Sukta 46
Sukta 4.46
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 4)
Vāyu
Gāyatrī (8+8+8; typical for short Soma-invitations; verify in critical edition)
This short Gāyatrī hymn is a Soma-invitation calling Vāyu—often together with Indra—to come swiftly to the pressed Soma and drink first. It praises their radiant chariot and asks their arrival to set the sacrifice in motion, bringing release (vimocana) and unobstructed enjoyment of Soma’s delight.
Mantras
Mantra 1
अग्रं पिबा मधूनां सुतं वायो दिविष्टिषु । त्वं हि पूर्वपा असि ॥
वायु भगवान, पहले तुम ही इस मीठा सोम रस को पियो। यह रस अभी निकाला गया है और चमक रहा है। तुम ही हो जो सबसे पहले पियो और हम में खुशी और ताकत लाओ।
Mantra 2
शतेना नो अभिष्टिभिर्नियुत्वाँ इन्द्रसारथिः । वायो सुतस्य तृम्पतम् ॥
वायु भगवान, तुम्हारा रथ सौ लोगों की मदद से जुड़ा है। इंद्र तुम्हारा रथ चला रहे हैं। तुम इस सोम रस से भर जाओ। यह रस तुम्हे इतना ताकत दे कि तुम सही दिशा में काम कर सको।
Mantra 3
आ वां सहस्रं हरय इन्द्रवायू अभि प्रयः । वहन्तु सोमपीतये ॥
इंद्र और वायु, तुम दोनों के लिए हज़ार चमकदार ताकतें यहाँ आएँ। यह सब तुम्हारे लिए सोम रस पीने आई हैं। तुम दोनों मिलकर हम पर अपनी कृपा रखो और हमें आगे बढ़ाओ।
Mantra 4
रथं हिरण्यवन्धुरमिन्द्रवायू स्वध्वरम् । आ हि स्थाथो दिविस्पृशम् ॥
इंद्र और वायु, तुम दोनों उस सोना से बने रथ पर सवार हो जाओ। यह रथ पूजा के काम के लिए बिल्कुल सही है। यह रथ इतना ऊँचा है कि आसमान को छूता है। तुम दोनों की ताकत हम तक आए और हमारा काम आसमान की तरफ ले जाए।
Mantra 5
रथेन पृथुपाजसा दाश्वांसमुप गच्छतम् । इन्द्रवायू इहा गतम् ॥
इन्द्र और वायु, तुम दोनों बड़े शक्तिशाली हो। अपनी रथ लेकर उसके पास जाओ जो यज्ञ कर रहा है। यहाँ आओ, हमारे काम में शामिल हो जाओ। तुम्हारी शक्ति से यह यज्ञ बड़ा हो जाएगा।
Mantra 6
इन्द्रवायू अयं सुतस्तं देवेभिः सजोषसा । पिबतं दाशुषो गृहे ॥
इन्द्र और वायु, सोम का पानी तैयार है। इसको पियो, और देवताओं के साथ मिलकर पियो। यह जो इंसान भगवान को समर्पित कर रहा है, उसके घर आओ। वहाँ बैठ के पियो और आशीर्वाद दो।
Mantra 7
इह प्रयाणमस्तु वामिन्द्रवायू विमोचनम् । इह वां सोमपीतये ॥
इन्द्र और वायु, तुम्हारी यात्रा यहीं से शुरू हो। यहीं से निकलो। यहाँ आओ, सोम पियो। तुम्हारी शक्ति हमारे अंदर चले आए। जो बंधन हैं वो खुल जाएँ, ताकि हम खुशी ले सकें बिना किसी रुकावट के।
Inside Sukta 46
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by urging Vāyu to drink first of the pressed Soma—establishing him as pūrvapāḥ and the initiator of the rite’s vital movement.
- Development
It expands into joint praise of Indra and Vāyu, emphasizing their heaven-touching chariot and their readiness to come to the well-ordered sacrifice.
- Climax
The petition centers on immediate arrival ‘here’ and on vimocana—release/unbinding—so the Soma-drinking and its power can proceed without hindrance.
- Where it settles
It concludes by fixing the divine approach and purpose in the present place of offering: ‘here’ for Soma-drinking, sealing the invitation with ritual immediacy.
The deity: Vāyu
- In the VedaVāyu is the swift, life-giving Wind, the first invited to Soma, moving invisibly yet powerfully, and closely paired with Indra in Soma rites. He is praised for speed, purity, and readiness to arrive at the sacrifice and drink the pressed sweetness.
- Cosmic functionAnimates the worlds through movement and breath; carries vitality, clears pathways, and enables circulation—both of air in nature and of offerings/praise in ritual order.
- Inner significanceRepresents prāṇa and the mind’s vital current: the capacity to move, to open inner channels, and to ‘release’ knots so inspiration and delight (soma) can be received clearly.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva as a Gautama seer in Maṇḍala 4 tradition) · Principal seer of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4, renowned for inspired praise that links outer Soma-ritual with inner awakening and liberation motifs.
Famous verses
tvaṃ hi pūrvapā asi
rathaṃ hiraṇyavandhuram
iha prayāṇam astu vām
Attributes of the deity
- Swift mover
- First Soma-drinker (pūrvapāḥ)
- Purifying and channel-opening
- Paired power with Indra (force + breath)
- Vehicle/chariot imagery (divispṛś, heaven-touching)
Also by this seer
- Many hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 are traditionally attributed to Vāmadeva (Gautama).
- Associated in later tradition with profound visionary utterances and exemplary r̥ṣi-status (seer-poet as mantra-draṣṭā).
The rite, step by step
- Soma is pressed and filtered; cups are prepared (graha).
- Hotṛ recites Gāyatrī invocations inviting Vāyu (and Indra-Vāyu) to approach quickly.
- Deities are praised as arriving on the radiant chariot; their presence is affirmed at the rite.
- First offering/draught is presented to Vāyu as pūrvapāḥ (first drinker), then shared in the Indra-Vāyu pairing.
- Prayer for ‘vimocana’—release of obstructions—and for the rite to proceed in good order.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma (suta soma)
- Libations in Soma cups (graha)
- Accompanying oblations customary to Soma rites (as part of the adhvara)
Frequently Asked Questions
Because in the Soma ritual Vāyu is traditionally invited to drink first (pūrvapāḥ). The hymn highlights his priority as the deity who begins the vital movement of the offering.
Indra and Vāyu are paired in several Soma hymns: Indra represents victorious force, while Vāyu represents swift breath and motion. Together they are invoked to arrive quickly and empower the sacrifice.
Vimocana means ‘release’ or ‘unbinding.’ In ritual terms it asks for obstacles to be removed; inwardly it suggests loosening inner knots so the Soma-inspired clarity and delight can be received.
Ask anything about Sukta 46 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
