Sukta 28
Sukta 6.28
Bharadvāja (traditional for Maṇḍala 6; this hymn is the famous Go-sūkta in Book 6)
Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 6.28.1)
RV 6.28, the celebrated Go-sūkta of Bharadvāja, blesses the coming and settling of the cows into the goṣṭha (cow-pen/stall) as a source of prosperity, joy, and increase. It praises cows as auspicious, many-formed, progeny-bearing powers—linked with Uṣas-like radiance and Indra’s might—while asking that their milk, fertility, and protection continuously nourish the household and the sacrifice.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ गावो अग्मन्नुत भद्रमक्रन्त्सीदन्तु गोष्ठे रणयन्त्वस्मे । प्रजावतीः पुरुरूपा इह स्युरिन्द्राय पूर्वीरुषसो दुहानाः ॥
गायें आ गई हैं और अच्छा काम किया है। चलो वो चराने वाली जगह बैठ जाएँ और हमें खुश करें। उनके बच्चे हों, अच्छे रूप वाली हों। जैसे पुरानी सुबह इंद्र के लिए दूध देती थी, वैसे ही यह भी हमें देती रहें।
Mantra 2
इन्द्रो यज्वने पृणते च शिक्षत्युपेद्ददाति न स्वं मुषायति । भूयोभूयो रयिमिदस्य वर्धयन्नभिन्ने खिल्ये नि दधाति देवयुम् ॥
इंद्र जो यज्ञ करता है उसको सीखाता है। वो देने वाले को भर देता है। वो पास आके देता है, किसी की चीज़ चोरी नहीं करता। बार-बार उसकी दौलत बढ़ाता है। वो जिसको भगवान ढूंढ़ता है, उसको साफ जगह पे बिठा देता है।
Mantra 3
न ता नशन्ति न दभाति तस्करो नासामामित्रो व्यथिरा दधर्षति । देवाँश्च याभिर्यजते ददाति च ज्योगित्ताभिः सचते गोपतिः सह ॥
यह किरणें कभी खत्म नहीं होती। चोर उनको धोखा नहीं दे सकता। कोई दुश्मन, कोई डर उनको हिला नहीं सकता। जिस शक्ति से भगवान को भोग लगाया जाता है, उसी शक्ति से वो रक्षक हमेशा साथ रहता है।
Mantra 4
न ता अर्वा रेणुककाटो अश्नुते न संस्कृतत्रमुप यन्ति ता अभि । उरुगायमभयं तस्य ता अनु गावो मर्तस्य वि चरन्ति यज्वनः ॥
कोई तेज़ दुश्मन उन तक नहीं पहुँच सकता। कोई धूल उठा के पीछे नहीं आ सकता। वो जाल में नहीं फंसी। वो उसकी शरण में आज़ाद घूमती हैं जो डर नहीं जानता। यज्ञ करने वाले इंसान के पास यह किरणें बिना रुके चलती हैं।
Mantra 5
गावो भगो गाव इन्द्रो मे अच्छान्गावः सोमस्य प्रथमस्य भक्षः । इमा या गावः स जनास इन्द्र इच्छामीद्धृदा मनसा चिदिन्द्रम् ॥
यह किरणें खुशी का हिस्सा हैं। यह इंद्र हैं जो मेरे पास आ रहे हैं। यह सोम रस का पहला भोजन हैं। यह सब इंद्र के लोग हैं। मैं अपने दिल और दिमाग से इंद्र को ढूंढ़ता हूँ।
Mantra 6
यूयं गावो मेदयथा कृशं चिदश्रीरं चित्कृणुथा सुप्रतीकम् । भद्रं गृहं कृणुथ भद्रवाचो बृहद्वो वय उच्यते सभासु ॥
हे किरणें, तुम पतले इंसान को भी मोटा बना देती हो। बुरा दिखता हुआ इंसान को भी अच्छा बना देती हो। तुम घर को खुश कर देती हो। तुम बात को अच्छी बना देती हो। लोग सभा में तुम्हारी तारीफ करते हैं।
Mantra 7
प्रजावतीः सूयवसं रिशन्तीः शुद्धा अपः सुप्रपाणे पिबन्तीः । मा वः स्तेन ईशत माघशंसः परि वो हेती रुद्रस्य वृज्याः ॥
हे किरण-वाली, तुम लोगों के बच्चे हो, अच्छा घास खाओ। साफ पानी पियो जहाँ पे अच्छा पानी मिलता है। कोई चोर तुमपे राज न करे, कोई बुरा बोलने वाला जीत न पाए। रुद्र की बाण तुमसे दूर हो जाए।
Mantra 8
उपेदमुपपर्चनमासु गोषूप पृच्यताम् । उप ऋषभस्य रेतस्युपेन्द्र तव वीर्ये ॥
यह पास आने और पालने का काम इन किरण-वाली लोगों से जुड़ जाए। बैल के बीज के साथ मिल जाए। इंद्र, तुम्हारी ताकत पास है, यहाँ आकर बढ़ जाए।
Inside Sukta 28
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with the auspicious arrival of the cows, asking them to settle in the luminous stall and delight the worshippers (goṣṭha as a seat of light and order).
