Sukta 38
Sukta 7.38
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.38)
Triṣṭubh (probable; not explicitly provided in input)
This hymn invokes Savitar as the divine Impeller who raises and sets in motion the “golden thought,” awakening right intention, movement, and auspicious beginnings. Bhaga is remembered as the distributor of portions, asked to apportion wealth and well-being, while allied powers of Heaven and Earth are invited for protection and increase. The sukta culminates in a soma-like gladness: the truth-knowing immortal powers are urged to drink the honeyed essence and proceed on the devayāna (godward) paths.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
उदु ष्य देवः सविता ययाम हिरण्ययीममतिं यामशिश्रेत् । नूनं भगो हव्यो मानुषेभिर्वि यो रत्ना पुरूवसुर्दधाति ॥
सवितर देव ऊपर जाता है। वो सोना जैसी सोच चलाता है। भगवान लोगों की पूजा करते हैं। वो बहुत सारे खज़ाने बाँटता है। उसके पास बहुत दौलत है।
Mantra 2
उदु तिष्ठ सवितः श्रुध्यस्य हिरण्यपाणे प्रभृतावृतस्य । व्युर्वीं पृथ्वीममतिं सृजान आ नृभ्यो मर्तभोजनं सुवानः ॥
सवितर भगवान को बुलाते हैं, उठो और सुनो। उनके हाथ सोने जैसे चमकते हैं, वो सच के साथ आगे बढ़ते हैं। वो धरती को खोलते हैं, बड़ी और खुली। लोगों को वो खाना देते हैं जो ज़िन्दगी में काम आता है।
Mantra 3
अपि ष्टुतः सविता देवो अस्तु यमा चिद्विश्वे वसवो गृणन्ति । स नः स्तोमान्नमस्यश्चनो धाद्विश्वेभिः पातु पायुभिर्नि सूरीन् ॥
सवितर वो देवता है जिसको सब गाते हैं। वसु देवता भी उनकी तारीफ करते हैं। वो हमारे गाने और हमारी पूजा को स्थिर करें। वो अपनी रक्षा से हमारे अच्छे लोगों को बचाएं।
Mantra 4
अभि यं देव्यदितिर्गृणाति सवं देवस्य सवितुर्जुषाणा । अभि सम्राजो वरुणो गृणन्त्यभि मित्रासो अर्यमा सजोषाः ॥
अदिति देवी सवितर की महिमा गाती हैं। वरुण देवता भी उनकी तारीफ करते हैं। मित्र और अर्यमन भी साथ में गाते हैं। यह सब देवता मिलके सवितर की मदद करते हैं।
Mantra 5
अभि ये मिथो वनुषः सपन्ते रातिं दिवो रातिषाचः पृथिव्याः । अहिर्बुध्न्य उत नः शृणोतु वरूत्र्येकधेनुभिर्नि पातु ॥
जो देवता ऊपर से नीचे तक देनेवाले हैं, वो हमारे पास आएं। अहि बुध्न्य हमारी सुन लें। वरुत्री देवी अपनी देने वाली गायों के साथ हमारी रक्षा करें।
Mantra 6
अनु तन्नो जास्पतिर्मंसीष्ट रत्नं देवस्य सवितुरियानः । भगमुग्रोऽवसे जोहवीति भगमनुग्रो अध याति रत्नम् ॥
जस्पति हमारे लिए अच्छा दें। वो सवितर के साथ चल रहे हैं। जब भग देवता मदद के लिए आते हैं, तब अच्छी चीज़ें मिलने लगती हैं।
Mantra 7
शं नो भवन्तु वाजिनो हवेषु देवताता मितद्रवः स्वर्काः । जम्भयन्तोऽहिं वृकं रक्षांसि सनेम्यस्मद्युयवन्नमीवाः ॥
जब हम भगवान को पुकारते हैं, तब वो ताकतवर शक्तियाँ हमारे लिए अच्छी हों। यह शक्तियाँ भगवान की सेवा में लगी रहती हैं और सही तरीके से आती हैं। यह रोशनी ले कर आती हैं। यह बुरी शक्तियों को कुचल देती हैं, साँप जैसी ताकत को, भेड़िया जैसी शक्ति को, और दुश्मन ताकतों को। एक हो के वो हमारे पास से बीमारी और तकलीफ दूर भगा दें।
Mantra 8
वाजेवाजेऽवत वाजिनो नो धनेषु विप्रा अमृता ऋतज्ञाः । अस्य मध्वः पिबत मादयध्वं तृप्ता यात पथिभिर्देवयानैः ॥
हर बार जब ताकत और शक्ति आए, तब यह देवता हमारे धन और कमाई में मदद करें। यह रिशि जैसे ज्ञान वाले हैं, कभी मरने वाले नहीं, और सच्चाई को जानते हैं। इस मीठा रस को पियो और खुश हो जाओ। जब तुम्हारी प्यास बुझे, तो भगवान की राह से चलो।
Inside Sukta 38
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Savitar rises and sets the golden thought in motion; the hymn begins with awakening and divine impulsion.
