Sukta 48
Sukta 7.48
Vasiṣṭha (Maṇḍala 7)
R̥bhus / Vāja / Rbhukṣaṇa (artisan-powers of perfection; associated with Soma and Indra-world)
Triṣṭubh
वसिष्ठस्यायं संक्षिप्तः त्रिष्टुभः सूक्तः ऋभून्—ऋभुक्षाणं वाजं च—कौशलपूर्णतायाः शक्तीः आह्वयति, ये पिष्टे सोमे प्रमोदन्तां च कार्याणि प्रभाविणि ‘प्रचोदयन्तु’ ये बलं जयञ्च जनयन्ति। एषां विस्तीर्णकर्मकारित्वं इन्द्रस्य वीर्येण सह संबध्नाति; प्राचीनाः सत्याः विधयः प्रवर्तन्ताम्, शत्रोः कपटं च निष्फलं भवत्विति याचते। अन्ते सर्वदेवान्, विशेषतः वसून्, वरिवसः (विस्तीर्णस्वातन्त्र्यस्य), पोषणस्य, स्वस्त्या च निरन्तररक्षणस्य याचना क्रियते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
ऋभुक्षणो वाजा मादयध्वमस्मे नरो मघवानः सुतस्य । आ वोऽर्वाचः क्रतवो न यातां विभ्वो रथं नर्यं वर्तयन्तु ॥
हे ऋभुक्षण वाज च! अस्मे सुतस्य सोमस्य मध्ये मादयध्वम्, हे नरो मघवानः। वः क्रतवोऽर्वाचो न याताम्; विभ्वो नर्यं रथं वर्तयन्तु।
Mantra 2
ऋभुॠभुभिरभि वः स्याम विभ्वो विभुभिः शवसा शवांसि । वाजो अस्माँ अवतु वाजसाताविन्द्रेण युजा तरुषेम वृत्रम् ॥
ऋभुॠभुभिरभि वः स्याम; विभ्वो विभुभिः शवसा शवांसि नः वर्धयतु। वाजोऽस्मान् वाजसाताववतु; इन्द्रेण युजा वयं वृत्रं तरुषेम।
Mantra 3
ते चिद्धि पूर्वीरभि सन्ति शासा विश्वाँ अर्य उपरताति वन्वन् । इन्द्रो विभ्वाँ ऋभुक्षा वाजो अर्यः शत्रोर्मिथत्या कृणवन्वि नृम्णम् ॥
ते चिद्धि पूर्वीरभि सन्ति शासाः विश्वान् आर्य उपरताति वन्वन् । इन्द्रो विभ्वान् ऋभुक्षा वाजोऽर्यः शत्रोर्मिथत्या कृणवन् वि नृम्णम् ॥
Mantra 4
नू देवासो वरिवः कर्तना नो भूत नो विश्वेऽवसे सजोषाः । समस्मे इषं वसवो ददीरन्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
नू देवासो वरिवः कर्तना नो भूत नो विश्वेऽवसे सजोषाः । समस्मे इषं वसवो ददीरन् यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
Inside Sukta 48
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
An immediate invitation to the Ṛbhus—R̥bhukṣaṇa and Vāja—to rejoice in the pressed Soma and to bring their efficacious powers forward.
- Development
Their ‘wide-working’ capacity is unfolded as the ability to set the chariot of accomplished work in motion and to align human effort with ancient ordinances that lead to higher attainment.
- Climax
The triad with Indra is invoked to manifest full heroic power and to reduce the foe’s falsehood to nothing—victory through truth-aligned efficacy.
- Where it settles
The hymn broadens into a closing prayer to all the gods, especially the Vasus, for spacious freedom, nourishment, and continual protection through svasti.
The deity: Ṛbhus, allied with Indra and Soma
- In the VedaThe Ṛbhus are artisan-powers of extraordinary skill who perfect, renew, and multiply forms; they are invited to the Soma, praised as wide-working (vibhvān) and effective in action (kratavaḥ). In this hymn they are addressed as heroic givers who drive the ‘manly chariot’—a symbol of accomplished work and victorious advance.
- Cosmic functionThey represent the cosmic principle of perfected workmanship: transforming the given into the refined, enabling increase (vāja as ‘prize/strength’), and supporting Indra’s victory by making power effective and fit for right action.
- Inner significancePsychologically, the Ṛbhus signify the disciplined faculties that refine life—skill, clarity, and constructive intelligence—turning raw impulse into capable force, and dissolving ‘falsehood’ (mithyā) that obstructs heroic effort.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/solar-associated seer lineage in later tradition) · Principal seer of Maṇḍala 7, celebrated for hymns of royal protection, cosmic order (ṛta), and powerful prayer for victory and well-being; later remembered as a paradigmatic Brahmarṣi and counselor of kings.
Famous verses
ऋभुक्षणो वाजा मादयध्वमस्मे नरो मघवानः सुतस्य । आ वोऽर्वाचः क्रतवो न यातां विभ्वो रथं नर्यं वर्तयन्तु ॥ते चिद्धि पूर्वीरभि सन्ति शासा विश्वाँ अर्य उपरताति वन्वन् । इन्द्रो विभ्वाँ ऋभुक्षा वाजो अर्यः शत्रोर्मिथत्या कृणवन्वि नृम्णम् ॥yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Artisan-like perfection and renewal
- Wide-working efficacy (vibhvān)
- Association with Soma exhilaration and Indra’s heroic realm
- Bestowers of vāja (strength, prize, victorious gain)
- Upheld by ancient ordinances and right order (ṛta/śāsā)
Also by this seer
- Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (numerous sūktas attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his family)
- Prominent Vedic figure in later Śrauta/Smārta memory; frequently cited in Itihāsa-Purāṇa traditions as a teacher and royal priest (purohita)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the ritual ground and kindle the sacred fires (Āhavanīya, etc.) according to Śrauta procedure.
- Press and clarify Soma; set the Soma for offering, establishing a mood of exhilaration (mada) and right intention.
- Recite the hymn inviting R̥bhukṣaṇa and Vāja to rejoice ‘here’ in the pressed Soma and to bring their effective powers near.
- Mentally/verbally connect their wide-working craft with Indra’s heroic force—asking that deceit and hostility be rendered powerless.
- Conclude with the universal appeal to the Viśve Devāḥ and the Vasus for varivas (free space), iṣ (impulsion/nourishment), and svasti (well-being).
Offerings
- Pressed Soma (primary)
- Ghee/ājya and ritual oblations as customary accompaniments
- Optional dakṣiṇā and food offerings aligned with the rite
Frequently Asked Questions
The Ṛbhus are divine artisan-powers—especially named here as R̥bhukṣaṇa and Vāja—who represent perfected skill and effective action, closely linked with Soma and Indra’s victorious force.
It asks the Ṛbhus to rejoice in the pressed Soma, bring their efficacious powers near, help true ordinances prevail, destroy the enemy’s deceit, and finally grant spacious freedom, nourishment, and constant well-being.
After invoking the specific powers of perfection (the Ṛbhus), the poet seals the prayer with a broad protective blessing—asking the Viśve Devāḥ, with emphasis on the Vasus, to give support, plenty, and lasting svasti for the worshippers.
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