- Development
Cows are praised as fertile, many-formed, and as radiant streams akin to ancient Dawns, yielding sweetness for Indra and sustaining soma-like nourishment.
- Climax
The identification intensifies: ‘cows’ become Bhaga (portion), Indra’s presence, and the first food of Soma—wealth and divinity braided into one vision of increase and power.
- Where it settles
It concludes with a prayer for successful joining/fostering and generative potency (ṛṣabha-seed imagery), invoking Indra’s vīrya to enter and amplify prosperity and protection.
The deity: Gāvaḥ — with Indra and Uṣas associations
- Cosmic functionCows embody increase and continuity—food, wealth, and fertility in the social world—while symbolically mirroring the cosmic flow of light, waters, and soma-nourishment that sustains gods and humans.
- Inner significanceAs inner symbols, ‘cows’ are the luminous powers and fruitful capacities of consciousness—resources that, when rightly ‘housed’ (disciplined and protected), yield clarity, vigor, and steady joy; Indra’s vīrya represents the force that releases and amplifies these energies.
The seer
- Bharadvāja BārhaspatyaBharadvāja-gotra (Āṅgirasa/Bārhaspatya lineage) · A major seer of Maṇḍala 6, renowned for hymns of clear ritual utility and for articulating the Vedic vision of prosperity (rayi), protection, and right order through Agni–Indra–Bṛhaspati currents.
Famous verses
ā gāvo agmann (The cows have come)
gāvo bhago gāva indro (The cows are Bhaga; the cows are Indra)
उपेदमुपपर्चनमासु गोषूप पृच्यताम् । उप ऋषभस्य रेतस्युपेन्द्र तव वीर्ये ॥Attributes of the deity
- Auspicious bringers of bhadra (good)
- Prajāvatīḥ (progeny-bearing, fertile)
- Pururūpāḥ (many-formed, abundant)
- Milk-giving nourishment and soma-support
- Protected wealth (rayi) and social stability
- Linked to dawn-radiance (Uṣas) and Indra’s heroic power
Also by this seer
- Primary authorship/traditional attribution of many hymns in Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 (Bharadvāja family book)
- Hymns invoking Agni, Indra, and the Maruts for protection and victory (Maṇḍala 6 core themes)
- Traditional association with the Bharadvāja priestly lineage influential in later Śrauta and Gṛhya ritual culture
The rite, step by step
- Purification and settling of intention (saṅkalpa) for go-rakṣā (cattle protection) and puṣṭi (increase).
- Kindling of a small gṛhya fire (or approach to the āhavanīya in a śrauta setting) and invocation of auspiciousness.
- Recitation of RV 6.28 as cows are brought in, counted, or ceremonially ‘settled’ into the goṣṭha; sprinkling/marking for protection as customary.
- Concluding śānti-style prayer for fertility, freedom from harm, and continuous milk-flow; respectful circumambulation and release.
- Distribution of blessed food/milk to household members, emphasizing gratitude and non-harm toward the herd.
Offerings
- Ghṛta (ghee) into fire (where applicable)
- Milk/curd as a symbolic offering and shared blessing
- Soma-analogue offerings in later practice (where ritually appropriate)
- Kuśa water/sprinkling for protection (customary ancillary act)
Frequently Asked Questions
Because they are seen as living auspiciousness—food, wealth, fertility, and social stability—and also as symbols of radiant powers that nourish the gods (especially Indra) and sustain the sacrifice.
It works on two levels: it blesses real herds and milk-prosperity, and it also uses ‘cows’ as a symbol for rays of light, abundance, and the fruitful energies of life and mind.
Commonly at dawn or during cattle-related occasions—bringing cows to the stall, seeking protection from harm, or praying for fertility and steady milk—often alongside simple household offerings like ghee or milk.
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