Rig Veda Sukta 48
Mandala 7Sukta 484 Mantras

Sukta 48

Sukta 7.48

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (Maṇḍala 7)

Devata

R̥bhus / Vāja / Rbhukṣaṇa (artisan-powers of perfection; associated with Soma and Indra-world)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Este breve hino em triṣṭubh de Vasiṣṭha invoca os Ṛbhus —R̥bhukṣaṇa e Vāja como potências de perfeição habilidosa— para que se alegrem com o Soma prensado e «ponham em movimento» obras eficazes que trazem força e vitória. Ele liga o seu artesanato de amplo alcance à força heroica de Indra, pedindo que prevaleçam as antigas ordenanças verdadeiras e que o engano do inimigo seja anulado. O hino encerra com um apelo universal a todos os deuses, especialmente aos Vasus, por ampla liberdade (varivas), nutrição e proteção constante por meio do bem-estar (svasti).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.48

Mantras

Mantra 1

ऋभुक्षणो वाजा मादयध्वमस्मे नरो मघवानः सुतस्य । आ वोऽर्वाचः क्रतवो न यातां विभ्वो रथं नर्यं वर्तयन्तु ॥

Ó Rbhukṣaṇa e Vāja, alegrai-vos aqui, entre nós, no Soma espremido, ó doadores heroicos. Que os vossos poderes eficazes venham ao nosso encontro; que os onipenetrantes ponham em movimento o carro viril (da obra).

Mantra 2

ऋभुॠभुभिरभि वः स्याम विभ्वो विभुभिः शवसा शवांसि । वाजो अस्माँ अवतु वाजसाताविन्द्रेण युजा तरुषेम वृत्रम् ॥

Que sejamos envolvidos por Ṛbhu com os Ṛbhus; que Vibhvan, com os onipenetrantes, fortaleça as nossas forças com força. Que Vāja nos guarde na conquista da plenitude; jungidos com Indra, que ultrapassemos Vṛtra.

Mantra 3

ते चिद्धि पूर्वीरभि सन्ति शासा विश्वाँ अर्य उपरताति वन्वन् । इन्द्रो विभ्वाँ ऋभुक्षा वाजो अर्यः शत्रोर्मिथत्या कृणवन्वि नृम्णम् ॥

Pois, em verdade, essas antigas ordenanças estão aí, premendo sobre todos; o nobre (ārya) conquista a região mais alta. Indra, de ampla obra, Ṛbhukṣaṇa e Vāja, o nobre (ārya) —reduzindo a nada a falsidade do inimigo— manifestam em plenitude o poder heróico.

Mantra 4

नू देवासो वरिवः कर्तना नो भूत नो विश्वेऽवसे सजोषाः । समस्मे इषं वसवो ददीरन्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Agora, ó deuses, fazei para nós o amplo espaço, a livre amplidão; sede todos concordes para o nosso amparo. Que os Vasus nos concedam o impulso e a abundância; e vós —guardai-nos sempre com bem-estar.

Inside Sukta 48

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    An immediate invitation to the Ṛbhus—R̥bhukṣaṇa and Vāja—to rejoice in the pressed Soma and to bring their efficacious powers forward.

  2. Development

    Their ‘wide-working’ capacity is unfolded as the ability to set the chariot of accomplished work in motion and to align human effort with ancient ordinances that lead to higher attainment.

  3. Climax

    The triad with Indra is invoked to manifest full heroic power and to reduce the foe’s falsehood to nothing—victory through truth-aligned efficacy.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn broadens into a closing prayer to all the gods, especially the Vasus, for spacious freedom, nourishment, and continual protection through svasti.

