Rig Veda 7.44.1: Mandala 7, Sukta 44, Mantra 1
Sukta 7.44
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Multideity invocation headed by Dadhikrāvan
- Chandas
- Jagatī or Tr̥ṣṭubh-mix
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
दधिक्रां वः प्रथममश्विनोषसमग्निं समिद्धं भगमूतये हुवे । इन्द्रं विष्णुं पूषणं ब्रह्मणस्पतिमादित्यान्द्यावापृथिवी अपः स्वः ॥
dadhikrā́ṁ vaḥ prathamám aśvínóṣasam agníṁ samídhdaṁ bhágam ūtáye huve | índraṁ víṣṇuṁ pū́ṣaṇaṁ bráhmaṇas-pátim ādityā́n dyā́vā-pṛthivī́ apáḥ svàḥ ||
Primeiro vos invoco, Dadhikrāvan, os Aśvins e Uṣas; invoco Agni aceso e Bhaga para o socorro. Indra e Viṣṇu, Pūṣan e Brahmaṇaspati, os Ādityas, o Céu e a Terra, as Águas e Svar, o mundo luminoso—vinde como potências de auxílio em nós.
Word by Word
- दधिक्राम्
- Dadhikrāvan (the divine steed/deity), as the one invokedNoun (proper/epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot दधिक्रावन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √क्रम् (क्रमु गतौ) धातु-आधारित नाम
- वः
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रथमम्
- first, at firstAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषणRoot प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्विनौ
- the AśvinsNoun (dual deity)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचनRole कर्मRoot अश्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उषसम्
- Uṣas (Dawn)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot उषस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्निम्
- AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- समिद्धम्
- kindled, well-litParticiple (past passive)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; अग्निम् इति विशेषणम्Role विशेषणRoot सम्-√इध् (इधँ दीप्तौ) → समिद्ध (कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
- भगम्
- BhagaNoun (deity)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot भग (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊतये
- for help, for aidNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot ऊति (प्रातिपदिक)
- हुवे
- I invokeVerbलट् (वेदे वर्तमानार्थे), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √हू (ह्वेञ् आह्वाने)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- विष्णुम्
- ViṣṇuNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पूषणम्
- PūṣanNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पूषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ब्रह्मणस्पतिम्
- Brahmaṇaspati (Lord of prayer)Noun (deity)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot ब्रह्मणस्-पति (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- आदित्यान्
- the ĀdityasNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot आदित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्यावापृथिवी
- Heaven-and-EarthNoun (pair)स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्वन्द्व), द्वितीया, द्विवचन (समाहार/युगल-देवता)Role कर्मRoot द्यावा-पृथिवी (द्वन्द्व-समास)
- अपः
- the WatersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वः
- the heaven (svah)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वेदे अव्ययवत्)Role कर्मRoot स्वर्/स्वः (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्य): दधिक्राम् | वः | प्रथमम् | अश्विनौ | उषसम् | अग्निम् | समिद्धम् | भगम् | ऊतये | हुवे | इन्द्रम् | विष्णुम् | पूषणम् | ब्रह्मणस्पतिम् | आदित्यान् | द्यावापृथिवी | अपः | स्वः । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) अश्विनो॒षसम् = अश्विनौ + उषसम् (औ + उ → ओ; द्विवचन-रूप ‘अश्विनौ’ का संहितायां ‘अश्विनो’)
- (2) समि॑द्धं॒ भग॑म् = समिद्धम् + भगम् (म् + भ → म्भ; अनुस्वार/परसवर्ण)
- (3) ब्रह्मण॒स्पति॑म् = ब्रह्मणस् + पतिम् (ष् + प → स्प)
- (4) आदित्यान्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी = आदित्यान् + द्यावापृथिवी (न् + द्य → न्द्य)
The meaning
Outer meaning
First I invoke Dadhikrāvan, the Aśvins, and Dawn; I invoke kindled Agni and Bhaga for help. Indra and Viṣṇu, Pūṣan and Brahmaṇaspati, the Ādityas, Heaven and Earth, the Waters, and Svaḥ.
Inner meaning
This is a comprehensive opening of the inner sacrifice by calling a hierarchy of powers. Dadhikrāvan (often linked with the swift horse and victorious impetus) symbolizes the dynamic force that carries the seeker forward—disciplined speed and victorious movement. The Aśvins are the twin helpers: swift harmonizers who heal and bring right functioning to mind and life. Uṣas is the awakening illumination that opens the doors of consciousness. Agni is the kindled will, the priest within. Bhaga is the distributor of the right share—fortunate alignment and enjoyment of the divine gifts. Indra is the illumined mind-force that breaks the coverer; Viṣṇu is the all-pervading stride that measures out the wideness and supports the ascent. Pūṣan is the guide on the paths—safe leading of the journey. Brahmaṇaspati is the power of the creative Word/mantra that breaks obstacles and establishes right formation. The Ādityas are vast guardians of truth and wideness. Dyāvāpṛthivī are the two poles—higher consciousness and embodied nature—whose union supports realization. The Waters are flowing consciousness and purification; Svaḥ is the luminous world-plane of truth-light. Together they form an integral invocation: speed, healing, dawn, will, fortunate distribution, illumination, wideness, guidance, word-power, truth-guardianship, polarity-integration, purification, and luminous ascent.
