Verses 1, 2
यु॒वो रजां॑सि सु॒यमा॑सो॒ अश्वा॒ रथो॒ यद्वां॒ पर्यर्णां॑सि॒ दीय॑त् । हि॒र॒ण्यया॑ वां प॒वयः॑ प्रुषाय॒न्मध्वः॒ पिबं॑ता उ॒षसः॑ सचेथे ॥
yuvó rájāṃsi suyámāso áśvā rátho yádvām páryárṇāṃsi dī́yat ǀ hiraṇyáyā vām paváyaḥ pruṣāyanmádhvaḥ píbantā uṣásaḥ sacethe ǁ
यु॒वमत्य॒स्याव॑ नक्षथो॒ यद्विप॑त्मनो॒ नर्य॑स्य॒ प्रय॑ज्योः । स्वसा॒ यद्वां॑ विश्वगूर्ती॒ भरा॑ति॒ वाजा॒येट्टे॑ मधुपावि॒षे च॑ ॥
yuvámátyasyā́va nakṣatho yádvípatmano náryasya práyajyoḥ ǀ svásā yádvām viśvagūrtī bhárāti vā́jāyéṭṭe madhupāviṣé ca ǁ
In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi visualizes the breathtaking descent of the Aśvins, the divine twin horsemen of the dawn, whose well-controlled steeds sweep across the cosmic spaces. Their chariot moves with such dynamic energy that it stirs the great waters and carries golden rims that shed a radiant spray. They are invoked as 'Nāsatya' and dynamic helpers who bring nourishment and sweet refreshment to the striving seeker. The imagery shifts from the vast cosmic expanse down to the intimate altar where the worshipper yearns for vitality and sustenance. The sister of the twins—often identified as Dawn or an aspect of divine light—heralds their arrival, uniting the vastness of the heavens with the focused devotion of the ritual space. The Ṛṣi calls upon them not merely as distant celestial entities, but as intimate companions of humanity who hasten to answer the call of the sincere seeker.
Verse 1: Your well-controlled horses traverse the realms, O Aśvins, and your chariot speeds across the flowing waters; your golden rims scatter spray as you drink the sweet mead and join with the dawn.
Verse 2: You reach out with your protection to the vigorous, dynamic seeker of bounty; their sister bearing universal praise brings forth nourishment and sweet delight.
Sāyaṇa interprets the 'flowing waters' and 'golden rims' as literal meteorological and sacrificial phenomena, while Aurobindo sees them as symbols of higher consciousness descending into the psychological waters of the human mind.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| युवोः | yuvoḥ | of you two (dual) |
| रजांसि | rajāṃsi | realms or spaces |
| सुयमासः | suyamāsaḥ | well-guided, well-controlled |
| अश्वाः | aśvāḥ | horses |
| रथः | rathaḥ | chariot |
| हिरण्ययाः | hiraṇyayāḥ | golden |
| मध्वः | madhvaḥ | of the honey/sweetness |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| युवम् | yuvam | you two |
| अत्यस्य | atyasya | of the swift horse or runner |
| नक्षथः | nakṣathaḥ | you reach, attain |
| स्वसा | svasā | sister |
| वाजाय | vājāya | for vigor/prize |
Picture a magnificent golden chariot streaking across the morning sky, scattering glittering water drops like stardust as the twin horsemen arrive to bless the earth.
Verses 3, 4, 5
यु॒वं पय॑ उ॒स्रिया॑यामधत्तं प॒क्वमा॒माया॒मव॒ पूर्व्यं॒ गोः । अं॒तर्यद्व॒निनो॑ वामृतप्सू ह्वा॒रो न शुचि॒र्यज॑ते ह॒विष्मा॑न् ॥
yuvám páya usríyāyāmadhattam pakvámāmā́yāmáva pū́rvyam góḥ ǀ antáryádvaníno vāmṛtapsū hvāró ná śúciryájate havíṣmān ǁ
यु॒वं ह॑ घ॒र्मं मधु॑मंत॒मत्र॑ये॒ऽपो न क्षोदो॑ऽवृणीतमे॒षे । तद्वां॑ नरावश्विना॒ पश्व॑इष्टी॒ रथ्ये॑व च॒क्रा प्रति॑ यंति॒ मध्वः॑ ॥
yuvám ha gharmám mádhumantamátraye’pó ná kṣódo’vṛṇītameṣé ǀ tádvām narāvaśvinā páśva-iṣṭī ráthyeva cakrā́ práti yanti mádhvaḥ ǁ
आ वां॑ दा॒नाय॑ ववृतीय दस्रा॒ गोरोहे॑ण तौ॒ग्र्यो न जिव्रिः॑ । अ॒पः क्षो॒णी स॑चते॒ माहि॑ना वां जू॒र्णो वा॒मक्षु॒रंह॑सो यजत्रा ॥
ā́ vām dānā́ya vavṛtīya dasrā góróheṇa taugryó ná jívriḥ ǀ apáḥ kṣoṇī́ sacate mā́hinā vām jūrṇó vāmákṣuráṃhaso yajatrā ǁ
Here the Ṛṣi delves deeper into the miraculous deeds of the Aśvins, specifically their mastery over the primal nourishing energies represented by the 'raw and the cooked' milk of the cosmic cow. They know how to extract the hidden sweetness from within the dense forest of existence, guiding the seeker through crooked paths into the light of absolute purity. The imagery of Atri's rescue and the healing of the aged Taugrya (Bhujyu) emphasizes the Aśvins' role as supreme physicians of body and soul. Atri, representing the devoted seeker trapped in the dark pit or suffering from intense heat (gharma) of material existence, receives the cooling, refreshing waters of grace from the twins. Similarly, the aged Taugrya is rescued from the vast, overwhelming ocean. The Ṛṣi expresses a deep, personal yearning to turn entirely toward the Aśvins for their life-restoring gifts, acknowledging that only their divine intervention can reverse the decay of aging and distress.
