Sukta 32
Sukta 2.32
Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)
Triṣṭubh
अयं सूक्तः प्रथमं द्यावापृथिव्यौ आह्वयति—कविवाक्यस्य रक्षिके, ऋतेन समन्विते, विशालौ जननी इव यौ प्रथिमानं रक्षणं समृद्धिं च प्रयच्छतः। ततः शुभासु स्त्रीशक्तिषु प्रार्थना विस्तरति—विशेषतः राकां तथा तत्सम्बद्धा देवीः—याः प्रजननं धनं क्षेमं च दद्युḥ; अन्ते च बह्वीः दिव्याः स्त्रियः सहाय्याय स्वस्तये च समाह्वयति।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अस्य मे द्यावापृथिवी ऋतायतो भूतमवित्री वचसः सिषासतः । ययोरायुः प्रतरं ते इदं पुर उपस्तुते वसूयुर्वां महो दधे ॥
अस्य मे वचसः ऋतायतो द्यावापृथिव्यौ भूत्वा अवित्री भवताम्, वचः सिषासतः। ययोः आयुः प्रतरं, तयोः पुरः इदं स्तुतिं दधे; वसूयुः वां महो दधे।
Mantra 2
मा नो गुह्या रिप आयोरहन्दभन्मा न आभ्यो रीरधो दुच्छुनाभ्यः । मा नो वि यौः सख्या विद्धि तस्य नः सुम्नायता मनसा तत्त्वेमहे ॥
मा नः गुह्या रिपवः आयोः अहन्; मा नः आभ्यः परेभ्यश्च दुच्छुनाभ्यः रीरधुः। मा नः वि यौः सख्यम्; तद् विद्धि—सुम्नायता मनसा तत्त्वे वयं इमहे।
Mantra 3
अहेळता मनसा श्रुष्टिमा वह दुहानां धेनुं पिप्युषीमसश्चतम् । पद्याभिराशुं वचसा च वाजिनं त्वां हिनोमि पुरुहूत विश्वहा ॥
अहेळता मनसा श्रुष्टिम् आ वह; दुहानां धेनुं पिप्युषीम् असश्चतम् इव। पद्याभिः आशुं वचसा च वाजिनं त्वां हिनोमि, पुरुहूत, विश्वहा।
Mantra 4
राकामहं सुहवां सुष्टुती हुवे शृणोतु नः सुभगा बोधतु त्मना । सीव्यत्वपः सूच्याच्छिद्यमानया ददातु वीरं शतदायमुक्थ्यम् ॥
अहं राकां सुहवां सुष्टुती च हुवे। सा नः शुभगा शृणोतु, त्मना बोधतु। अछिद्यमानया सूच्या अपः सीव्यत्वपः, अस्मभ्यं च शतदायम् उक्थ्यं वीरं ददातु।
Mantra 5
यास्ते राके सुमतयः सुपेशसो याभिर्ददासि दाशुषे वसूनि । ताभिर्नो अद्य सुमना उपागहि सहस्रपोषं सुभगे रराणा ॥
हे राके, यास्ते सुमतयः सुपेशसः, याभिर्दाशुषे वसूनि ददासि—ताभिर्नोऽद्य सुमना उपागहि, शुभगे, सहस्रपोषं रराणा।
Mantra 6
सिनीवालि पृथुष्टुके या देवानामसि स्वसा । जुषस्व हव्यमाहुतं प्रजां देवि दिदिड्ढि नः ॥
हे सिनीवालि पृथुष्टुके, या देवानामसि स्वसा। हव्यं आहुतं जुषस्व; प्रजां देवि नः दिदिड्ढि।
Mantra 7
या सुबाहुः स्वङ्गुरिः सुषूमा बहुसूवरी । तस्यै विश्पत्न्यै हविः सिनीवाल्यै जुहोतन ॥
या सुबाहुः स्वङ्गुरिः सुषूमा बहुसूवरी । तस्यै विश्पत्न्यै सिनीवाल्यै हविर्जुहोत ॥
Mantra 8
या गुङ्गूर्या सिनीवाली या राका या सरस्वती । इन्द्राणीमह्व ऊतये वरुणानीं स्वस्तये ॥
या गुंगूर्या सिनीवाली या राका या सरस्वती । इन्द्राणीमह्व ऊतये वरुणानीं स्वस्तये ॥
Inside Sukta 32
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The poet places his hymn before Heaven and Earth, asking them—moving in ṛta—to guard and empower his speech.
