Sukta 178
Sukta 10.178
Tārkṣya
ບົດສວນສັດຕະຄະຣະສອງບົດນີ້ອວມວມເຖິງຕາຣ໌ກສະຢາເປັນຜູ້ປ້ອງກັນທີ່ໄວວາ ແລະ ມີພະລັງຈາກສະຫວັນ ຜູ້ຊູ້ເຮັດໃຫ້ການເດີນທາງ ແລະ ຊະນະໃນທ່າມກາງອຸປະສັກ ແລະ ຄວາມຂັດແຍ່ງ. ນັກກະວີຂໍຄວາມສຸກສຸຂະພາບ, ປຽບທຽບການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອທີ່ຂໍນັ້ນກັບຂອງຂວັນຈາກອິນທຣະ ແລະ ເຮືອທີ່ນໍາພາຜູ້ຄົນຂ້າມໄປຢ່າງປອດໄພ, ບໍ່ໄດ້ຮັບບາດເຈັບທັງໃນການມາ ຫຼື ໄປ.
Mantras
Mantra 1
त्यमू षु वाजिनं देवजूतं सहावानं तरुतारं रथानाम् । अरिष्टनेमिं पृतनाजमाशुं स्वस्तये तार्क्ष्यमिहा हुवेम ॥
ຜູ້ອັນເປັນພາຫະນະແຫ່ງຄວາມສົມບູນອັນວ່ອງໄວ, ຖືກຂັບໂດຍບັນດາເທບ, ຜູ້ຊະນະແລະຜ່ານຜ່າໃນການລົງສູ່ຂອງລົດຮົດຂອງພວກເຮົາ - ລໍ້ທີ່ບໍ່ແຕກຫັກ, ຜູ້ຊະນະໃນສົງຄາມ - ຕາກສະຍາພວກເຮົາເອີ້ນມາທີ່ນີ້ເພື່ອຄວາມສຸກສະຫວັດດີແລະການເດີນທາງທີ່ຖືກຕ້ອງ.
Mantra 2
इन्द्रस्येव रातिमाजोहुवानाः स्वस्तये नावमिवा रुहेम । उर्वी न पृथ्वी बहुले गभीरे मा वामेतौ मा परेतौ रिषाम ॥
ຮ້ອງຂໍຂອງຂວັນປະທານດັ່ງຈາກອິນທະ, ໂປດໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາຂຶ້ນສູ່ມັນປຶ່ນດັ່ງເຮືອເພື່ອຄວາມສຸກສະຫວັດດີ. ກວ້າງໃຫຍ່ດັ່ງແຜ່ນດິນອັນເລິກໃຫຍ່ - ໂປດໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາບໍ່ຖືກເສຍຫາຍ, ບໍ່ວ່າຈະມາຫຼືໄປ, ໃນການເດີນທາງນີ້.
Inside Sukta 178
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct summons of Tārkṣya as the swift, god-driven champion who protects the chariot and wins through danger.
- Development
The hymn intensifies protective imagery: unbroken wheel, battle-conquest, and the explicit purpose ‘svastaye’—well-being and right passage.
- Climax
The striking metaphor of mounting the sought-for support ‘like a boat,’ turning protection into a vehicle of crossing.
- Where it settles
A comprehensive safety prayer: may we not be harmed either in coming or in going—closing the passage with a blessing of intactness.
The deity: Tārkṣya
- In the VedaTārkṣya is praised as a swift vājín (“bearer of plenitude/strength”), devajūta (“driven/impelled by the gods”), victorious, and ‘unbroken-wheeled’ (ariṣṭanemi), a champion who overcomes in chariot-rush and in battle.
- Cosmic functionGuardian of movement and transition—ensuring successful passage through dangerous liminal spaces (journeys, battles, crossings), preserving integrity (‘unbroken wheel’) and granting auspiciousness (svasti).
- Inner significanceThe inner power of steady momentum and protected progress—clarity and courage that carry one through obstacles without inner ‘breakage,’ enabling safe transitions in life’s passages.
Famous verses
svastaye tārkṣyam ihā huvema
svastaye nāvam ivā ruhema
Attributes of the deity
- Swift and vigorous (āśu, vājín)
- Divinely impelled (devajūta)
- Victorious/overcoming (sahāvān, tarutāra)
- Unbroken-wheeled, intact protection (ariṣṭanemi)
- Battle-conquering (pṛtanāj)
- Bestower of well-being and safe passage (svasti)
Also by this seer
- No other hymns are securely attributable due to the rishi being unnamed in the provided tradition for this sukta.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare a simple ācamana/mental settling and state the intention: ‘svastaye’ (for well-being and safe passage).
- Kindle or face the sacred fire (if available) or a clean eastward space; invoke Tārkṣya by name.
- Recite RV 10.178.1 to call the swift, unbroken-wheeled protector into the rite.
- Recite RV 10.178.2 to ‘mount the gift like a boat,’ explicitly praying for non-injury in coming and going.
- Conclude with a brief silent resolve for careful action and gratitude; optionally repeat ‘svasti’ as a closing benediction.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into fire, if performing an agnihotra-style offering
- Water libation (arghya) or simple oblation as a travel-protection substitute
- Optional grains (barley/rice) as a minimal offering
Frequently Asked Questions
Tārkṣya is praised as a swift, divinely-driven protector—like a champion who keeps the ‘wheel unbroken’ and helps one pass safely through danger, especially in travel or conflict.
The hymn repeatedly asks for svasti—well-being and safe passage—so that the worshipper is not harmed during the journey, neither when going out nor when returning.
The ‘boat’ image suggests crossing safely over risky conditions, while Indra is named as a model of generous, effective aid—so the poet asks for similarly reliable protection and support.
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