Rig Veda Sukta 43
Mandala 7Sukta 435 Mantras

Sukta 43

Sukta 7.43

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (family book 7; hymn attributed to Vasiṣṭhas)

Devata

Dyāvāpṛthivī (Heaven-and-Earth) with broader ritual address to the divine powers through the yajña

Chandas

Tr̥ṣṭubh (probable)

Этот пятистишный гимн Васиштхов открывается восхвалением Дьява̄‑Притхивӣ (Неба‑и‑Земли) как необъятного основания, укрепляемого благоговейной речью в жертвоприношении (yajña). Затем он переходит к практической литургии: призыву богов к бархису и просьбе к Агни освятить обряд и оградить «божественное становление» жертвователя от враждебности. Завершение — общая молитва о долговременном благополучии (svasti), стойкости и невредимом участии в разделяемом процветании.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.43

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र वो यज्ञेषु देवयन्तो अर्चन्द्यावा नमोभिः पृथिवी इषध्यै । येषां ब्रह्माण्यसमानि विप्रा विष्वग्वियन्ति वनिनो न शाखाः ॥

Вперёд, в жертвоприношениях, боговзыскующие риши воспевают вас; поклонениями они укрепляют Небо и Землю ради обретения побуждающей силы (и́ши). Их вдохновенные формулы (брахма́ни), несравненные, расходятся во все стороны, как ветви от живого дерева.

Mantra 2

प्र यज्ञ एतु हेत्वो न सप्तिरुद्यच्छध्वं समनसो घृताचीः । स्तृणीत बर्हिरध्वराय साधूर्ध्वा शोचींषि देवयून्यस्थुः ॥

Пусть жертва идёт вперёд, как быстрый конь к цели; воспряньте, единомысленные, вы потоки светлого топлёного (гхрита). Расстелите бархис для безупречного обряда; пусть пламёна стоят прямо, обращённые к богам, в своих сияющих жаркостях.

Mantra 3

आ पुत्रासो न मातरं विभृत्राः सानौ देवासो बर्हिषः सदन्तु । आ विश्वाची विदथ्यामनक्त्वग्ने मा नो देवताता मृधस्कः ॥

Пусть боги сядут на бархис, как сыновья вокруг матери, поддерживая её на вершине. О Агни, помажь (освяти) всепростёртое священное собрание; да не коснётся нас враждебная сила, губящая божественность.

Mantra 4

ते सीषपन्त जोषमा यजत्रा ऋतस्य धाराः सुदुघा दुहानाः । ज्येष्ठं वो अद्य मह आ वसूनामा गन्तन समनसो यति ष्ठ ॥

Да устремятся они — возлюбленные потоки Риты, достойные жертвы, — к радости, обильно доя свои щедрые струи. Придите ныне, единомысленные, к вашему высшему величию, к верховной полноте Васу.

Mantra 5

एवा नो अग्ने विक्ष्वा दशस्य त्वया वयं सहसावन्नास्क्राः । राया युजा सधमादो अरिष्टा यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Так, о Агни, яви нам милость среди наших родов; с тобою, о могучий, мы — невредимы и неколебимы. Впряжённые в богатство, в общей радости, неуязвимые, — вы, Силы, храните нас всегда благими свáсти.

Inside Sukta 43

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Seers advance in sacrifice, praising and ‘strengthening’ Heaven-and-Earth through reverence and inspired speech.

  2. Development

    The hymn moves from cosmic foundation (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī) to enacted ritual: the Gods are invited to take their seats, and the sacred assembly is prepared.

  3. Climax

    Agni is asked to anoint the wide-ranging vidatha and to prevent hostile forces from harming the sacrificer’s divine participation (devatātā).

  4. Where it settles

    A final benediction: with Agni’s strength and the Powers’ guardianship, the people remain unharmed, joined to prosperity, and protected by enduring svasti.

