Rig Veda Sukta 32
Mandala 2Sukta 328 Mantras

Sukta 32

Sukta 2.32

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

この讃歌はまず、天と地(Dyāvā-Pṛthivī)を詩人の言葉の守護者として、ṛta(宇宙の秩序・正しき道)にかなうものとして呼びかけ、広大なる父母として広がり、護り、繁栄を授けるよう願う。ついで祈りは吉祥なる女性の力へと広がり、とりわけラーカー(Rākā)および近縁の女神たちに、豊穣、富、安寧を与えることを求め、最後に複数の神聖なる女神へ助けとsvasti(吉祥・安泰)を請う包括的な呼びかけに至る。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.32

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Dyava-PrithiviMantras 1-2Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (Heaven and Earth)

    Dyāvā and Pṛthivī are the great cosmic pair, father Heaven and mother Earth, upholding ṛta, sheltering beings, and widening the world for life and sacrifice.

  • IndraMantra 3implied by epithet puruhūta, though within 2.32 sequence it functions as a direct call to the heroic power
  • RakaMantras 4-5Rākā (with lunar/plenitude associations, feminine power of fullness and formation)
  • SinivaliMantras 6-7Sinīvālī

Mantras

Mantra 1

अस्य मे द्यावापृथिवी ऋतायतो भूतमवित्री वचसः सिषासतः । ययोरायुः प्रतरं ते इदं पुर उपस्तुते वसूयुर्वां महो दधे ॥

このわが言葉のために、ṛta(宇宙の正序)に従い行く天と地よ、護り手となり、言葉を強めんと欲してくだされ。いずれの寿命がより先へ進むその二者の前に、わたしはこの讃歌を先に捧げる。富饒を求める者として、あなたがたのうちに大いなる広がりを据えた。

Mantra 2

मा नो गुह्या रिप आयोरहन्दभन्मा न आभ्यो रीरधो दुच्छुनाभ्यः । मा नो वि यौः सख्या विद्धि तस्य नः सुम्नायता मनसा तत्त्वेमहे ॥

隠れた敵対の力が、われらの前進する寿命を打ち倒しませんように。近くからも遠くからも、災いがわれらを悩ましませんように。あなたがたとの友誼が断たれませんように。これを知りつつ、恩寵を求める心をもって、あなたがたの護りの真実をわれらは祈り求める。

Mantra 3

अहेळता मनसा श्रुष्टिमा वह दुहानां धेनुं पिप्युषीमसश्चतम् । पद्याभिराशुं वचसा च वाजिनं त्वां हिनोमि पुरुहूत विश्वहा ॥

怨みなき心をもって、ここへ携えて来たまえ、備わりし従順を——搾られる牝牛のごとく、乳の流れに満ち、尽きることなきものを。足取りは速く、駆り立てる言葉をもって、わたしは汝を促す、プルフーフタ(多く呼ばれる者)よ、常に、われらのうちに勝利の力となれ。

Mantra 4

राकामहं सुहवां सुष्टुती हुवे शृणोतु नः सुभगा बोधतु त्मना । सीव्यत्वपः सूच्याच्छिद्यमानया ददातु वीरं शतदायमुक्थ्यम् ॥

われは善き招きと正しき讃歌をもってラーカー(Rākā)を呼ぶ。幸ある女神よ、われらの声を聞き、みずからの覚知において目覚めたまえ。断たれぬ針もて諸流を縫い合わせ、百の贈り物に富み、詠唱の讃にふさわしき勇力をわれらに授けたまえ。

Mantra 5

यास्ते राके सुमतयः सुपेशसो याभिर्ददासि दाशुषे वसूनि । ताभिर्नो अद्य सुमना उपागहि सहस्रपोषं सुभगे रराणा ॥

ラーカーよ、そなたの光り輝き形整う善き思いにより、供える者に財宝を与えたまう。その思いとともに、今日われらに喜びの心で近づき、幸ある女神よ、歓びつつ千倍の充溢の増益を携えて来たまえ。

Mantra 6

सिनीवालि पृथुष्टुके या देवानामसि स्वसा । जुषस्व हव्यमाहुतं प्रजां देवि दिदिड्ढि नः ॥

広き讃を受くるシニーヴァーリー(Sinīvālī)よ、神々の姉妹よ。火に投じられた供物を嘉納したまえ。女神よ、われらに子孫の力を授け、これを生じさせ、われらのために確立したまえ。

Mantra 7

या सुबाहुः स्वङ्गुरिः सुषूमा बहुसूवरी । तस्यै विश्पत्न्यै हविः सिनीवाल्यै जुहोतन ॥

