Rig Veda Sukta 40
Mandala 2Sukta 406 Mantras

Sukta 40

Sukta 2.40

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (and/or the Gṛtsamada lineage)

Devata

Soma-Pūṣan (dual)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (likely for RV 2.40)

Este hino de seis versos em triṣṭubh invoca as divindades duais Soma e Pūṣan como co‑geradores da abundância e como guardiões que estabelecem o «umbigo» (nābhi) da imortalidade e da prosperidade nos mundos e no próprio adorador. Pede-lhes que ampliem a fonte central do aumento — riquezas, alimento e poderes fecundos — e que, ao mesmo tempo, acelerem a percepção e concedam proteção, culminando numa bênção que inclui a presença salvaguardadora de Aditi.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.40

Mantras

Mantra 1

सोमापूषणा जनना रयीणां जनना दिवो जनना पृथिव्याः । जातौ विश्वस्य भुवनस्य गोपौ देवा अकृण्वन्नमृतस्य नाभिम् ॥

Ó Soma e Pūṣan, geradores das riquezas, geradores do céu, geradores da terra: nascidos como os dois guardiões de todo devir, os deuses fizeram de vós o umbigo-centro da imortalidade.

Mantra 2

इमौ देवौ जायमानौ जुषन्तेमौ तमांसि गूहतामजुष्टा । आभ्यामिन्द्रः पक्वमामास्वन्तः सोमापूषभ्यां जनदुस्रियासु ॥

Estes dois deuses, ao virem ao nascimento, deleitam-se; estes dois ocultam as trevas que não consentem. Por eles Indra faz amadurecer o maduro dentro do imaturo; por Soma e Pūṣan ele gera os rebanhos fulgurantes de luz.

Mantra 3

सोमापूषणा रजसो विमानं सप्तचक्रं रथमविश्वमिन्वम् । विषूवृतं मनसा युज्यमानं तं जिन्वथो वृषणा पञ्चरश्मिम् ॥

Ó Soma e Pūṣan, impelis o carro que mede o espaço mediano (rajas), de sete rodas, que tudo move; de amplo giro, jungido pela mente — essa força de cinco rédeas vós a fazeis avançar, ó fortes.

Mantra 4

दिव्यन्यः सदनं चक्र उच्चा पृथिव्यामन्यो अध्यन्तरिक्षे । तावस्मभ्यं पुरुवारं पुरुक्षुं रायस्पोषं वि ष्यतां नाभिमस्मे ॥

Um estabeleceu seu assento no alto do céu; o outro, na terra e no entre-espaço. Que esses dois estendam para nós, em nós, o umbigo-centro do incremento — plenitude de riquezas, abundante em bens desejáveis, fecunda em muitos crescimentos.

Mantra 5

विश्वान्यन्यो भुवना जजान विश्वमन्यो अभिचक्षाण एति । सोमापूषणाववतं धियं मे युवाभ्यां विश्वाः पृतना जयेम ॥

Um dos dois gerou todos os mundos; o outro avança, contemplando tudo. Ó Soma e Pūṣan, sustentai meu pensamento: por vós dois, que vençamos todas as batalhas.

Mantra 6

धियं पूषा जिन्वतु विश्वमिन्वो रयिं सोमो रयिपतिर्दधातु । अवतु देव्यदितिरनर्वा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Que Pūṣan, o impulsionador de tudo, vivifique nossa inspiração; que Soma, senhor da plenitude, deposite em nós a plenitude. Que a divina Aditi, a infalível, nos proteja; que proclamemos o Vasto na assembleia ritual, ricos em forças da alma, fortes e luminosas.

Inside Sukta 40

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma and Pūṣan are hailed as begetters of riches and of heaven and earth, born as guardians of all existence and set as the nābhi of immortality.

  2. Development

    The hymn differentiates their cosmic stations (one aloft, one on earth/mid-space) and turns this cosmology into a practical request: may they spread the center of increase—wealth, nourishment, and fruitful powers—within the worshipper/community.

  3. Climax

    The concentrated petition that the dual gods “spread the nābhi” of rāyas-poṣa for us—an image of prosperity radiating from a single sacred center.

  4. Where it settles

    A closing triad of boons: Pūṣan quickens insight (dhī), Soma bestows plenitude (rayi), and Aditi protects, ending with the aspiration to speak the Vast (bṛhat) in the assembly with strong progeny/powers (suvīrāḥ).

