Rig Veda Sukta 39
Mandala 2Sukta 398 Mantras

Sukta 39

Sukta 2.39

Rishi

Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Ang himnong ito ay tumatawag sa mga Aśvins bilang mabilis na kapangyarihang dalawa, na nagdadala ng mga handog ng tao at nagbibigay ng tunay na tulong, kalusugan, proteksyon, tamang patnubay, at kasaganaan. Sa pamamagitan ng buhay na magkakatulad na talinghaga (mga bato, mensahero, mga mata, mga kamay, mga paa), humihiling ang makata na dumating sila nang mabilis, tumingin nang malinaw, pagalingin ang katawan, at akayin ang sumasamba patungo sa mas mabuting kabutihan. Nagtatapos ito sa paghahandog ng yari na stoma bilang "pagdagdag" para sa mga Aśvins at pagdarasal para sa matibay at maliwanag na supling at isang malawak, mapagpalang pananalita sa kapulungan.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 2.39

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • AshvinauAśvinau (the two Aśvins)

    Twin horsemen, youthful and radiant, quick to come at dawn; healers and rescuers who respond to calls, travel widely, and bring medicines, protection, and good fortune.

Mantras

Mantra 1

ग्रावाणेव तदिदर्थं जरेथे गृध्रेव वृक्षं निधिमन्तमच्छ । ब्रह्माणेव विदथ उक्थशासा दूतेव हव्या जन्या पुरुत्रा ॥

Tulad ng mga batong pampiga kayong dalawa ay nakatuon sa tunay na layunin; tulad ng mga sabik na naghahanap kayo'y pumupunta sa punong puno ng kayamanan. Tulad ng mga pari kayo'y gumagalaw sa mga pagtitipon ng may utos ng himno; tulad ng mga mensahero kayo'y nagdadala ng mga alay ng mga tao sa maraming direksyon.

Mantra 2

प्रातर्यावाणा रथ्येव वीराजेव यमा वरमा सचेथे । मेने इव तन्वा शुम्भमाने दम्पतीव क्रतुविदा जनेषु ॥

Kayong dumarating sa umaga, magkasama tulad ng dalawang kasama sa karo, tulad ng isang maliwanag na pares na pumipili ng pinakamainam: tulad ng dalawang pantas na babae na nagpapaganda ng katawan, tulad ng isang kasal na mag-asawa na nakakaalam ng tamang pagpapasiya sa gitna ng mga tao.

Mantra 3

शृङ्गेव नः प्रथमा गन्तमर्वाक्छफाविव जर्भुराणा तरोभिः । चक्रवाकेव प्रति वस्तोरुस्रार्वाञ्चा यातं रथ्येव शक्रा ॥

Pumunta sa amin muna, tulad ng dalawang sungay na nangunguna; tulad ng dalawang kuko na mabilis na gumagalaw sa kanilang mga talon. Tulad ng mga ibong cakravaka na bumabalik patungo sa tahanan ng madaling araw, pumarito kayo; tulad ng dalawang makapangyarihan sa landas ng karo, O matibay na pares.

Mantra 4

नावेव नः पारयतं युगेव नभ्येव न उपधीव प्रधीव । श्वानेव नो अरिषण्या तनूनां खृगलेव विस्रसः पातमस्मान् ॥

Bilang isang bangka, dalhin ninyo kami sa kabila; bilang isang ayos, pagsamahin ninyo kami; bilang isang sentro, panatilihin ninyo kami; bilang mga suporta, itaguyod ninyo kami. Tulad ng mga bantay na aso, ingatan ninyo ang aming mga katawan; tulad ng isang matatag na nilalang, protektahan ninyo kami sa pagkadulas at pagkahulog.

Mantra 5

वातेवाजुर्या नद्येव रीतिरक्षी इव चक्षुषा यातमर्वाक् । हस्ताविव तन्वे शम्भविष्ठा पादेव नो नयतं वस्यो अच्छ ॥

Pumarito sa amin nang mabilis tulad ng hangin, tulad ng agos ng isang ilog; pumarito ng may paningin tulad ng dalawang mata. Tulad ng dalawang kamay maging pinakamapalad sa aming katawan; tulad ng dalawang paa, akayin ninyo kami patungo sa mas mabuti at mas maliwanag na kabutihan.

Mantra 6

ओष्ठाविव मध्वास्ने वदन्ता स्तनाविव पिप्यतं जीवसे नः । नासेव नस्तन्वो रक्षितारा कर्णाविव सुश्रुता भूतमस्मे ॥

Tulad ng dalawang labi na nagsasalita ng pulot sa bibig, maging kayo para sa amin ng mga salita ng tamis; tulad ng dalawang dibdib, pakainin ninyo kami para sa buhay. Tulad ng dalawang butas ng ilong, maging kayo ng mga tagapagtanggol ng aming kalikasang katawan; tulad ng dalawang tainga, maging kayo para sa amin ng mga makinabikinig, tumatanggap at nagkakaloob ng tunay na pagdinig.

Mantra 7

हस्तेव शक्तिमभि संददी नः क्षामेव नः समजतं रजांसि । इमा गिरो अश्विना युष्मयन्तीः क्ष्णोत्रेणेव स्वधितिं सं शिशीतम् ॥

Tulad ng kamay, ilagay ninyo ang lakas sa amin; tulad ng matibay na lupa, ayusin ninyo ang aming mga kalawakan. Ang mga pananalitang ito na naglalayong sumainyo, oh mga Ashvin, hasain ninyo silang magkasama tulad ng palakol sa gilingan.

