Rig Veda Sukta 43
Mandala 4Sukta 437 Mantras

Sukta 43

Sukta 4.43

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (Mandala 4 core attribution)

Devata

Aśvinau (hymn 4.43 is to the Aśvins); this opening verse seeks the right divine hearer/acceptor

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 4.43; confirmation requires scan)

Ten hymn Vāmadevy wzywa Aśvinau, boskich bliźniaczych uzdrowicieli i szybkich wybawicieli, by usłyszeli i przyjęli „boskie Słowo” poety oraz by przybyli najkrótszą drogą, gdy są wzywani. Przepełniony podziwem dla ich nadejścia i niezrównanego blasku, hymn wielokrotnie prosi o ich szeroką ochronę, miodopodobną pomoc i dającą życie łaskę dla śpiewaka i jego ludu.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.43

Mantras

Mantra 1

क उ श्रवत्कतमो यज्ञियानां वन्दारु देवः कतमो जुषाते । कस्येमां देवीममृतेषु प्रेष्ठां हृदि श्रेषाम सुष्टुतिं सुहव्याम् ॥

Ktoże usłyszy - kto spośród mocy godnych ofiary przyjmie naszą adorację? Dla kogo ustawimy to boskie Słowo, najukochańsze wśród Nieśmiertelnych, w sercu - nasz pięknie ukształtowany hymn, bogaty w ofiarę?

Mantra 2

को मृळाति कतम आगमिष्ठो देवानामु कतमः शम्भविष्ठः । रथं कमाहुर्द्रवदश्वमाशुं यं सूर्यस्य दुहितावृणीत ॥

Kto daje radość uwolnienia? Kto jest najbliższy w przyjściu wśród bogów, kto najbardziej dobroczynny? Który to szybki rydwan z pędzącymi końmi wybrała Córka Słońca - którym przybywasz na wezwanie?

Mantra 3

मक्षू हि ष्मा गच्छथ ईवतो द्यूनिन्द्रो न शक्तिं परितक्म्यायाम् । दिव आजाता दिव्या सुपर्णा कया शचीनां भवथः शचिष्ठा ॥

Szybko istotnie przybywacie przez dni, jak Indra poruszający się z mocą przez otaczający opór. Zrodzeni z nieba, niebiańscy, o pięknych skrzydłach, przez jaki sposób waszych skutecznych działań stajecie się najpotężniejsi w umiejętnościach?

Mantra 4

का वां भूदुपमातिः कया न आश्विना गमथो हूयमाना । को वां महश्चित्त्यजसो अभीक उरुष्यतं माध्वी दस्रा न ऊती ॥

Jaka była wasza najbliższa miara, którą drogą przybywacie do nas, o Aświnowie, gdy jesteście wezwani? Kto nawet w ogromie blasku zbliża się do was? Chrońcie nas szeroko, o Cudotwórcy, miodoną pomocą.

Mantra 5

उरु वां रथः परि नक्षति द्यामा यत्समुद्रादभि वर्तते वाम् । मध्वा माध्वी मधु वां प्रुषायन्यत्सीं वां पृक्षो भुरजन्त पक्वाः ॥

Szeroki jest wasz rydwan, gdy okrąża niebiosa, gdy zwraca się ku wam z oceanu bytu. Miodem - miodoną słodyczą - wasza rozkosz spływa, gdy dojrzałe pożywienia są wylewane dla was w obfitości.

Mantra 6

सिन्धुर्ह वां रसया सिञ्चदश्वान्घृणा वयोऽरुषासः परि ग्मन् । तदू षु वामजिरं चेति यानं येन पती भवथः सूर्यायाः ॥

Rzeka-ocean zalewa wasze konie sokiem i słodyczą; przez promieniste ciepło rude ptaki poruszają się dokoła. To zaiste jest wasza szybka podróż, dzięki której stajecie się panami i towarzyszami Surii, oświeconej Panny Młodej.

Mantra 7

इहेह यद्वां समना पपृक्षे सेयमस्मे सुमतिर्वाजरत्ना । उरुष्यतं जरितारं युवं ह श्रितः कामो नासत्या युवद्रिक् ॥

Tu i tu, gdziekolwiek wasza jedność się łączy, niech to stanie się dla nas dobrym umysłem, bogatym w obfitość siły. Chrońcie szeroko śpiewaka; albowiem w was, o Nasatjowie, nasze pragnienie znalazło schronienie, spoglądając ku wam.

