Rig Veda Sukta 37
Mandala 4Sukta 378 Mantras

Sukta 37

Sukta 4.37

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 4; hymn to the Rbhus/associated powers)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 4.37; 11-syllable cadence typical of the hymn)

Himne ini mengundang para Rbhu—terutama Vāja dan Ṛbhukṣaṇa—tukang ilahi yang memperbaharui dan menyempurnakan upacara, agar datang melalui “jalan menuju para dewa” dan menegakkan kembali korban suci di tengah kabilah-kabilah manusia. Ia memohon agar mereka membawa rayi (kelimpahan, kekayaan, keberlimpahan rohani) dan vāja yang menang (daya kemenangan), serta mengaitkan pertolongan mereka dengan keperkasaan Indra dan bantuan pantas para Aśvin. Tujuan keseluruhannya ialah pembaharuan ritual: menjadikan yajña berlangsung lancar, menyenangkan, dan berbuah melalui hari-hari yang mujur.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.37

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • RbhusMantras 1-4, 6-8Rbhus (esp. Vāja, Ṛbhukṣaṇa) as divine artisans (invoked also as devāḥ (luminous powers))

    The Rbhus are exalted as divine artisans and renovators who, through skill (ṛbhu, “craft, ingenious work”), perfect forms, restore what is worn, and make the sacrifice effective and beautiful.

  • Rbhu / RibhukshanaMantra 5Rbhu / Ṛbhukṣaṇa

Mantras

Mantra 1

उप नो वाजा अध्वरमृभुक्षा देवा यात पथिभिर्देवयानैः । यथा यज्ञं मनुषो विक्ष्वासु दधिध्वे रण्वाः सुदिनेष्वह्नाम् ॥

Datanglah mendekat kepada persembahan kami, wahai Vāja, wahai Ṛbhukṣaṇa, wahai para Dewa yang bercahaya; berjalanlah melalui jalan-jalan yang menuju para dewa. Sebagaimana kalian telah menegakkan yajña di tengah kaum-kaum manusia, demikian juga tegakkanlah kembali bagi kami—yang menyenangkan—pada hari-hari cerah kehidupan kami.

Mantra 2

ते वो हृदे मनसे सन्तु यज्ञा जुष्टासो अद्य घृतनिर्णिजो गुः । प्र वः सुतासो हरयन्त पूर्णाः क्रत्वे दक्षाय हर्षयन्त पीताः ॥

Semoga persembahan-persembahan itu berada dalam hati dan fikiran kalian—hari ini diterima, berkilau oleh kejernihan Cahaya yang disapukan ghee. Biarlah arus-arus Soma yang diperah, penuh dan melimpah, mengalir ke hadapan bagi kehendak dan daya-bijaksana kalian; setelah diminum, ia menggembirakan tenaga-tenaga batin.

Mantra 3

त्र्युदायं देवहितं यथा वः स्तोमो वाजा ऋभुक्षणो ददे वः । जुह्वे मनुष्वदुपरासु विक्षु युष्मे सचा बृहद्दिवेषु सोमम् ॥

Seperti pada zaman dahulu, pujian yang tiga kali diangkat—yang ditetapkan dalam para dewa—telah dikurniakan kepada kamu, wahai Vāja, wahai Ṛbhukṣaṇa. Aku menuangkan Soma menurut cara manusia, di petempatan yang lebih tinggi bagi suku-suku, bersama kamu, pada hari-hari yang luas dari Langit Yang Agung.

Mantra 4

पीवोअश्वाः शुचद्रथा हि भूतायःशिप्रा वाजिनः सुनिष्काः । इन्द्रस्य सूनो शवसो नपातोऽनु वश्चेत्यग्रियं मदाय ॥

Kamu telah menjadi kaya dengan kuda, berkereta yang terang—berahang besi, gagah, pembawa ganjaran yang indah. Wahai anak-anak kekuatan Indra, keturunan Daya, semoga kegembiraan yang terdepan bergerak di belakang jejakmu, demi ekstasi pekerjaan.

Mantra 5

ऋभुमृभुक्षणो रयिं वाजे वाजिन्तमं युजम् । इन्द्रस्वन्तं हवामहे सदासातममश्विनम् ॥

Kami menyeru Ṛbhu, Ṛbhukṣaṇa—yang membawa kelimpahan rohani (rayi) dalam daya kemenangan (vāja), sahabat kuk yang paling menang. Dipenuhi Indra, sentiasa menawan, dialah penolong seumpama Aśvin yang kami panggil.

Mantra 6

सेदृभवो यमवथ यूयमिन्द्रश्च मर्त्यम् । स धीभिरस्तु सनिता मेधसाता सो अर्वता ॥

Dia yang kamu lindungi, wahai Ṛbhu, dan Indra juga, dalam kalangan insan fana—semoga dia, dengan fikiran yang bercahaya, menjadi pemenang, penakluk cahaya kefahaman; semoga dia mencapai (tujuan) dengan kuda tenaga (arvat).