Universal truth
Real transformation is integral: it needs awakening, will, healing, guidance, illumination, wideness, right speech, protection of truth, and purification. Calling these powers is a way of aligning the whole being with the universal supports of evolution.
Themes
Pantheon invocation, Aid and protection, Illumination sequence (Uṣas → Agni → Svaḥ), Inner journey/victory
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha (probable, Book 7 attribution)
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha-gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.44.2 (contextual continuation, if present in recension), RV 7.43.1-5 (preceding preparation sequence)
Family tradition
The Vasiṣṭha family often begins rites with broad invocations, emphasizing ordered collaboration of many powers under ṛta.
Significance
The seer assembles an ‘integral pantheon’ of inner powers—an early Vedic template for complete sādhanā: awakening, force, guidance, word, protection, purification, and luminous ascent.
The deity
- Devata
- Multideity invocation headed by Dadhikrāvan
- Epithets
- samiddha Agni (kindled), Bhaga (distributor), Brahmaṇaspati (lord of mantra), Ādityas (sons of Aditi)
- Related deities
- Soma (often paired with these invocations as bliss), Mitra-Varuṇa (Āditya guardians), Sarasvatī (inspiration/word-flow)
Cosmic role
A coordinated calling of cosmic functions: impetus, healing, dawn, mediation, fortune, illumination, wideness, guidance, word-creation, truth-guardianship, cosmic polarity, purification, and luminous world-support.
Inner power
A complete activation-map of the being: energize (Dadhikrāvan), heal (Aśvins), awaken (Uṣas), kindle will (Agni), align enjoyment (Bhaga), illumine (Indra), widen (Viṣṇu), guide (Pūṣan), form by word (Brahmaṇaspati), protect truth (Ādityas), integrate spirit/body (Dyāvāpṛthivī), purify (Waters), open to luminous plane (Svaḥ).
In ritual
Where it is used
Opening invocation (devāhvāna) for aid before the main offerings
द॒धि॒क्रां व॑: प्रथ॒मम॒श्विनो॒षस॑म॒ग्निं समि॑द्धं॒ भग॑मू॒तये॑ हुवे । इन्द्रं॒ विष्णुं॑ पू॒षणं॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पति॑मादि॒त्यान्द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी अ॒पः स्व॑: ॥
द॒धि॒ऽक्राम् । वः॒ । प्र॒थ॒मम् । अ॒श्विना॑ । उ॒षस॑म् । अ॒ग्निम् । सम्ऽइ॑द्धम् । भग॑म् । ऊ॒तये॑ । हु॒वे॒ । इन्द्र॑म् । विष्णु॑म् । पू॒षण॑म् । ब्रह्म॑णः । पति॑म् । आ॒दि॒त्यान् । द्यावा॑पृथि॒वी इति॑ । अ॒पः । स्वः॑ ॥
dadhi-krām | vaḥ | prathamam | aśvinā | uṣasam | agnim | sam-iddham | bhagam | ūtaye | huve | indram | viṣṇum | pūṣaṇam | brahmaṇaḥ | patim | ādityān | dyāvāpṛth ivī iti | apaḥ | svaḥ
Jagatī or Tr̥ṣṭubh-mix (probable; enumerative cadence)
48
Typically 4 × 12 (Jagatī tendency) though enumerations can show mixed cadence in transmission.
Processional and expansive—list-like but rising; suited to a grand invocation roll-call.
Gives a feeling of opening the whole space of consciousness; each name adds a new ‘support’ and widens the field.
- दधिक्राम् (dadhikrām)
- Literal: Dadhikrāvan (name of a deity/steed power). Symbolic: victorious impetus; disciplined speed of life-force carrying the work forward
- अश्विना (aśvinā)
- Literal: the Aśvins. Symbolic: twin harmonizers/healers of mind-life; swift helpers in transition
- उषसम् (uṣasam)
- Literal: Dawn. Symbolic: illumination; awakening of consciousness
- अग्निम् समिद्धम् (agnim samiddham)
- Literal: Agni kindled. Symbolic: awakened will and aspiration ready to mediate
- भगम् (bhagam)
- Literal: Bhaga (giver of share/fortune). Symbolic: right distribution of divine gifts; enjoyment aligned with truth
- इन्द्रम् (indram)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: divine mind-force; breaker of obstruction; illumined power
- विष्णुम् (viṣṇum)
- Literal: Viṣṇu. Symbolic: wideness; ascending strides of consciousness
- पूषणम् (pūṣaṇam)
- Literal: Pūṣan. Symbolic: inner guide on the path; protector of journeys
- ब्रह्मणस्पतिम् (brahmaṇaspatim)
- Literal: Lord of the sacred word. Symbolic: mantric creative intelligence; right formation and obstacle-breaking speech
- आदित्यान् (ādityān)
- Literal: Ādityas. Symbolic: powers of infinity, truth, and protection
- द्यावापृथिवी (dyāvāpṛthivī)
- Literal: Heaven-and-Earth. Symbolic: higher and lower consciousness; spirit-matter polarity to be united
- अपः (apaḥ)
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: purifying flows of consciousness; life-currents made clear
- स्वः (svaḥ)
- Literal: luminous world/sky. Symbolic: plane of truth-light; supramental/illumined region (in Aurobindonian sense)
Comprehensive invocation for aid at the start of a rite (or before a journey/contest symbolically): calling a full pantheon of functional powers to establish protection, guidance, illumination, and victorious force.
