After igniting the sacred fire with the hymn to Agni, the Vedic seers turn their attention to the next great force of nature: the wind. The second hymn of the Rigveda is a beautiful and energetic invitation to Vayu, the God of the Wind. This hymn, **Rigveda 1.2**, is not just praise; it is a formal call to the divine, asking Vayu to be the first to arrive and sanctify the ceremony with his presence.
Introduction & Context
This hymn establishes the order of the sacrifice. After the messenger (Agni) is present, the swiftest of the gods is called to be the first guest.
- Deity (Devata): Vayu (the Wind God), and the dual-deities Indra-Vayu and Mitra-Varuna.
- Rishi (Seer): Madhuchhandas Vaishvamitra (the same seer as Rigveda 1.1).
- Meter (Chhandas): Gayatri.
- Significance: In the Vedic sacrifice, Vayu is often invited first to drink the sacred Soma juice. As the god of air and life-breath (Prana), his presence is essential.
A unique feature of this hymn is its invocation of **dual-deities**. This is common in the Rigveda and serves a profound purpose. By addressing “Indra-Vayu,” the rishi combines the distinct powers of two gods—Vayu’s speed and Indra’s sovereign strength—into a single, more potent divine force. It’s a way of acknowledging that some divine functions are best performed in partnership.
The Hymn (Sūkta) 1.2
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
वायवा याहि दर्शतेमे सोमा अरंकृताः । तेषां पाहि श्रुधी हवम् ॥१॥
वाय उक्थेभिर्जरन्ते त्वामच्छा जरितारः । सुतसोमा अहर्विदः ॥२॥
वायो तव प्रपृञ्चती धेना जिगाति दाशुषे । उरूची सोमपीतये ॥३॥
इन्द्रवायू इमे सुता उप प्रयोभिरा गतम् । इन्दवो वामुशन्ति हि ॥४॥
वायविन्द्रश्च चेतथः सुतानां वाजिनीवसू । तावा यातमुप द्रवत् ॥५॥
वायविन्द्रश्च सुन्वत आ यातमुप निष्कृतम् । मक्ष्वित्था धिया नरा ॥६॥
मित्रं हुवे पूतदक्षं वरुणं च रिशादसम् । धियं घृताचीं साधन्ता ॥७॥
ऋतेन मित्रावरुणावृतावृधावृतस्पृशा । क्रतुं बृहन्तमाशाथे ॥८॥
कवी नो मित्रावरुणा तुविजाता उरुक्षया । दक्षं दधाते अपसम् ॥९॥Transliteration
vāyavā yāhi darśateme somā araṁkṛtāḥ | teṣāṁ pāhi śrudhī havam ||1||
vāya ukthebhirjarante tvāmacchā jaritāraḥ | sutasomā aharvidaḥ ||2||
vāyo tava prapṛñcatī dhenā jigāti dāśuṣe | urūcī somapītaye ||3||
indravāyū ime sutā upa prayobhirā gatam | indavo vāmuśanti hi ||4||
vāyavindraśca cetathaḥ sutānāṁ vājinīvasū | tāvā yātamupa dravat ||5||
vāyavindraśca sunvata ā yātamupa niṣkṛtam | makṣvitthā dhiyā narā ||6||
mitraṁ huve pūtadakṣaṁ varuṇaṁ ca riśādasam | dhiyaṁ ghṛtācīṁ sādhantā ||7||
ṛtena mitrāvaruṇāvṛtāvṛdhāvṛtaspṛśā | kratuṁ bṛhantamāśāthe ||8||
kavī no mitrāvaruṇā tuvijātā urukṣayā | dakṣaṁ dadhāte apasam ||9||English Translation
1. O Vayu, come, beautiful one. These Soma juices are prepared. Drink of them, hear our call.
2. O Vayu, the chanters with pressed Soma praise you with hymns, knowing the proper times.
3. O Vayu, your satisfying stream of offering goes to the giver, wide-flowing, for the drinking of the Soma.
4. O Indra-Vayu, these Soma juices are pressed. Come with your satisfying foods. The drops desire you.
5. O Vayu and Indra, you are aware of the pressed juices, you are rich in treasures. Come quickly.
6. O Vayu and Indra, come to the sacrifice of the Soma-presser, quickly, with purpose, O heroes.
7. I call Mitra of pure strength, and Varuna who destroys foes. They perfect the prayer rich in sacred oil.
8. Mitra and Varuna, by Law, you are strengtheners of the Law, you touch the Law. You have attained a great power.
9. Mitra and Varuna, seers, strong-born, of wide dominion, you grant the worshipper skill and ability.
Verse-by-Verse Breakdown
Verses 1-3 (Praise of Vayu)
Explanation: The hymn opens with a direct and loving invitation to Vayu. He is called “darshata” (beautiful or worthy to be seen). The rishi immediately states the purpose: the Soma juices are prepared (`somā araṁkṛtāḥ`), and he asks Vayu to drink them and hear the call. The praise continues, describing his worshippers as those who know the correct times for the rituals and noting that the very stream of the offering flows towards him for the “somapītaye” (drinking of Soma).
Verses 4-6 (Praise of Indra-Vayu)
Explanation: There is a significant shift here. The rishi now addresses the dual-deity “Indra-Vayu.” This partnership is common in the Vedas. Vayu is the swift messenger, and Indra is the mighty king of the gods. By inviting them together, the worshipper calls upon both speed and power. The hymn states that the Soma drops themselves “desire you” (`vāmuśanti hi`), a beautiful poetic image. The plea becomes more urgent with “Come quickly” (`ā yātamupa dravat`).
Verses 7-9 (Praise of Mitra-Varuna)
Explanation: In the final three verses, the focus surprisingly shifts again to Mitra and Varuna, the guardians of the cosmic order (Rita). This has led some scholars to believe this hymn may be a composite of different fragments. Mitra and Varuna are praised as upholders of the divine law and are asked to perfect the prayer. They are described as powerful seers who grant skill and ability to the worshipper. This section broadens the hymn from a simple invitation to a prayer for righteous ability.
Summary & Significance
Rigveda 1.2 is a quintessential example of a Vedic hymn of invitation. Its primary purpose is to call the gods to the sacrifice. The hymn beautifully illustrates the importance of Vayu as the first divine guest, the one whose swiftness and purity make him the ideal recipient of the first Soma offering. The transition to praising the powerful duo of Indra-Vayu shows the desire for both speed and strength at the ceremony.
While the sudden shift to Mitra and Varuna at the end is a subject of scholarly discussion, it completes the hymn by invoking the guardians of the cosmic order, ensuring that the sacrifice is not only attended by the gods but is also aligned with the principles of universal truth and law. This hymn is a window into the rich, layered world of Vedic ritual.
The hymn honors Vayu as the god of the air and the very breath of life (Prana). How can we see the simple, conscious act of breathing as a way to honor this ancient and vital deity in our own daily lives?
Read Next: Rigveda 1.3: A Hymn to the Ashvins
