Rig Veda Sukta 190
Mandala 1Sukta 1908 Mantras

Sukta 190

Sukta 1.190

Devata

Bṛhaspati

Chandas

Jagatī or Triṣṭubh (uncertain here; not recomputed and the transmitted line-length suggests possible Jagatī tendencies)

Himne ini memuji Bṛhaspati sebagai “lembu jantan” ucapan ilham yang tidak mengenal lelah, yang nyanyian-nyanyian bercahayanya didengar oleh para dewa dan juga oleh manusia yang mencari pembaharuan. Ia memohon agar kekayaan yang sejati—kekuatan kepahlawanan, bimbingan yang benar, dan kelimpahan yang berbuah—dikurniakan hanya kepada yang layak, bukan kepada mereka yang mendekati yang ilahi semata-mata demi keuntungan yang menyenangkan. Dengan demikian, sukta ini mengaitkan pujian (stuti) dengan kelayakan batin (adhikāra) serta penggunaan ucapan suci yang tepat.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 1.190

Mantras

Mantra 1

अनर्वाणं वृषभं मन्द्रजिह्वं बृहस्पतिं वर्धया नव्यमर्कैः । गाथान्यः सुरुचो यस्य देवा आशृण्वन्ति नवमानस्य मर्ताः ॥

Dengan himpunan puji-pujian yang baharu, besarkanlah Bṛhaspati—lembu jantan yang tidak letih, berlidah penuh kegirangan suci—dia yang nyanyian-nyanyian cemerlangnya didengar para dewa, dan para insan yang mencari pembaharuan. Semoga daya sabda ilham ini tumbuh dalam diri kami menjadi bimbingan benar yang bercahaya.

Mantra 2

तमृत्विया उप वाचः सचन्ते सर्गो न यो देवयतामसर्जि । बृहस्पतिः स ह्यञ्जो वरांसि विभ्वाभवत्समृते मातरिश्वा ॥

Kepada-Nya ujaran-ujaran menurut musim mendekat—bagaikan luapan yang dilepaskannya bagi mereka yang mencari Yang Ilahi. Kerana Br̥haspati, menjadi serba-meliputi, menegakkan kelimpahan-kelimpahan terpilih tepat dalam kebenaran Ṛta; dan Mātariśvan menghimpunkannya menjadi satu keharmonian.

Mantra 3

उपस्तुतिं नमस उद्यतिं च श्लोकं यंसत्सवितेव प्र बाहू । अस्य क्रत्वाहन्यो यो अस्ति मृगो न भीमो अरक्षसस्तुविष्मान् ॥

Ia mengangkat pujian dan sujud ke atas, dan membentangkan madah seperti Savitṛ membentangkan kedua-dua lengannya. Dengan kehendaknya ia ialah daya-siang yang tidak dapat ditundukkan—seperti binatang buas yang menggerunkan bagi kegelapan yang memusuhi—perkasa, dan tanpa perlu sebarang penjagaan.

Mantra 4

अस्य श्लोको दिवीयते पृथिव्यामत्यो न यंसद्यक्षभृद्विचेताः । मृगाणां न हेतयो यन्ति चेमा बृहस्पतेरहिमायाँ अभि द्यून् ॥

Madah ini bergerak di langit dan di bumi; sang pembawa kuasa yang arif mengarahkannya seperti kuda yang tangkas. Tikaman-tikamannya meluru seperti lembing makhluk-makhluk liar, melawan tipu-daya ular—melawan hari-hari yang diselubungi sihir bengkok itu, dalam kuasa Br̥haspati.

Mantra 5

ये त्वा देवोस्रिकं मन्यमानाः पापा भद्रमुपजीवन्ति पज्राः । न दूढ्ये अनु ददासि वामं बृहस्पते चयस इत्पियारुम् ॥

Wahai dewa, mereka yang menyangka engkau sekadar pemberi untung yang menyenangkan—yang bengkok tabiatnya—hidup daripada kebaikan hanya sebagai pinjaman. Engkau tidak mengurniakan kekayaanmu yang tercinta kepada akal yang tumpul dan terbeban; wahai Br̥haspati, engkau menghimpunkan kemanisan itu hanya bagi dia yang layak memikulnya.

Mantra 6

सुप्रैतुः सूयवसो न पन्था दुर्नियन्तुः परिप्रीतो न मित्रः । अनर्वाणो अभि ये चक्षते नोऽपीवृता अपोर्णुवन्तो अस्थुः ॥

Moga jalan kita melangkah baik—seperti laluan yang kaya padang ragut; moga pengawal yang keras menjadi bersahabat, seperti Mitra yang sepenuhnya berkenan. Dan mereka yang memandang kita tanpa dorongan yang benar—tertutup dalam diri—moga berdiri terpisah, menyingkap lalu beredar dari jalan kita.

