Rig Veda Sukta 59
Mandala 10Sukta 5910 Mantras

Sukta 59

Sukta 10.59

Devata

Āyuṣ (life) and the banishment of Nirṛti (dissolution); protective/āyuṣya orientation

Chandas

त्रिष्टुभ् (probable; longer pādas with complex cadence)

Himne ini adalah doa āyuṣya (pelindung umur) yang mendorong daya-hidup melaju ke depan menuju kelangsungan yang “lebih jauh, senantiasa lebih baru”, sambil mengusir Nirṛti—kekuatan pelapukan dan pelarutan. Himne ini memohon pemulihan penglihatan, napas, dan kenikmatan vital, serta memohon agar dapat memandang Matahari terbit lama tanpa rintangan—tanda-tanda daya hidup yang diperbarui dan keberuntungan. Bagian penutup bernada perlindungan, menyeru kuasa-kuasa penopang (serta dorongan Indra) untuk menyingkirkan derita sehingga tiada bahaya menyentuh pemuja.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.59

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र तार्यायुः प्रतरं नवीय स्थातारेव क्रतुमता रथस्य । अध च्यवान उत्तवीत्यर्थं परातरं सु निॠतिर्जिहीताम् ॥

Majukanlah hayat kami ke depan, menuju langkah yang lebih jauh dan senantiasa lebih baru, laksana kusir-kusir teguh kereta oleh daya kehendak-sadar (krátu); lalu, bergerak maju, semoga kami meraih tujuan yang lebih tinggi, dan semoga Nirṛti—daya peluruhan—menyingkir jauh.

Mantra 2

सामन्नु राये निधिमन्न्वन्नं करामहे सु पुरुध श्रवांसि । ता नो विश्वानि जरिता ममत्तु परातरं सु निॠतिर्जिहीताम् ॥

Dalam harmoni (sāman), demi kelimpahan rāya, semoga kami menjadikan bagi diri kami makanan yang kaya akan harta batin, dan banyak kemasyhuran serta daya-dengar yang berlandas kukuh; semoga semuanya itu menyukakan sang pemuji, dan semoga Nirṛti menyingkir jauh.

Mantra 3

अभी ष्वर्यः पौंस्यैर्भवेम द्यौर्न भूमिं गिरयो नाज्रान् । ता नो विश्वानि जरिता चिकेत परातरं सु निॠतिर्जिहीताम् ॥

Semoga kami menjadi jaya oleh daya kelelakian para Ārya (yang mulia)—teguh laksana Langit, luas laksana Bumi, tak terguncang seperti gunung-gunung. Semoga sang pelantun (jaritā) mengenali bagi kami segala gerak yang benar itu; dan semoga Nirṛti, kuasa pelarutan dan kemalangan, menjauh jauh dari kami.

Mantra 4

मो षु णः सोम मृत्यवे परा दाः पश्येम नु सूर्यमुच्चरन्तम् । द्युभिर्हितो जरिमा सू नो अस्तु परातरं सु निॠतिर्जिहीताम् ॥

Wahai Soma, janganlah Engkau menyerahkan kami kepada Maut; semoga kami masih memandang Surya yang sedang naik. Tanamkanlah pada kami, oleh dunia-dunia bercahaya, kematangan usia yang benar; dan semoga Nirṛti menjauh jauh dari kami.

Mantra 5

असुनीते मनो अस्मासु धारय जीवातवे सु प्र तिरा न आयुः । रारन्धि नः सूर्यस्य संदृशि घृतेन त्वं तन्वं वर्धयस्व ॥

Wahai Penuntun nafas-hidup (asu), teguhkanlah pikiran di dalam kami untuk hidup; hantarkan daya-hidup (āyu) kami dengan selamat ke depan. Tegakkan kami dalam penglihatan Surya; dengan ghṛta—kekayaan yang dimurnikan—Engkau tambahkan dan kuatkan keberadaan jasmani kami.

Mantra 6

असुनीते पुनरस्मासु चक्षुः पुनः प्राणमिह नो धेहि भोगम् । ज्योक्पश्येम सूर्यमुच्चरन्तमनुमते मृळया नः स्वस्ति ॥

Wahai Asunīti, pulihkan kembali dalam diri kami penglihatan; pulihkan di sini nafas-hidup kami dan tanamkan dalam diri kami daya untuk menikmati anugerah. Semoga lama kami memandang Surya yang sedang terbit; wahai Anumati, berbelas kasihlah kepada kami—anugerahkan kesejahteraan.

Mantra 7

पुनर्नो असुं पृथिवी ददातु पुनर्द्यौर्देवी पुनरन्तरिक्षम् । पुनर्नः सोमस्तन्वं ददातु पुनः पूषा पथ्यां या स्वस्तिः ॥

Semoga Bumi mengembalikan kepada kami nafas-hidup; semoga Langit ilahi memulihkannya; semoga ruang-antara (antarikṣa) memulihkannya. Semoga Soma mengembalikan kepada kami keberadaan yang berjasad; semoga Pūṣan memulihkan jalan yang aman—dia yang adalah kesejahteraan.

Mantra 8

शं रोदसी सुबन्धवे यह्वी ऋतस्य मातरा । भरतामप यद्रपो द्यौः पृथिवि क्षमा रपो मो षु ते किं चनाममत् ॥

Semoga Langit dan Bumi menjadi damai dan kekerabatan yang baik bagimu—dua Ibu Ṛta yang luas-bergerak. Biarlah mereka mengangkut pergi luka dan derita; wahai Langit, wahai Bumi, wahai Tanah yang tabah—janganlah sedikit pun kekacauan menyentuhmu.

