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Rigveda · Maṇḍala 1

Rigveda Maṇḍala 1, Sūkta 23: The Waters of Healing and the Gathering of Gods

📜 24 Verses

Act 1

Invoking Vāyu and Indra: The Quickening Breath

Verses 1, 2, 3

Verse 1

ती॒व्राः सोमा॑स॒ आ ग॑ह्या॒शीर्वं॑तः सु॒ता इ॒मे । वायो॒ तान्प्रस्थि॑तान्पिब ॥

tīvrā́ḥ sómāsa ā́ gahyāśī́rvantaḥ sutā́ imé ǀ vā́yo tā́nprásthitānpiba ǁ

Verse 2

उ॒भा दे॒वा दि॑वि॒स्पृशें॑द्रवा॒यू ह॑वामहे । अ॒स्य सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ ॥

ubhā́ devā́ divispṛ́śendravāyū́ havāmahe ǀ asyá sómasya pītáye ǁ

Verse 3

इं॒द्र॒वा॒यू म॑नो॒जुवा॒ विप्रा॑ हवंत ऊ॒तये॑ । स॒ह॒स्रा॒क्षा धि॒यस्पती॑ ॥

indravāyū́ manojúvā víprā havanta ūtáye ǀ sahasrākṣā́ dhiyáspátī ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi summons the vital energies of the cosmos, focusing first on Vāyu, the wind and breath of life, and Indra, the supreme force of divine illumination and strength. The Somas are prepared, rich with the added milk of devotion (āśīrvantaḥ), standing ready like eager racers at the starting line. They are pressed and waiting for the divine intake. The poet addresses them as 'divispṛśā'—touching the sky—bridging the earthly ritual with the vast expanse of heaven. Indravāyū are described as 'manojuvā', swift as the mind, and 'sahasrākṣā dhiyaspatī', thousand-eyed lords of sacred thought and vision. This is an invitation for the divine breath and the luminous mind to descend into the vessel of the human consciousness, energizing the subtle faculties for the journey ahead.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 1: These bright Somas are pressed, rich with milk; come hither, Vāyu, drink of these that are set forth.

Verse 2: We invoke both gods who touch the sky, Indra and Vāyu, for the drinking of this Soma.

Verse 3: Swift as the mind, the wise invoke Indra and Vāyu for help, thousand-eyed lords of thought.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Sāyaṇa interprets 'tīvrāḥ' as potent in flavor and effect, while spiritual commentators like Sri Aurobindo see Soma as the flowing delight (ānanda) of existence that must be offered to the higher cosmic powers.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 1

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
तीव्राः	tīvrāḥ	sharp, potent, intense
सोमासः	somāsaḥ	soma-juices
वायो	vāyo	O Vāyu (wind/breath)
प्रस्थितान्	prasthitān	set forth, prepared

Verse 2

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
उभा	ubhā	both
दिविस्पृशा	divispṛśā	touching heaven
इन्द्रवायू	indravāyū	Indra and Vāyu
पीतये	pītaye	for drinking

Verse 3

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मनोजुवा	manojuvā	swift as the mind
सहस्राक्षा	sahasrākṣā	thousand-eyed
धियस्पती	dhiyaspatī	lords of thought/vision

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a brisk morning wind carrying the fragrance of pressed herbs straight up to the open sky, where thousand-eyed watchers lean down to drink.

