As the sacred ceremony unfolds, the third hymn of the Rigveda shifts its focus to the benevolent and swift Ashvins. This sukta, Rigveda 1.3, is an invitation filled with sweetness, calling upon the divine physicians to grace the sacrifice with their healing presence. Uniquely, this hymn is a cascading invitation, expanding its call to include the mighty Indra, the collective Vishvadevas (All-Gods), and the inspirational goddess Saraswati, making it a comprehensive welcome to the divine.
Introduction & Context
This hymn follows a structured order of invitation, moving from the specific to the universal, and concluding with the source of the prayer itself.
- Deities (Devatas): Ashvins (Verses 1-3), Indra (Verses 4-6), Vishvadevas (Verses 7-9), Saraswati (Verses 10-12).
- Rishi (Seer): Madhuchhandas Vaishvamitra (the same seer as the first two hymns).
- Meter (Chhandas): Gayatri.
- Significance: The hymn begins with the Ashvins, the twin gods of the dawn who are also divine healers. They are often associated with honey (`madhu`) and the life-giving Soma. The structure of this hymn is particularly noteworthy as it builds a complete guest list for the sacrifice, showing the interconnectedness of the Vedic pantheon.
The Hymn (Sūkta) 1.3
Sanskrit (Devanagari)
अश्विना यज्वरीरिषो द्रवत्पाणी शुभस्पती । पुरुभुजा चनस्यतम् ॥१॥
अश्विना पुरुदंससा नरा शवीरया धिया । धिष्ण्या वनतं गिरः ॥२॥
दस्रा युवाकवः सुता नासत्या वृक्तबर्हिषः । आ यातं रुद्रवर्तनी ॥३॥
इन्द्रा याहि चित्रभानो सुता इमे त्वायवः । अण्वीभिस्तना पूतासः ॥४॥
इन्द्रा याहि धियेषितो विप्रजूतः सुतावतः । उप ब्रह्माणि वाघतः ॥५॥
इन्द्रा याहि तूतुजान उप ब्रह्माणि हरिवः । सुते दधिष्व नश्चनः ॥६॥
ओमासश्चर्षणीधृतो विश्वे देवास आ गत । दाश्वांसो दाशुषः सुतम् ॥७॥
विश्वे देवा नो अद्येह स्वस्तये वैश्वानरो वसुरग्निः । नः वसु आवतु ॥८॥
विश्वे देवा ऋतावृधः ऋतुमन्तु ऋतावृधः । देवानां मधुमत्तमम् । स्वाहा ॥९॥
पावका नः सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती । यज्ञं वष्टु धियावसुः ॥१०॥
चोदयित्री सूनृतानां चेतन्ती सुमतीनाम् । यज्ञं दधे सरस्वती ॥११॥
महो अर्णः सरस्वती प्र चेतयति केतुना । धियो विश्वा वि राजति ॥१२॥Transliteration
aśvinā yajvarīriṣo dravatpāṇī śubhaspatī | purubhujā canasyatam ||1||
aśvinā purudaṁsasā narā śavīrayā dhiyā | dhiṣṇyā vanataṁ giraḥ ||2||
dasrā yuvākavaḥ sutā nāsatyā vṛktabarhiṣaḥ | ā yātaṁ rudravartanī ||3||
indrā yāhi citrabhāno sutā ime tvāyavaḥ | aṇvībhistana pūtāsaḥ ||4||
indrā yāhi dhiyeṣito viprajūtaḥ sutāvataḥ | upa brahmāṇi vāghataḥ ||5||
indrā yāhi tūtujāna upa brahmāṇi harivaḥ | sute dadhiṣva naścanaḥ ||6||
omāsaścarṣaṇīdhṛto viśve devāsa ā gata | dāśvāṁso dāśuṣaḥ sutam ||7||
viśve devā no adyeha svastaye vaiśvānaro vasuragniḥ | naḥ vasuāvatu ||8||
viśve devā ṛtāvṛdhaḥ ṛtumantu ṛtāvṛdhaḥ | devānāṁ madhumattamam | svāhā ||9||
pāvakā naḥ sarasvatī vājebhirvājinīvatī | yajñaṁ vaṣṭu dhiyāvasuḥ ||10||
codayitrī sūnṛtānāṁ cetantī sumatīnām | yajñaṁ dadhe sarasvatī ||11||
maho arṇaḥ sarasvatī pra cetayati ketunā | dhiyo viśvā vi rājati ||12||English Translation
1. O Ashvins, lords of lustre, with swift-moving hands, you who enjoy many things, delight in the sacrificial foods.
2. O Ashvins, heroes of wondrous deeds, with powerful thought, O thoughtful ones, accept our songs of praise.
3. O wonder-workers, for you these Soma juices are pressed; O Nasatyas, with the sacred grass spread, come, you whose path is golden.