Inside Sukta 43

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens with a searching question: which divine power will truly hear and accept the well-shaped hymn—framing praise as a deliberate offering of inspired speech placed ‘in the heart’.

  2. Development

    The poet turns the inquiry toward the Aśvins, asking by what nearest measure and path they come when called, and marveling at their vast splendor and closeness to devotees.

  3. Climax

    A direct plea intensifies: the Wonder-Workers are asked to ‘protect widely’ with honeyed help, making their saving function immediate and personal to the worshipper.

  4. Where it settles

    It ends with repeated ‘here and here’ immediacy—wherever their united presence is joined—asking that their favor become the community’s good mind and that the singer remain under their shelter, taking refuge in the Nāsatyas.

The deity: Aśvinau

  • In the VedaThe Rig Veda portrays the Aśvins as youthful twin horsemen who travel swiftly in a bright chariot, hearing calls at dawn and bringing rescue, healing, safe passage, and boons to devotees. They are praised as dasrā (“wonder-workers”), near at hand when invoked, and associated with sweetness (mādhvī), light, and timely help.
  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from darkness to light—guardians of liminal moments (especially dawn), restoring wholeness, health, and right movement; they ensure safe journeys and the renewal of vitality in the world-order (ṛta).
  • Inner significanceThey symbolize the quick, responsive powers of restoration in consciousness—clarity arriving at the threshold of awakening, the healing of divided forces into harmony, and the ‘timely help’ that turns aspiration into effective action.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra · A principal seer of Mandala 4, celebrated for powerful, introspective praise-poetry that joins luminous imagery with direct ritual address; traditionally remembered among the foremost ṛṣis whose hymns are central to Soma-era worship.

Famous verses

क उ श्रवत्कतमो यज्ञियानां वन्दारु देवः कतमो जुषाते । कस्येमां देवीममृतेषु प्रेष्ठां हृदि श्रेषाम सुष्टुतिं सुहव्याम् ॥
Verse 4.43.1Sets the hymn’s program: the quest for the right divine hearer and the offering of ‘divine Word’ (vāc/stuti) placed in the heart—an archetypal Vedic opening of effective invocation.Read verse 4.43.1 →
mādhvī … ūtī
Verse 4.43.4Captures the living ritual moment—‘when you are called’—and concentrates the Aśvins’ identity as near-coming, incomparable in radiance, and bestowers of ‘honeyed help’ with wide protection.Read verse 4.43.4 →
iheha
Verse 4.43.7Concludes with intimate immediacy and refuge: the devotee’s desire rests in the Nāsatyas, and the hymn asks that their unified presence become ‘good mind’ and protection for the singer.Read verse 4.43.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin deities
  • Swift chariot-goers
  • Healers and rescuers
  • Dawn-associated
  • Dasrā (wonder-working)
  • Nāsatyā (true/helpful)
  • Bring mādhvī (honeyed sweetness)
  • Protectors of the singer and community

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Mandala 4 (core family collection attributed to Vāmadeva and the Gautamas)
  • Hymns to Indra, Agni, Soma, and allied deities within RV 4 that emphasize inspired speech (vāc) and effective invocation

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish a calm, attentive space for the recitation.
  • At the early morning turning (uṣas), recite the hymn as an invitation (āhvāna) to the Aśvins, emphasizing ‘hearing’ and ‘acceptance’ of the praise.
  • Offer ghee and/or Soma (where applicable), synchronizing offerings with key refrains asking for broad protection (uruṣy-) and honeyed aid (mādhvī ūtī).
  • Conclude with a protective petition for the jaritṛ (singer) and the household/community, affirming refuge in the Nāsatyas’ favor.

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya)
  • Soma libation (in Soma rites)
  • Sweet offerings (madhu/mādhvī symbolism; where ritually appropriate)
  • Recited praise (stuti) as the central ‘offering of speech’

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins are twin divine helpers known for swift arrival, healing, and rescue. This hymn calls them to hear the praise and protect the worshipper with timely, “honeyed” support.

It is a ritual way of focusing the invocation: the poet seeks the deity who truly receives the offering of speech. In this hymn, that search resolves toward the Aśvins as the responsive hearers and helpers.

The main request is that the Aśvins come quickly when called, accept the hymn, and grant broad protection, good guidance (sumati), and strengthening prosperity (vāja/ratna) to the singer and his people.

Ask anything about Sukta 43 of the Rig Veda

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