Act 2

Mitra and Varuṇa: Guardians of Cosmic Order

Verses 4, 5, 6

Verse 4

मि॒त्रं व॒यं ह॑वामहे॒ वरु॑णं॒ सोम॑पीतये । ज॒ज्ञा॒ना पू॒तद॑क्षसा ॥

mitrám vayám havāmahe váruṇam sómapītaye ǀ jajñānā́ pūtádakṣasā ǁ

Verse 5

ऋ॒तेन॒ यावृ॑ता॒वृधा॑वृ॒तस्य॒ ज्योति॑ष॒स्पती॑ । ता मि॒त्रावरु॑णा हुवे ॥

ṛténa yā́vṛtāvṛ́dhāvṛtásya jyótiṣaspátī ǀ tā́ mitrā́váruṇā huve ǁ

Verse 6

वरु॑णः प्रावि॒ता भु॑वन्मि॒त्रो विश्वा॑भिरू॒तिभिः॑ । कर॑तां नः सु॒राध॑सः ॥

váruṇaḥ prāvitā́ bhuvanmitró víśvābhirūtíbhiḥ ǀ káratām naḥ surā́dhasaḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The focus now shifts to Mitra and Varuṇa, the twin pillars of Ṛta (cosmic truth and moral order). The Ṛṣi calls upon them as 'jajñānā pūta-dakṣasā', born with a purified and radiant will. They are the sustainers of truth, growing through truth, and holding the supreme lordship of the divine light. In these verses, the poet acknowledges that true spiritual progress cannot happen in chaos. It requires the harmony of Mitra (friendship, harmony, outer balance) and Varuṇa (vastness, ocean of truth, inner depth). By invoking them, the seeker ensures that their daily sacrifice (adhvara) is aligned with the vast, unbending laws of the universe, ultimately leading to 'surādhasaḥ'—abundant wealth and divine grace.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 4: We invoke Mitra and Varuṇa for the drinking of Soma, both born with purified power and skill.

Verse 5: By truth, you two who grow by truth, lords of the light of truth—Mitra and Varuṇa, I call you.

Verse 6: May Varuṇa be our protector, and Mitra with all their assistances, making us possessors of rich bounty.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

Yāska defines Ṛta as truth (satya). The repetition of 'ṛta' four times in verse 5 emphasizes the absolute centrality of living in harmony with cosmic law.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 4

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मित्रम्	mitram	Mitra (friendship/harmony)
वरुणम्	varuṇam	aruṇa (vastness/boundless reality)
पूतदक्षसा	pūtadakṣasā	of purified will/skill

Verse 5

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
ऋतेन	ṛtena	by truth/cosmic order
ऋतवृधौ	ṛtavṛdhau	growing by truth
ज्योतिषस्पती	jyotiṣaspatī	lords of light

Verse 6

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
प्रविता	prāvitā	protector, helper
ऊतिभिः	ūtibhiḥ	with protections/helps
सुराधसः	surādhasaḥ	possessing good wealth/gifts

🧠

Memory Hook

Imagine two majestic guardians standing at the gates of a sunlit palace, holding golden staves inscribed with the laws of the stars.

Act 3

Indra with the Maruts and the Universal Deities

Verses 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Verse 7

म॒रुत्वं॑तं हवामह॒ इंद्र॒मा सोम॑पीतये । स॒जूर्ग॒णेन॑ तृंपतु ॥

marútvantam havāmaha índramā́ sómapītaye ǀ sajū́rgaṇéna tṛmpatu ǁ

Verse 8

इंद्र॑ज्येष्ठा॒ मरु॑द्गणा॒ देवा॑सः॒ पूष॑रातयः । विश्वे॒ मम॑ श्रुता॒ हवं॑ ॥

índrajyeṣṭhā márudgaṇā dévāsaḥ pū́ṣarātayaḥ ǀ víśve máma śrutā hávam ǁ

Verse 9

ह॒त वृ॒त्रं सु॑दानव॒ इंद्रे॑ण॒ सह॑सा यु॒जा । मा नो॑ दुः॒शंस॑ ईशत ॥

hatá vṛtrám sudānava índreṇa sáhasā yujā́ ǀ mā́ no duḥśáṃsa īśata ǁ

Verse 10

विश्वा॑न्दे॒वान्ह॑वामहे म॒रुतः॒ सोम॑पीतये । उ॒ग्रा हि पृश्नि॑मातरः ॥

víśvāndevā́nhavāmahe marútaḥ sómapītaye ǀ ugrā́ hí pṛ́śnimātaraḥ ǁ

Verse 11

जय॑तामिव तन्य॒तुर्म॒रुता॑मेति धृष्णु॒या । यच्छुभं॑ या॒थना॑ नरः ॥

jáyatāmiva tanyatúrmarútāmeti dhṛṣṇuyā́ ǀ yácchúbham yāthánā naraḥ ǁ

Verse 12

ह॒स्का॒राद्वि॒द्युत॒स्पर्यतो॑ जा॒ता अ॑वंतु नः । म॒रुतो॑ मृळयंतु नः ॥

haskārā́dvidyútaspáryáto jātā́ avantu naḥ ǀ marúto mṛḷayantu naḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Sūkta expands into a grand assembly of divine forces. Indra is invoked again, this time accompanied by his joyous troop of storm-gods, the Maruts ('marutvantam'). They are born of Pṛśni (the spotted storm cloud) and roar with the sound of charging battle and thunder ('tanyatuḥ'). The Ṛṣi calls upon all the gods, with Indra at their head ('indrajyeṣṭhāḥ'), urging them to shatter the darkness of ignorance—symbolized by Vṛtra—using the combined power of companionship and divine will. The Maruts arrive with the flash of lightning ('haskārāt vidyutaḥ'), reminding the seeker that spiritual breakthroughs often come with sudden, electrifying flashes of insight that clear away inner stagnation.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 7: We invoke Indra accompanied by the Maruts for the drinking of Soma; may he take delight in company with his host.

