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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

The Rhythmic Invocation of the Gods: Sūkta 15 to the Ṛtu (Seasons/Order)

📜 12 Verses

Act 1

The Cups of Order: Indra, the Maruts, and the Neṣṭṛ Priest

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

इंद्र॒ सोमं॒ पिब॑ ऋ॒तुना त्वा॑ विशं॒त्विंद॑वः । म॒त्स॒रास॒स्तदो॑कसः ॥

índra sómam píba ṛtúnā́ tvā viśantvíndavaḥ ǀ matsarā́sastádokasaḥ ǁ

Verse 2

मरु॑तः॒ पिब॑त ऋ॒तुना॑ पो॒त्राद्य॒ज्ञं पु॑नीतन । यू॒यं हि ष्ठा सु॑दानवः ॥

márutaḥ píbata ṛtúnā potrā́dyajñám punītana ǀ yūyám hí ṣṭhā́ sudānavaḥ ǁ

Verse 3

अ॒भि य॒ज्ञं गृ॑णीहि नो॒ ग्नावो॒ नेष्टः॒ पिब॑ ऋ॒तुना॑ । त्वं हि र॑त्न॒धा असि॑ ॥

abhí yajñám gṛṇīhi no gnā́vo néṣṭaḥ píba ṛtúnā ǀ tvám hí ratnadhā́ ási ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

As the sacred ritual begins, the Ṛṣi Medhātithi Kanva turns his attention to the precise timing and cosmic rhythm of the sacrifice. In the opening verse, Indra is called upon to drink the pressed Soma juice at the exact appointed hour, accompanied by the surging, exhilarating waves of the drink that make the deity rejoice in his own home. The atmosphere is charged with expectation as the sacred intoxicating streams enter the mighty god. Next, the Maruts—the shining storm-gods—are invited to partake of the Soma from the potra vessel, purifying the sacrifice with their radiant energy. Because they are supremely bountiful, their very presence brings a cleansing vigor to the ritual space. Finally, the attention shifts to the Neṣṭṛ priest and the divine voice personified as Gnāvā, asking them to grace the sacrifice and accept the offering, for truly, the divine power here is the ultimate bearer of all precious treasures (ratnadhāḥ). This act establishes the foundational choreography of the Vedic ritual: deities are not merely summoned; they are welcomed according to ṛtu (cosmic order and proper season), ensuring that human action aligns perfectly with universal law.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: O Indra, drink the Soma in its proper season; let the intoxicating drops flow into you, for you rejoice in them within your own abode.

Verse 2: O Maruts, drink in due season from the potra vessel and purify the sacrifice, for you indeed are supremely generous givers.

Verse 3: Hear our sacrifice favorably, O divine voice (Gnāvā), and you, Neṣṭṛ priest, drink in due season, for you indeed are the bearer of treasures.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets 'ṛtunā' primarily as 'at the proper time prescribed by the ritual calendar', while spiritual commentators like Sri Aurobindo see 'ṛtu' as the underlying truth of rhythm and cosmic law governing divine influxes.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्र	indra	O Indra, the supreme leader and wielder of power
सोमम्	somam	The pressed juice of the Soma plant
ऋतुना	ṛtunā	In the proper season or according to cosmic order
मत्सरासः	matsarāsaḥ	Exhilarating, intoxicating drops

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मरुतः	marutaḥ	O Maruts, storm deities and companions of Indra
पोत्रात्	potrāt	From the potra (the vessel or office of the Potṛ priest)
पुनीतन	punītana	Purify, make clean
सुदानवः	su-dānavaḥ	Bountiful, generous givers

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अभिगृणीहि	abhigṛṇīhi	Accept favorably, praise
नेष्टः	neṣṭaḥ	O Neṣṭṛ priest
रत्नधाः	ratna-dhāḥ	Bearer or bestower of precious gems and wealth

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a majestic conductor leading an orchestra where every musician enters precisely on beat; that is the Ṛṣi inviting deities according to 'ṛtu' (season/timing).