The deity: Soma–Pūṣan

  • In the VedaSoma is praised as the lord of plenitude (rayipatí), the invigorating sacred drink and divine essence that supports immortality; Pūṣan is the all-impeller (viśvaminva), a nourishing protector and guide who fosters paths, cattle, and well-being. Together they are described as “begetters” of riches, heaven, and earth, and as the two guardians (gopau) of all becoming, placed by the gods as the nābhi (central hub) of amṛta (immortality).
  • Cosmic functionSoma sustains divine vitality and the upward movement toward amṛta through consecrated exhilaration; Pūṣan secures nourishment, safe passage, and the right distribution of goods across earth and mid-space. In tandem they stabilize the cosmic economy of life—sap, food, wealth, and the protected routes by which these circulate.
  • Inner significanceSoma signifies inner delight, luminous inspiration, and the nectar of concentrated consciousness; Pūṣan signifies the guiding intelligence that leads the seeker on the right path and converts inspiration into steady growth and practical well-being. Their shared “nābhi” points to an inner center where spiritual vitality and worldly increase are harmonized.

The seer

  • GṛtsamadaGṛtsamada (Bhārgava) lineage; traditionally connected with the Bhṛgu-gotra stream · Principal seer of much of Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for hymns that establish stable ritual order and invoke deities for protection, prosperity, and right inspiration (dhī) in the sacrifice.

Famous verses

amṛtasya nābhim
Verse 2.40.1Programmatic verse that defines Soma–Pūṣan as begetters of heaven/earth and as the guardians placed at the ‘navel-center’ of immortality—setting the hymn’s core theology.Read verse 2.40.1 →
rāyas poṣaṃ … nābhim
Verse 2.40.4Central prosperity petition: their distinct cosmic seats become the basis for asking them to ‘spread’ the nābhi of increase—riches, nourishment, and many fruitful growths—within the worshipper.Read verse 2.40.4 →
bṛhad vadema vidathe
Verse 2.40.6Memorable closing benediction combining inner awakening (dhī), material plenitude (rayi), and protective order (Aditi), ending with the ideal of speaking the Vast in the assembly.Read verse 2.40.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Begetters of abundance (rayīṇām jananā)
  • Guardians/protectors of becoming (bhuvanasya gopau)
  • Establishers of the nābhi (central hub) of immortality
  • Nourishment, increase, and prosperity (poṣa)
  • Guidance and safe passage (Pūṣan)
  • Invigorating sacred essence and lordship of wealth (Soma as rayipatí)

Also by this seer

  • Large portion of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada and his lineage)
  • Hymns to Agni, Indra, and allied deities emphasizing protection (rakṣas), increase (poṣa), and victorious strength (vīrya)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire (Agni) and establish a calm, ordered ritual space.
  • Open with an invocation to Soma–Pūṣan as joint guardians and begetters of heaven/earth, affirming them as the nābhi of amṛta.
  • Offer oblations while reciting verses that request spreading of rāyas-poṣa (increase of riches and nourishment) and protection across the three realms (dyu, pṛthivī, antarikṣa).
  • Conclude with the benediction: Pūṣan to quicken dhī (insight), Soma to place rayi (plenitude), and Aditi to protect; end with a communal aspiration to speak the “Vast” in the assembly.
  • Optionally follow with śānti-style closing and distribution of consecrated remnants (where customary).

Offerings

  • Soma (where ritually appropriate) or symbolic soma substitute in later practice
  • Ghee (ājya) oblations into Agni
  • Milk/curds and grains as nourishing offerings (annāhuti)
  • Optional sweet offerings (madhu) as a prosperity symbol

Frequently Asked Questions

Soma represents the sacred, invigorating essence that supports vitality and immortality, while Pūṣan is the nourishing protector and guide of right paths. Invoked together, they unite inner inspiration with outward nourishment and safe, fruitful increase.

It means “the navel (center/hub) of immortality.” The hymn imagines Soma–Pūṣan as a central source from which life, prosperity, and divine vitality radiate into the worlds and into the worshipper.

It asks for prosperity and nourishment (rāyas-poṣa), the quickening of insight (dhī), protection (especially through Aditi), and the strength to speak truthfully and expansively (“the Vast”) in the communal assembly.

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