美しき腕、しなやかな指をもち、よく授け、光の生み出しに富む彼女――民の主婦たるシニーヴァーリー(Sinīvālī)に供物を捧げよ。

Mantra 8

या गुङ्गूर्या सिनीवाली या राका या सरस्वती । इन्द्राणीमह्व ऊतये वरुणानीं स्वस्तये ॥

彼女がグングー(Guṅgū)であれ、シニーヴァーリー(Sinīvālī)であれ、ラーカー(Rākā)であれ、サラスヴァティー(Sarasvatī)であれ――われは助けのためにインドラーṇī(Indrāṇī)を呼び、広き安寧のためにヴァルナ―ṇī(Varuṇānī)を呼ぶ。

Inside Sukta 32

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The poet places his hymn before Heaven and Earth, asking them—moving in ṛta—to guard and empower his speech.

  2. Development

    From cosmic parents as protectors and givers of breadth, the hymn turns toward specific auspicious feminine powers that grant riches, increase, and favorable mind.

  3. Climax

    A concentrated appeal to Rākā’s ‘bright, well-formed’ beneficent powers, requesting abundant, thousandfold plenitude.

  4. Where it settles

    An inclusive closing invocation names multiple goddesses (Guṅgū, Sinīvālī, Rākā, Sarasvatī) and calls Indrāṇī and Varuṇānī for help and wide well-being (svasti).

The deity: Dyāvā-Pṛthivī with associated feminine devatās in later verses

  • In the VedaIn this sukta, they are asked to ‘strengthen the word’ and to grant the worshipper spaciousness and plenitude; the hymn also turns to Rākā and allied goddesses as bestowers of wealth, increase, and auspiciousness.
  • Cosmic functionThey form the fundamental container of existence—space above and ground below—supporting order, seasons, fertility, and the stable arena in which yajña and human life can flourish.
  • Inner significanceThe pairing signifies the inner ‘two poles’ of consciousness: the luminous, aspiring mind (dyauḥ) and the grounded, sustaining embodiment (pṛthivī). Their harmony under ṛta reflects integrated life—right thought and right action—while the invoked goddesses represent the mind’s auspicious resolve that ripens into growth and well-being.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada clan) · Principal seer of much of Maṇḍala 2, renowned for hymns that blend precise ritual speech with expansive cosmic imagery, especially around ṛta, protection, and prosperity.

Famous verses

ṛtāyato bhūtam avitrī vacasaḥ
Verse 2.32.1Sets the hymn’s foundation: Dyāvā-Pṛthivī as ṛta-aligned protectors who strengthen sacred speech and grant ‘great wideness’ to the worshipper.Read verse 2.32.1 →
sahasrapoṣaṃ subhage
Verse 2.32.5Central prosperity prayer to Rākā, asking her to come with auspicious intentions and bestow abundant increase—often cited for themes of growth and plenitude.Read verse 2.32.5 →
varuṇānīṃ svastaye
Verse 2.32.8Notable closing for its inclusive roll-call of feminine deities and its explicit request for aid and svasti (well-being).Read verse 2.32.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Upholders of ṛta (cosmic order)
  • Protectors of speech and sacrifice
  • Vastness and spaciousness (uru/mahat)
  • Fertility and increase
  • Parental support and shelter
  • Auspicious feminine bestowal (Rākā and allied devīs)

Also by this seer

  • Large portion of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 traditionally attributed to Gṛtsamada
  • Noted for hymns to Agni and Indra in Maṇḍala 2 that establish the sacrificer’s protection (rakṣā) and success (śrī/vasu)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/space and establish a calm, purified setting (ācamana, simple saṅkalpa).
  • Kindle or honor Agni (if in a fire context) and begin with an invocation aligning the rite with ṛta.
  • Recite the opening verses to Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, requesting protection for the ‘vacas’ (sacred utterance) and spacious support.
  • Proceed to the verses invoking Rākā and related goddesses for increase, wealth, and auspicious thought.
  • Conclude with a general svasti-prayer, mentally dedicating the fruit of the recitation to protection and well-being for household/community.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into fire (where applicable)
  • Milk/curd offerings in domestic settings
  • Grains or soma-substitute libations (context-dependent)
  • Simple water oblation and flowers (later practice)

Frequently Asked Questions

They are Heaven and Earth as a divine pair—the cosmic parents who uphold order (ṛta), protect the sacrifice, and support life with stability and spaciousness.

These feminine devatās represent auspicious increase and fulfillment—linked with growth, fertility, prosperity, and the ripening of blessings—so the hymn asks them to bring abundance and well-being.

It is commonly used as a prayer for protection of one’s efforts and speech, for household prosperity and increase, and for general welfare (svasti), especially at auspicious times like early morning or lunar observances.

Ask anything about Sukta 32 of the Rig Veda

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