Rig Veda Sukta 73
Mandala 8Sukta 7318 Mantras

Sukta 73

Sukta 8.73

Rishi

Atri (probable, as the hymn repeatedly references Atraye; traditional attribution to Atri or Atris in Aśvin hymns)

Chandas

Gāyatrī (probable: short refrain-like structure; exact meter requires full hymn scan)

This Aśvin hymn repeatedly summons the twin divine physicians to rise, yoke their chariot, and come close, so that their help may be “near and seated” within the worshipper. Through a refrain-like insistence, it asks for swift rescue, strengthening, and the breaking of obstructing darkness, as if storming a fortress. The overall purpose is immediate aid—healing, protection, and the restoration of ṛta (right order) in life and mind.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.73

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AshvinsMantras 1-8Aśvins

    The Aśvins are youthful twin gods who ride a swift chariot, arrive at dawn, and act as divine physicians and rescuers, hearing the call quickly and bringing remedies, protection, and renewed vitality.

  • AshvinauMantras 9-15, 17-18Aśvinau (dual)
  • UshasMantra 16Uṣas (Dawn) explicitly

Mantras

Mantra 1

उदीराथामृतायते युञ्जाथामश्विना रथम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन भाइयो, उठो और सत्य ढूंढने वाले के लिए आओ। अपनी रथ जोड़ो और हमारे पास आओ। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास हो।

Mantra 2

निमिषश्चिज्जवीयसा रथेना यातमश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन भाइयो, अपनी तेज़ रथ से आओ। आँख के झपकने से भी तेज़ आओ। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास आ के बैठ जाये।

Mantra 3

उप स्तृणीतमत्रये हिमेन घर्ममश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन भइयों, अत्रि के लिए गरम पानी ठंडा करके रखना। ठंडा करके, गरम भी रखना। ऐसा करो कि तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास ही रहे।

Mantra 4

कुह स्थः कुह जग्मथुः कुह श्येनेव पेतथुः । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

तुम कहाँ हो? कहीं से आए हो? बाज़ की तरह उड़के आए हो क्या? तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास ही रहे, यही दुआ है।

Mantra 5

यदद्य कर्हि कर्हि चिच्छुश्रूयातमिमं हवम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

आज या कभी भी, जब हम पुकारें, तुम सुनो अश्विन। सुनो और पास आओ। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास ही रहे।

Mantra 6

अश्विना यामहूतमा नेदिष्ठं याम्याप्यम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन, लोग तुम्हे बहुत पुकारते हैं। मैं भी तुम्हारे पास आ रहा हूँ। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास ही रहे।

Mantra 7

अवन्तमत्रये गृहं कृणुतं युवमश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन भइयों, अत्रि के लिए एक ऐसा घर बना दो जो सुरक्षित हो। कोई तकलीफ न हो। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास ही रहे।

Mantra 8

वरेथे अग्निमातपो वदते वल्ग्वत्रये । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अग्नि को चुनो। यह आग का ताप अत्रि के लिए सही बात बोलता है। आपकी मदद हमारे पास हो, हमारे अंदर काम करती हो।

Mantra 9

प्र सप्तवध्रिराशसा धारामग्नेरशायत । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

आगे बढ़ो, सात गुणों वाली शक्ति अपने आप को बिछा देती है। अग्नि की तरह बहती धारा बनके। आपकी मदद पास हो, सच में हमारे साथ हो।

Mantra 10

इहा गतं वृषण्वसू शृणुतं म इमं हवम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

इधर आओ, दोनों। तुम्मे जीत की ताकत है, धन है। मेरा यह बुलाना सुनो। आपकी मदद पास हो, सच में हमारे साथ हो।

Mantra 11

किमिदं वां पुराणवज्जरतोरिव शस्यते । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

लोग तुम्हारे बारे में ऐसा क्यों बोलते हैं? जैसे कोई पुरानी कहानी हो, जैसे बूढ़े लोगों की बात हो। आपकी मदद पास हो, सच में हमारे साथ हो।

Mantra 12

समानं वां सजात्यं समानो बन्धुरश्विना । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन दोनों भाई हो, तुम्हारी एक ही जात है। तुम्हारा एक ही रिश्ता है, एक ही बंधन है। आपकी मदद पास हो, सच में हमारे साथ हो।

Mantra 13

यो वां रजांस्यश्विना रथो वियाति रोदसी । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन भइयों, तुम्हारी गाड़ी आसमान में चलती है और दुनिया घूमती है। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास हो, सच में हमारे काम आए।

Mantra 14

आ नो गव्येभिरश्व्यैः सहस्रैरुप गच्छतम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

हमारे पास आओ, हज़ारों गाय और घोड़े लेकर। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास हो, सच में हमारे काम आए।

Mantra 15

मा नो गव्येभिरश्व्यैः सहस्रेभिरति ख्यतम् । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

हमें छोड़ के न जाओ, तुम लोग बहुत बड़े हो। हज़ारों चमक और ताकत लेकर हमारे पास रहो। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास हो, सच में हमारे काम आए।

Mantra 16

अरुणप्सुरुषा अभूदकर्ज्योतिॠतावरी । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

