Sukta 182
Sukta 1.182
Agastya Māna (traditional for this Aśvin cluster; confirm via Anukramaṇī for RV 1.182)
Aśvinau
Triṣṭubh
अयं अश्विनोः सूक्तः तौ दिव्यौ भिषजौ शीघ्ररथेनागन्तुं आह्वयति, धियं प्रेरयितुं शुद्धेन तेजसा सह सुकृतं दातुं च। तयोः प्रसिद्धानि त्राणानि स्मारयति—विशेषतः तुग्र्यस्य सूनुं दुस्तरेषु अप्सु पारयित्वा रक्षितवन्तौ इति—तदेव स्मृतसहाय्यं वर्तमानयाच्ञायां परिवर्त्य पोषणं, दुःखात्/अंहसः जयम्, सोमसत्रे चिरस्थायि दानानि च प्रार्थयते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
अभूदिदं वयुनमो षु भूषता रथो वृषण्वान्मदता मनीषिणः । धियंजिन्वा धिष्ण्या विश्पलावसू दिवो नपाता सुकृते शुचिव्रता ॥
अभूदिदं वयुनमो षु भूषता रथो वृषण्वान्मदता मनीषिणः। धियंजिन्वा धिष्ण्या विश्पलावसू दिवो नपाता सुकृते शुचिव्रता॥
Mantra 2
इन्द्रतमा हि धिष्ण्या मरुत्तमा दस्रा दंसिष्ठा रथ्या रथीतमा । पूर्णं रथं वहेथे मध्व आचितं तेन दाश्वांसमुप याथो अश्विना ॥
इन्द्रतमौ हि धिष्ण्यौ मरुत्तमौ दस्रौ दंसिष्ठौ रथ्यौ रथीतमौ। पूर्णं रथं वहेथो मध्वा आचितं तेन दाश्वांसम् उप याथोऽश्विना॥
Mantra 3
किमत्र दस्रा कृणुथः किमासाथे जनो यः कश्चिदहविर्महीयते । अति क्रमिष्टं जुरतं पणेरसुं ज्योतिर्विप्राय कृणुतं वचस्यवे ॥
किमत्र दस्रा कृणुथः किमासाथे जनो यः कश्चिदहविर्महीयते। अतिक्रमिष्टं जुरतं पणेरसुं ज्योतिर्विप्राय कृणुतं वचस्यवे॥
Mantra 4
जम्भयतमभितो रायतः शुनो हतं मृधो विदथुस्तान्यश्विना । वाचंवाचं जरितू रत्निनीं कृतमुभा शंसं नासत्यावतं मम ॥
जम्भयतमभितो रायतः शुनो हतं मृधो विदथुस्तान्यश्विना। वाचंवाचं जरितू रत्निनीं कृतमुभा शंसं नासत्यावतं मम॥
Mantra 5
युवमेतं चक्रथुः सिन्धुषु प्लवमात्मन्वन्तं पक्षिणं तौग्र्याय कम् । येन देवत्रा मनसा निरूहथुः सुपप्तनी पेतथुः क्षोदसो महः ॥
युवामेतं चक्रथुः सिन्धुषु प्लवम् आत्मन्वन्तं पक्षिणं तौग्र्याय कम्। येन देवत्रा मनसा निरूहथुः, सुपप्तनी पेतथुः क्षोदसो महः॥
Mantra 6
अवविद्धं तौग्र्यमप्स्वन्तरनारम्भणे तमसि प्रविद्धम् । चतस्रो नावो जठलस्य जुष्टा उदश्विभ्यामिषिताः पारयन्ति ॥
अवविद्धं तौग्र्यमप्स्वन्तरनारम्भणे तमसि प्रविद्धम्। चतस्रो नावो जठलस्य जुष्टा उदश्विभ्यामिषिताः पारयन्ति॥
Mantra 7
कः स्विद्वृक्षो निःष्ठितो मध्ये अर्णसो यं तौग्र्यो नाधितः पर्यषस्वजत् । पर्णा मृगस्य पतरोरिवारभ उदश्विना ऊहथुः श्रोमताय कम् ॥
कः स्विद्वृक्षो निष्ठितो मध्ये अर्णसो यं तौग्र्यो नाधितः पर्यषस्वजत्। पर्णा मृगस्य पतरोरिवारभ उदश्विना ऊहथुः श्रोमताय कम्॥
Mantra 8
तद्वां नरा नासत्यावनु ष्याद्यद्वां मानास उचथमवोचन् । अस्मादद्य सदसः सोम्यादा विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम् ॥
तद्वां नरौ नासत्यावनु ष्याद् यद्वां मानास उचथम् अवोचन्। अस्मादद्य सदसः सोम्याद् विद्यामेषं वृजनं जीरदानुम्॥
Inside Sukta 182
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by declaring an ordered insight/arrangement (vayuna) and calling the Aśvins to arrive—pure in their law—on their powerful chariot, quickening inspired thought.
