Sukta 45
Sukta 4.45
Vāmadeva Gautama
Jagatī or Triṣṭubh (verse appears longer; exact meter requires scansion—left as probable)
This hymn praises the Aśvins as radiant, swift-coming divine twins whose heaven-riding chariot rises like a dawn-beam and reaches the Soma pressings without delay. Through vivid images—paired steeds, swans with golden wings, and honey-bees—it invites them to the sacrifice, celebrating their life-giving, healing, and joy-bringing presence. The poet’s aim is to secure their prompt arrival and beneficent help for the offerer and the rite.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
एष स्य भानुरुदियर्ति युज्यते रथः परिज्मा दिवो अस्य सानवि । पृक्षासो अस्मिन्मिथुना अधि त्रयो दृतिस्तुरीयो मधुनो वि रप्शते ॥
यह चमक उठ रहा है। आसमान के ऊपर रथ तैयार है। उसमें दो घोड़े जुड़े हैं। तीन चमड़े और एक चौथा चमड़ा मध के साथ फैला है।
Mantra 2
उद्वां पृक्षासो मधुमन्त ईरते रथा अश्वास उषसो व्युष्टिषु । अपोर्णुवन्तस्तम आ परीवृतं स्वर्ण शुक्रं तन्वन्त आ रजः ॥
आपने घोड़े और रथ लेकर ऊपर की तरफ जाओ। यह सब में मधुरता भरी है। सुबह होने के वक्त आप चलो। अंधेरा जो चारों तरफ फैला है, उसको हटा दो। आसमान जैसी चमक फैला दो।
Mantra 3
मध्वः पिबतं मधुपेभिरासभिरुत प्रियं मधुने युञ्जाथां रथम् । आ वर्तनिं मधुना जिन्वथस्पथो दृतिं वहेथे मधुमन्तमश्विना ॥
अश्विन भगवान, मधु पियो और अपने रथ को प्यारे मधु के लिए जोड़ो। मधु से रास्ते का ट्रैक तेज़ करो। मधु भरी थैली तम ले कर जा रहे हो।
Mantra 4
हंसासो ये वां मधुमन्तो अस्रिधो हिरण्यपर्णा उहुव उषर्बुधः । उदप्रुतो मन्दिनो मन्दिनिस्पृशो मध्वो न मक्षः सवनानि गच्छथः ॥
हंस जैसे तुम हो, मधु से भरे और रास्ते में कभी गलती नहीं करते। सोने के पंख है तुम्हारे, सुबह के साथ जाग उठो। पानी से ऊपर कूदो। खुशी में खुशी छू लो। मधु की मखियों की तरह सोम के जगह जाओ।
Mantra 5
स्वध्वरासो मधुमन्तो अग्नय उस्रा जरन्ते प्रति वस्तोरश्विना । यन्निक्तहस्तस्तरणिर्विचक्षणः सोमं सुषाव मधुमन्तमद्रिभिः ॥
अश्विन भगवान, सुबह होने के साथ सही तरीके से जलाए हुए आग जाग उठी हैं। यह दिन की तरफ चमक रही हैं। तब जो तेज़ शक्ति है, जो समझदार है, वो अपने हाथ से काम करके सोम को निचोड़ती है। यह मधु जैसा रस निकलता है।
Mantra 6
आकेनिपासो अहभिर्दविध्वतः स्वर्ण शुक्रं तन्वन्त आ रजः । सूरश्चिदश्वान्युयुजान ईयते विश्वाँ अनु स्वधया चेतथस्पथः ॥
तेज़ नोक वाली शक्ति से दिन के बाद दिन आगे बढ़ो। आसमान जैसी चमक चारों तरफ फैला दो। सूरज भी अपने घोड़े जोड़ कर चल रहा है। तुम अपनी शक्ति से सारे रास्ते को सही डायरेक्शन में ले जा रहे हो।
Mantra 7
प्र वामवोचमश्विना धियंधा रथः स्वश्वो अजरो यो अस्ति । येन सद्यः परि रजांसि याथो हविष्मन्तं तरणिं भोजमच्छ ॥
अश्विन भाइयों, मैंने तुमसे एक बात कही है जो रोशनी लाती है। तुम्हारे पास एक रथ है, उसमें बहुत अच्छे घोड़े हैं, और यह रथ कभी पुराना नहीं होता। इस रथ से तुम तुरंत आसमान के सब हिस्सों में जा सकते हो। तुम सीधा उसके पास जाते हो जो हवन सामग्री लाया है और उसे सही तरह बाँट रहा है।
Inside Sukta 45
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Radiance rises and the Aśvins’ chariot is yoked on the ridge of heaven, signaling their imminent approach.
