Sukta 41
Sukta 7.41
Vasiṣṭha
Morning litany to multiple deities (Agni, Indra, Mitra-Varuṇa, Aśvins, Bhaga, Pūṣan, Brahmaṇaspati, Soma, Rudra)
Jagatī (probable due to longer line with repeated prātar; traditional classification often places such litanies in Jagatī)
This hymn is a dawn-time litany that repeatedly invokes a circle of deities—Agni, Indra, Mitra-Varuṇa, the Aśvins, Bhaga, Pūṣan, Brahmaṇaspati, Soma, and Rudra—so the day may begin in right order and auspicious power. It asks for bhaga (share of felicity), protection, and “svasti” (well-being) through all phases of the day. The close turns to Uṣas (the Dawns), praying for ever-renewed, prosperous dawns that “milk” ghee-like delight and sustain the sacrificer’s life-force.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्रातरग्निं प्रातरिन्द्रं हवामहे प्रातर्मित्रावरुणा प्रातरश्विना । प्रातर्भगं पूषणं ब्रह्मणस्पतिं प्रातः सोममुत रुद्रं हुवेम ॥
सुबह होने पर हम अग्नि को बुलाते हैं, और इंद्र को भी बुलाते हैं। सुबह मित्र और वरुण को पुकारते हैं, अश्विन देवताओं को भी। सुबह भग, पूषन और ब्रह्मणस्पति को आवाज़ देते हैं। सुबह सोम और रुद्र को भी बुलाते हैं। ऐसा इसलिए कि दिन की शुरुआत सही हो।
Mantra 2
प्रातर्जितं भगमुग्रं हुवेम वयं पुत्रमदितेर्यो विधर्ता । आध्रश्चिद्यं मन्यमानस्तुरश्चिद्राजा चिद्यं भगं भक्षीत्याह ॥
सुबह हम भग को बुलाते हैं जो सुबह जीतता है और बहुत ताकतवर है। वो अदिति का बेटा है और दुनिया को संभालता है। जो कोई गरीब भी उसका नाम लेता है, वो कहता है कि मुझे भी हिस्सा मिलना चाहिए। जो ताकतवर है, जो राजा है, सब यही कहते हैं। हम भी भग से अपना हिस्सा माँगते हैं।
Mantra 3
भग प्रणेतर्भग सत्यराधो भगेमां धियमुदवा ददन्नः । भग प्र णो जनय गोभिरश्वैर्भग प्र नृभिर्नृवन्तः स्याम ॥
भग, तुम हमारा रास्ता दिखाओ, तुम्हारा देना सच है और सही है। हमें ऐसा ज्ञान दो जो हम ऊपर ले आए। भग, तुम हमें आगे बढ़ाओ, रोशनी और ताकत के साथ। भग, हम इंसान बने रहें और अपने अंदर ताकत रखें।
Mantra 4
उतेदानीं भगवन्तः स्यामोत प्रपित्व उत मध्ये अह्नाम् । उतोदिता मघवन्त्सूर्यस्य वयं देवानां सुमतौ स्याम ॥
अभी इस वक़्त हमें भग का हिस्सा मिलना चाहिए। आगे बढ़ने में भी हमारा भला हो, और दिन के बीच में भी। जब सूरज उगता है, तब भी हम खुश रहें और देवता लोग हमारे साथ हों। देवता लोग हमें अपनी खुशी से अपना लें।
Mantra 5
भग एव भगवाँ अस्तु देवास्तेन वयं भगवन्तः स्याम । तं त्वा भग सर्व इज्जोहवीति स नो भग पुरएता भवेह ॥
भगवान खुद भग रूप में आएँ। उनकी बरकत से हम भी खुश हाल हो जाएँ। सब लोग भग को पुकारते हैं। वो हमारे आगे चलके रास्ता दिखाए।
Mantra 6
समध्वरायोषसो नमन्त दधिक्रावेव शुचये पदाय । अर्वाचीनं वसुविदं भगं नो रथमिवाश्वा वाजिन आ वहन्तु ॥
सुबह की रोशनियाँ हमारी पूजा की तरफ झुकें। दधिक्रवन जैसा तेज़ रेसर ब्राइट गोल की तरफ बढ़े। भग जो धन ढूँढ़ने वाला है, वो पास आए। जैसे तेज़ घोड़े रथ को लाते हैं, वैसे वो हम तक पहुँचे।
Mantra 7
अश्वावतीर्गोमतीर्न उषासो वीरवतीः सदमुच्छन्तु भद्राः । घृतं दुहाना विश्वतः प्रपीता यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
सुबह की रोशनियाँ हमारे लिए अच्छी हों। उनमें ताकत हो, चमक हो, और हिम्मत हो। वो घी जैसा मीठा दूध देती हैं, और हर तरफ से भरी हैं। यह रोशनियाँ हमेशा हमारा कल्याण करें।
Inside Sukta 41
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A rhythmic dawn refrain—“prātar…”—that calls the chief divine powers to be present at the day’s threshold.