Act 2

The Cosmic Hearth and the Unbroken Friendship

Verses 4, 5, 6

Verse 4

अग्ने॑ दे॒वाँ इ॒हा व॑ह सा॒दया॒ योनि॑षु त्रि॒षु । परि॑ भूष॒ पिब॑ ऋ॒तुना॑ ॥

ágne devā́m̐ ihā́ vaha sādáyā yóniṣu triṣú ǀ pári bhūṣa píba ṛtúnā ǁ

Verse 5

ब्राह्म॑णादिंद्र॒ राध॑सः॒ पिबा॒ सोम॑मृ॒तूँरनु॑ । तवेद्धि स॒ख्यमस्तृ॑तं ॥

brā́hmaṇādindra rā́dhasaḥ píbā sómamṛtū́m̐ránu ǀ távéddhí sakhyámástṛtam ǁ

Verse 6

यु॒वं दक्षं॑ धृतव्रत॒ मित्रा॑वरुण दू॒ळभं॑ । ऋ॒तुना॑ य॒ज्ञमा॑शाथे ॥

yuvám dákṣam dhṛtavrata mítrāvaruṇa dūḷábham ǀ ṛtúnā yajñámāśāthe ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The ritual now centers on Agni, the divine priest and mediator. The Ṛṣi implores Agni to bring the gods to the earthly sacrificial ground and seat them in the three sacred dwelling places (the three worlds or three ritual fires), enveloping the space with glowing devotion and offering the Soma in due measure. Agni acts as the grand courier of the sacred assembly. Moving deeper into the hymn, Indra is addressed again, this time invited to drink Soma from the brahmana vessel following the sequence of seasons. The Ṛṣi reminds Indra of an intimate truth: 'Thy friendship is unbroken and unshakeable' (astṛtam sakhýam). This highlights the personal, covenantal bond between the mortal devotee and the divine patron. Expanding the circle of divine grace, the fifth and sixth verses bring in Mitra and Varuṇa. These two guardians of truth and cosmic order are besought to uphold steadfast will (dakṣam dhṛtavratam) and guide the flawless sacrifice to its completion. They stand as the twin pillars of moral and cosmic stability.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: O Agni, bring the gods here and seat them upon the three sacrificial seats; surround the rite with your radiance and drink in due season.

Verse 5: O Indra, drink the Soma from the brahmana cup following the seasons, for your friendship with us is truly invincible and unimpaired.

Verse 6: O Mitra and Varuṇa, holding fast to your sacred vows, you attain the effective will and flawless sacrifice in proper season.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The term 'brāhmaṇāt' in verse 5 is traditionally explained as the vessel assigned to the Brahman priest, representing the highest spiritual tier of the ritual.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अग्ने	agne	O Agni, divine fire and messenger
त्रिषु योनिषु	triṣu yoniṣu	In the three wombs, origins, or sacrificial hearths
परि भूष	pari bhūṣa	Adorn, surround, or cherish

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
ब्राह्मणात्	brāhmaṇāt	From the brahmana vessel or cup
ऋतून् अनु	ṛtūn anu	According to the seasons or orderly sequence
अस्तृतम्	astṛtam	Uninjured, unimpaired, invincible

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मित्रावरुणा	mitrāvaruṇā	O Mitra and Varuṇa, dual deities of harmony and law
धृतव्रता	dhṛta-vratā	Holding firm to sacred laws or vows
दूळभम्	dūḷabham	Difficult to deceive, flawless, secure

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine an ancient hearth fire glowing steadily while two trusted friends clasp hands in a pledge that time cannot break.

Act 3

Draviṇodā: The Bestower of Riches and the Fourth Libation

Verses 7, 8, 9, 10

Verse 7

द्र॒वि॒णो॒दा द्रवि॑णसो॒ ग्राव॑हस्तासो अध्व॒रे । य॒ज्ञेषु॑ दे॒वमी॑ळते ॥

draviṇodā́ dráviṇaso grā́vahastāso adhvaré ǀ yajñéṣu devámīḷate ǁ

Verse 8

द्र॒वि॒णो॒दा द॑दातु नो॒ वसू॑नि॒ यानि॑ शृण्वि॒रे । दे॒वेषु॒ ता व॑नामहे ॥

draviṇodā́ dadātu no vásūni yā́ni śṛṇviré ǀ devéṣu tā́ vanāmahe ǁ

Verse 9

द्र॒वि॒णो॒दाः पि॑पीषति जु॒होत॒ प्र च॑ तिष्ठत । ने॒ष्ट्रादृ॒तुभि॑रिष्यत ॥

draviṇodā́ḥ pipīṣati juhóta prá ca tiṣṭhata ǀ neṣṭrā́dṛtúbhiriṣyata ǁ

Verse 10

यत्त्वा॑ तु॒रीय॑मृ॒तुभि॒र्द्रवि॑णोदो॒ यजा॑महे । अध॑ स्मा नो द॒दिर्भ॑व ॥

yáttvā turī́yamṛtúbhirdráviṇodo yájāmahe ǀ ádha smā no dadírbhava ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