Mantra 7

सं यं स्तुभोऽवनयो न यन्ति समुद्रं न स्रवतो रोधचक्राः । स विद्वाँ उभयं चष्टे अन्तर्बृहस्पतिस्तर आपश्च गृध्रः ॥

Dia yang kepadanya pujian dan arus yang menurun berpadu, sebagaimana aliran dengan tebingnya bergerak menuju samudera—dia, sang mengetahui, melihat kedua-duanya di dalam: Br̥haspati, sang penakluk, dan perairan, daya pencari yang ghairah.

Mantra 8

एवा महस्तुविजातस्तुविष्मान्बृहस्पतिर्वृषभो धायि देवः । स नः स्तुतो वीरवद्धातु गोमद्विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥

Demikianlah, daripada Yang Mahabesar—yang lahir luas dan perkasa—Br̥haspati, sang Banteng, ditegakkan sebagai dewa. Semoga ia, apabila dipuji, mengurniai kami kepenuhan yang wira dan kekayaan yang bercahaya; semoga kami memenangi dorongan pencarian dan bala pertempuran, serta kelimpahan yang cepat memberi.

Inside Sukta 190

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by urging the increase of Bṛhaspati through fresh hymns—praise as a living, renewing force of illumination.

  2. Development

    Bṛhaspati is portrayed as the source of bright songs and right guidance, while the hymn contrasts worthy seekers with those who approach the divine only for pleasant profit.

  3. Climax

    A decisive moral-spiritual assertion: Bṛhaspati does not grant dear riches to the dull or burdened mind; the ‘sweetness’ is gathered for the fit bearer.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes with a complete benediction—heroic fullness, cattle-rich prosperity, right striving, and victory—grounded in sustained praise.

The deity: Bṛhaspati

  • In the VedaBṛhaspati is celebrated as the lord of prayer and sacred utterance (brahman), a powerful bull-like deity with a “rapturous tongue,” whose bright hymns and counsels are heard by the gods. He is invoked as the awakener of right inspiration, the gatherer of sweetness for the fit, and the giver of heroic and cattle-rich prosperity.
  • Cosmic functionHe orders the universe through inspired speech and wise counsel: establishing right direction, strengthening the sacrificial word, and enabling victory and increase through truth-aligned intelligence.
  • Inner significanceBṛhaspati signifies the awakened faculty of illumination in speech and thought—discriminative wisdom that makes mantra effective, purifies motivation, and turns desire for gain into fitness for truth and right action.

Famous verses

anarvāṇaṃ vṛṣabhaṃ mandrajihvam
Verse 1.190.1Sets the keynote: Bṛhaspati as unwearied bull of inspired speech, whose luminous songs are heard by gods and renewal-seeking mortals—linking praise with inner right-guidance.Read verse 1.190.1 →
ये त्वा देवोस्रिकं मन्यमानाः पापा भद्रमुपजीवन्ति पज्राः । न दूढ्ये अनु ददासि वामं बृहस्पते चयस इत्पियारुम् ॥
Verse 1.190.5Central ethical teaching: rejects a merely transactional approach to the divine; emphasizes that true wealth and sweetness are granted according to inner fitness and clarity of mind.Read verse 1.190.5 →
sa naḥ stuto vīravad dhātu gomad
Verse 1.190.8Concluding boon: asks for heroic strength, luminous riches, right striving, and victory—summarizing the hymn’s purpose as an integrated request for inner and outer prosperity.Read verse 1.190.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Lord of sacred speech (brahman) and counsel
  • “Bull” of strength and increase
  • Rapturous/eloquent tongue (mandrajihva)
  • Bestower of heroic vigor and ‘cattle’ (symbolic and literal prosperity)
  • Discriminating giver—boons follow inner worthiness

Also by this seer

  • No secure additional attributions; the rishi for RV 1.190 is not firmly established in the transmitted notices.

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and mental saṅkalpa: invoke clarity of speech and intention.
  • Kindle/approach the sacred fire (Agni) and establish a calm, attentive posture.
  • Recite RV 1.190 as stuti to Bṛhaspati, emphasizing ‘new hymns’ and luminous guidance.
  • Offer oblations while contemplating purification of motive (not mere gain-seeking).
  • Conclude with a request for vīra (heroic strength), go (increase), and iṣ (right striving), followed by śānti/closing.
  • Optional: repeat key verse(s) as japa for strengthening speech and discernment.

Offerings

  • Ghṛta (ghee) into Agni
  • Soma (where ritually appropriate)
  • Samidhs (fuel sticks)
  • Optional: fragrant offerings (dhūpa) as a symbolic ‘sweetness’ aligned with mantra

Frequently Asked Questions

Bṛhaspati is praised as the lord of sacred speech and wise counsel—the power that makes hymns luminous and guidance truthful, and that grants strength and prosperity.

The hymn teaches that real divine gifts come with inner fitness: Bṛhaspati’s ‘sweet’ riches and success are not for dull or crooked motives, but for those aligned with truth and right striving.

It can be recited with a ghee offering into fire (or as focused japa) to strengthen clarity of speech, discrimination in decisions, and the right kind of prosperity rooted in worthy intention.

Ask anything about Sukta 190 of the Rig Veda

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