The deity: Dyāvāpṛthivī, with Agni as ritual consecrator and the invited Devāḥ

  • In the VedaDyāvā-Pṛthivī are praised as the great dual parents and cosmic expanse—supporting all beings—who are ‘strengthened’ by namas (reverent acts) and brahman (inspired formulations) in sacrifice; Agni is invoked to anoint and make the ritual session effective and safe.
  • Cosmic functionHeaven-and-Earth provide the stable cosmic frame—space above and ground below—within which ṛta (order) and yajña (sacrificial exchange) operate; Agni mediates between humans and gods, installing the rite and carrying offerings.
  • Inner significanceDyāvā-Pṛthivī symbolize the harmonized polarities of consciousness (upper clarity) and embodied life (grounded support); Agni represents awakened will and discernment that consecrates one’s inner ‘session’ and guards it from disruptive forces.

The seer

  • Vasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭhas)Vasiṣṭha-gotra; the Vasiṣṭha family tradition of Maṇḍala 7 · Foremost among the Saptaṛṣis, celebrated as a paradigmatic Brahmarṣi whose hymns integrate precise ritual address with profound cosmic vision; closely associated with royal consecration and the prosperity of the Bharatas/Tr̥tsus in Vedic memory.

Famous verses

प्र वो यज्ञेषु देवयन्तो अर्चन्द्यावा नमोभिः पृथिवी इषध्यै । येषां ब्रह्माण्यसमानि विप्रा विष्वग्वियन्ति वनिनो न शाखाः ॥
Verse 7.43.1Sets the hymn’s keynote: the yajña empowers the cosmic Parents, and the poets’ brahman spreads ‘like branches,’ expressing the expansive reach of inspired speech.Read verse 7.43.1 →
आ पुत्रासो न मातरं विभृत्राः सानौ देवासो बर्हिषः सदन्तु । आ विश्वाची विदथ्यामनक्त्वग्ने मा नो देवताता मृधस्कः ॥
Verse 7.43.3Central liturgical moment: the Gods are seated on the barhis, and Agni is petitioned to consecrate the session and ward off hostility against the sacrificer’s devatātā.Read verse 7.43.3 →
yūyaṃ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Verse 7.43.5Concluding protection and welfare prayer: with Agni the community becomes ‘unshaken,’ and the divine Powers are asked to guard them always with svasti.Read verse 7.43.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Cosmic parents and universal support (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī)
  • Strengthened by reverence and inspired speech (namas, brahman)
  • Ritual hospitality: gods seated on barhis
  • Agni as consecrator/anointer of the vidatha (sacred assembly)
  • Protection from mṛdhaḥ (hostile forces) and bestowal of svasti (well-being)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (many hymns attributed to the Vasiṣṭhas)
  • Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa-Mitra, and other deities in Book 7 noted for ritual exactness and ethical-cosmic breadth
  • Later Vedic/Itihāsa tradition attributes to Vasiṣṭha roles as priestly counselor and transmitter of dharmic-ritual knowledge (traditional attribution)

The rite, step by step

  • Establish Agni and prepare the ritual ground; lay out the barhis (sacred grass seat).
  • Open with praise to Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, offering namas and brahman to ‘strengthen’ the cosmic supports for iṣa (impulsion/nourishment).
  • Invite the Devāḥ to sit on the barhis ‘as sons around a mother,’ affirming ritual hospitality and divine presence.
  • Request Agni to anoint/consecrate the vidatha (sacred session) and to avert hostile interference with the sacrificer’s devatātā (divine participation/becoming).
  • Conclude with a communal prayer for unshaken steadiness, shared delight (sadhamāda), prosperity, and enduring svasti from all assisting Powers.

Offerings

  • Ghee/clarified butter (ājya) into Agni
  • Soma or soma-substitute in soma contexts (where applicable)
  • Oblations accompanied by brahman (mantric formulations) and namas (reverent gestures)
  • Barhis as the seat-offering/hospitality to the Gods

Frequently Asked Questions

Primarily Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (Heaven-and-Earth) are praised as the cosmic supports, while Agni is invoked to consecrate the ritual and the Gods are invited to sit on the barhis.

It asks that the sacrifice be properly established, that the divine powers attend the ritual, that hostile forces not disturb the worship, and that the community receive lasting well-being (svasti) and prosperity.

It is an image of intimate protection and support: the ritual seat (barhis) is treated like a nurturing mother, and the Gods gather closely, sustaining and blessing the rite and the sacrificer.

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