Verse 8: With Indra as their chief, the Marut hosts, the gods, and Pūṣan's bounties—may all of you hear my call.

Verse 9: Slay Vṛtra, O bountiful ones, with Indra as your companion and helper; let no evil-speaker have power over us.

Verse 10: We invoke all the gods and the Maruts for the drinking of Soma, for fierce indeed are the sons of Pṛśni.

Verse 11: Like the roar of conquerors moves the thunder of the Maruts boldly when you, O heroes, go forth for glory.

Verse 12: Born from the laughter of lightning, may they protect us; may the Maruts bestow grace upon us.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The word 'haskāra' in verse 12 is uniquely translated by traditional commentators as the roaring laughter or flash of lightning, depicting the vibrant, dynamic personality of the Maruts.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 7

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मरुत्वन्तम्	marutvantam	accompanied by the Maruts
सजूः	sajūḥ	united, harmonized
तृम्पतु	tṛmpatu	may he take delight

Verse 8

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
इन्द्रज्येष्ठाः	indrajyeṣṭhāḥ	having Indra as chief/eldest
मरुद्गणाः	marutgaṇāḥ	hosts of Maruts
श्रुत	śruta	hear!

Verse 9

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
हत	hata	slay, strike
वृत्रम्	vṛtram	Vṛtra (the obstacle/coverer)
सुदानवः	sudānavaḥ	O liberal/bountiful ones

Verse 10

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
विश्वान्देवान्	viśvān devān	all the gods
उग्राः	ugrāḥ	fierce, mighty
पृश्निमातरः	pṛśnimātaraḥ	having Pṛśni as mother

Verse 11

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
तन्यतुः	tanyatuḥ	thunder, roar
धृष्णुया	dhṛṣṇuyā	boldly, courageously
शुभम्	śubham	for beauty/glory

Verse 12

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
हस्कारात	haskārāt	from the shout/laughter
विद्यுதः	vidyutaḥ	of lightning
मृळयन्तु	mṛḷayantu	be gracious, show mercy

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a magnificent thunderstorm rolling across the plains: the flashing lightning is the laughter of the gods, clearing the air and energizing the earth.

Act 4

Pūṣan: The Finder of Lost Paths and Treasures

Verses 13, 14, 15

Verse 13

आ पू॑षञ्चि॒त्रब॑र्हिष॒माघृ॑णे ध॒रुणं॑ दि॒वः । आजा॑ न॒ष्टं यथा॑ प॒शुं ॥

ā́ pūṣañcitrábarhiṣamā́ghṛṇe dharúṇam diváḥ ǀ ā́jā naṣṭám yáthā paśúm ǁ

Verse 14

पू॒षा राजा॑न॒माघृ॑णि॒रप॑गूळ्हं॒ गुहा॑ हि॒तं । अविं॑दच्चि॒त्रब॑र्हिषं ॥

pūṣā́ rā́jānamā́ghṛṇirápagūḷham gúhā hitám ǀ ávindaccitrábarhiṣam ǁ

Verse 15

उ॒तो स मह्य॒मिंदु॑भिः॒ षड्यु॒क्ताँ अ॑नु॒सेषि॑धत् । गोभि॒र्यवं॒ न च॑र्कृषत् ॥

utó sá máhyamíndubhiḥ ṣáḍyuktā́m̐ anuséṣidhat ǀ góbhiryávam ná carkṛṣat ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

Here the Ṛṣi turns to Pūṣan, the pastoral deity of paths, nourishment, and safe journeys. Pūṣan is asked to bring back what is lost, just as a herdsman leads back a strayed animal ('naṣṭam yathā paśum'). In the spiritual landscape, Pūṣan represents the inner guide who recovers our lost spiritual wealth, hidden deep within the cave of the heart ('gūhā hitam'). He is 'āghṛṇi'—glowing and radiant—who unearths the king of truth covered by illusion. Through his grace, the seeker's efforts in cultivation ('carkṛṣat') bear fruit, yielding rich harvests nurtured by the drops of Soma.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 13: Come, O Pūṣan, seated on the wondrous sacred grass, O radiant sustainer of heaven, drive hither like a lost animal.

