Rig Veda Sukta 39
Mandala 2Sukta 398 Mantras

Sukta 39

Sukta 2.39

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

この讃歌は、迅速なる二重の力としてのアシュヴィン双神を招き、人の供物を運び、健康・守護・正しい導き・繁栄という具体の助けをもたらすよう願う。詩人は、石・使者・眼・手・足といった対をなす譬喩を鮮やかに重ね、速やかな来臨、明晰な視認、身体の癒やし、そして礼拝者を「より善き福」へ導くことを求める。結びには、練り上げたストーマ(頌歌)をアシュヴィンへの「増益」として捧げ、強く光り輝く子孫と、集会における広く勝利する言葉を祈願する。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.39

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AshvinauAśvinau (the two Aśvins)

    Twin horsemen, youthful and radiant, quick to come at dawn; healers and rescuers who respond to calls, travel widely, and bring medicines, protection, and good fortune.

Mantras

Mantra 1

ग्रावाणेव तदिदर्थं जरेथे गृध्रेव वृक्षं निधिमन्तमच्छ । ब्रह्माणेव विदथ उक्थशासा दूतेव हव्या जन्या पुरुत्रा ॥

搾り石のごとく、あなたがた二柱はまことの目的のために働き立つ。貪欲なる求道者のごとく、宝を蔵する木へと近づく。祭司のごとく、讃歌の命をもって集会(ヴィダタ)を巡り、使者のごとく、人々の供物を多くの方角へ運ぶ。

Mantra 2

प्रातर्यावाणा रथ्येव वीराजेव यमा वरमा सचेथे । मेने इव तन्वा शुम्भमाने दम्पतीव क्रतुविदा जनेषु ॥

朝に来たる二柱よ、車の同乗者のごとく結び合い、輝ける一対として最上を選び取る。賢き二人の女が身(tanū)を飾るがごとく、また夫婦が人々の中にて正しき分別(kratu)を知るがごとく。

Mantra 3

शृङ्गेव नः प्रथमा गन्तमर्वाक्छफाविव जर्भुराणा तरोभिः । चक्रवाकेव प्रति वस्तोरुस्रार्वाञ्चा यातं रथ्येव शक्रा ॥

角のごとく、われらのもとへまず先に、こちらへ来たれ。蹄のごとく、跳躍もて疾く進め。チャクラヴァーカ(cakravāka)の鳥が暁の住処へと帰り向かうがごとく、こちらへ来たれ。車道における二人の強者のごとく、力ある一対よ。

Mantra 4

नावेव नः पारयतं युगेव नभ्येव न उपधीव प्रधीव । श्वानेव नो अरिषण्या तनूनां खृगलेव विस्रसः पातमस्मान् ॥

舟のごとく、われらを彼岸へ渡らせよ。軛のごとく、われらを共に結び保て。輪の臍(なべ)のごとく、われらを中心に据えよ。支えのごとく、われらを支え持て。見張る犬のごとく、われらの身を守れ。足取り確かな生きもののごとく、滑り落ち崩れることよりわれらを護れ。

Mantra 5

वातेवाजुर्या नद्येव रीतिरक्षी इव चक्षुषा यातमर्वाक् । हस्ताविव तन्वे शम्भविष्ठा पादेव नो नयतं वस्यो अच्छ ॥

われらのもとへ来たれ。風のごとく迅く、川の流れのごとく寄せ来たり、二つの眼の視のごとく見通して、こちらへ臨め。二つの手のごとくわが身に最も吉祥をもたらし、二つの足のごとく、より善く、より光り輝く福へと導きたまえ。

Mantra 6

ओष्ठाविव मध्वास्ने वदन्ता स्तनाविव पिप्यतं जीवसे नः । नासेव नस्तन्वो रक्षितारा कर्णाविव सुश्रुता भूतमस्मे ॥

口の中で蜜を語る二つの唇のごとく、われらの言葉を甘美ならしめよ。二つの乳房のごとく、われらを生へと養いたまえ。二つの鼻孔のごとく、わが身(タヌー)を守る護り手となり、二つの耳のごとく、善く聴く者となって、われらに真の聴聞を授けたまえ。

Mantra 7

हस्तेव शक्तिमभि संददी नः क्षामेव नः समजतं रजांसि । इमा गिरो अश्विना युष्मयन्तीः क्ष्णोत्रेणेव स्वधितिं सं शिशीतम् ॥

手のごとく、力(シャクティ)をわれらのうちに注ぎ入れよ。堅き大地のごとく、われらの諸空間・諸領域を整え定めたまえ。アシュヴィンよ、汝らを慕うこれらの讃歌の言葉を、砥石で斧を研ぐがごとく、ともに鋭く磨き澄ませよ。