- Development
The hymn elaborates their movement and nature through layered symbols—paired steeds, cosmic ‘skins’ and honey, and then the striking swan-and-bee imagery that links them to dawn, waters, and sweetness.
- Climax
The Aśvins, honey-full and unerring, surge from the waters and go like bees to the Soma pressings—an image of irresistible, joyous, timely arrival.
- Where it settles
The seer sums up his inspired utterance and reaffirms their ageless, swift chariot that traverses the realms at once, concluding with their direct coming to the offering and its distributor.
The deity: Aśvinau
- In the VedaThey are portrayed with radiant movement across heaven and mid-space, closely linked with honey, waters, and the dawn’s awakening.
- Cosmic functionThey mediate the daily transition from night to day, restoring vitality and order through timely arrival, healing powers, and the safeguarding of travelers and sacrificers; they connect heaven, mid-world, and the ritual ground through their rapid chariot.
- Inner significanceThey symbolize the twin forces of renewal and integration—quick discernment and right action—by which consciousness moves from obscurity to clarity, and by which the seeker is ‘healed’ into wholeness and joy.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva) gotra · A major seer of Maṇḍala 4, renowned for luminous, image-rich hymns and for articulating inspired insight (dhī) that “carries light” toward the gods.
Famous verses
parijmā rathaḥ (the all-circling chariot)
madhvo na makṣaḥ (like bees of honey)
प्र वामवोचमश्विना धियंधा रथः स्वश्वो अजरो यो अस्ति । येन सद्यः परि रजांसि याथो हविष्मन्तं तरणिं भोजमच्छ ॥Attributes of the deity
- Divine twins (mithunā), inseparable and cooperative
- Swift, all-circling chariot and splendid steeds
- Dawn-associated awakeners (uṣarbudh)
- Healers and restorers; bringers of well-being
- Honey/soma affinity: sweetness, delight, and nourishment
- Water-and-sky imagery: rising, leaping, traversing spaces
Also by this seer
- Primary seer for many hymns in Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (Vāmadeva’s collection)
- Hymns to Indra, Agni, Soma, and the Viśve Devāḥ within RV 4 (traditional attribution to Vāmadeva)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar space and kindled fire; establish ritual purity and intention.
- Commence dawn invocation: recite the opening verses visualizing the Aśvins’ radiance and chariot rising on heaven’s ridge.
- Offer preliminary oblations while calling the paired powers/steeds to be ‘set’ on the chariot (symbolic yoking).
- Recite the central imagery verses (swans/bee-honey motifs) to invite their joyful, unerring approach to the pressings.
- At the Soma pressing, present Soma and accompanying offerings with the request for swift arrival and aid.
- Conclude with the poet’s affirming address: the Aśvins traverse the spaces at once and come straight to the offering-bearer.
Offerings
- Soma (primary, at the savana pressings)
- Ghee/clarified butter (ājya) oblations
- Honey or honeyed mixture (madhu) as symbolic/ritual accompaniment where customary
- Optional simple food-offerings aligned with Aśvin auspiciousness (as per later practice and local śrauta adaptation)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aśvins are divine twin helpers who ride a swift chariot, arrive at dawn, and bring healing, protection, and good fortune. The hymn invites them to come quickly to the Soma offering.
Swans suggest graceful dawn-flight and purity, while bees suggest eager movement toward sweetness. Together, the images say the Aśvins awaken with dawn and rush joyfully and surely to the Soma pressings.
Its purpose is invocation: to yoke the Aśvins’ presence to the sacrifice so they attend the morning Soma pressing, accept offerings, and bless the patron with vitality and successful outcomes.
Ask anything about Sukta 45 of the Rig Veda
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