Sukta 40
Sukta 2.40
Gṛtsamada (and/or the Gṛtsamada lineage)
Triṣṭubh (likely for RV 2.40)
एषः षडृचः त्रिष्टुभः सूक्तः सोमपूषणौ द्वौ देवौ संयुक्तरूपेण आह्वयति—समृद्धेः जनयितारौ, रक्षकौ च—यौ लोकेषु यजमाने च अमृतत्वस्य समृद्धेश्च “नाभिं” प्रतिष्ठापयतः। तौ वर्धनस्य मध्यस्रोतः—धनं पोषणं फलवन्तश्च शक्तयः—विस्तारयितुम् प्रार्थ्येते; तथा धियं प्रेरयितुं रक्षां दातुं च। अन्ते अदितेः रक्षणीयया उपस्थित्या सहितं शुभाशंसनं समाप्यते।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
सोमापूषणा जनना रयीणां जनना दिवो जनना पृथिव्याः । जातौ विश्वस्य भुवनस्य गोपौ देवा अकृण्वन्नमृतस्य नाभिम् ॥
हे सोमपूषणौ, रयीणां जननौ, दिवो जननौ, पृथिव्याः जननौ। विश्वस्य भुवनस्य गोपौ जातौ; देवाः युवाम् अमृतस्य नाभिं अकरुवन्।
Mantra 2
इमौ देवौ जायमानौ जुषन्तेमौ तमांसि गूहतामजुष्टा । आभ्यामिन्द्रः पक्वमामास्वन्तः सोमापूषभ्यां जनदुस्रियासु ॥
इमौ देवौ जायमानौ जुषेते; इमौ अ-जुष्टानि तमांसि गूहते। आभ्याम् इन्द्रः अपक्वान्तः पक्वम् आनयति; सोमपूषभ्याम् उस्रियासु जनयति।
Mantra 3
सोमापूषणा रजसो विमानं सप्तचक्रं रथमविश्वमिन्वम् । विषूवृतं मनसा युज्यमानं तं जिन्वथो वृषणा पञ्चरश्मिम् ॥
हे सोमा–पूषणा, रजसो विमानं सप्तचक्रं रथम् अविश्वमिन्वं यूयं जिन्वथः। विषूवृतं मनसा युज्यमानं पञ्चरश्मिं तं बलं, हे वृषणौ, प्रवर्तयथः।
Mantra 4
दिव्यन्यः सदनं चक्र उच्चा पृथिव्यामन्यो अध्यन्तरिक्षे । तावस्मभ्यं पुरुवारं पुरुक्षुं रायस्पोषं वि ष्यतां नाभिमस्मे ॥
दिव्ये अन्यः सदनं चक्रे उच्चा; पृथिव्याम् अन्यः, अन्तरिक्षे च। तौ अस्मभ्यं पुरुवारं पुरुक्षुं रायस्पोषं नाभिं वि ष्यताम्—सा नाभिः अस्मे अन्तः स्यात्।
Mantra 5
विश्वान्यन्यो भुवना जजान विश्वमन्यो अभिचक्षाण एति । सोमापूषणाववतं धियं मे युवाभ्यां विश्वाः पृतना जयेम ॥
विश्वानि अन्यः भुवना जजान; विश्वम् अन्यः अभिचक्षाण एति। हे सोमा–पूषणौ, मे धियं अवतं; युवाभ्यां वयं विश्वाः पृतना जयेम।
Mantra 6
धियं पूषा जिन्वतु विश्वमिन्वो रयिं सोमो रयिपतिर्दधातु । अवतु देव्यदितिरनर्वा बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥
विश्वमिन्वः पूषा अस्माकं धियं जिन्वतु; रयिपतिः सोमोऽस्मासु रयिं दधातु। अनर्वा देव्यदितिरस्मान् अवतु; वयं विदथे सुवीराः सन्तो बृहद् वदेम।
Inside Sukta 40
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma and Pūṣan are hailed as begetters of riches and of heaven and earth, born as guardians of all existence and set as the nābhi of immortality.