4. O Indra of wondrous light, come! These pressed Soma drops are for you; purified through the filter and by the fingers.
5. O Indra, come, you who are prompted by our prayer, urged by the wise, to the Soma-presser's side, near the prayers of the chanter.
6. O Indra, come quickly, Lord of golden horses, to our prayers. Place our desire in the pressed Soma.
7. O all you gods, protectors and supporters of men, come and accept the Soma pressed by the giver.
8. May all the gods be with us today for our well-being. May Agni, the friend to all men, the Vasu, protect our wealth.
9. May all the gods, who strengthen the cosmic order, be present. This sweetest honey of the Soma is for the gods. Svaha!
10. May the purifying Saraswati, rich in treasures, she who inspires good thoughts, desire our sacrifice.
11. The impeller of pleasant truths, the awakener of good thoughts, Saraswati has accepted our sacrifice.
12. Saraswati, the great flood, awakens us with a banner of light. She illuminates all our thoughts.
Verse-by-Verse Breakdown
Verses 1-3 (Praise of the Ashvins)
Explanation: The hymn begins by calling the Ashvins, addressing them by their key attributes: “Lords of Lustre” (`śubhaspatī`), “swift-moving” (`dravatpāṇī`), and “heroes of wondrous deeds” (`purudaṁsasā`). The rishi asks them to come and enjoy the offerings, specifically the Soma which has been prepared for them. They are called “Nasatyas” (truthful ones) and “Rudravartani” (whose path is golden), painting a picture of beautiful, swift, and benevolent deities arriving at dawn.
Verses 4-6 (Praise of Indra)
Explanation: The invitation now turns to the mighty Indra. He is called “Chitrabhano” (of wondrous light) and is told the Soma juices are for him (`tvāyavaḥ`). The hymn emphasizes that Indra is drawn to the sacrifice by the power of the prayers themselves (`dhiyeṣitaḥ`). The rishi urges him to come quickly (`tūtujāna`) and accept the offerings, placing the worshippers’ desires within the sacred drink.
Verses 7-9 (Praise of the Vishvadevas)
Explanation: The call expands to the **Vishvadevas**, or the “All-Gods.” This is a collective term for the entire Vedic pantheon. By inviting them, the rishi ensures that no deity is left out. They are praised as the “supporters of men” (`carṣaṇīdhṛtaḥ`) and are asked to come together to the sacrifice. This section culminates in offering the “sweetest honey” of the Soma to all the gods.
Verses 10-12 (Praise of Saraswati)
Explanation: The hymn concludes with a beautiful invocation to Saraswati. In the Rigveda, Saraswati is both a mighty, purifying river and the goddess of inspiration and sacred speech. She is called “Pavaka” (the purifier), “Chodayitrī sūnṛtānām” (the impeller of pleasant truths), and the one who illuminates all our thoughts (`dhiyo viśvā vi rājati`). By ending with her, the rishi is acknowledging the very source of the hymn itself—the divine inspiration that allows the prayer to be composed and offered.
Summary & Significance
Rigveda 1.3 is a masterful hymn that illustrates the complete process of divine invitation. It begins with the specific and benevolent Ashvins, moves to the mighty Indra, expands to include the entire pantheon, and finally gives reverence to Saraswati, the source of the sacred prayer itself. It is a journey from the healing touch of the divine physicians to the ultimate source of divine inspiration.
This hymn beautifully personifies the forces of nature—wind, light, and water—as divine beings. How does seeing the natural world as a conscious, divine presence change our relationship with the environment around us?
Read Next: Rigveda 1.4: A Hymn to Indra