- Development
The hymn expands from invocation to petition: may the gods grant a fortunate share (bhaga), guidance, healing, right speech, and protection through all phases of time within the day.
- Climax
The prayer for sustained divine favor—sumati and bhagavattva—across the day’s movement, not merely at the moment of sunrise.
- Where it settles
A closing blessing to Uṣas: may the Dawns rise always auspicious, ‘milking’ ghee-like delight and guarding the worshippers with enduring svasti.
The deity: Prātar-litanī to multiple deities
- In the VedaThe hymn addresses the dawn (prātar) as the fitting threshold for calling the gods: Agni as the mouth of offering, Indra as victorious strength, Mitra-Varuṇa as guardians of truth and order, the Aśvins as swift healers, Bhaga as the giver of one’s share, Pūṣan as the path-finder, Brahmaṇaspati as lord of sacred speech, Soma as delight and inspiration, and Rudra as fierce protector-healer; finally, Uṣas is praised as the auspicious riser who brings wealth and vigor.
- Cosmic functionTo “set the day in motion” by aligning human action with ṛta—invoking the divine powers that govern fire/mediation, force, law, healing, fortune, guidance, prayer, ecstasy, and protective intensity, so the solar day unfolds in harmony.
- Inner significanceA morning re-centering of the psyche: awakening aspiration (Agni), courage (Indra), ethical clarity (Mitra-Varuṇa), renewal and healing (Aśvins), gratitude and right share (Bhaga), direction (Pūṣan), right speech and intention (Brahmaṇaspati), luminous joy (Soma), and disciplined awe that wards harm (Rudra), culminating in the fresh consciousness of Uṣas.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVāsiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha gotra; seer-family of Maṇḍala 7) · Foremost among the Saptaṛṣi, celebrated as a master of mantra and priestly order (ṛta), and as the emblematic seer of the Vāsiṣṭha hymns that harmonize royal power with cosmic law.
Famous verses
prātar agnim prātar indraṃ havāmahe
devānāṃ sumatau syāma
yūyaṃ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Dawn-time (prātar) orientation and daily renewal
- Collective invocation of complementary divine functions
- Emphasis on bhaga (fortunate share) and sumati (divine goodwill)
- Protection (svasti) as the practical fruit of right invocation
- Uṣas as auspicious opener of life, wealth, and vigor
Also by this seer
- Principal seer associated with much of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (Vāsiṣṭha collection)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa–Mitra, and royal-protection themes within the Vāsiṣṭha corpus
- Later Vedic-Itihāsa memory preserves Vasiṣṭha as a paradigmatic purohita and teacher (beyond the Rigvedic layer)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare at dawn: personal purification, facing the eastern light; kindle or approach the gārhapatya/āhavanīya fire (as applicable).
- Open with the repeated prātar-invocations, naming the deities in sequence to establish ṛta for the day (Agni → Indra → Mitra-Varuṇa → Aśvins → Bhaga → Pūṣan → Brahmaṇaspati → Soma → Rudra).
- Add petitions for bhaga (right share), sumati (divine consent), and continuity of well-being through the day’s stages (now, onward course, mid-day, sunrise/renewed rising).
- Conclude with Uṣas-focused verses asking the Dawns to rise auspiciously, bringing wealth, strength, and svasti (states of well-being).
- Seal with a quiet moment of intention: begin work/travel under Pūṣan’s guidance and Mitra-Varuṇa’s truth.
Offerings
- Ghee/clarified butter into Agni (primary)
- Soma libation where Soma-rite context applies (symbolically or ritually)
- Simple dawn oblations (milk, ghee, grains) according to śrauta/gṛhya capacity
- Water offerings and reverential salutations to the rising light (Uṣas/Sūrya)
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a dawn prayer that calls multiple deities at the start of the day so life proceeds in right order (ṛta), with protection (svasti) and a fortunate share (bhaga).
The repetition marks dawn as the sacred threshold when intention is set and divine powers are invited to govern the whole day—work, travel, health, speech, and inner clarity.
Recite it at sunrise (or just before), offer a small ghee lamp or fire offering if possible, and end by holding the intention of svasti—steadiness, protection, and truthful action through the day.
Ask anything about Sukta 41 of the Rig Veda
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