Mantra 8

एतानि वामश्विना वर्धनानि ब्रह्म स्तोमं गृत्समदासो अक्रन् । तानि नरा जुजुषाणोप यातं बृहद्वदेम विदथे सुवीराः ॥

Ito ang inyong mga pagpapalago, oh mga Ashvin, ang inspiradong salita at himno na ginawa ng mga propetang Gritsamada. Tanggapin ninyo, oh dalawang makapangyarihang bayani, at lumapit kayo; sana ay magsalita kami ng Malaki sa kapulungan, mayaman sa matibay at liwanag na supling ng kaluluwa.

Inside Sukta 39

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The Aśvins are praised through strong paired similes as purposeful, treasure-seeking, priest-like movers in assemblies, and messengers who carry offerings everywhere (2.39.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn intensifies the request for their rapid approach and beneficent dual action—seeing, protecting, healing, and guiding—by comparing them to wind, river-current, two eyes, two hands, and two feet (e.g., 2.39.5).

  3. Climax

    The prayer peaks in the explicit plea for embodied auspiciousness and right leading toward the ‘better good,’ presenting the Aśvins as the very faculties of sight and movement that enable success.

  4. Where it settles

    The seer offers the finished stoma as the Aśvins’ ‘increase,’ asks them to accept and draw near, and prays for wide speech in the assembly and strong, luminous offspring (2.39.8).

The deity: Aśvinau

  • Cosmic functionThey mediate the transition from night to day and from distress to well-being—restoring order by healing, rescuing, and enabling movement, sight, and successful ritual exchange.
  • Inner significanceThe harmonized dual powers in the seeker—discernment and energy, inspiration and execution—arriving swiftly to heal what is broken and to guide the mind-body toward a higher, clearer good.

The seer

  • Gṛtsamada (Bhārgava)Bhṛgu/Bhārgava lineage; associated with the Gṛtsamada family of seers · A principal seer of Maṇḍala 2, celebrated for powerful, well-crafted hymns—especially to Agni and the divine helpers—linking precise ritual speech with practical boons.

Famous verses

ग्रावाणेव तदिदर्थं जरेथे गृध्रेव वृक्षं निधिमन्तमच्छ । ब्रह्माणेव विदथ उक्थशासा दूतेव हव्या जन्या पुरुत्रा ॥
Verse 2.39.1Sets the hymn’s core imagery: the Aśvins as purposeful agents—pressing-stones, eager seekers of treasure, priests in assembly, and messengers bearing offerings—defining their role as swift mediators between humans and gods.Read verse 2.39.1 →
वातेवाजुर्या नद्येव रीतिरक्षी इव चक्षुषा यातमर्वाक् । हस्ताविव तन्वे शम्भविष्ठा पादेव नो नयतं वस्यो अच्छ ॥
Verse 2.39.5A classic verse of dual-function symbolism: the Aśvins are invoked as speed (wind/river), perception (two eyes), healing support (two hands), and right guidance (two feet leading to the better good).Read verse 2.39.5 →
bṛhad vadema vidathe suvīrāḥ
Verse 2.39.8Concluding dedication: the hymn itself is offered as ‘vardhanāni’ (increasings) for the Aśvins, with the final wish for expansive speech in the assembly and ‘suvīra’—strong, luminous progeny/inner strength.Read verse 2.39.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Twin and inseparable (dual agency)
  • Swift approach (wind/river imagery)
  • Healers and restorers
  • Guides and protectors on the path
  • Bearers of offerings like messengers
  • Associated with dawn and auspicious beginnings

Also by this seer

  • Major attribution for Rig Veda Maṇḍala 2 (many sūktas of the Gṛtsamada/Bhārgava tradition)
  • Noted Agni hymns in Book 2 that establish Agni as priest, messenger, and protector in the sacrifice

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the ritual space and kindle/maintain the sacred fire (as applicable to the rite).
  • At dawn, recite the Aśvin stotra/mantras with emphasis on their swift arrival and clear sight.
  • Invite the twins to the seat/space of worship and present the oblations as ‘havyā’ carried to them.
  • State specific petitions: bodily well-being, auspiciousness, guidance to ‘vasyaḥ’ (the better good), and prosperity/offspring.
  • Conclude with acceptance-formula: offer the composed stoma as their ‘vardhanāni’ (increase) and request success in the assembly (vidatha).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ghṛta) oblations
  • Soma/pressing-related offerings (contextually implied by pressing-stone imagery)
  • Food offerings appropriate to the rite (havis)

Frequently Asked Questions

The Aśvins are twin divine helpers—swift riders associated with dawn—praised as healers, rescuers, and guides who quickly respond to human prayers and offerings.

It asks them to come quickly, see clearly, bring bodily well-being and auspiciousness, and lead the worshipper toward “vasyaḥ”—the better, brighter good.

Because the twins act as a coordinated pair: like two eyes they bring clear perception, like two hands they support and heal the body, and like two feet they guide forward on a safe and beneficial path.

Ask anything about Sukta 39 of the Rig Veda

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