Mantra 7

वि नो वाजा ऋभुक्षणः पथश्चितन यष्टवे । अस्मभ्यं सूरयः स्तुता विश्वा आशास्तरीषणि ॥

Bukakanlah bagi kami, wahai Vāja, wahai Ṛbhukṣaṇa, jalan-jalan bagi persembahan kami. Wahai daya-daya pelihat (sūri), yang kami puji, seberangkanlah kami melampaui segala arah harapan dan kemungkinan.

Mantra 8

तं नो वाजा ऋभुक्षण इन्द्र नासत्या रयिम् । समश्वं चर्षणिभ्य आ पुरु शस्त मघत्तये ॥

Kelimpahan itu (rayi) bagi kami, wahai Vāja, wahai Ṛbhukṣaṇa—wahai Indra, wahai Nāsatya—himpunkanlah bersama kuda tenaga bagi umat manusia. Pujilah ia seluas-luasnya, agar daya kurnia yang pemurah kian bertambah.

Inside Sukta 37

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct summons: the Rbhus are asked to come near the adhvara (offering/rite) by the godward paths and reawaken the sacrifice for the worshippers.

  2. Development

    The hymn develops their identity as bestowers of rayi and vāja and as powerful helpers, with resonances of Indra’s force and Aśvin-like swiftness.

  3. Climax

    The central ask intensifies: may the Rbhus bring together plenitude and the ‘steed’ of energy for the peoples—prosperity that is active, victorious, and widely shared.

  4. Where it settles

    It ends in expansive praise and a settling request that generosity and increase (maghattva) grow—i.e., that the renewed sacrifice yields sustained auspiciousness.

The deity: Rbhus

  • In the VedaThey are invoked as bright powers who travel on devayāna paths and cooperate with Indra and the Aśvins in granting aid and prosperity.
  • Cosmic functionThey represent the cosmic principle of transformation-by-skill: renewing creation, sharpening potency, and ensuring that ritual order (yajña) becomes a working channel between human and divine realms.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, the Rbhus symbolize the disciplined intelligence that refines life—turning raw impulse into effective action, and ordinary effort into luminous excellence. Spiritually, they signify the capacity to ‘re-make’ the inner sacrifice: renewing faith, clarity, and the harmonized powers of the being.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva of the Gautama gotra; traditional seer of much of Maṇḍala 4) · A major Rigvedic seer celebrated for visionary hymns that combine ritual precision with inner illumination, especially in Maṇḍala 4.

Famous verses

pathibhir devayānaiḥ
Verse 4.37.1Sets the hymn’s ritual core: inviting the Rbhus on devayāna paths and asking them to re-establish the sacrifice among the human clans for auspicious days.Read verse 4.37.1 →
ऋभुमृभुक्षणो रयिं वाजे वाजिन्तमं युजम् । इन्द्रस्वन्तं हवामहे सदासातममश्विनम् ॥
Verse 4.37.5Highlights the Rbhu/Ṛbhukṣaṇa as a victorious yoke-fellow bringing rayi in vāja, explicitly linking their help with Indra-like power and Aśvin-like assistance.Read verse 4.37.5 →
puru śasta
Verse 4.37.8Concluding synthesis: requests rayi joined with energizing ‘steed’ for the peoples, urging wide praise so generosity and increase may expand.Read verse 4.37.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Divine craftsmanship and perfection
  • Renewal and restoration (making the old new)
  • Ritual efficacy (setting the sacrifice in motion)
  • Bestowers of rayi (plenitude) and vāja (victorious force)
  • Swift, helpful allies linked with Indra and the Aśvins

Also by this seer

  • Numerous hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 traditionally attributed to Vāmadeva
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, and allied deities within RV 4 that emphasize inspired speech and victorious power

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish a calm, orderly ritual space.
  • Recite the opening invitation calling the Rbhus to approach by devayāna paths (godward ways).
  • Offer oblations while praising their craftsmanship and their power to set/restore the sacrifice among the clans.
  • Make petitions for rayi and vāja—plenitude, winning force, and communal strength—often in a tone of collective benefit.
  • Conclude with broad praise (puru-śasta) and a final request for generous increase (maghattva).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into the fire
  • Soma libations (where applicable)
  • Grain/cakes (puroḍāśa) or simple food-offerings in domestic rites

Frequently Asked Questions

The Rbhus are divine craftsmen and renewing powers. In RV 4.37 they are called to perfect and re-energize the sacrifice and to bring prosperity and winning strength.

It asks the Rbhus to come by the godward paths, restore the yajña’s effective movement, and grant rayi (plenitude) along with vāja (victorious force) for the people.

The hymn links forms of divine help: Indra represents conquering power, and the Aśvins represent swift assistance. The Rbhus’ gifts of renewal and skill are invoked in harmony with these allied powers.

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