Sukta 40
Sukta 4.40
Vāmadeva Gautama
Triṣṭubh (probable)
अयं संक्षिप्तः सूक्तः दधिक्रावाणं—शीघ्रं विजयीं शक्तिं, यां दिव्याश्वरूपेण वा सौरहंसशक्तिरूपेण वा कल्पयन्ति—प्रशंसति; स गायकं प्रातःप्रातः उषसां मध्ये, तथा आपः, अग्निः, सूर्यः, बृहस्पतिः, अङ्गिरसश्च इत्येतैः सह देवताभिः, अग्रे नयतु इति प्रेरयति। अस्य वेगः, वातसदृशः प्रवाहः, रक्षणशक्तिश्च स्तूयते। अन्ते च “हंसः” बहुषु धामसु निषण्णः इति गूढं प्रतीकवचनं समापयति, यत्र देवता ऋतेन (ऋतस्य सत्यधर्मेण) एवैक्यं प्राप्नोति।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
दधिक्राव्ण इदु नु चर्किराम विश्वा इन्मामुषसः सूदयन्तु । अपामग्नेरुषसः सूर्यस्य बृहस्पतेराङ्गिरसस्य जिष्णोः ॥
दधिक्राव्ण इदानीं नु वयं चर्किराम; विश्वा उषसः माम् सूदयन्तु—अपामुषसः, अग्नेः, उषसः सूर्यस्य, बृहस्पतेः, आङ्गिरसस्य जिष्णोः॥
Mantra 2
सत्वा भरिषो गविषो दुवन्यसच्छ्रवस्यादिष उषसस्तुरण्यसत् । सत्यो द्रवो द्रवरः पतंगरो दधिक्रावेषमूर्जं स्वर्जनत् ॥
सत्त्वा भरिषो गविषो दुवन्यः सच्छ्रवस्यादिष उषसस्तुरण्यसत्। सत्यो द्रवो द्रवरः पतंगरो दधिक्रावेषमूर्जं स्वर्जनत्॥
Mantra 3
उत स्मास्य द्रवतस्तुरण्यतः पर्णं न वेरनु वाति प्रगर्धिनः । श्येनस्येव ध्रजतो अङ्कसं परि दधिक्राव्णः सहोर्जा तरित्रतः ॥
उत स्मास्य द्रवतस्तुरण्यतः प्रगर्धिनो बलवतो वातः पर्णमिव वेरनु वाति। श्येनस्येव ध्रजतोऽङ्कसं परि, तरित्रतः परितो दधिक्राव्णः सहोर्जा महती शक्तिश्च तमावृणोति।
Mantra 4
उत स्य वाजी क्षिपणिं तुरण्यति ग्रीवायां बद्धो अपिकक्ष आसनि । क्रतुं दधिक्रा अनु संतवीत्वत्पथामङ्कांस्यन्वापनीफणत् ॥
उत स्य वाजी क्षिपणिं तुरण्यति—ग्रीवायां बद्धः, अपिकक्षे आसनिना संनद्धः। दधिक्राऽनु क्रतुं सन्तवीत्वत् समनुगच्छति; पथामङ्कांसि अन्वापनीफणत्—वक्राणि नमयन् सम्यक् प्रसाधयति।
Mantra 5
हंसः शुचिषद्वसुरन्तरिक्षसद्धोता वेदिषदतिथिर्दुरोणसत् । नृषद्वरसदृतसद्व्योमसदब्जा गोजा ऋतजा अद्रिजा ऋतम् ॥
हंसः शुचिषद्वसुरन्तरिक्षसत्; होता वेदिषत्, अतिथिर्दुरोणसत्। नृषद् वरसद् ऋतसद् व्योमसद्; अब्जा गोजा ऋतजा अद्रिजः—स एव ऋतम्।
Inside Sukta 40
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A direct proclamation: the poet resolves to praise Dadhikrāvan and asks all Dawns—linked to Waters, Agni, Sun, and sacred speech—to propel him forward.
- Development
The hymn amplifies Dadhikrāvan’s kinetic power: his rushing movement, the wind tracking him, and the surrounding force that carries him beyond limits.
