Rig Veda Sukta 56
Mandala 4Sukta 567 Mantras

Sukta 56

Sukta 4.56

Rishi

Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional for Mandala 4)

Devata

Dyāvāpṛthivī (Heaven and Earth)

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable; verify)

本颂赞颂天与地(Dyāvāpṛthivī)为原初而广大之父母:开拓空间,支撑ṛta(宇宙秩序),使祭祀光辉显耀。瓦摩提婆祈请二者以清净的赞歌而愈加明亮,赐予广大的护佑,并环坐于祭仪(yajña)周围,使祭主得以安稳地行于正道。

Recitation with translationRig Veda 4.56

Mantras

Mantra 1

मही द्यावापृथिवी इह ज्येष्ठे रुचा भवतां शुचयद्भिरर्कैः । यत्सीं वरिष्ठे बृहती विमिन्वन्रुवद्धोक्षा पप्रथानेभिरेवैः ॥

伟大的天与地啊,在此于你们的最初尊位中,愿以净化的颂歌使你们为我们发光。因为当在至高的广阔里,那宏伟者(大地)量度并展开她的空间时,轰鸣的公牛(天)以扩展的冲力将它们铺陈开来。

Mantra 2

देवी देवेभिर्यजते यजत्रैरमिनती तस्थतुरुक्षमाणे । ऋतावरी अद्रुहा देवपुत्रे यज्ञस्य नेत्री शुचयद्भिरर्कैः ॥

两位女神与诸可祭之神同在,坚定不移,毫无亏减,倾注其增长与丰盈。她们是护持ṛta(宇宙正法、真理秩序)者,无欺无诳,天神之女;以净化的颂歌(arka)引领祭祀(yajña)。

Mantra 3

स इत्स्वपा भुवनेष्वास य इमे द्यावापृथिवी जजान । उर्वी गभीरे रजसी सुमेके अवंशे धीरः शच्या समैरत् ॥

他确然——善作之主——在诸世界中临在;正是他生出这天与地。那两界广大而深邃,光明之域稳固安置;在不断绝的传承中,圣见者以其有效之力(śacī)使之和谐相契。

Mantra 4

नू रोदसी बृहद्भिर्नो वरूथैः पत्नीवद्भिरिषयन्ती सजोषाः । उरूची विश्वे यजते नि पातं धिया स्याम रथ्यः सदासाः ॥

今愿天与地以其广大之庇护护持我们;以如配偶般的力量,同心同向而运行。光辉广照,为众所当祭者,愿她们守护我们;并愿我们凭启发之思(dhī)成为适于行旅者,作道路上恒常的同伴。

Mantra 5

प्र वां महि द्यवी अभ्युपस्तुतिं भरामहे । शुची उप प्रशस्तये ॥

我等向你们二位奉上——噢,天界广大而光辉者——这首高举而趋近的赞歌;为那清净的神力,我们以明净开道的颂赞而亲近。

Mantra 6

पुनाने तन्वा मिथः स्वेन दक्षेण राजथः । ऊह्याथे सनादृतम् ॥

你们以自身相互净化;凭你们固有的辨识之力而为王、而统御。你们承载并护持自古以来的真理秩序——ṛta,永恒之法。

Mantra 7

मही मित्रस्य साधथस्तरन्ती पिप्रती ऋतम् । परि यज्ञं नि षेदथुः ॥

你们成就密多罗(Mitra)之宏业;越渡而上,你们滋养并充盈ṛta之秩序。环绕祭献,你们在其中就座,使人的供奉归于和谐。

Inside Sukta 56

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Heaven-and-Earth are hailed as mighty and first-born/primordial, urged to shine for the worshipper through purifying hymns.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands their cosmic role: measuring out vast space, spreading the worlds, and providing broad shelters and protection in unified accord.

  3. Climax

    They are invoked as upholders of ṛta and as the powers who accomplish Mitra’s work—establishing harmony and truth-order within the sacrifice itself.

  4. Where it settles

    A practical blessing is sought: guardedness, right inspiration (dhī), and steadiness/fitness for the journey—living in companionship with the path of ṛta.