The deity: Ṛbhus, allied with Indra and Soma

  • In the VedaThe Ṛbhus are artisan-powers of extraordinary skill who perfect, renew, and multiply forms; they are invited to the Soma, praised as wide-working (vibhvān) and effective in action (kratavaḥ). In this hymn they are addressed as heroic givers who drive the ‘manly chariot’—a symbol of accomplished work and victorious advance.
  • Cosmic functionThey represent the cosmic principle of perfected workmanship: transforming the given into the refined, enabling increase (vāja as ‘prize/strength’), and supporting Indra’s victory by making power effective and fit for right action.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, the Ṛbhus signify the disciplined faculties that refine life—skill, clarity, and constructive intelligence—turning raw impulse into capable force, and dissolving ‘falsehood’ (mithyā) that obstructs heroic effort.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/solar-associated seer lineage in later tradition) · Principal seer of Maṇḍala 7, celebrated for hymns of royal protection, cosmic order (ṛta), and powerful prayer for victory and well-being; later remembered as a paradigmatic Brahmarṣi and counselor of kings.

Famous verses

ऋभुक्षणो वाजा मादयध्वमस्मे नरो मघवानः सुतस्य । आ वोऽर्वाचः क्रतवो न यातां विभ्वो रथं नर्यं वर्तयन्तु ॥
Verse 7.48.1Sets the core invocation: the Ṛbhus as heroic givers are asked to rejoice in Soma and to bring near their effective powers, ‘setting in motion’ the manly chariot of accomplished work.Read verse 7.48.1 →
ते चिद्धि पूर्वीरभि सन्ति शासा विश्वाँ अर्य उपरताति वन्वन् । इन्द्रो विभ्वाँ ऋभुक्षा वाजो अर्यः शत्रोर्मिथत्या कृणवन्वि नृम्णम् ॥
Verse 7.48.3Provides the theological peak: ancient ordinances prevail; Indra with R̥bhukṣaṇa and Vāja nullifies the enemy’s deceit and manifests heroic power in fullness.Read verse 7.48.3 →
yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Verse 7.48.4Concluding universal benediction: asks the gods to create varivas (wide, unhindered space) and to guard always with svasti—making the hymn usable as a closing protective prayer.Read verse 7.48.4 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Artisan-like perfection and renewal
  • Wide-working efficacy (vibhvān)
  • Association with Soma exhilaration and Indra’s heroic realm
  • Bestowers of vāja (strength, prize, victorious gain)
  • Upheld by ancient ordinances and right order (ṛta/śāsā)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (numerous sūktas attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his family)
  • Prominent Vedic figure in later Śrauta/Smārta memory; frequently cited in Itihāsa-Purāṇa traditions as a teacher and royal priest (purohita)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual ground and kindle the sacred fires (Āhavanīya, etc.) according to Śrauta procedure.
  • Press and clarify Soma; set the Soma for offering, establishing a mood of exhilaration (mada) and right intention.
  • Recite the hymn inviting R̥bhukṣaṇa and Vāja to rejoice ‘here’ in the pressed Soma and to bring their effective powers near.
  • Mentally/verbally connect their wide-working craft with Indra’s heroic force—asking that deceit and hostility be rendered powerless.
  • Conclude with the universal appeal to the Viśve Devāḥ and the Vasus for varivas (free space), iṣ (impulsion/nourishment), and svasti (well-being).

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (primary)
  • Ghee/ājya and ritual oblations as customary accompaniments
  • Optional dakṣiṇā and food offerings aligned with the rite

Frequently Asked Questions

The Ṛbhus are divine artisan-powers—especially named here as R̥bhukṣaṇa and Vāja—who represent perfected skill and effective action, closely linked with Soma and Indra’s victorious force.

It asks the Ṛbhus to rejoice in the pressed Soma, bring their efficacious powers near, help true ordinances prevail, destroy the enemy’s deceit, and finally grant spacious freedom, nourishment, and constant well-being.

After invoking the specific powers of perfection (the Ṛbhus), the poet seals the prayer with a broad protective blessing—asking the Viśve Devāḥ, with emphasis on the Vasus, to give support, plenty, and lasting svasti for the worshippers.

Ask anything about Sukta 48 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play