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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 18: Invocation to Bṛhaspati and the Lords of Prayer

📜 9 Verses

Act 1

Invoking Bṛhaspati and the Heritage of Kakṣīvat

Verses 1

Verse 1

सो॒मानं॒ स्वर॑णं कृणु॒हि ब्र॑ह्मणस्पते । क॒क्षीवं॑तं॒ य औ॑शि॒जः ॥

somā́nam sváraṇam kṛṇuhí brahmaṇaspate ǀ kakṣī́vantam yá auśijáḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In this opening verse, the Ṛṣi reaches out to Bṛhaspati, the lord of prayer and divine devotion, asking him to make the flowing Soma vibrant and joyous. This invocation is linked specifically to Kakṣīvat, the seer of the lineage of Auśija, suggesting an intimate transmission of sacred wisdom from master to disciple down through ancient generations. The act of preparing Soma is never merely mechanical in the Ṛgveda; it is an inner awakening. By calling upon Bṛhaspati, the seer aligns human speech with cosmic utterance, ensuring that the offering resonates across the subtle realms.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: O Lord of Prayer, make the invigorating Soma vibrant and radiant for Kakṣīvat, the descendant of Uśij.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets Bṛhaspati primarily as the deity of sacred formulas and rituals, while Sri Aurobindo sees Bṛhaspati and Brahmaṇaspati as the master of the soul's upward-surging thought and divine speech breaking through human limitation.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सोमानम्	somānam	The pressed juice of the Soma plant, representing divine ecstasy and immortality
स्वरणम्	svaraṇam	Vibrant, resounding, or gladdening
ब्रह्मणस्पति	brahmaṇaspate	Lord of prayer, sacred speech, or the formulation of the divine Word
कक्षीवन्तम्	kakṣīvantam	Kakṣīvat, the name of the seer
औशिजः	auśijaḥ	Descendant of Uśij

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a sage tuning a divine stringed instrument in the dawn light, matching the vibration of Soma to the cosmic pulse of Bṛhaspati.

Act 2

The Giver of Riches and Destroyer of Ills

Verses 2, 3, 4, 5

Verse 2

यो रे॒वान्यो अ॑मीव॒हा व॑सु॒वित्पु॑ष्टि॒वर्ध॑नः । स नः॑ सिषक्तु॒ यस्तु॒रः ॥

yó revā́nyó amīvahā́ vasuvítpuṣṭivárdhanaḥ ǀ sá naḥ siṣaktu yásturáḥ ǁ

Verse 3

मा नः॒ शंसो॒ अर॑रुषो धू॒र्तिः प्रण॒ङ्मर्त्य॑स्य । रक्षा॑ णो ब्रह्मणस्पते ॥

mā́ naḥ śáṃso áraruṣo dhūrtíḥ práṇaṅmártyasya ǀ rákṣā ṇo brahmaṇaspate ǁ

Verse 4

स घा॑ वी॒रो न रि॑ष्यति॒ यमिंद्रो॒ ब्रह्म॑ण॒स्पतिः॑ । सोमो॑ हि॒नोति॒ मर्त्यं॑ ॥

sá ghā vīró ná riṣyati yámíndro bráhmaṇaspátiḥ ǀ sómo hinóti mártyam ǁ

Verse 5

त्वं तं ब्र॑ह्मणस्पते॒ सोम॒ इंद्र॑श्च॒ मर्त्यं॑ । दक्षि॑णा पा॒त्वंह॑सः ॥

tvám tám brahmaṇaspate sóma índraśca mártyam ǀ dákṣiṇā pātváṃhasaḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Here, the hymn expands upon the multifaceted nature of the divine protector, who is wealthy in spiritual and material treasures, a dispeller of diseases and inner agonies, and a multiplier of our inner and outer growth. The Ṛṣi implores the deity to stay close and be swift in his bestowals. Yet, this closeness also brings a plea for protection against the malice of hostile mortals or dark forces. The one supported by Indra and Bṛhaspati walks fearless and unhurt through life, safely guided past all pitfalls and guarded by the grace of generous spiritual bounty (Dakṣiṇā).

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 2: He who is opulent, the vanquisher of sickness, the finder of wealth and enhancer of prosperity—may that swift deity closely cleave to us.

Verse 3: May the hostile curse or injury of no mortal overtake us. Protect us, O Lord of Prayer.

Verse 4: That hero indeed never suffers harm whom Indra, Brahmaṇaspati, and Soma inspire and impel.

