Sukta 46
Sukta 5.46
Atri (Ātreya tradition) (book 5 general attribution; RV 5.46 hymn attribution follows the same family tradition)
All-gods/Guiding Intelligence (implicit); verse foregrounds the inner leader ‘vidvān’ rather than a single named deity
Triṣṭubh (probable; verify metrically)
This hymn of the Ātreya tradition invokes the Viśve Devāḥ as a coordinated powers of guidance, protection, and right movement (ṛta) for the sacrificer’s journey. It opens with the striking image of the inner “knower” (vidvān) harnessing itself like a steed to lead straight on the paths, then expands into an inclusive calling of Maruts, Bṛhaspati, Pūṣan, and the Ādityas, and finally awakens the Devapatnīs (goddess-consorts) to set the divine rhythm in motion.
Mantras
Mantra 1
हयो न विद्वाँ अयुजि स्वयं धुरि तां वहामि प्रतरणीमवस्युवम् । नास्या वश्मि विमुचं नावृतं पुनर्विद्वान्पथः पुरएत ऋजु नेषति ॥
मैं खुद को जैसे घोड़े की तरह जूत में जोड़ लेता हूँ। जो ताकत जीत के लिए मदद माँगती है, उसे आगे ले जाता हूँ। मैं नहीं चाहता कि वो रुक जाए या पीछे मुड़ जाए। जो जानता है, वो आगे चल के सीधा रास्ता दिखाता है।
Mantra 2
अग्न इन्द्र वरुण मित्र देवाः शर्धः प्र यन्त मारुतोत विष्णो । उभा नासत्या रुद्रो अध ग्नाः पूषा भगः सरस्वती जुषन्त ॥
अग्नि, इंद्र, वरुण, मित्र, यह सब देवता आगे आएँ। मरुतों का ग्रुप और विष्णु भी आएँ। दोनों नासत्य, रुद्र और देव शक्तियाँ, पूषा, भग, सरस्वती, सब हमसे खुश हों और हमारी पूजा स्वीकार करें।
Mantra 3
इन्द्राग्नी मित्रावरुणादितिं स्वः पृथिवीं द्यां मरुतः पर्वताँ अपः । हुवे विष्णुं पूषणं ब्रह्मणस्पतिं भगं नु शंसं सवितारमूतये ॥
मैं इंद्र और अग्नि को बुलाता हूँ। मित्र और वरुण को बुलाता हूँ। अदिति, जो ऊपर दुनिया में रहती है, उन्हें भी बुलाता हूँ। धरती और आसमान, मरुत, पहाड़ और पानी, सबको बुलाता हूँ। विष्णु, पूषा, बृहस्पति, भग और सविता, सबसे मदद माँगता हूँ।
Mantra 5
उत त्यन्नो मारुतं शर्ध आ गमद्दिविक्षयं यजतं बर्हिरासदे । बृहस्पतिः शर्म पूषोत नो यमद्वरूथ्यं वरुणो मित्रो अर्यमा ॥
मरुतों का ग्रुप हमारे पास आए, जो ऊपर दुनिया में रहते हैं। यह लोग हमारी पूजा के लायक हैं और हमारे पास आके बैठें। बृहस्पति हमें शांति दे। पूषा हमें सही रास्ता दिखाए। वरुण, मित्र और अर्यमन हमें सुरक्षा दे और सफर में साथ दें।
Mantra 6
उत त्ये नः पर्वतासः सुशस्तयः सुदीतयो नद्यस्त्रामणे भुवन् । भगो विभक्ता शवसावसा गमदुरुव्यचा अदितिः श्रोतु मे हवम् ॥
पहाड़ जो मज़बूत हैं, वो हमारे मदद के लिए आएँ। नदियाँ जो चमक के बहती हैं, वो भी हमारे रक्षा करें। भग जो अच्छी चीज़ें बाँटता है, वो ताकत लेकर आए। अदिति जो चारों तरफ फैली है, वो मेरा बुलावा सुन ले और हमें आज़ादी दे।
Mantra 7
देवानां पत्नीरुशतीरवन्तु नः प्रावन्तु नस्तुजये वाजसातये । याः पार्थिवासो या अपामपि व्रते ता नो देवीः सुहवाः शर्म यच्छत ॥
देवियाँ जो देवताओं की पत्नियाँ हैं, वो हमारे लिए खुश हो के आएँ। वो हमें लड़ाई में आगे ले जाएँ और हमें ताकत दें। यह देवियाँ धरती पर हैं या पानी में, दोनों जगह हैं। इन्हें बुलाना आसान है। यह हमें शांति दें और खुशी दें।
Mantra 8
उत ग्ना व्यन्तु देवपत्नीरिन्द्राण्यग्नाय्यश्विनी राट् । आ रोदसी वरुणानी शृणोतु व्यन्तु देवीर्य ऋतुर्जनीनाम् ॥
अब देवियाँ जागें और काम करें। इंद्राणी, अग्नायी, अश्विनी, यह तीनों देवियाँ हैं। रानी जैसी ताकत भी आए। वरुणानी हमारी सुन ले। धरती और आसमान दोनों सुन लें। यह देवियाँ सही टाइम पर आएँ, जब बच्चे पैदा हों।
Inside Sukta 46
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The seer presents the inner ‘knower’ as a self-yoked steed, committed to forward conquest and straight guidance on the paths.
