Rig Veda Sukta 35
Mandala 4Sukta 359 Mantras

Sukta 35

Sukta 4.35

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for RV 4.35)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable; needs metrical verification)

Himne ini mengundang para Ṛbhu—tukang ilahi dan resi yang termasyhur kerana kemahiran yang sempurna—agar datang ke pemerasan Soma dan turut menikmati khazanah persembahan bersama Indra. Ia mengingatkan karya-karya ajaib mereka (membaharui Ibu Bapa, membentuk cawan minuman para dewa, dan menjadikan kuda-kuda Indra yang pantas berwarna keemasan) untuk menegaskan hak mereka atas pemerasan ketiga serta kekuatannya yang menggetarkan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.35

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • RibhusMantras 1-6, 8-9Ṛbhus (with Indra as associated power)

    The Ṛbhus are three (sometimes spoken of collectively) exalted craftsmen who attain divinity through flawless work (śacī, “effective skill”).

  • IndraMantra 7with Ṛbhus as companions

Mantras

Mantra 1

इहोप यात शवसो नपातः सौधन्वना ऋभवो माप भूत । अस्मिन्हि वः सवने रत्नधेयं गमन्त्विन्द्रमनु वो मदासः ॥

Datanglah ke sini, wahai keturunan Kekuatan, wahai Ṛbhu Saudhanvan; janganlah berundur. Kerana dalam pemerasan (Soma) ini ada harta kamu untuk ditetapkan; biarlah raptur dan kegembiraan kamu mengikuti Indra, bergerak bersamanya dalam kenikmatan yang benar.

Mantra 2

आगन्नृभूणामिह रत्नधेयमभूत्सोमस्य सुषुतस्य पीतिः । सुकृत्यया यत्स्वपस्यया चँ एकं विचक्र चमसं चतुर्धा ॥

Di sini telah datang harta yang akan ditetapkan bagi para Ṛbhu; ada peminuman Soma yang diperas dengan baik. Kerana dengan kemahiran yang benar dan kerja yang bercahaya mereka menjadikan satu cawan menjadi empat—menggandakan bejana tunggal kenikmatan menjadi berkapasiti empat kali.

Mantra 3

व्यकृणोत चमसं चतुर्धा सखे वि शिक्षेत्यब्रवीत । अथैत वाजा अमृतस्य पन्थां गणं देवानामृभवः सुहस्ताः ॥

Mereka membentuk piala (camasá) menjadi empat bahagian; dan seorang berkata, “Sahabat, pelajarilah kemahiran itu.” Lalu para Vāja ini menemukan jalan keabadian; para Ṛbhu, bertangan mulia, memasuki perhimpunan para dewa.

Mantra 4

किम्मयः स्विच्चमस एष आस यं काव्येन चतुरो विचक्र । अथा सुनुध्वं सवनं मदाय पात ऋभवो मधुनः सोम्यस्य ॥

Daripada bahan apakah piala ini, yang dengan seni ilham (kāvya) kalian jadikan empat? Kini perahlah persembahan (savana) untuk kesukaan; minumlah, wahai Ṛbhu, Soma yang bermadu—rasailah manisnya sari yang somya.

Mantra 5

शच्याकर्त पितरा युवाना शच्याकर्त चमसं देवपानम् । शच्या हरी धनुतरावतष्टेन्द्रवाहावृभवो वाजरत्नाः ॥

Dengan daya kemahiran yang berkesan (śacī) kalian menjadikan kedua Orang Tua muda kembali; dengan kemahiran itu juga kalian membuat piala layak untuk minuman para dewa. Dengan kemahiran itu kalian membentuk dua kuda kekuningan, pembawa Indra yang sepantas anak panah—wahai Ṛbhu, kaya akan kelimpahan dan permata daya (vāja).

Mantra 6

यो वः सुनोत्यभिपित्वे अह्नां तीव्रं वाजासः सवनं मदाय । तस्मै रयिमृभवः सर्ववीरमा तक्षत वृषणो मन्दसानाः ॥

Wahai Vājas/Ṛbhus, sesiapa yang memerah untukmu—dalam pertautan rapat hari-hari—perahan yang kuat demi kegembiraan; kepadanya, wahai para Ṛbhus, pahatkanlah kekayaan yang sarat dengan segala daya kepahlawanan. Wahai yang gagah, bersukaria, ukirlah dan tegakkan kelimpahan itu ke dalam dirinya.

Mantra 7

प्रातः सुतमपिबो हर्यश्व माध्यंदिनं सवनं केवलं ते । समृभुभिः पिबस्व रत्नधेभिः सखीँर्याँ इन्द्र चकृषे सुकृत्या ॥

Pada pagi hari engkau meminum Soma yang telah diperah, wahai Indra berkuda keemasan; perahan tengah hari itu seluruhnya milikmu. Minumlah bersama para Ṛbhu, para pembawa ratna (harta suci)—sahabat-sahabat yang engkau jadikan dengan amalmu yang benar dan sempurna.

Mantra 8

ये देवासो अभवता सुकृत्या श्येना इवेदधि दिवि निषेद । ते रत्नं धात शवसो नपातः सौधन्वना अभवतामृतासः ॥

Kalian yang dengan kesempurnaan yang benar menjadi para dewa, seperti helang kalian mengambil tempat di langit. Maka tetapkanlah ratna (harta suci) itu, wahai anak-anak Kekuatan, wahai Saudhanvana; jadilah bagi kami kuasa-kuasa yang tidak mati—menegakkan dalam insan perolehan yang abadi.