Verse 3: You two place the nourishment within the radiant cow, separating the cooked from the raw, the primal milk; hidden within the forest of life, you guide the crooked straight like pure, devoted worshippers.
Verse 4: You indeed bestowed the honeyed cauldron upon Atri, like flowing waters for his thirst; and your chariot wheels, O Aśvins, spin ceaselessly back and forth to gather sweetness for the seeker.
Verse 5: I turn wholly to you for your gifts, O Dasras, like the aged son of Tugra reaching the waters; your mighty protection shields the worn and aging seeker from distress.
Traditional commentaries focus heavily on the legendary tales of Atri and Bhujyu (Taugrya), while esoteric readings treat these figures as archetypes of the inner soul rescued from ignorance.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| युवम् | yuvam | you two |
| पयः | payaḥ | milk, fluid, nourishment |
| उस्रियायाम् | usriyāyām | in the dawn-cow / radiant cow |
| पक्वम् | pakvam | cooked, mature |
| आमायाम् | āmāyām | raw, unripe |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| घर्मम् | gharmam | hot cauldron, heat |
| मधुमतम् | madhumantam | honeyed, sweet |
| अत्रये | atraye | for Atri (the sage) |
| अश्विना | aśvinā | O Aśvins |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| दस्रा | dasrā | O wonder-workers, Dasras |
| तौग्र्यः | taugryaḥ | son of Tugra (Bhujyu) |
| जिव्रिः | jivriḥ | aging, old |
| अंहसः | aṃhasaḥ | from narrowness, distress |
Imagine a parched traveler in a dark forest suddenly handed a cool, golden vessel of healing nectar by two divine physicians.
Verses 6, 7, 8
नि यद्यु॒वेथे॑ नि॒युतः॑ सुदानू॒ उप॑ स्व॒धाभिः॑ सृजथः॒ पुरं॑धिं । प्रेष॒द्वेष॒द्वातो॒ न सू॒रिरा म॒हे द॑दे सुव्र॒तो न वाजं॑ ॥
ní yádyuvéthe niyútaḥ sudānū úpa svadhā́bhiḥ sṛjathaḥ púraṃdhim ǀ préṣadvéṣadvā́to ná sūrírā́ mahé dade suvrató ná vā́jam ǁ
व॒यं चि॒द्धि वां॑ जरि॒तारः॑ स॒त्या वि॑प॒न्याम॑हे॒ वि प॒णिर्हि॒तावा॑न् । अधा॑ चि॒द्धि ष्मा॑श्विनावनिंद्या पा॒थो हि ष्मा॑ वृषणा॒वंति॑देवं ॥
vayám ciddhí vām jaritā́raḥ satyā́ vipanyā́mahe ví paṇírhitā́vān ǀ ádhā ciddhí ṣmāśvināvanindyā pāthó hí ṣmā vṛṣaṇāvántidevam ǁ
यु॒वां चि॒द्धि ष्मा॑श्विना॒वनु॒ द्यून्विरु॑द्रस्य प्र॒स्रव॑णस्य सा॒तौ । अ॒गस्त्यो॑ न॒रां नृषु॒ प्रश॑स्तः॒ कारा॑धुनीव चितयत्स॒हस्रैः॑ ॥
yuvā́m ciddhí ṣmāśvināvánu dyū́nvírudrasya prasrávaṇasya sātáu ǀ agástyo narā́m nṛ́ṣu práśastaḥ kā́rādhunīva citayatsahásraiḥ ǁ
The Ṛṣi describes the continuous outpouring of bounty from the Aśvins, comparing their generosity to a swift, life-giving wind and a wise patron who distributes wealth. Their grace flows unhindered, satisfying the inner chambers of human consciousness. The poets joyfully confess that even though misers or niggardly opponents try to block the flow, true worshippers always experience the tangible reality of the Aśvins' grace. In verse 8, the legendary sage Agastya is invoked as a prime example of steadfast devotion. Through days of testing, Agastya shines among mortals, his praises flowing like twin mountain streams (kārādhunī), demonstrating how the human heart, when aligned with the divine twins, becomes a conduit of thousandfold spiritual riches.
