Rig Veda Sukta 46
Mandala 7Sukta 464 Mantras

Sukta 46

Sukta 7.46

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne Triṣṭubh yang ringkas oleh Vasiṣṭha ini memuji Rudra sebagai pemanah perkasa, yang kuasa pantas dan tajamnya mampu melukai dan juga menyembuhkan. Penyair merayu agar daya seperti kilat dan kemurkaan Rudra dialihkan, sambil menyeru “seribu ubat” miliknya demi perlindungan keluarga, zuriat, dan kelangsungan hidup. Tujuan sukta ini ialah penenteraman (śamana) dan kesejahteraan (svasti) melalui pujian yang penuh hormat serta permohonan langsung akan belas kasihan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.46

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Rudra

    Rudra is praised as the steady-bowed, swift-arrowed, self-powered god (svadhāvan), unconquered and enduring, with keen weapons; yet he is also the possessor of abundant remedies (bheṣajā), capable of turning harm away when properly invoked.

Mantras

Mantra 1

इमा रुद्राय स्थिरधन्वने गिरः क्षिप्रेषवे देवाय स्वधाव्ने । अषाळ्हाय सहमानाय वेधसे तिग्मायुधाय भरता शृणोतु नः ॥

Kata-kata ini kami bawa kepada Rudra, yang busurnya teguh, dewa berpanah pantas yang bergerak dengan kuasanya sendiri. Kepada yang tidak terkalahkan, yang tahan uji, sang pengatur bijaksana, yang bersenjata tajam—bawalah (doa kami); moga ia mendengar kami.

Mantra 2

स हि क्षयेण क्षम्यस्य जन्मनः साम्राज्येन दिव्यस्य चेतति । अवन्नवन्तीरुप नो दुरश्चरानमीवो रुद्र जासु नो भव ॥

Sesungguhnya Dia mengetahui—melalui kediaman yang teguh dari kelahiran di bumi—dan melalui kedaulatan penguasaan yang ilahi. Datanglah mendekati kami dengan pertolongan yang melindungi; berkelilinglah di sekitar pintu-pintu kami. Wahai Rudra, jadilah bagi kami tanpa mencederakan; jadilah perlindungan kami dengan segera.

Mantra 3

या ते दिद्युदवसृष्टा दिवस्परि क्ष्मया चरति परि सा वृणक्तु नः । सहस्रं ते स्वपिवात भेषजा मा नस्तोकेषु तनयेषु रीरिषः ॥

Kilatmu itu—yang dilepaskan dari langit—yang bergerak mengelilingi bumi: biarlah ia berpaling jauh daripada kami. Seribu banyaknya ubatmu yang bernafas lembut; janganlah engkau mencederakan kami pada anak-anak kami dan pada zuriat kami.

Mantra 4

मा नो वधी रुद्र मा परा दा मा ते भूम प्रसितौ हीळितस्य । आ नो भज बर्हिषि जीवशंसे यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Janganlah membunuh kami, wahai Rudra; janganlah membuang kami jauh. Janganlah kami jatuh ke dalam sergapan murkamu. Kurniakanlah kepada kami di atas barhis (hamparan suci) anugerah hidup yang berharap dan bertumbuh; dan semoga engkau, wahai para kuasa, sentiasa memelihara kami dengan sejahtera.

Inside Sukta 46

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens by ‘carrying’ words of praise to Rudra the formidable archer, asking that he listen.

  2. Development

    Rudra’s dangerous celestial force is acknowledged—his lightning roaming from heaven over earth—while the poet seeks its diversion and invokes Rudra’s healing capacity.

  3. Climax

    The bold juxtaposition peaks: the same god of sharp weapons is said to hold ‘a thousand medicines,’ making him the supreme healer as well as potential afflicter.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn resolves in urgent, intimate supplication—‘do not slay us, do not cast us away’—and ends with a request for shared life-boons and enduring svasti-protection.