Mantra 8

एतानि वामश्विना वर्धनानि ब्रह्म स्तोमं गृत्समदासो अक्रन् । तानि नरा जुजुषाणोप यातं बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

アシュヴィン双神よ、これらは汝らを増し栄えさせるもの――グリツァマダの聖賢たちが形づくったブラフマン(霊感の聖言)とストーマ(讃歌)である。勇なる二柱よ、これを嘉し受けて近づき来たれ。われらは祭会(ヴィダタ)において「広大なるもの(ブリハト)」を語り、善き勇気と光輝ある子らに富まん。

Inside Sukta 39

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The Aśvins are praised through strong paired similes as purposeful, treasure-seeking, priest-like movers in assemblies, and messengers who carry offerings everywhere (2.39.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies the request for their rapid approach and beneficent dual action—seeing, protecting, healing, and guiding—by comparing them to wind, river-current, two eyes, two hands, and two feet (e.g., 2.39.5).

  3. Climax

    The prayer peaks in the explicit plea for embodied auspiciousness and right leading toward the ‘better good,’ presenting the Aśvins as the very faculties of sight and movement that enable success.

  4. Where it settles

    The seer offers the finished stoma as the Aśvins’ ‘increase,’ asks them to accept and draw near, and prays for wide speech in the assembly and strong, luminous offspring (2.39.8).

The deity: Aśvinau

  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from night to day and from distress to well-being—restoring order by healing, rescuing, and enabling movement, sight, and successful ritual exchange.
  • Inner significanceThe harmonized dual powers in the seeker—discernment and energy, inspiration and execution—arriving swiftly to heal what is broken and to guide the mind-body toward a higher, clearer good.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage; associated with the Gṛtsamada family of seers · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for powerful, well-crafted hymns—especially to Agni and the divine helpers—linking precise ritual speech with practical boons.

Famous verses

ग्रावाणेव तदिदर्थं जरेथे गृध्रेव वृक्षं निधिमन्तमच्छ । ब्रह्माणेव विदथ उक्थशासा दूतेव हव्या जन्या पुरुत्रा ॥
Verse 2.39.1Sets the hymn’s core imagery: the Aśvins as purposeful agents—pressing-stones, eager seekers of treasure, priests in assembly, and messengers bearing offerings—defining their role as swift mediators between humans and gods.Read verse 2.39.1 →
वातेवाजुर्या नद्येव रीतिरक्षी इव चक्षुषा यातमर्वाक् । हस्ताविव तन्वे शम्भविष्ठा पादेव नो नयतं वस्यो अच्छ ॥
Verse 2.39.5A classic verse of dual-function symbolism: the Aśvins are invoked as speed (wind/river), perception (two eyes), healing support (two hands), and right guidance (two feet leading to the better good).Read verse 2.39.5 →
bṛhad vadema vidathe suvīrāḥ
Verse 2.39.8Concluding dedication: the hymn itself is offered as ‘vardhanāni’ (increasings) for the Aśvins, with the final wish for expansive speech in the assembly and ‘suvīra’—strong, luminous progeny/inner strength.Read verse 2.39.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin and inseparable (dual agency)
  • Swift approach (wind/river imagery)
  • Healers and restorers
  • Guides and protectors on the path
  • Bearers of offerings like messengers
  • Associated with dawn and auspicious beginnings

Also by this seer

  • Major attribution for Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas of the Gṛtsamada/Bhārgava tradition)
  • Noted Agni hymns in Book 2 that establish Agni as priest, messenger, and protector in the sacrifice

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual space and kindle/maintain the sacred fire (as applicable to the rite).
  • At dawn, recite the Aśvin stotra/mantras with emphasis on their swift arrival and clear sight.
  • Invite the twins to the seat/space of worship and present the oblations as ‘havyā’ carried to them.
  • State specific petitions: bodily well-being, auspiciousness, guidance to ‘vasyaḥ’ (the better good), and prosperity/offspring.
  • Conclude with acceptance-formula: offer the composed stoma as their ‘vardhanāni’ (increase) and request success in the assembly (vidatha).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ghṛta) oblations
  • Soma/pressing-related offerings (contextually implied by pressing-stone imagery)
  • Food offerings appropriate to the rite (havis)

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins are twin divine helpers—swift riders associated with dawn—praised as healers, rescuers, and guides who quickly respond to human prayers and offerings.

It asks them to come quickly, see clearly, bring bodily well-being and auspiciousness, and lead the worshipper toward “vasyaḥ”—the better, brighter good.

Because the twins act as a coordinated pair: like two eyes they bring clear perception, like two hands they support and heal the body, and like two feet they guide forward on a safe and beneficial path.

Ask anything about Sukta 39 of the Rig Veda

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