Verse 6: When you release your harnessed teams with self-sustaining powers, you flood the inner chambers with wisdom; like a swift wind or a generous patron, you bestow vast vigor upon the faithful.
Verse 7: We, your chanters, truly praise your authentic wonders, while the grudging miser stands apart; for indeed, O Aśvins, your paths are beyond reproach, and you dwell close to the devoted mortal.
Verse 8: Through all the days of the flowing bounty of Rudra's stream, you two were praised; Agastya, renowned among men, made his praise shine forth with thousands like twin rushing rivers.
Sāyaṇa explains the reference to Rudra's stream as a specific mythic river associated with healing, whereas modern commentators see it as a metaphor for the surging current of divine inspiration.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| नियुतः | niyutaḥ | harnessed teams |
| सुदानू | sudānū | bountiful givers |
| पुरंधिम् | puraṃdhim | abundance, plenitude |
| वातः | vātaḥ | wind |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| जरितारः | jaritāraḥ | singers, chanters |
| सत्याः | satyāḥ | true, real |
| पणिः | paṇiḥ | grudging miser, niggard |
| अंतिदेवम् | antidevam | close to the gods/divine |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अश्विना | aśvinā | O Aśvins |
| अगस्त्यः | agastyaḥ | Agastya (the sage) |
| काराधुनीव | kārādhunīiva | like two sounding rivers/streams of praise |
| सहस्रैः | sahasraiḥ | with thousands |
Picture two roaring mountain streams of pure water fed by melting snow, symbolizing the endless songs of Agastya pouring forth in praise of the twins.
Verses 9, 10
प्र यद्वहे॑थे महि॒ना रथ॑स्य॒ प्र स्यं॑द्रा याथो॒ मनु॑षो॒ न होता॑ । ध॒त्तं सू॒रिभ्य॑ उ॒त वा॒ स्वश्व्यं॒ नास॑त्या रयि॒षाचः॑ स्याम ॥
prá yádváhethe mahinā́ ráthasya prá syandrā yātho mánuṣo ná hótā ǀ dhattám sūríbhya utá vā sváśvyam nā́satyā rayiṣā́caḥ syāma ǁ
तं वां॒ रथं॑ व॒यम॒द्या हु॑वेम॒ स्तोमै॑रश्विना सुवि॒ताय॒ नव्यं॑ । अरि॑ष्टनेमिं॒ परि॒ द्यामि॑या॒नं वि॒द्यामे॒षं वृ॒जनं॑ जी॒रदा॑नुं ॥
tám vām rátham vayámadyā́ huvema stómairaśvinā suvitā́ya návyam ǀ áriṣṭanemim pári dyā́miyānám vidyā́meṣám vṛjánam jīrádānum ǁ
As the Sūkta reaches its grand crescendo, the Ṛṣi beholds the majestic movement of the Aśvins' chariot sweeping across the horizons with the authority and grace of a primordial priest of humanity. The prayer culminates in a direct blessing for the patrons (sūris) and the community: may they be endowed with excellent horses, abundant wealth, and unassailable safety. In the final verse, the Ṛṣi calls upon this 'new' yet ancient chariot—unbroken in its rims, circling the entire sky—with fresh hymns of praise. The ultimate goal is articulated with breathtaking clarity: to attain that living, dynamic sustenance and secure dwelling place (vṛjana) energized by the everlasting flow of divine grace.
Verse 9: When you drive forth with the majesty of your chariot, moving swiftly like the human Hotṛ priest, grant rich horses and treasures to our patrons, O Nāsatyas, that we may be enfolded in your wealth.
Verse 10: Today we invoke that same chariot of yours with new hymns, O Aśvins, for our safe journey—the unbroken-rimmed chariot that travels around the sky; may we attain nourishing sustenance, a secure sanctuary, and ever-flowing grace.
Sāyaṇa interprets 'ariṣṭanemim' literally as a chariot whose wheels never break, while spiritual commentators view it as the unbroken, flawless wheel of cosmic law and divine potency (Ṛta).
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| महिना | mahinā | by greatness, majesty |
| होता | hotā | invoking priest |
| सूरिभ्यः | sūribhyaḥ | to the generous patrons/sūris |
| नासत्या | nāsatyā | O Nāsatyas (Aśvins) |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| रथम् | ratham | chariot |
| अरिष्टनेमिम् | ariṣṭanemim | with unbroken rims/fellies |
| सुविताय | suvitāya | for safe journey / well-being |
| जीरदानुम् | jīradānum | swiftly bestowing / living-flowing |
Visualize a gleaming celestial wheel spinning without friction across the entire dome of the sky, showering eternal protection and golden wealth upon the earth.