Sukta 71
Sukta 7.71
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for Maṇḍala 7)
Triṣṭubh (probable)
अश्विनौ प्रति अयं लघुस्तोत्रः रात्र्याः प्रभातायाः च सन्धौ, यत्र रात्रिः प्रभाताय स्थानं ददाति, तत्र सुस्पष्टं निबद्धः। वसिष्ठः दिव्यौ तौ युगलौ रथेन तेजस्विना शीघ्रमागन्तुं आह्वयति। स तौ रक्षकौ मन्यते, यौ दिवा नक्तं च अनिष्टं निवारयतः, तथा प्राणबलं धनं क्षेमं च ददातः। अन्ते सुसूत्रितं स्तोमं समर्प्य, स्वस्त्या नित्यं परिरक्षणं याचते।
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
अप स्वसुरुषसो नग्जिहीते रिणक्ति कृष्णीररुषाय पन्थाम् । अश्वामघा गोमघा वां हुवेम दिवा नक्तं शरुमस्मद्युयोतम् ॥
रात्रिः स्वसुरुषसः अपगच्छति, कृष्णान् पन्थान् अरुषाय प्रकाशपथाय रिणक्ति। हे अश्विनौ, अश्वमघौ गोमघौ, वां वयं दिवा नक्तं च हुवेम; अस्मद् युयोतं शरुम् अनिष्टस्य।
Mantra 2
उपायातं दाशुषे मर्त्याय रथेन वाममश्विना वहन्ता । युयुतमस्मदनिराममीवां दिवा नक्तं माध्वी त्रासीथां नः ॥
हे अश्विनौ, दाशुषे मर्त्याय उपायतं, वामं रथेन वहन्ता। अस्मद् अनिराममीवां युयुतम्; माध्वी, दिवा नक्तं च नः त्रासीथाम्।
Mantra 3
आ वां रथमवमस्यां व्युष्टौ सुम्नायवो वृषणो वर्तयन्तु । स्यूमगभस्तिमृतयुग्भिरश्वैराश्विना वसुमन्तं वहेथाम् ॥
अवमस्यां व्युष्टौ सुम्नायवो वृषणो वां रथम् आ वर्तयन्तु। स्यूमगभस्तिम् ऋतयुग्भिरश्वैः, हे अश्विनौ, वसुमन्तं रथं इह वहेथाम्।
Mantra 4
यो वां रथो नृपती अस्ति वोळ्हा त्रिवन्धुरो वसुमाँ उस्रयामा । आ न एना नासत्योप यातमभि यद्वां विश्वप्स्न्यो जिगाति ॥
यो वां रथो नृपती वोळ्हा, त्रिवन्धुरो वसुमान् उस्रयाम-पथगः; तेन नः नासत्यौ उप यातम्, यदा वां विश्वप्स्न्यः आह्वान-प्रेरणा जिगाति।
Mantra 5
युवं च्यवानं जरसोऽमुमुक्तं नि पेदव ऊहथुराशुमश्वम् । निरंहसस्तमसः स्पर्तमत्रिं नि जाहुषं शिथिरे धातमन्तः ॥
युवां च्यवानं जरसः अमुमुक्तम्; पेदवे आशुम् अश्वम् ऊहथुः। अत्रिं निरंहसः तमसः स्पर्तात् निः अकरुतम्; जाहुषं च अन्तः शिथिरे अनाहते धातम्।
Mantra 6
इयं मनीषा इयमश्विना गीरिमां सुवृक्तिं वृषणा जुषेथाम् । इमा ब्रह्माणि युवयून्यग्मन्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
इयं मनीषा, इयम् अश्विना गीः; हे वृषणा, इमां सुवृक्तिं जुषेथाम्। इमा ब्रह्माणि युवयूनि आग्मन्; यूयं नः सदा स्वस्तिभिः पात।
Inside Sukta 71
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A cosmic tableau: Night withdraws from her sister Dawn, yielding the dark paths to the ruddy way of light.
- Development
From this transition, the poet turns to direct invocation—Aśvins as givers of vitality and wealth—asking them to avert the ‘dart’ of harm at all times.
- Climax
The urgent invitation: the Nāsatyas are asked to come near in their rich, three-seated chariot when the pervasive call reaches them.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes by offering the crafted praise and requesting enduring protection through svasti—ongoing well-being and safe guidance.
The deity: Aśvinau
- Cosmic functionThey mediate the passage from darkness to light (night-to-dawn), restore wholeness (healing), and ensure safe passage—physical and cosmic—through peril and transition.
- Inner significanceThey symbolize the twin powers of prompt help and restorative insight: the capacity to move from confusion to clarity, to heal brokenness, and to establish inner ‘svasti’—stable well-being amid change.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Āditya/Ṛṣi lineage traditionally associated with the Vasiṣṭhas) · Foremost seer of Maṇḍala 7, celebrated for sacerdotal authority, luminous praise-poetry, and his role as a paradigmatic purohita (royal priest) in Vedic tradition.
Famous verses
divā naktaṃ śarum asmad yuyotam
यो वां रथो नृपती अस्ति वोळ्हा त्रिवन्धुरो वसुमाँ उस्रयामा । आ न एना नासत्योप यातमभि यद्वां विश्वप्स्न्यो जिगाति ॥yūyam pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Twin deities (yugmā)
- Swift chariot-borne rescuers
- Healers and restorers
- Associated with dawn and transitions
- Protectors who avert harm (driving away the ‘dart’)
- Givers of strength and prosperity (aśva-/go-maghā)
Also by this seer
- Majority of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 hymns (Sapta-maṇḍala tradition)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, Varuṇa-Mitra, and the Maruts in RV 7
- Later Vedic/Itihāsa memory as a foundational brahmarṣi and teacher in the Vasiṣṭha lineage
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar/fire and seat the intention: protection and auspicious passage from night to day.
- Recite the opening verse(s) at the dawn-threshold, contemplating Night yielding to Dawn.
- Invite the Aśvins to ‘come near’ on their three-seated chariot, calling them by day and by night.
- State the specific request: removal of harm and hostile ‘shafts’ (śaru).
- Offer the ‘well-woven hymn’ (suvṛkti) as praise, concluding with a request for continual svasti.
- Seal with a brief śānti/svasti formula or silent contemplation on safe guidance.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Milk/curd or simple dairy oblations (Aśvinau associations)
- Soma offering where applicable (in soma contexts)
- Flowers/water as simple upacāra in later devotional adaptations
Frequently Asked Questions
The Aśvins (Nāsatyā) are the youthful divine Twins who arrive swiftly in a shining chariot, known for rescue, healing, and bringing prosperity—especially at dawn.
The night-to-dawn change is a sacred transition in the Veda. It symbolizes moving from danger and obscurity into safety and light, fitting the Aśvins’ role as protectors and helpers.
The poet asks them to come quickly, remove the ‘dart’ of harm, and guard the worshippers continually with svasti—steady well-being and auspicious protection.
Ask anything about Sukta 71 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