The deity: Dyāvāpṛthivī

  • In the VedaPortrayed as the great, ancient, wide-shining pair (rodasī), consort-like and harmonious, who stretch out the worlds, shelter beings, and make the ritual radiant when praised with purifying hymns.
  • Cosmic functionThey form the fundamental cosmic frame—upper and lower realms—measuring out space, sustaining life, and stabilizing the workings of ṛta so that gods and humans can meet through yajña.
  • Inner significanceThe integrated polarity of consciousness and embodiment: clarity/expanse (Dyauḥ) joined with support/nourishment (Pṛthivī). When aligned, they create inner ‘space’ for truth (ṛta), right thought (dhī), and steady progress on one’s path.

The seer

  • Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva of the Gautamas; traditional seer for much of Maṇḍala 4) · A principal Ṛgvedic seer-poet of Maṇḍala 4, celebrated for powerful Trishtubh-style praise and for hymns that link cosmic order (ṛta), divine protection, and the efficacy of sacrifice.

Famous verses

मही द्यावापृथिवी इह ज्येष्ठे रुचा भवतां शुचयद्भिरर्कैः । यत्सीं वरिष्ठे बृहती विमिन्वन्रुवद्धोक्षा पप्रथानेभिरेवैः ॥
Verse 4.56.1Programmatic opening: establishes Dyāvāpṛthivī as primordial vastness and links the hymn’s praise (arkaiḥ) with cosmic measuring/widening—space becomes luminous through mantra and order.Read verse 4.56.1 →
नू रोदसी बृहद्भिर्नो वरूथैः पत्नीवद्भिरिषयन्ती सजोषाः । उरूची विश्वे यजते नि पातं धिया स्याम रथ्यः सदासाः ॥
Verse 4.56.4Central petition for protection: asks the wide-shining pair to guard with vast shelters and to make the worshipper ‘fit for the journey,’ tying cosmic support to human conduct and perseverance.Read verse 4.56.4 →
pari yajñaṃ ni ṣedathuḥ
Verse 4.56.7Culminating theological point: Heaven-and-Earth are shown as accomplishing Mitra’s harmonizing work, nourishing ṛta, and ‘seating’ themselves around the yajña—sanctifying the rite from within.Read verse 4.56.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Primordial pair (jyeṣṭhe) and vastness (mahī, bṛhatī)
  • Wide-shining and worship-worthy (urūcī, yajate)
  • Protective shelters (varūtha)
  • Harmonious, consort-like cooperation (patnīvat, sajoṣāḥ)
  • Upholders and nourishers of ṛta
  • Encompassing presence around the sacrifice (pari yajñam)

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship/traditional attribution of many hymns in Rig Veda Maṇḍala 4 (notably numerous Indra hymns alongside cosmic deities).
  • Associated in later Vedic memory with paradigmatic rishi status and exemplary mantra-seeing (ṛṣi-darśana) within the Gautama line.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare and clean the altar/ritual ground, marking it as the ‘earth’ support; kindle Agni as the link between heaven and earth.
  • Open with praises (arka) addressing Dyāvāpṛthivī as the ancient, vast pair; recite to ‘make them luminous’ through purified speech.
  • Request broad protection (varūtha) and right movement of the rite—harmony of powers ‘like consorts’ acting together.
  • Offer oblations while contemplating the widening of space and the stabilizing of ṛta; seat the deities ‘around the yajña’ through mantra and intention.
  • Conclude with a prayer for steady travel/fitness for the path (rathyaḥ) and ongoing companionship with the right order (sadāsāḥ).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) into Agni
  • Soma libations (where applicable)
  • Grain/food offerings (havis)
  • Purifying praise-hymns (arka) as a verbal offering

Frequently Asked Questions

They are Heaven and Earth praised together as a divine pair—the vast, ancient supports of the world who give space, stability, and protection.

The poet asks Heaven-and-Earth to shine through pure hymns, protect the worshipper with broad shelter, and establish ṛta (right order) within the sacrifice.

Mitra represents harmony and right relations; the hymn says Heaven-and-Earth ‘accomplish Mitra’s work’ by nourishing ṛta and making the yajña orderly and effective.

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