At commencement of a rite/session to call multiple deities in ordered sequence.
Recitation while preparing offerings; mentally ‘seating’ invoked powers; kindling and establishing auspicious conditions.
A ‘whole-being alignment’ mantra before meditation or important work: invoke in sequence as a checklist of inner supports (awakening, will, guidance, protection, purification, wideness).
Dadhikrāvan is a theonym/epithet: dadhí (set/firm; also ‘curd’ in later) + krā́v(an) from √kram/√krā ‘stride/run’ → ‘the firmly-striding/rushing one’, a dynamic aid-power. √hū ‘call’ is an old invocation verb. svàḥ denotes the luminous world/solar region (not merely ‘sky’).
Invocation (hū), Aid (ūti), Law-powers (Ādityas), Expansion (Viṣṇu), Word-power (Brahmaṇaspati)
The ordered calling of powers mirrors ṛta: each function has its place in the cosmic/inner economy.
Svaḥ and Ādityas indicate truth-light and truth-guardianship as the goal-support.
Cosmos as a cooperative harmony of powers; the human being recapitulates this harmony through invocation and inner sacrifice.
Integral Vedic psychology (Aurobindo/Kashyap): deities as functional powers of consciousness enabling transformation.
dawn (by Uṣas invocation)
Dawn = awakening; fire = will; waters = purification and flowing consciousness; heaven/earth = higher/lower integration; svaḥ = luminous truth-plane; solar guardians = wide law of truth and protection.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘total calling of powers’ that constitute the integral ascent: swift aid (Dadhikrāvan, Aśvins), opening light (Uṣas), kindled will (Agni), rightful enjoyment (Bhaga), victorious force (Indra), widening stride (Viṣṇu), guidance (Pūṣan), word-mastery (Brahmaṇaspati), law and truth (Ādityas), cosmic foundations (Heaven-Earth), purifying flows (Waters), culminating in the luminous world (svaḥ).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Dyau- continues PIE *dyew- ‘sky/daylight’. The twin Aśvins reflect an IE ‘divine twins’ motif (cf. Greek Dioskouroi, Baltic Dieva dēli). √kram/stride in Dadhikrāvan resonates with IE motion/step mythic language also used for Viṣṇu’s strides (expansion by stepping).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi acts as architect of an inner liturgy: by naming and invoking, he aligns multiple cosmic functions to cooperate within the human vessel. The relationship is integrative and programmatic—each devatā is summoned for a precise psychological operation contributing to the unified aim of aid and luminous establishment.
Invoke and feel each power awaken a corresponding function in you; end resting in luminous openness (svaḥ).
Sequence mapping: Mūlādhāra (ground/earth) → Maṇipūra (Agni) → Anāhata (Bhaga/joy) → Ājñā (Indra/illumination) → Sahasrāra (Viṣṇu/Ādityas/Svaḥ wideness).
Name-by-name mantra-breath: one deity per breath cycle; inhale silently with the name, exhale feeling its force spread through the body-mind.
Invocatory, widened, supported—ready for deeper stillness or concentrated work.
Chant once slowly as an ‘inner roll-call’. Pause briefly after each name to sense its psychological function. Conclude with a few breaths dwelling in ‘svaḥ’ as a bright, open sky above the head.
Rigvedic accenting per śākhā; in enumerations, keep each deity-name cleanly articulated with its natural udātta placement from the accent-text.
Treat the mantra as a procession: slight micro-pause after each deity name; keep ‘huve’ (I call) as a clear pivot; avoid rushing the list.
dadhikrām: keep retroflex ḍh? (here dadh- is dental d; articulate dh aspirate); long ā in -krām., aśvinā: ś palatal; short i; long ā ending., uṣasam: retroflex ṣ; short a., samiddham: double d(h) cluster; nasal m before i., brahmaṇaspatim: retroflex ṇ; keep ‘sp’ cluster crisp., dyāvāpṛthivī: long ā in dyāvā; retroflex ṛ in pṛ; keep th aspirated.
Clear, resonant, invocatory; each name like a bell-tone; end with a spacious lift on ‘svaḥ’.
1
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
