Rig Veda Sukta 173
Mandala 10Sukta 1736 Mantras

Sukta 173

Sukta 10.173

Devata

Royal/Sovereign principle (Rāṣṭra; supported by Indra/Varuṇa/Bṛhaspati/Agni later in the hymn)

Этот краткий гимн — ра̄штра‑заклинание‑молитва о верховной власти, которое ритуально «утверждает» правителя (или сам принцип владычества) в непоколебимой устойчивости (дхрува), чтобы царство не ускользнуло. Он соотносит политический порядок с космическим: небо, земля, горы и движущийся мир призываются как образцы твердости; затем к Соме и Индре (а по традиции — и к союзным царственным божествам) обращается просьба обеспечить добровольную преданность народа и подношения‑дань.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 10.173

Mantras

Mantra 1

आ त्वाहार्षमन्तरेधि ध्रुवस्तिष्ठाविचाचलिः । विशस्त्वा सर्वा वाञ्छन्तु मा त्वद्राष्ट्रमधि भ्रशत् ॥

Я привёл тебя сюда — войди внутрь. Стой твёрдо, неподвижно. Пусть все народы желают тебя; да не отпадёт от тебя царство — да не поколеблется твоя власть.

Mantra 2

इहैवैधि माप च्योष्ठाः पर्वत इवाविचाचलिः । इन्द्र इवेह ध्रुवस्तिष्ठेह राष्ट्रमु धारय ॥

Здесь же утвердись; не отпадай. Как гора — непоколебим. Как Индра, стой здесь твёрдо; и здесь удерживай царство, упорядоченную власть.

Mantra 3

इममिन्द्रो अदीधरद्ध्रुवं ध्रुवेण हविषा । तस्मै सोमो अधि ब्रवत्तस्मा उ ब्रह्मणस्पतिः ॥

Этого Индра утвердил — твёрдым приношением (havis). Ему Сома изрёк согласие; ему же и Брахманаспати, Владыка Слова, возгласил — утверждая устойчивость освящённого средоточия.

Mantra 4

ध्रुवा द्यौर्ध्रुवा पृथिवी ध्रुवासः पर्वता इमे । ध्रुवं विश्वमिदं जगद्ध्रुवो राजा विशामयम् ॥

Твердо небо, тверда земля, тверды эти горы. Твердо всё это движущееся мироздание. Да будет и этот царь твёрд — устойчив для народов.

Mantra 5

ध्रुवं ते राजा वरुणो ध्रुवं देवो बृहस्पतिः । ध्रुवं त इन्द्रश्चाग्निश्च राष्ट्रं धारयतां ध्रुवम् ॥

Да утвердит твоё царство царь Варуна; да утвердит его бог Брихаспати. Да поддержат в твёрдости твоё царство также Индра и Агни — да будет оно непоколебимо.

Mantra 6

ध्रुवं ध्रुवेण हविषाभि सोमं मृशामसि । अथो त इन्द्रः केवलीर्विशो बलिहृतस्करत् ॥

Твёрдым приношением, в твёрдости, мы прикасаемся к Соме. И тогда да сделает Индра народы всецело твоими — приносящими дань, несущими подношение.

Inside Sukta 173

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct installation command: ‘I draw you here—enter within; stand firm, unmoving; may all peoples desire you.’

  2. Development

    The hymn expands from social legitimacy (the peoples’ assent) to cosmic analogy: heaven, earth, mountains, and the moving world are declared dhruva to model stable kingship.

  3. Climax

    The universal stabilization formula (the cosmos itself is ‘fixed’) is applied to the king: ‘dhruvo rājā viśām ayam’—the ruler as the steady center for the clans.

  4. Where it settles

    Sacrifice seals the wish: with firm offering Soma is approached, and Indra is asked to make the peoples wholly aligned—bringing willing tribute into ordered rule.

The deity: Rāṣṭra, supported by Indra–Varuṇa–Bṛhaspati–Agni

  • In the VedaRāṣṭra is treated as an impersonal but sacral power of kingship—rule that holds peoples together—expressed through the motif of dhruva (fixed, unwavering). The hymn speaks to the king as the bearer of this power, asking that all viśaḥ (communities) desire him and that the realm not fall away.
  • Cosmic functionTo stabilize social and political order by mirroring ṛta (cosmic order): as the cosmos stands firm, so should the ruler’s seat, authority, and cohesion of the people.
  • Inner significanceThe ‘inner kingdom’ reading is the governance of the self: steadiness of mind and will, integration of inner faculties, and a centered authority that prevents one’s life-force from ‘falling away’ into dispersion.

Famous verses

मा त्वद्राष्ट्रमधि भ्रशत्
Verse 10.173.1Core installation formula: draws the ruler into the consecrated space, commands steadiness, and prays that the realm not slip away while gaining the people’s desire/assent.Read verse 10.173.1 →
ध्रुवो राजा विशामयम्
Verse 10.173.4The hymn’s signature dhruva-cosmology: cosmic stability is cited as precedent and invoked to ‘fix’ the king as the stable axis for the people.Read verse 10.173.4 →
ध्रुवं ध्रुवेण हविषा
Verse 10.173.6Ritual sealing through offering: Soma is contacted ‘in firmness,’ and Indra is invoked to unify the peoples in exclusive allegiance and tribute-bearing order.Read verse 10.173.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • dhruva (steadfast, immovable)
  • saṅgraha (holding-together, cohesion)
  • ṛta-alignment (legitimacy through cosmic order)
  • people’s consent/attraction (viśas tvā vāñchantu)
  • protection from decline or loss of realm (mā… rāṣṭram… bhraśat)

Also by this seer

  • RV 10.173 (this sukta) is the principal attribution; the seer is not securely identified for further cross-attribution in the Rigvedic tradition.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual space and seat/throne; establish the fire if performing with Agni.
  • Invite/seat the ruler (or symbol of rulership) ‘within’ the consecrated boundary, reciting the opening verse as an installation formula.
  • Proclaim firmness by reciting the dhruva-verses, ritually touching the seat/standard/king to ‘fix’ authority in place.
  • Offer to Soma (or Soma-substitute in later practice) while reciting the Soma-contact verse to seal stability through sacrifice.
  • Invoke Indra (and, by extension, Varuṇa/Bṛhaspati/Agni as upholders of rule) for unified allegiance of the peoples and orderly tribute.
  • Conclude with a stabilizing benediction for the realm—no falling away, no shaking—circumambulation or final oblation as customary.

Offerings

  • Soma (or Soma-offering in Rigvedic context)
  • havis (ghee/oblations)
  • samidhs (fuel sticks) where Agni is kindled
  • optional bali/tribute-symbol offerings in later royal adaptations

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a Vedic hymn-prayer to establish and protect sovereignty (rāṣṭra). It asks that the ruler remain firm (dhruva), loved by the people, and not lose the realm.

Because stability is treated as the essence of legitimate rule. The hymn links the king’s firmness to the cosmos—heaven, earth, and mountains are ‘fixed,’ so the ruler should be fixed too.

Traditionally it supports royal installation and governance. Many interpreters also read it inwardly: the ‘kingdom’ is one’s life and mind, and the hymn becomes a prayer for steady self-mastery and integrated inner order.

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