Rig Veda Sukta 29
Mandala 2Sukta 297 Mantras

Sukta 29

Sukta 2.29

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Devata

Ādityas (especially Varuṇa and Mitra)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

この七詩節のトリシュトゥブ(Triṣṭubh)讃歌において、グリツァマダはアーディティヤ神群——とりわけミトラとヴァルナ——をṛta(宇宙的・道徳的秩序)の守護者として呼びかけ、隠れた過失と内なる逸脱を遠ざけるよう願う。詩人は憐れみを求め、真理の「中道」における正しい導きを乞い、さらに繁栄への参与と、「bṛhat(広大なるもの)」と呼ばれる共同の言葉(共同体の言説)が内なる英雄的な力によって保たれ続けることを願う。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.29

Mantras

Mantra 1

धृतव्रता आदित्या इषिरा आरे मत्कर्त रहसूरिवागः । शृण्वतो वो वरुण मित्र देवा भद्रस्य विद्वाँ अवसे हुवे वः ॥

堅き誓法(ヴラタ)を保つアーディティヤたちよ、烈しく迅き力よ——隠れた衝動のように動く秘かな過ち(ラハス)を、われから遠ざけよ。聞き給え、神なるヴァルナよ、ミトラよ。善を知る者として、われは汝らを救いのために呼び招く。

Mantra 2

यूयं देवाः प्रमतिर्यूयमोजो यूयं द्वेषांसि सनुतर्युयोत । अभिक्षत्तारो अभि च क्षमध्वमद्या च नो मृळयतापरं च ॥

神々よ、まことに汝らは先導する叡智、汝らは力なり。汝らはわれらの憎しみを遠くより追い払う。支配者として、われらに忍耐し給え。今日も、また後の日々にも、われらを憐れみ、癒し給え。

Mantra 3

किमू नु वः कृणवामापरेण किं सनेन वसव आप्येन । यूयं नो मित्रावरुणादिते च स्वस्तिमिन्द्रामरुतो दधात ॥

それでは、われらは汝らのために他のいかなる手立てをなすべきか。表面にとどまる得分によって、いかなることを成し得ようか、ヴァス(Vasu)たちよ。汝ら—ミトラ(Mitra)、ヴァルナ(Varuṇa)、そしてアディティ(Aditi)—は、われらに安寧(スヴァスティ)を据え給え。さらに、インドラ(Indra)よ、マルト(Marut)らと共に、それを確立し給え。

Mantra 4

हये देवा यूयमिदापयः स्थ ते मृळत नाधमानाय मह्यम् । मा वो रथो मध्यमवाळृते भून्मा युष्मावत्स्वापिषु श्रमिष्म ॥

まことに神々よ、汝らこそは潤し甦らせる水なり。圧されつつ労するこのわれを憐れみ給え。汝らの戦車がリタ(ṛta)—真理の—中道を外れぬように。汝らと共にある成就のうちに、われらが疲れ果てぬように。

Mantra 5

प्र व एको मिमय भूर्यागो यन्मा पितेव कितवं शशास । आरे पाशा आरे अघानि देवा मा माधि पुत्रे विमिव ग्रभीष्ट ॥

汝らのうちの一柱が、わがために多くの咎を量り定めた。あたかも父が、賭けに溺れる子を戒めるがごとく。神々よ、縄索は遠く、禍は遠くあれ。子のゆえに我を捕らうるな、鳥捕りが獲物を掴むがごとく。

Mantra 6

अर्वाञ्चो अद्या भवता यजत्रा आ वो हार्दि भयमानो व्ययेयम् । त्राध्वं नो देवा निजुरो वृकस्य त्राध्वं कर्तादवपदो यजत्राः ॥

祭らるべき神々よ、今日われらに向き給え。わが胸に畏れを抱くわれが、汝らのうちに解き放たれ、寄り憑くことを得んために。神々よ、狼のごとき力の忍び寄りより我らを護れ。祭らるべき者たちよ、堕落をなす者より我らを護れ。

Mantra 7

माहं मघोनो वरुण प्रियस्य भूरिदाव्न आ विदं शूनमापेः । मा रायो राजन्त्सुयमादव स्थां बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

ヴァルナよ、富を広く施す愛しき与え手の、親しき臨在をわれ失わず、空虚と欠乏へと落ち入らざらんことを。王よ、満ち足りた豊穣へ導く善き道より、われ脱落せざらんことを。内なる勇士の力を具して、集会(ヴィダタ)においてわれら大いなるもの(ブリハト)を語らん。

Inside Sukta 29

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by naming the Ādityas as steadfast upholders of law and begging them to keep far away the ‘rahasū’—the secret, subtle fault.