Mantra 9

अव द्वके अव त्रिका दिवश्चरन्ति भेषजा । क्षमा चरिष्ण्वेककं भरतामप यद्रपो द्यौः पृथिवि क्षमा रपो मो षु ते किं चनाममत् ॥

Dari yang berlipat dua dan dari yang berlipat tiga, obat-obatan bergerak turun dari Surga; di bumi yang sabar mereka bergerak bagi yang seorang diri. Biarlah Langit dan Bumi mengangkut pergi segala derita yang ada—semoga tiada bahaya sedikit pun menyentuhmu.

Mantra 10

समिन्द्रेरय गामनड्वाहं य आवहदुशीनराण्या अनः । भरतामप यद्रपो द्यौः पृथिवि क्षमा रपो मो षु ते किं चनाममत् ॥

Wahai Indra, gerakkanlah sapi dan lembu penarik yang membawa kereta kaum Uśīnara; biarlah kekuatan-kekuatan penopang mengangkut pergi segala derita yang ada—semoga tiada bahaya sedikit pun menyentuhmu.

Inside Sukta 59

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A strong imperative to “carry life forward,” likening the worshipper’s will (kratu) to skilled charioteers who keep the course steady, while commanding Nirṛti to retreat.

  2. Development

    The hymn moves from forward propulsion and protection to concrete restorations—sight, breath, and the capacity for enjoyment—framing health as both physiological and auspicious.

  3. Climax

    The explicit restoration prayer to Asunīti and the wish to behold the Sun rising for a long time, sealed by Anumati’s gracious svasti.

  4. Where it settles

    A concluding protective removal of affliction (rapas) through sustaining cosmic supports and Indra’s impulse, ending in the assurance that no harm should touch the addressed person.

The deity: Āyuṣ with the banishment of Nirṛti

  • In the VedaĀyuṣ is invoked as the forward-carrying vitality that sustains embodied existence; Nirṛti is the negative power of loss, misfortune, and dissolution that must “withdraw far away.” Asunīti is asked to restore sight and breath, while Anumati grants gracious consent and svasti (well-being); Indra appears as the impelling force that sets supports in motion and helps remove affliction.
  • Cosmic functionTo preserve continuity of life and order by strengthening prāṇa and sensory power, ensuring auspicious duration, and pushing back forces of entropy (Nirṛti) that pull beings toward decline and death.
  • Inner significanceA disciplined turning of will (kratu) toward life-affirmation: stabilizing attention (sight), renewing breath and motivation, and psychologically distancing despair, inertia, and self-destructive tendencies symbolized by Nirṛti.

Famous verses

सु निॠतिः जिहीताम् (may Nirṛti withdraw far away)
Verse 10.59.1Programmatic statement of the sūkta: life is urged onward into renewed extension, and Nirṛti (dissolution) is commanded to withdraw—core āyuṣya + apotropaic thrust.Read verse 10.59.1 →
ज्योक्पश्येम सूर्यं (long may we behold the Sun)
Verse 10.59.6Most explicit life-restoration verse: asks Asunīti to return sight and breath and seeks long vision of the rising Sun; Anumati is invoked for svasti, making it central to healing recitation.Read verse 10.59.6 →
समिन्द्रेरय गामनड्वाहं य आवहदुशीनराण्या अनः । भरतामप यद्रपो द्यौः पृथिवि क्षमा रपो मो षु ते किं चनाममत् ॥
Verse 10.59.10Protective closing: calls on Indra’s impelling power and on sustaining supports to carry off affliction so that no harm touches the worshipper—functions as a sealing benediction.Read verse 10.59.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Life-prolonging (āyuṣya)
  • Restorative of prāṇa and cakṣus (breath and sight)
  • Protective and apotropaic (driving away harm)
  • Auspicious consent and blessing (Anumati, svasti)
  • Will-driven forward movement (kratu as chariot-driver)
  • Anti-dissolution/anti-decay orientation (banishment of Nirṛti)

Also by this seer

  • Attributed within Mandala 10 āyuṣya/protective strata in some recensional traditions, but without stable r̥ṣi identification
  • Associated conceptually with Vedic life-restoration and anti-Nirṛti prayers used in healing/protection contexts

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare a clean space and kindle/maintain a small household fire (or lamp) as witness to the vow of life.
  • Saṅkalpa: state the intention for āyuḥ-prāṇa-cakṣuḥ restoration and the repulsion of Nirṛti (affliction/decay).
  • Recite the sūkta in full, with special emphasis on verses calling life forward and sending Nirṛti away (e.g., 10.59.1) and on restoration prayers to Asunīti/Anumati (e.g., 10.59.6).
  • Conclude with a protective prayer for the removal of rapas (affliction) and for non-contact of harm, aligning with the hymn’s closing protective cadence.
  • Offer a final śānti/svasti request and distribute/receive a small portion of the offering as prasad-like “share” (bhoga) symbolizing restored enjoyment.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into fire
  • Milk or soma-substitute (where appropriate by tradition)
  • Cooked rice/barley (anna) as a life-sustaining offering
  • Water libation for cooling/settling affliction

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a life-protecting hymn that asks life-force to move forward, restores breath and sight, and sends away Nirṛti—the power linked with decay, loss, and dissolution.

Asunīti is invoked to restore vital functions like breath and vision, while Anumati represents gracious consent/blessing and is asked to grant svasti (well-being).

It is suited for dawn recitation, for recovery from illness, and for longevity/protection intentions—any time one seeks renewed vitality and the removal of misfortune.

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