सुबह लाल चमक के साथ आई और रोशनी फैला दी। वो सच के रास्ते पे चलती है। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास हो, सच में हमारे काम आए।

Mantra 17

अश्विना सु विचाकशद्वृक्षं परशुमाँ इव । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

अश्विन भइयों, सब साफ साफ दिख जाए। जैसे पेड़ को काटने से देख सकते हैं, वैसे ही सब क्लियर हो जाए। तुम्हारी मदद हमारे पास हो, सच में हमारे काम आए।

Mantra 18

पुरं न धृष्णवा रुज कृष्णया बाधितो विशा । अन्ति षद्भूतु वामवः ॥

जैसे कोई ताकतवाला किले को तोड़ के अंदर जाता है, वैसे ही अंधेरा को तोड़ दो। जो लोग अंधेरे में फंसे हैं, उन्हे आगे बढ़ने दो। तुम्हारी मदद पास हो, सच में साथ है।

Inside Sukta 73

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct awakening-call: the Aśvins are asked to rise, yoke their chariot, and come to the truth-seeker; the refrain prays that their help be near and firmly present.

  2. Development

    The poet intensifies the invitation—‘come here, hear my call’—highlighting their vigor and readiness to respond, turning the hymn into a rhythmic, insistently repeated summons.

  3. Climax

    A forceful plea for breakthrough: the Aśvins are asked to smash obstruction like a fortress, liberating those oppressed by ‘blackness’ across the peoples/forces of life.

  4. Where it settles

    The refrain returns as a settling assurance: the desired end is not only external rescue but the inward ‘seating’ of divine help—steady protection and restored order.

The deity: Aśvins

  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from darkness to light (night to dawn), restore health and wholeness, and rapidly intervene to save beings from danger, disorder, and affliction.
  • Inner significanceThey symbolize the twin powers of prompt grace and practical healing—clarity that arrives at the threshold of awakening, restoring balance, courage, and right orientation when the mind is oppressed by ‘blackness’ (tamas/obstruction).

The seer

  • Atri (probable; Atraya/Atraye is repeatedly invoked)Ātreya (Atri-gotra) · One of the most ancient Rigvedic seers; associated with luminous insight, the Ātreya lineage, and hymns that call the gods as close helpers—especially the Aśvins as rescuers and healers.

Famous verses

anti ṣad bhūtu vām avaḥ
Verse 8.73.1Sets the program of the whole hymn: rise, yoke the chariot, come to the seeker of ṛta; introduces the hallmark refrain requesting near, abiding help.Read verse 8.73.1 →
ihā gataṃ … śṛṇutam me imaṃ havam
Verse 8.73.10A clear, accessible invocation: ‘come here… hear my call,’ addressing the Aśvins as vṛṣaṇvasū (rich in victorious power), reinforcing their immediacy and responsiveness.Read verse 8.73.10 →
puraṃ na … ā ruja
Verse 8.73.18Expresses the hymn’s peak intensity: a prayer to break oppressive darkness/obstruction ‘like a fortress,’ showing the Aśvins as decisive liberators, not only gentle healers.Read verse 8.73.18 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin deities (dual form)
  • Swift chariot-borne helpers
  • Healers/physicians
  • Rescuers in संकट (distress)
  • Associated with dawn and renewal
  • Bring strength (vṛṣan-vasū: ‘rich in victorious force’)
  • Restore ṛta and well-being

Also by this seer

  • Rigveda Mandala 5 is traditionally associated with the Atri/Ātreya family of seers (many hymns attributed to Ātreyas).
  • Multiple Aśvin-related invocations across the Rigveda are linked to the Ātreya tradition (family-style refrains and urgent calls for aid).
  • Later Vedic and Itihāsa-Purāṇa tradition remembers Atri among the great ṛṣis and as a progenitor of an influential gotra.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare a clean seat and a small fire or lamp (if in a domestic setting).
  • Begin with a brief saṅkalpa: seeking ṛta, health, and protection.
  • Invoke the Aśvins as swift riders; mentally ‘yoke the chariot’ (ratha-yoga) and invite their nearness.
  • Recite the hymn (or selected verses) with emphasis on the recurring refrain asking that their help be near and present.
  • Offer oblations while repeating the refrain (where appropriate) as a sealing prayer for immediate aid.
  • Conclude with a quiet moment of receptivity—imagining their ‘help seated within’ (inner stabilization) and dedicating the merit to right order in life.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into fire (where applicable)
  • Milk or soma-substitute offerings (symbolic nourishment)
  • Honey/sweet offering (madhu) as a traditional Aśvin-associated sweetness
  • Water libation and simple flowers in non-fire settings

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins are twin Vedic deities known for swift arrival, healing, and rescue. This hymn calls them like urgent helpers who come at dawn and restore strength and well-being.

It asks that the Aśvins’ help be “near” and “seated/present” for the worshipper. The idea is not only distant blessing, but immediate, steady support felt within one’s life and mind.

Call the Aśvins quickly and confidently: they hear, arrive, and remove obstacles—especially the ‘blackness’ of oppression or confusion—so that truth (ṛta), health, and protection can be restored.

Ask anything about Sukta 73 of the Rig Veda

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