Verse 5: Do you, O Brahmaṇaspati, along with Soma and Indra, protect the mortal from narrow straits; may the spirit of liberal giving shield us from danger.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Traditional commentators view 'Dakṣiṇā' as the ritual fee given to priests, but esoteric interpretations emphasize it as the divine intuitive faculty that rightly aligns our actions and protects us from moral and spiritual poverty.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
रेवान्	revān	Wealthy, opulent
अमीवहा	amīva-hā	Slayer or destroyer of disease and distress
वसुवित्	vasu-vit	Finder or bestower of treasures
पुष्टिवर्धनः	puṣṭi-vardhanaḥ	Enhancer of growth and nourishment

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
शंसः	śaṃsaḥ	Invocation, curse, or evil speech
अररुषः	araruṣaḥ	Niggardly, hostile, or unyielding
धूर्तिः	dhūrtiḥ	Mischief, harm, or deceit
रक्ष	rakṣa	Protect, guard

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वीरः	vīraḥ	Hero, warrior of the spirit
रिष्यति	riṣyati	Perishes, suffers injury
हिनोति	hinoti	Impels, urges forward, inspires

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दक्षिणा	dakṣiṇā	Sacrificial gift, intuitive insight, or liberating generosity
अंहसः	aṃhasaḥ	From narrowness, sin, or distress

🧠

Memory Hook

Visualize an impregnable fortress wall built around a traveler, shielding them instantly from stormy winds and thieves.

Act 3

The Lord of the Assembly and the Attainment of Medhā

Verses 6, 7, 8, 9

Verse 6

सद॑स॒स्पति॒मद्भु॑तं प्रि॒यमिंद्र॑स्य॒ काम्यं॑ । स॒निं मे॒धाम॑यासिषं ॥

sádasaspátimádbhutam priyámíndrasya kā́myam ǀ saním medhā́mayāsiṣam ǁ

Verse 7

यस्मा॑दृ॒ते न सिध्य॑ति य॒ज्ञो वि॑प॒श्चित॑श्च॒न । स धी॒नां योग॑मिन्वति ॥

yásmādṛté ná sídhyati yajñó vipaścítaścaná ǀ sá dhīnā́m yógaminvati ǁ

Verse 8

आदृ॑ध्नोति ह॒विष्कृ॑तिं॒ प्रांचं॑ कृणोत्यध्व॒रं । होत्रा॑ दे॒वेषु॑ गच्छति ॥

ā́dṛdhnoti havíṣkṛtim prā́ñcam kṛṇotyadhvarám ǀ hótrā devéṣu gacchati ǁ

Verse 9

नरा॒शंसं॑ सु॒धृष्ट॑म॒मप॑श्यं स॒प्रथ॑स्तमं । दि॒वो न सद्म॑मखसं ॥

nárāśáṃsam sudhṛ́ṣṭamamápaśyam sapráthastamam ǀ divó ná sádmamakhasam ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The final movement turns toward the inner sanctuary of worship. The Ṛṣi approaches the wondrous Lord of the Assembly (Sadasaspati), beloved of Indra, seeking the acquisition of 'sani' (gain) and 'medhā' (profound intelligence). Without this divine presence, no sacrifice or deep insight can truly succeed. The hymn concludes by noting how this presence straightens the sacrificial path, brings the oblation safely to the gods, and evokes the divine presence of Narāśaṃsa, radiant and established in the heavenly realms like a great sacred hall.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 6: I have approached the wondrous Lord of the Assembly, dear and delightful to Indra, seeking spiritual gain and vast intelligence.

Verse 7: He without whom even the wise do not see their sacrifice succeed—he urges forward the rhythmic yoga of our thoughts.

Verse 8: He prospers the maker of offerings, straightens the forward-moving sacrifice, and carries the priestly invocation to the gods.

Verse 9: I beheld Narāśaṃsa, most valiant and all-pervading, shining like the celestial abode of heaven.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Here, 'Yoga' in verse 7 is understood by modern and traditional thinkers alike not as later postural yoga, but as the yoking and focusing of the mind's intuitive faculties (dhīvām yogam) toward the divine truth.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सदसस्पतिम्	sadasaspatim	Lord of the seat, assembly, or sacred gathering
अद्भुतम्	adbhutam	Wondrous, marvelous
सनिम्	sanim	Gain, acquisition, reward
मेधाम्	medhām	Deep intellect, wisdom, retention

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सिध्यति	sidhyati	Succeeds, reaches fulfillment
विपश्चितः	vipaścitaḥ	The wise, inspired poets
योगम्	yogam	Yoking, union, disciplined application
इन्वति	invati	Sets in motion, impels, satisfies

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
ऋध्नोति	ṛdhnoti	Causes to thrive, prospers
अध्वरम्	adhvaram	The uninjured sacrifice, ritual journey
होत्रा	hotrā	The invocation, oblation, or priest's office

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
नराशंसम्	narāśaṃsam	Praised of men, a divine entity often associated with Agni
सुधृष्टमम्	sudhṛṣṭamam	Most bold, courageous, or unassailable
सप्रथस्तमम्	saprathastamam	Most expansive, all-pervading
सद्म	sadma	Seat, abode, mansion

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine stepping into a grand golden hall where all thoughts are harnessed like fine horses pulling a chariot directly toward the divine.