- Development
It builds by praising their effective, practical powers and recalling their renowned interventions, presenting mythic rescues as living guarantees of present help.
- Climax
The rescue motif peaks in the episode of Tugrya’s son being carried across surging waters by the Aśvins’ crafted ‘floater’/winged conveyance (1.182.5).
- Where it settles
It ends with a confident prayer that what the wise proclaim about the Aśvins’ help will be fulfilled now, granting nourishment, overcoming of hardship, and lasting gifts from the Soma-seat (1.182.8).
The deity: Aśvinau
- In the VedaThe Aśvins are youthful twin riders with a radiant chariot, swift as thought, famed as physicians and rescuers who respond quickly to the call of the worshiper. They are invoked at dawn, bring aid to the afflicted, restore wholeness, and guide across peril—often celebrated through specific rescue-episodes.
- Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from darkness to light at daybreak, restoring vitality, health, and safe movement through liminal spaces (night to dawn, danger to safety, disorder to order).
- Inner significanceThe twin powers of timely assistance and integrative healing—awakening clarity (dhī), restoring balance, and carrying the seeker across inner turbulence toward steadiness and right action.
The seer
- Agastya MānaĀgastya (Agastya gotra), traditionally linked with the Maitrāvaruṇa/Agastya family line · A seer of the Agastya tradition whose Aśvin hymns emphasize practical divine help—healing, safe passage, and the quickening of insight—often framed as urgent, dawn-linked assistance.
Famous verses
divo napātā śucivratā ("sons of Heaven, pure in your law")
युवमेतं चक्रथुः सिन्धुषु प्लवमात्मन्वन्तं पक्षिणं तौग्र्याय कम् । येन देवत्रा मनसा निरूहथुः सुपप्तनी पेतथुः क्षोदसो महः ॥iṣaṃ vṛjanaṃ jīradānum ("nourishment, overcoming, enduring gifts")
Attributes of the deity
- Twin deities
- Dawn-associated
- Swift chariot-riders
- Healers/physicians
- Rescuers and protectors of travelers
- Bestowers of wealth and nourishment
- Respond quickly to invocation
- Pure in observance (śucivratā)
Also by this seer
- Traditional attribution within the RV 1.180–1.191 Aśvin cluster (Anukramaṇī tradition varies by verse/recension)
- Agastya corpus more broadly associated with hymns in Mandala 1 (Agastya-related suktas) and the wider Agastya sage-line in later Vedic memory
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the Soma-seat/pressing area and kindle the ritual fire(s).
- At dawn, recite the hymn inviting the Aśvins to ‘adorn’ and empower the rite and to arrive on their chariot.
- Offer Soma (and accompanying oblations) while recalling exemplary Aśvin rescues as proof of their saving power.
- Conclude with a direct petition for iṣ (nourishment), protection from distress (vṛjana), and enduring gifts (jīradānu).
Offerings
- Soma libation
- Ghee/clarified butter (as ancillary oblation)
- Optional simple food-offerings aligned with iṣ (nourishment)
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aśvins (Nāsatyā) are twin Vedic deities known as swift riders and divine physicians. In this hymn they are praised as rescuers who quickly bring help, health, and safe passage.
It recalls how the Aśvins saved Tugrya’s son by providing a special conveyance—described as a ‘floater’ and ‘winged bearer’—to cross dangerous waters and escape overwhelming peril.
It asks that the Aśvins’ famed help become real “today” in the ritual: nourishment (iṣ), overcoming of hardship (vṛjana), and gifts that endure (jīradānu) from the Soma-seat.
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