Mantra 9

यत्तृतीयं सवनं रत्नधेयमकृणुध्वं स्वपस्या सुहस्ताः । तदृभवः परिषिक्तं व एतत्सं मदेभिरिन्द्रियेभिः पिबध्वम् ॥

Tatkala kamu membentuk perahan Soma yang ketiga—curahan pembawa ratna (harta anugerah)—wahai para pekerja mahir, bertangan baik dan beramal benar; maka, wahai Rbhu, minumlah akan ini yang telah dicurahkan untukmu, bersama madah (ekstasi suci) yang membangkitkan daya indriya (fakulti luhur di dalam).

Inside Sukta 35

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons: the Ṛbhus, ‘offspring of force,’ are called to approach the pressing and not hold back; their ‘treasure’ is present in the Soma rite, moving in Indra’s wake.

  2. Development

    The hymn builds authority by recounting signature marvels accomplished through śacī (effective skill): rejuvenation, perfected vessels, and Indra’s swift bearers—linking artisan power to divine enjoyment of Soma.

  3. Climax

    The third pressing is named as a ratna-bearing outpouring fashioned for them; the poured Soma is explicitly offered for their drinking together with Indra-like exhilaration and awakened faculties (indriya).

  4. Where it settles

    The invitation culminates in participation: drink, rejoice, and thereby confirm the reciprocal bond—human offering and divine empowerment—so the sacrifice yields wealth, force, and right enjoyment.

The deity: Ṛbhus

  • In the VedaThey are praised for marvels such as renewing the Parents to youth, making the divine drinking-cup, and crafting Indra’s steeds—thereby earning a share in the Soma.
  • Cosmic functionThey represent the power that perfects forms: refining, renewing, and multiplying the capacities of the world and the sacrifice; they help “make fit” the vessels and forces through which the gods partake and act (especially in Indra’s Soma-driven might).
  • Inner significanceThe Ṛbhus symbolize disciplined craftsmanship of consciousness—skill that converts raw impulse into luminous capacity. Their ‘works’ mirror inner renewal (youthfulness of vital powers), the purified ‘cup’ of receptivity, and the harnessed energies (Indra’s horses) that carry will and insight swiftly toward the goal.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Aṅgirasa-associated seer-line in Book 4) · A major Ṛgvedic seer of Mandala 4, noted for powerful Indra-oriented inspiration and for hymns that link ritual efficacy with inner illumination (often later read through the lens of Vāmadeva’s visionary identity-teachings).

Famous verses

ratnadheyaṃ
Verse 4.35.1Sets the hymn’s ritual frame: an urgent invitation to the Ṛbhus to come to the Soma pressing, claim their ratna-dheya (treasure-share), and align their exhilaration with Indra’s movement.Read verse 4.35.1 →
śacyākarta
Verse 4.35.5A compact catalogue of Ṛbhu ‘miracles’ achieved by śacī—renewing the Parents, making the divine cup, and fashioning Indra’s tawny steeds—showing why they merit worship and Soma.Read verse 4.35.5 →
tṛtīyaṃ savanam
Verse 4.35.9Names the third pressing as their special portion and ties Soma-drinking to indriya-awakening, making the hymn’s spiritual-psychological subtext explicit.Read verse 4.35.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Divine artisans/craftsmen (śacī-kṛt)
  • Renewers and refiners (restoring youth, perfecting forms)
  • Allied with Soma and the third pressing
  • Closely linked with Indra’s empowerment (harī, indriya-strength)
  • Bearers of treasures and plenitude (vāja, ratna)

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Ṛgveda Mandala 4 traditionally attributed to Vāmadeva Gautama
  • Indra hymns emphasizing victory, inspiration, and Soma (e.g., clusters within RV 4.16–4.33 in traditional attributions)
  • Hymns engaging the Ṛbhus and sacrificial craftsmanship themes within Book 4’s Aṅgirasa current

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the Soma pressing place and vessels; kindle and steady the ritual fires.
  • Press Soma and strain it; set out the cups (camasa) and portions for invited deities.
  • Invoke the Ṛbhus to ‘come here’ and not withdraw, affirming their right to the treasure in this savana.
  • Recite their deeds (renewing the Parents, making the cup, shaping Indra’s steeds) as a liturgical warrant for their participation.
  • Offer Soma portions to the Ṛbhus in association with Indra; request that their skill and Indra’s power increase the sacrificer’s strength and wealth.
  • Conclude with the invitation to drink what is poured out, joined with the exhilarations that awaken the indriya-powers.

Offerings

  • Soma (especially the third pressing)
  • Clarified butter (ghee) and customary oblations accompanying Soma rites
  • Praise/recitation (stotra/śastra-style laud) as the principal ‘offering’ of remembrance of their works

Frequently Asked Questions

The Ṛbhus are divine craftsmen who became godlike through perfect skill. The hymn praises their famous works and invites them to the Soma offering.

The Ṛbhus are closely linked with Indra because their craftsmanship supports his power—especially his Soma-driven strength and his two tawny steeds. So the hymn invites them to rejoice in the offering ‘following Indra.’

It is the third Soma pressing (tṛtīya savana), a later round of Soma preparation and offering. RV 4.35 treats it as a special, treasure-bearing portion prepared for the Ṛbhus to drink.

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