- Development
Bhaga is called as the invoked distributor of treasures, and the hymn broadens to allied powers that bring gifts from Heaven and Earth and provide protection from below and all around.
- Climax
A concentrated plea for safeguarding and for the convergence of giving powers—protection and abundance are envisioned as a unified divine movement toward the sacrificer.
- Where it settles
The hymn ends in vāja and madhu: the immortal truth-knowers drink the honeyed essence, become satisfied, and travel by the godward paths, sealing the rite with gladness and right direction.
The deity: Savitar
- Cosmic functionInitiates and regulates the rhythms of day and night, sets beings on their courses, and sanctions prosperity by right apportionment (bhāga) within ṛta.
- Inner significanceThe awakening force of aspiration and right will: Savitar as the inner impulsion toward clarity and ordered action; Bhaga as the harmonizing principle that allocates energies, rewards, and ‘portions’ in life according to alignment with truth.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Vasiṣṭhas; Mānavas in later tradition) · Foremost of the Saptaṛṣi and the principal seer of Mandala 7, celebrated for hymns of ṛta (cosmic order), royal prosperity, and the luminous guidance of the gods; central figure in Vedic priestly tradition as paradigmatic Brahman/Hotṛ.
Famous verses
nūnaṃ bhago havyo mānuṣebhiḥ
ahir budhnya uta naḥ śṛṇotu
tṛptā yāta pathibhir devayānaiḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Golden radiance and illumination
- Impeller/animator of thought and action (prasava)
- Guardian of ṛta and auspicious beginnings
- Bestower of wealth and right portion (through Bhaga)
- Protective guidance on the divine paths (devayāna)
Also by this seer
- Majority authorship of Rig Veda Mandala 7 (family book of the Vasiṣṭhas)
- Hymns to Varuṇa–Mitra emphasizing ṛta and moral order (e.g., RV 7.86–7.89)
- Indra hymns connected with victory and protection (several sūktas in RV 7)
- Agni hymns on priesthood and sacrifice (multiple sūktas in RV 7)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish purity and intention (saṃskāra of mind and speech).
- At dawn or before the main offering, recite Savitar verses to ‘raise’ the rite and awaken the golden resolve.
- Invoke Bhaga to apportion wealth, cattle, and fortunate outcomes to the sacrificer and community.
- Invite supporting divine powers (Heaven–Earth, protective forms such as Ahi Budhnya/Varūtrī as named in the hymn’s texture) for guarding and stability.
- Offer/press and present soma (or its substitute), concluding with a communal request for help in every ‘vāja’ (surge of plenitude) and for movement on devayāna paths.
- Close with śānti-style assent: protection below and around, and satisfaction of the invoked powers.
Offerings
- Soma libation (or symbolic sweet/honeyed offering where soma is unavailable)
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Grain cakes/oblations (puroḍāśa) as customary accompaniments
- Water and fragrant offerings in ancillary acts
Frequently Asked Questions
Savitar is the main deity—the divine Impeller who awakens and sets all things in motion. Bhaga appears closely with him as the power that distributes a rightful share of wealth and good fortune.
It asks for an awakened, luminous intention (the “golden thought”) and for prosperity that is rightly apportioned. Along with wealth, it also seeks protection and safe guidance on the divine path of the sacrifice and life.
Traditionally it suits dawn recitation or the opening of a rite to invoke clarity, auspicious beginnings, and well-being. In a simple practice, one may recite with an intention for right action, offer a small ghee lamp or water, and conclude with a wish for protection and generous sharing.
Ask anything about Sukta 38 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.