A rhythmic shift occurs as the hymn introduces Raviṇodā (often identified with Agni or Indra in different contexts), the 'Bestower of Riches'. With stones in their hands (grāvahastāsaḥ), the priests crush the Soma at the sacrifice, invoking this deity of abundance with deep reverence. The community asks Draviṇodā to grant all the wondrous forms of wealth that are renowned among the gods, claiming those treasures as their rightful spiritual inheritance through devotion. The ritual urgency peaks: Draviṇodā desires to drink; therefore, the worshippers are commanded to make oblations and stand firm. The Neṣṭṛ priest impels the offering according to the seasonal schedule. In verse 10, the Ṛṣi explicitly acknowledges the fourth libation offered with the seasons, pleading with Draviṇodā to become a true giver of bounty to the household. This sequence emphasizes that material prosperity and spiritual wealth are interconnected; the divine dispenser of riches responds directly to the rhythmic, focused zeal of the ritualists.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: The bestowers of wealth, with pressing-stones in their hands at the sacrifice, praise the divine bestower of riches.

Verse 8: May Draviṇodā grant us the treasures that are spoken of among the gods; those very blessings we desire and invoke.

Verse 9: Draviṇodā wishes to drink; pour the oblations and stand ready! Urge him forward through the Neṣṭṛ priest and the seasons.

Verse 10: When we worship you with the seasons for the fourth time, O Draviṇodā, then do truly become our generous giver.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The reference to 'turīyam' (fourth) points to specific liturgical divisions of the diurnal or seasonal Soma pressings, which traditional commentaries elaborate upon in ritual manuals (Brāhmaṇas).

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
द्रविणोदाः	draviṇodāḥ	Bestower of riches or treasure
ग्रावहस्तासः	grāva-hastāsaḥ	Having pressing-stones in their hands
ईळते	īḷate	Praise, invoke with reverence

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वसूनि	vasūni	Goods, treasures, wealth
शृण्विरे	śṛṇvire	Are heard of, renowned
वनामहे	vanāmahe	We win, desire, or invoke

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पिपीषति	pipīṣati	Wishes to drink
जुहोत	juhota	Pour the oblation, sacrifice
इष्यत	iṣyata	Urge on, impel

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
तुरीयम्	turīyam	The fourth time or fourth part
यजामहे	yajāmahe	We worship or offer sacrifice
ददिः भव	dadiḥ bhava	Be a giver, bestow generously

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture merchants at a bustling harbor opening chests of glittering gems brought in precisely on the fourth ship of the season.

Act 4

The Twin Horsemen and the Guardian Hearth

Verses 11, 12

Verse 11

अश्वि॑ना॒ पिब॑तं॒ मधु॒ दीद्य॑ग्नी शुचिव्रता । ऋ॒तुना॑ यज्ञवाहसा ॥

áśvinā píbatam mádhu dī́dyagnī śucivratā ǀ ṛtúnā yajñavāhasā ǁ

Verse 12

गार्ह॑पत्येन संत्य ऋ॒तुना॑ यज्ञ॒नीर॑सि । दे॒वान्दे॑वय॒ते य॑ज ॥

gā́rhapatyena santya ṛtúnā yajñanī́rasi ǀ devā́ndevayaté yaja ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Sūkta draws to a close with two magnificent final invocations. First, the Aśvins—the divine horsemen of healing, morning light, and swift rescue—are invited to drink the sweet honey-draught (madhu). Shining brightly with Agni's flame and upholding pure vows (śucivratā), they are celebrated as the conductors of the sacrifice in due season. Finally, the Sūkta culminates in an address to Agni in his role as the master of the domestic hearth (Gārhapatya). Agni is hailed as santya (existent, true, or powerful) and yajñanīḥ (the leader of the sacrifice). He is exhorted to perform the sacrifice for the gods on behalf of the mortal patron (devayate) who yearns for the divine. In these closing lines, the cosmic scale of the Maṇḍala narrows down to the warm, glowing hearth of the human home, bridging the infinite universe with daily human devotion.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 11: O Aśvins, brilliant as Agni, keeping pure vows and carrying the sacrifice in due season, drink the sweet honey-draught.

Verse 12: O Santya Agni, through the Gārhapatya fire you are the leader of the sacrifice in due season; sacrifice to the gods for the one who desires the divine.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Gārhapatya refers to the primary domestic fire of the Vedic household, which anchors the daily continuity of the ritual tradition, as highlighted by both Sāyaṇa and ritual exegetes.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अश्विना	aśvinā	O Aśvins, the twin divine horsemen
मधु	madhu	Sweet honey or Soma draught
शुचिव्रता	śuci-vratā	Of pure laws, vows, or practices

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
गार्हपत्येन	gārhapatyena	By means of the Gārhapatya (householder's) fire
सन्त्य	santya	O true, real, or powerful one
देवयते	devayate	For the worshipper who yearns for the gods

🧠

Memory Hook

Envision twin riders arriving at dawn on swift horses, stepping right up to the glowing family hearth where the householder waits with open hands.