- Development
The hymn differentiates their cosmic stations (one aloft, one on earth/mid-space) and turns this cosmology into a practical request: may they spread the center of increase—wealth, nourishment, and fruitful powers—within the worshipper/community.
- Climax
The concentrated petition that the dual gods “spread the nābhi” of rāyas-poṣa for us—an image of prosperity radiating from a single sacred center.
- Where it settles
A closing triad of boons: Pūṣan quickens insight (dhī), Soma bestows plenitude (rayi), and Aditi protects, ending with the aspiration to speak the Vast (bṛhat) in the assembly with strong progeny/powers (suvīrāḥ).
The deity: Soma–Pūṣan
- In the VedaTogether they are described as “begetters” of riches, heaven, and earth, and as the two guardians (gopau) of all becoming, placed by the gods as the nābhi (central hub) of amṛta (immortality).
- Cosmic functionSoma sustains divine vitality and the upward movement toward amṛta through consecrated exhilaration; Pūṣan secures nourishment, safe passage, and the right distribution of goods across earth and mid-space. In tandem they stabilize the cosmic economy of life—sap, food, wealth, and the protected routes by which these circulate.
- Inner significanceSoma signifies inner delight, luminous inspiration, and the nectar of concentrated consciousness; Pūṣan signifies the guiding intelligence that leads the seeker on the right path and converts inspiration into steady growth and practical well-being. Their shared “nābhi” points to an inner center where spiritual vitality and worldly increase are harmonized.
The seer
- GṛtsamadaGṛtsamada (Bhārgava) lineage; traditionally connected with the Bhṛgu-gotra stream · Principal seer of much of Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for hymns that establish stable ritual order and invoke deities for protection, prosperity, and right inspiration (dhī) in the sacrifice.
Famous verses
amṛtasya nābhim
rāyas poṣaṃ … nābhim
bṛhad vadema vidathe
Attributes of the deity
- Begetters of abundance (rayīṇām jananā)
- Guardians/protectors of becoming (bhuvanasya gopau)
- Establishers of the nābhi (central hub) of immortality
- Nourishment, increase, and prosperity (poṣa)
- Guidance and safe passage (Pūṣan)
- Invigorating sacred essence and lordship of wealth (Soma as rayipatí)
Also by this seer
- Large portion of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas attributed to Gṛtsamada and his lineage)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, and allied deities emphasizing protection (rakṣas), increase (poṣa), and victorious strength (vīrya)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire (Agni) and establish a calm, ordered ritual space.
- Open with an invocation to Soma–Pūṣan as joint guardians and begetters of heaven/earth, affirming them as the nābhi of amṛta.
- Offer oblations while reciting verses that request spreading of rāyas-poṣa (increase of riches and nourishment) and protection across the three realms (dyu, pṛthivī, antarikṣa).
- Conclude with the benediction: Pūṣan to quicken dhī (insight), Soma to place rayi (plenitude), and Aditi to protect; end with a communal aspiration to speak the “Vast” in the assembly.
- Optionally follow with śānti-style closing and distribution of consecrated remnants (where customary).
Offerings
- Soma (where ritually appropriate) or symbolic soma substitute in later practice
- Ghee (ājya) oblations into Agni
- Milk/curds and grains as nourishing offerings (annāhuti)
- Optional sweet offerings (madhu) as a prosperity symbol
Frequently Asked Questions
Soma represents the sacred, invigorating essence that supports vitality and immortality, while Pūṣan is the nourishing protector and guide of right paths. Invoked together, they unite inner inspiration with outward nourishment and safe, fruitful increase.
It means “the navel (center/hub) of immortality.” The hymn imagines Soma–Pūṣan as a central source from which life, prosperity, and divine vitality radiate into the worlds and into the worshipper.
It asks for prosperity and nourishment (rāyas-poṣa), the quickening of insight (dhī), protection (especially through Aditi), and the strength to speak truthfully and expansively (“the Vast”) in the communal assembly.
Ask anything about Sukta 40 of the Rig Veda
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