- Development
From cosmic parents as protectors and givers of breadth, the hymn turns toward specific auspicious feminine powers that grant riches, increase, and favorable mind.
- Climax
A concentrated appeal to Rākā’s ‘bright, well-formed’ beneficent powers, requesting abundant, thousandfold plenitude.
- Where it settles
An inclusive closing invocation names multiple goddesses (Guṅgū, Sinīvālī, Rākā, Sarasvatī) and calls Indrāṇī and Varuṇānī for help and wide well-being (svasti).
The deity: Dyāvā-Pṛthivī with associated feminine devatās in later verses
- In the VedaIn this sukta, they are asked to ‘strengthen the word’ and to grant the worshipper spaciousness and plenitude; the hymn also turns to Rākā and allied goddesses as bestowers of wealth, increase, and auspiciousness.
- Cosmic functionThey form the fundamental container of existence—space above and ground below—supporting order, seasons, fertility, and the stable arena in which yajña and human life can flourish.
- Inner significanceThe pairing signifies the inner ‘two poles’ of consciousness: the luminous, aspiring mind (dyauḥ) and the grounded, sustaining embodiment (pṛthivī). Their harmony under ṛta reflects integrated life—right thought and right action—while the invoked goddesses represent the mind’s auspicious resolve that ripens into growth and well-being.
The seer
- Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage (Gṛtsamada clan) · Principal seer of much of Maṇḍala 2, renowned for hymns that blend precise ritual speech with expansive cosmic imagery, especially around ṛta, protection, and prosperity.
Famous verses
ṛtāyato bhūtam avitrī vacasaḥ
sahasrapoṣaṃ subhage
varuṇānīṃ svastaye
Attributes of the deity
- Upholders of ṛta (cosmic order)
- Protectors of speech and sacrifice
- Vastness and spaciousness (uru/mahat)
- Fertility and increase
- Parental support and shelter
- Auspicious feminine bestowal (Rākā and allied devīs)
Also by this seer
- Large portion of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 traditionally attributed to Gṛtsamada
- Noted for hymns to Agni and Indra in Maṇḍala 2 that establish the sacrificer’s protection (rakṣā) and success (śrī/vasu)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/space and establish a calm, purified setting (ācamana, simple saṅkalpa).
- Kindle or honor Agni (if in a fire context) and begin with an invocation aligning the rite with ṛta.
- Recite the opening verses to Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, requesting protection for the ‘vacas’ (sacred utterance) and spacious support.
- Proceed to the verses invoking Rākā and related goddesses for increase, wealth, and auspicious thought.
- Conclude with a general svasti-prayer, mentally dedicating the fruit of the recitation to protection and well-being for household/community.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into fire (where applicable)
- Milk/curd offerings in domestic settings
- Grains or soma-substitute libations (context-dependent)
- Simple water oblation and flowers (later practice)
Frequently Asked Questions
They are Heaven and Earth as a divine pair—the cosmic parents who uphold order (ṛta), protect the sacrifice, and support life with stability and spaciousness.
These feminine devatās represent auspicious increase and fulfillment—linked with growth, fertility, prosperity, and the ripening of blessings—so the hymn asks them to bring abundance and well-being.
It is commonly used as a prayer for protection of one’s efforts and speech, for household prosperity and increase, and for general welfare (svasti), especially at auspicious times like early morning or lunar observances.
Ask anything about Sukta 32 of the Rig Veda
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