Sukta 71
Sukta 7.71
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for Maṇḍala 7)
Aśvinau (with dawn/night transition imagery in the verse)
Triṣṭubh (probable)
This short hymn to the Aśvinau is set against the vivid threshold where Night yields to Dawn, and it calls the divine Twins to arrive swiftly in their radiant chariot. Vasiṣṭha invokes them as protectors who drive away harm “by day and by night,” and as bringers of vitality, wealth, and well-being. The sukta culminates in offering a carefully woven praise-song and asking for continual safeguarding through svasti (auspiciousness).
Mantras
Mantra 1
अप स्वसुरुषसो नग्जिहीते रिणक्ति कृष्णीररुषाय पन्थाम् । अश्वामघा गोमघा वां हुवेम दिवा नक्तं शरुमस्मद्युयोतम् ॥
रात अपनी बहन सवेरे के सामने हट जाती है। अंधेरा रास्ता छोड़ देता है और रोशनी का रास्ता साफ हो जाता है। अश्विन भाइयों, आप घोड़े और गाय देते हो, इसलिए हम दिन में भी और रात में भी आपको पुकारते हैं। हमें बुरी चीज़ों से बचा लो।
Mantra 2
उपायातं दाशुषे मर्त्याय रथेन वाममश्विना वहन्ता । युयुतमस्मदनिराममीवां दिवा नक्तं माध्वी त्रासीथां नः ॥
अश्विन भाइयों, आप अपने अच्छे रथ में बैठ के उस इंसान के पास आओ जो आपको पूजा कर रहा है। हमें बीमारी से बचा लो जो कोई खुशी नहीं देती। दिन हो या रात, आप मीठी तरह हमें रक्षा करो।
Mantra 3
आ वां रथमवमस्यां व्युष्टौ सुम्नायवो वृषणो वर्तयन्तु । स्यूमगभस्तिमृतयुग्भिरश्वैराश्विना वसुमन्तं वहेथाम् ॥
जब सुबह हो, तब ताकतवाले लोग आपका रथ लाएं और हमें खुशी मिले। अश्विन भाइयों, आप सच्चे घोड़ों और अच्छे हाथों से रथ चला के यहाँ आओ। आप अपने रथ में खुशी और सम्पन्नता ले कर आओ।
Mantra 4
यो वां रथो नृपती अस्ति वोळ्हा त्रिवन्धुरो वसुमाँ उस्रयामा । आ न एना नासत्योप यातमभि यद्वां विश्वप्स्न्यो जिगाति ॥
अश्विन ब्रदर्स, तुम्हारा एक रथ है जो बहुत अच्छा है। उसमें तीन जगह है और वो धन से भरा है। वो रोशनी के रास्ते पर चलता है। नासत्य, जब तुम्हे बुलाओ तो उस रथ से हमारे पास आना। जब भी कोई तुम्हे पुकारता है, तुम उसकी आवाज़ सुनो और आ जाओ।
Mantra 5
युवं च्यवानं जरसोऽमुमुक्तं नि पेदव ऊहथुराशुमश्वम् । निरंहसस्तमसः स्पर्तमत्रिं नि जाहुषं शिथिरे धातमन्तः ॥
तुमने च्यवन रिशि को बूढ़ा होने से बचाया। पेदु के लिए तुमने एक तेज़ घोड़ा दिया। अत्रि को अंधेरे और बंधन से आज़ाद किया। और जहुष को सुरक्षित जगह पे रख दिया जहाँ कोई तकलीफ न हो।
Mantra 6
इयं मनीषा इयमश्विना गीरिमां सुवृक्तिं वृषणा जुषेथाम् । इमा ब्रह्माणि युवयून्यग्मन्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
अश्विन, यह हमारी सोच है और यह हमारी प्रार्थना है। इस गाने को अपना लो, तुम जो बलवान हो। हमारी यह बातें तुम्हारे लिए है, तुम्हारी शक्ति के साथ। हमेशा हमारी रक्षा करना और अच्छा रखो।
Inside Sukta 71
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A cosmic tableau: Night withdraws from her sister Dawn, yielding the dark paths to the ruddy way of light.
- Development
From this transition, the poet turns to direct invocation—Aśvins as givers of vitality and wealth—asking them to avert the ‘dart’ of harm at all times.
- Climax
The urgent invitation: the Nāsatyas are asked to come near in their rich, three-seated chariot when the pervasive call reaches them.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes by offering the crafted praise and requesting enduring protection through svasti—ongoing well-being and safe guidance.
The deity: Aśvinau
- In the VedaThe Aśvins are the youthful divine Twins, swift riders and healers who come in a bright, well-yoked chariot, especially at the dawn-transition, answering human calls and bringing remedies, protection, and prosperity.
- Cosmic functionThey mediate the passage from darkness to light (night-to-dawn), restore wholeness (healing), and ensure safe passage—physical and cosmic—through peril and transition.
- Inner significanceThey symbolize the twin powers of prompt help and restorative insight: the capacity to move from confusion to clarity, to heal brokenness, and to establish inner ‘svasti’—stable well-being amid change.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Āditya/Ṛṣi lineage traditionally associated with the Vasiṣṭhas) · Foremost seer of Maṇḍala 7, celebrated for sacerdotal authority, luminous praise-poetry, and his role as a paradigmatic purohita (royal priest) in Vedic tradition.
Famous verses
divā naktaṃ śarum asmad yuyotam
यो वां रथो नृपती अस्ति वोळ्हा त्रिवन्धुरो वसुमाँ उस्रयामा । आ न एना नासत्योप यातमभि यद्वां विश्वप्स्न्यो जिगाति ॥yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Twin deities (yugmā)
- Swift chariot-borne rescuers
- Healers and restorers
- Associated with dawn and transitions
- Protectors who avert harm (driving away the ‘dart’)
- Givers of strength and prosperity (aśva-/go-maghā)
Also by this seer
- Majority of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 hymns (Sapta-maṇḍala tradition)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa-Mitra, and the Maruts in RV 7
- Later Vedic/Itihāsa memory as a foundational brahmarṣi and teacher in the Vasiṣṭha lineage
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire and seat the intention: protection and auspicious passage from night to day.
- Recite the opening verse(s) at the dawn-threshold, contemplating Night yielding to Dawn.
- Invite the Aśvins to ‘come near’ on their three-seated chariot, calling them by day and by night.
- State the specific request: removal of harm and hostile ‘shafts’ (śaru).
- Offer the ‘well-woven hymn’ (suvṛkti) as praise, concluding with a request for continual svasti.
- Seal with a brief śānti/svasti formula or silent contemplation on safe guidance.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Milk/curd or simple dairy oblations (Aśvinau associations)
- Soma offering where applicable (in soma contexts)
- Flowers/water as simple upacāra in later devotional adaptations
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aśvins (Nāsatyā) are the youthful divine Twins who arrive swiftly in a shining chariot, known for rescue, healing, and bringing prosperity—especially at dawn.
The night-to-dawn change is a sacred transition in the Veda. It symbolizes moving from danger and obscurity into safety and light, fitting the Aśvins’ role as protectors and helpers.
The poet asks them to come quickly, remove the ‘dart’ of harm, and guard the worshippers continually with svasti—steady well-being and auspicious protection.
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