The deity: Rudra

  • Cosmic functionHe embodies the sudden, disruptive force in nature—storm, lightning, disease, and their cessation—governing both affliction and healing, and enforcing boundaries through awe-inspiring power.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, Rudra represents the fierce transformative energy that can shatter arrogance, purge impurities, and restore wholeness when approached with humility, truth, and restraint; his ‘medicine’ is the alchemy of suffering turned into renewal.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha-gotra); traditionally of the Maitrāvaruṇa line · One of the foremost Ṛgvedic seers of Mandala 7, celebrated for hymns of royal legitimacy, cosmic order (ṛta), and powerful devotional speech; famed in later tradition as the purohita of Sudās and a paradigmatic brahmarṣi.

Famous verses

इमा रुद्राय स्थिरधन्वने गिरः क्षिप्रेषवे देवाय स्वधाव्ने । अषाळ्हाय सहमानाय वेधसे तिग्मायुधाय भरता शृणोतु नः ॥
Verse 7.46.1Sets the tone of reverent appeasement by naming Rudra’s core Vedic epithets (steady bow, swift arrows, self-powered) and asking that he hear the prayer—essential for the hymn’s ritual ‘address.’Read verse 7.46.1 →
sahasraṃ te … bheṣajā
Verse 7.46.3Central protective request: Rudra’s lightning is asked to turn away, and his ‘thousand medicines’ are invoked to safeguard children and progeny—capturing Rudra’s ambivalent but beneficent potential.Read verse 7.46.3 →
mā no vadhī rudra
Verse 7.46.4The emotional climax and closing plea: a direct request not to be slain or rejected, and to receive life-affirming blessing on the barhis, ending with a lasting svasti appeal.Read verse 7.46.4 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Steady bow, swift arrows (archer imagery)
  • Lightning-like power and suddenness
  • Unconquered, enduring strength
  • Ambivalent deity: can harm or heal
  • Possessor of ‘a thousand medicines’ (bheṣajā)
  • Protector of lineage—invoked to spare children and descendants
  • Bestower of svasti (well-being) when appeased

Also by this seer

  • Principal authorship of much of Rig Veda Mandala 7 (Vasiṣṭha maṇḍala)
  • Hymns to Varuṇa-Mitra emphasizing ṛta and moral order (e.g., RV 7.86–7.89)
  • Royal and battle-context hymns associated with the Bharatas and Sudās (e.g., RV 7.18)
  • Foundational presence in later Itihāsa-Purāṇa traditions as a teacher-sage and exemplar of brahmanical authority

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the sacred seat (barhis) and kindle Agni; establish a calm, orderly space (ṛta-aligned).
  • Recite RV 7.46.1 as an opening praise, ‘bearing’ the prayer to the steady-bowed Rudra and requesting that he hear.
  • Invoke turning-away of harm with RV 7.46.3, explicitly redirecting Rudra’s ‘lightning’ and calling upon his medicines for protection of children and progeny.
  • Offer oblations with a conciliatory intention; maintain a tone of reverence rather than command.
  • Conclude with RV 7.46.4 as a direct supplication: ‘Do not slay us… share with us on the barhis,’ followed by a svasti-prayer for ongoing safeguarding.
  • Optionally repeat the final plea as a protective refrain, especially in times of fear (storm, illness, social tension).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Soma (where applicable)
  • Milk/curds or simple food-offerings (naivedya) in later domestic adaptations
  • Fragrant herbs/resins (as a symbolic ‘medicine’ offering, aligned with bheṣajā)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Rudra’s immense power and asks him to turn away harm—especially lightning-like danger and wrath—while granting healing, protection, and well-being for the family and descendants.

In the Veda, Rudra governs sudden affliction (like storm and disease) but also its remedy. The hymn acknowledges his sharp weapons and then appeals to his ‘thousand medicines’ to protect and restore life.

It is traditionally suited for a calming/protective recitation during fire worship or when fearing storms, illness, or misfortune—ending with a humble plea for mercy and ongoing svasti (well-being).

Ask anything about Sukta 46 of the Rig Veda

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