- Development
The hymn broadens from inner leadership to a comprehensive calling of divine helpers—Maruts for force, Bṛhaspati for peace and inspired order, Pūṣan for guidance, and the Ādityas for protective law and wideness.
- Climax
A concentrated inclusive invocation: the gods are asked to assemble, protect, and establish a secure shelter (varūthya) for the journey.
- Where it settles
The Devapatnīs are awakened so that the divine energies move in right season (ṛtu), completing the alignment of rite, cosmos, and inner progress.
The deity: Viśve Devāḥ / Inner Guiding Intelligence
- In the VedaThe hymn treats the gods as a harmonized plurality: storm-host Maruts, priestly force Bṛhaspati, path-finder Pūṣan, the law-and-friendship Ādityas (Varuṇa, Mitra, Aryaman), and the Devapatnīs who awaken and set powers into motion in season.
- Cosmic functionTo align the sacrifice and the human journey with ṛta—right order—by bringing protection, right direction, inspired speech/prayer, and coordinated divine help from many cosmic offices.
- Inner significanceThe ‘vidvān’ symbolizes the awakened discriminative intelligence that yokes the being to disciplined progress, refuses relapse, and moves straight on the inner paths; the many deities represent distinct faculties (impulse, prayer, guidance, law, harmony, and creative power) cooperating in integral growth.
The seer
- Atri (Ātreya)Ātreya (Atri-gotra; family tradition of Mandala 5) · One of the great Vedic seers associated with luminous vision and the Ātreya hymn-cycle; his tradition is prominent in Mandala 5 and in later Vedic memory as a paradigmatic ṛṣi.
Famous verses
vidvān pathaḥ puraetā ṛju neṣati
उत त्यन्नो मारुतं शर्ध आ गमद्दिविक्षयं यजतं बर्हिरासदे । बृहस्पतिः शर्म पूषोत नो यमद्वरूथ्यं वरुणो मित्रो अर्यमा ॥vyantu devīr ya ṛtur janīnām
Attributes of the deity
- Plural and integrative (many deities acting as one aid)
- Guidance and straight-leading on the path (puraetā, ṛju neṣati)
- Protection/shelter (varūthya)
- Right order and season (ṛta/ṛtu)
- Awakening of powers (vyantu)
- Ritual hospitality: invitation to the barhis (sacred seat/grass)
Also by this seer
- A large portion of Rig Veda Mandala 5 (the Ātreya family book)
- Hymns attributed to Ātreyas across the Rig Veda (family seers continuing Atri’s line)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and spread the barhis (sacred seat/grass) as the place of welcome.
- Kindle/attend Agni and establish recollection of ṛta (right order) as the rite’s aim.
- Recite the opening verse to ‘yoke’ the intention—invoking the inner vidvān as leader on the paths.
- Invite the Maruts and allied deities to ‘come and sit’ on the barhis; expand the invocation to Bṛhaspati, Pūṣan, and the Ādityas for peace and protection.
- Invoke the Devapatnīs (Indrāṇī, Agnāyī, Aśvinī, Varuṇānī, Rodasī) to awaken and set the powers in motion in the right season (ṛtu).
- Conclude with a settling prayer for shelter, right-leading, and unobstructed progress (no turning back).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into the fire
- Soma libation (where applicable)
- Oblation-cakes or simple food offerings (havis)
- Fragrant offerings and sacred grass (barhis) as ritual hospitality
Frequently Asked Questions
It asks for right guidance and forward progress on life’s path, along with protection and peace from a coordinated assembly of divine powers (the All-Gods).
It portrays disciplined inner intelligence as the leader: the seeker ‘yokes’ themselves to the work and moves straight ahead without turning back or dropping the effort.
They are the goddesses understood as consorts or complementary powers of the gods (such as Indrāṇī, Agnāyī, Aśvinī, Varuṇānī), invoked to awaken and set the divine energies in motion in the right season (ṛtu).
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.