  2. Development

    The poet moves from confession and appeal to attentive hearing, to a broader request for mercy, refreshment, and guidance so the divine chariot does not deviate from the truthful ‘middle way.’

  3. Climax

    A concentrated plea for protection from falling away—from truth, from the right path of abundance, and from the supportive presence of the bounteous giver—under Varuṇa’s kingship.

  4. Where it settles

    It ends with a communal aspiration: to remain on the well-guided path and to ‘speak the Vast’ in the assembly, endowed with inner heroic strength (suvīrāḥ).

The deity: Ādityas

  • In the VedaThe Ādityas are “dhṛtavrataḥ”—holders of firm vows—who oversee truthfulness, right conduct, and the bonds that sustain the world; Mitra embodies concord and right relationship, while Varuṇa is the kingly guardian who knows hidden transgressions and releases from bonds through grace.
  • Cosmic functionThey maintain ṛta by regulating moral law, social contracts, and cosmic regularity, protecting the truthful and correcting or restraining disorder through their sovereign oversight.
  • Inner significanceThey represent the inner conscience and the power of self-regulation: the capacity to recognize subtle fault, return to the true ‘middle way,’ and live in integrity that supports both prosperity and clear speech in community.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu (Bhārgava) lineage; traditionally associated with the Gṛtsamada family of seers in Mandala 2 · Principal seer of much of Rigveda Mandala 2, noted for hymns that blend ethical introspection with praise of deities upholding ṛta, especially Mitra-Varuṇa and Agni

Famous verses

dhṛtavratā ādityāḥ
Verse 2.29.1Programmatic invocation: defines the Ādityas as dhṛtavrata guardians and frames the hymn as a prayer to avert hidden fault and receive protective help.Read verse 2.29.1 →
madhyamavāḻ ṛte
Verse 2.29.4Central ethical-ritual image: the gods as ‘āpayaḥ’ (refreshing waters) and the request that their chariot not miss the ‘middle way’ of ṛta—an enduring metaphor for right measure.Read verse 2.29.4 →
bṛhad vadema
Verse 2.29.7Concluding summit: fear of losing the dear presence of the generous giver and falling into emptiness, paired with the aspiration to ‘speak the Vast’ in the assembly with inner strength.Read verse 2.29.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • dhṛtavrata (steadfast in law)
  • ṛta-pāla (guardians of Truth/Order)
  • omniscient oversight of hidden fault
  • grace and release from bonds
  • social harmony and covenant (Mitra)
  • sovereign kingship and moral authority (Varuṇa)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rigveda Mandala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada)
  • Hymns to Agni establishing the sacrificial order and priestly mediation (Mandala 2 core Agni cycle)
  • Praise hymns to Indra and allied deities in Mandala 2 emphasizing protection, right action, and prosperity

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and inner resolve (saṅkalpa) for truthfulness and restraint
  • Kindling/attention to Agni as witness, then inviting the Ādityas as dhṛtavrata guardians
  • Recite the sūkta (or selected mantras) with emphasis on confession/averting ‘secret fault’ and requesting mercy
  • Offer oblations while mentally aligning with ṛta (truthful speech, right measure, ‘middle path’)
  • Conclude with a prayer for continued prosperity, right guidance, and strong communal expression (vidatha)

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (ghee) oblations into Agni
  • Soma libation where applicable
  • Simple water offering/ācamana as symbolic ‘āpayaḥ’ (refreshing waters)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises the Ādityas, with special focus on Mitra and Varuṇa—deities who uphold ṛta (truth and right order) and oversee both social and moral law.

It asks them to keep away hidden or “secret” fault, to be gracious to one under pressure, and to guide the worshipper on the true middle path without falling into error or loss.

It means speaking with clarity and greatness in the community or ritual assembly—truthful, expansive speech that reflects alignment with ṛta and is supported by inner strength (suvīra).

Ask anything about Sukta 29 of the Rig Veda

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