- Climax
The imagery peaks in a sweeping, multi-seated “haṃsa” vision—present in purity, midspace, altar, home, humans, the heights—born of waters and rays, culminating in identification with Ṛta.
- Where it settles
The praise settles into recognition: the deity’s outward victory mirrors an inward establishment in truth and right order, leaving the worshipper aligned and strengthened.
The deity: Dadhikrāvan
- In the VedaIn this hymn’s symbolic culmination, he is aligned with the “haṃsa” imagery—present in purity, midspace, altar, home, and the vast—born of waters and rays, and identified with Ṛta.
- Cosmic functionHe embodies victorious impetus: the force that carries the sacrifice and the worshipper forward, harmonizing dawn-renewal, solar radiance, fiery will, and the priestly word (Bṛhaspati/Aṅgirasa) into a single forward-driving victory.
- Inner significanceThe awakened life-force that outstrips inertia—clarity and aspiration moving through the mind like wind through space—culminating in recognition of an inner ‘Swan’ (pure witnessing intelligence) established in truth (Ṛta).
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama (Vāmadeva) gotra · A major seer of the Fourth Maṇḍala, renowned for hymns of inspired vision that link outer deities with inner realization and Ṛta.
Famous verses
दधिक्राव्ण इदु नु चर्किराम विश्वा इन्मामुषसः सूदयन्तु । अपामग्नेरुषसः सूर्यस्य बृहस्पतेराङ्गिरसस्य जिष्णोः ॥उत स्मास्य द्रवतस्तुरण्यतः पर्णं न वेरनु वाति प्रगर्धिनः । श्येनस्येव ध्रजतो अङ्कसं परि दधिक्राव्णः सहोर्जा तरित्रतः ॥haṃsaḥ śuciṣad… ṛtam
Attributes of the deity
- Swift, victorious momentum
- Wind-followed speed and crossing beyond obstacles
- Protector and energizer of the sacrificer
- Linked with dawn-impulsion (Uṣas) and purification (Apas)
- Solar and fiery brilliance (Sūrya/Agni)
- Connected to inspired speech and priestly power (Bṛhaspati/Aṅgirasa)
- Symbolically identified with Ṛta (cosmic order/truth)
Also by this seer
- A large portion of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 is attributed to Vāmadeva Gautama (including multiple hymns to Indra, Agni, and allied powers).
- Associated in later tradition with profound devotional insight and the articulation of cosmic order (Ṛta) through poetic revelation.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire (if maintained) and establish quiet attention facing the light of dawn or the fire.
- Invoke Dadhikrāvan by name, then mentally link the allied powers named in the hymn (Waters, Agni, Dawns, Sun, Bṛhaspati/Aṅgirasa).
- Recite the hymn steadily in Triṣṭubh cadence, emphasizing the ‘urge onward’ (Uṣas) and ‘victory’ motifs.
- Conclude with a short silent contemplation on Ṛta: order, truth, and right alignment of thought, speech, and action.
- Optionally repeat the final symbolic verse as a dhyāna (meditative) anchor for purity and inner steadiness.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājyam) into Agni
- Simple oblation such as milk/curd (dadhi) symbolically resonant with Dadhikrāvan’s name
- Water libation (āpo) for purification
- Optional soma-substitute in later practice (where appropriate)
Frequently Asked Questions
Dadhikrāvan is praised as a swift, victorious divine force—often pictured like a powerful steed or solar-bird energy—that carries the worshipper forward and protects the undertaking.
The hymn links Dadhikrāvan to a whole chain of supportive powers: dawn-renewal (Uṣas), purification (Waters), fiery will (Agni), illumination (Sūrya), and inspired sacred speech/priestly force (Bṛhaspati/Aṅgirasa).
It says the ‘Swan’—a symbol of pure, luminous consciousness—is present in many places (sky, altar, home, within people) and is born from waters and light; ultimately it is identified with Ṛta, the principle of truth and right order.
Ask anything about Sukta 40 of the Rig Veda
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