.44
Vāmadeva Gautama
Aśvinau
Jagatī or Triṣṭubh (uncertain from single verse; requires scan)
This short Aśvin hymn by Vāmadeva invokes the Twin Horsemen to arrive swiftly in their wide-racing, golden chariot—“the meeting-place of the rays”—and to join the sacrifice. The poet asks them to drink the honeyed Soma, bestow treasure and vitality on the worshipper, and protect the singer with their gracious favor wherever they are found together.
Mantras
Mantra 1
तं वां रथं वयमद्या हुवेम पृथुज्रयमश्विना संगतिं गोः । यः सूर्यां वहति वन्धुरायुर्गिर्वाहसं पुरुतमं वसूयुम् ॥
आज हम अश्विन के उस रथ को बुलाते हैं। वो रथ बड़ा तेज़ है, जहाँ रोशनी की किरण आके मिलती हैं। वो सूर्या को ले जाता है, जीवन से भरा हुआ। वो शब्द को उठा के लाता है, धन देने वाला।
Mantra 2
युवं श्रियमश्विना देवता तां दिवो नपाता वनथः शचीभिः । युवोर्वपुरभि पृक्षः सचन्ते वहन्ति यत्ककुहासो रथे वाम् ॥
अश्विन, तुम दोनों देवता हो। आसमान के बेटे हो। अपनी ताकत से वो शक्ति जीत लेते हो, जो चमकदार खुशी है। तुम्हारे चमकदार रूप के पास घोड़े लग जाते हैं। जब ऊँचा सीना वाले घोड़े तुम्हारा रथ खींचते हैं, तब वो आगे बढ़ते हैं।
Mantra 3
को वामद्या करते रातहव्य ऊतये वा सुतपेयाय वार्कैः । ऋतस्य वा वनुषे पूर्व्याय नमो येमानो अश्विना ववर्तत् ॥
आज कौन तुम्हारे लिए यह बनती है, जो तुम्हे चढ़ाई के लिए लाता है? कौन तुमसे मदद माँगता है, या सोम पीता है गानों के साथ? या कौन पुराना धरम का रास्ता ढूंढ़ता है, झुक के आता है, अश्विन?
Mantra 4
हिरण्ययेन पुरुभू रथेनेमं यज्ञं नासत्योप यातम् । पिबाथ इन्मधुनः सोम्यस्य दधथो रत्नं विधते जनाय ॥
नसत्य भाई, तुम अपना सोना का रथ लेकर इस यज्ञ के पास आओ। तुम्हारा रथ में सब कुछ है। मध जैसा सोम रस पियो। जो इंसान यज्ञ करता है, उसको खज़ाना दो।
Mantra 5
आ नो यातं दिवो अच्छा पृथिव्या हिरण्ययेन सुवृता रथेन । मा वामन्ये नि यमन्देवयन्तः सं यद्ददे नाभिः पूर्व्या वाम् ॥
आसमान से और धरती से हमारे पास आओ, अपने सोना के रथ में। तुम्हारा रथ अच्छा चलता है। दूसरे लोगों को तुम्हे रोकने का मौका मत देना। तुम्हारा पुराना संबंध हमारे साथ है।
Mantra 6
नू नो रयिं पुरुवीरं बृहन्तं दस्रा मिमाथामुभयेष्वस्मे । नरो यद्वामश्विना स्तोममावन्त्सधस्तुतिमाजमीळ्हासो अग्मन् ॥
अश्विन भाई, अब हमारे लिए बड़ा धन बनाओ। इसमें बहुत ताकत होनी चाहिए। जो लोग तुम्हारे लिए गाना गाते हैं, वो तुम्हारे पास आ गए हैं। उनकी प्रार्थना सीधी है।
Mantra 7
इहेह यद्वां समना पपृक्षे सेयमस्मे सुमतिर्वाजरत्ना । उरुष्यतं जरितारं युवं ह श्रितः कामो नासत्या युवद्रिक् ॥
जहाँ भी तुम हो, वहाँ हमारी भी अच्छी सोच होनी चाहिए। इसमें धन और खज़ाना दोनों होना चाहिए। जो लोग गाना गाते हैं, उनकी रक्षा करो। नसत्य भाई, लोग तुम्हारे ऊपर भरोसा रखते हैं।
Inside Sukta 44
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by calling the Aśvins’ wide-racing chariot, envisioned as a luminous meeting-point of the rays and bearer of Sūryā.
- Development
The poet draws the Twins toward the ongoing sacrifice, highlighting their golden, abundant vehicle and their readiness to drink the honeyed Soma and reward the devoted worshipper.
- Climax
A direct ritual invitation peaks: “Come to this yajña… drink the Soma… place the treasure,” crystallizing the exchange between rite and divine generosity.
- Where it settles
It resolves with a protective, intimate plea—may their rich ‘good thought’ be ours wherever they are together, and may they guard the singer who takes refuge in them.
The deity: Aśvinau
- In the VedaThe Aśvins are youthful divine Twins, swift riders in a radiant (often golden) chariot, bringers of help at need, physicians and rescuers who come at dawn and respond quickly to the call of the singer.
- Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from night to day, restore and renew life, and connect the human rite to the arriving light—bringing protection, health, prosperity, and auspicious movement to the sacrifice.
- Inner significanceThey symbolize the awakening powers that ‘arrive quickly’ when invoked: the twin capacities of intuition and effective action, healing and integration, that carry the seeker from obscurity toward clarity and abundance.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva) gotra · A major Rigvedic seer of Mandala 4, celebrated for powerful, luminous praise-poetry and for hymns that blend ritual precision with inner aspiration toward divine help and plenitude.
Famous verses
saṃgatiṃ goḥ
pibātha in madhunaḥ somyasya
uruṣyataṃ jaritāram
Attributes of the deity
- Twin deities (dual form)
- Swift, wide-ranging chariot
- Golden brilliance and dawn-association
- Healers/rescuers, protectors of the devotee
- Lovers of Soma and participants in yajña
- Bestowers of wealth (ratna), strength (vāja), and well-being (sumati)
Also by this seer
- Principal seer of much of Rigveda Mandala 4 (numerous sūktas attributed to Vāmadeva)
- Hymns to Indra, Agni, the Aśvins, and allied deities across Mandala 4
- Associated in later tradition with exemplary rishi status and inspired speech (ṛṣi-vāc)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the offering space and recite the invitatory verses calling the Aśvins’ chariot to the rite
- Offer and present Soma; invite the Twins to ‘come near’ (upa yātam) and partake of the honeyed draught
- Recite praise describing their radiant chariot and beneficence, linking their coming with the ‘rays/cows of light’
- State petitions: protection of the singer, good thought (sumati), vitality, and treasure (ratna)
- Conclude with a final protective appeal and affirmation of reliance on the Nāsatyas
Offerings
- Soma (honeyed, somya madhu)
- Ghee/oblations customary to the rite (as part of yajña setting)
- Poetic praise (stotra) as an offering of speech
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aśvins (also called Nāsatyā) are divine twin deities known for swift help, healing, protection, and their radiant chariot associated with dawn.
It calls them to come quickly to the sacrifice, drink the honeyed Soma, protect the poet-singer, and place treasure, strength, and well-being in the worshipper.
In Vedic imagery, ‘cows’ often symbolize rays or luminous powers; calling the chariot a “meeting-place of the rays” ties the Aśvins’ arrival to dawn’s light and renewal.
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