Verse 14: Pūṣan, the radiant guardian, found the king who was hidden and secreted away in the cave, seated on the wondrous grass.

Verse 15: Moreover, may he urge on for me six yoked horses with the drops of Soma, ploughing barley with kine.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The 'hidden king' (rājānam apagūḷham) is interpreted by esoteric commentators as the inner Divine Self, hidden within the cave of the heart, which Pūṣan helps the seeker recover.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 13

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पूषन्	pūṣan	O Pūṣan (nourisher/guide)
चित्रबर्हिषम्	citrabarhiṣam	seated on wondrous grass
आघृणे	āghṛṇe	O glowing/radiant one
पशुम्	paśum	animal, cattle (soul/wealth)

Verse 14

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अपगूळ्हम्	apagūḷham	concealed, hidden
गुहा	guhā	in the cave/secret place
अविन्दत्	avindat	found, discovered

Verse 15

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
मह्यम्	mahyam	for me
षट् युक्तान्	ṣaṭ yuktān	six yoked (teams)
चर्कृषत्	carkṛṣat	ploughs continuously

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture a shepherd with a golden staff walking through twilight hills, gently calling back a straying lamb from a hidden mountain cave.

Act 5

The Waters of Life: Cleansing and Immortality

Verses 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22

Verse 16

अं॒बयो॑ यं॒त्यध्व॑भिर्जा॒मयो॑ अध्वरीय॒तां । पृं॒च॒तीर्मधु॑ना॒ पयः॑ ॥

ambáyo yantyádhvabhirjāmáyo adhvarīyatā́m ǀ pṛñcatī́rmádhunā páyaḥ ǁ

Verse 17

अ॒मूर्या उप॒ सूर्ये॒ याभि॑र्वा॒ सूर्यः॑ स॒ह । ता नो॑ हिन्वंत्वध्व॒रं ॥

amū́ryā́ úpa sū́rye yā́bhirvā sū́ryaḥ sahá ǀ tā́ no hinvantvadhvarám ǁ

Verse 18

अ॒पो दे॒वीरुप॑ ह्वये॒ यत्र॒ गावः॒ पिबं॑ति नः । सिंधु॑भ्यः॒ कर्त्वं॑ ह॒विः ॥

apó devī́rúpa hvaye yátra gā́vaḥ píbanti naḥ ǀ síndhubhyaḥ kártvam havíḥ ǁ

Verse 19

अ॒प्स्वं१॒॑तर॒मृत॑म॒प्सु भे॑ष॒जम॒पामु॒त प्रश॑स्तये । देवा॒ भव॑त वा॒जिनः॑ ॥

apsvántáramṛ́tamapsú bheṣajámapā́mutá práśastaye ǀ dévā bhávata vājínaḥ ǁ

Verse 20

अ॒प्सु मे॒ सोमो॑ अब्रवीदं॒तर्विश्वा॑नि भेष॒जा । अ॒ग्निं च॑ वि॒श्वशं॑भुव॒माप॑श्च वि॒श्वभे॑षजीः ॥

apsú me sómo abravīdantárvíśvāni bheṣajā́ ǀ agním ca viśváśambhuvamā́paśca viśvábheṣajīḥ ǁ

Verse 21

आपः॑ पृणी॒त भे॑ष॒जं वरू॑थं त॒न्वे॒३॒॑ मम॑ । ज्योक् च॒ सूर्यं॑ दृ॒शे ॥

ā́paḥ pṛṇītá bheṣajám várūtham tanvé máma ǀ jyók ca sū́ryam dṛśé ǁ

Verse 22

इ॒दमा॑पः॒ प्र व॑हत॒ यत्किं च॑ दुरि॒तं मयि॑ । यद्वा॒हम॑भिदु॒द्रोह॒ यद्वा॑ शे॒प उ॒तानृ॑तं ॥

idámāpaḥ prá vahata yátkím ca duritám máyi ǀ yádvāhámabhidudróha yádvā śepá utā́nṛtam ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

This movement transitions into one of the most sublime hydrological hymns in the Rigveda, dedicated to the Divine Waters (Āpaḥ). The waters are envisioned as mothers, sisters, and divine rivers ('ambayo yanti') moving along sacred paths, mingling sweet milk into their streams. Here, water is not merely physical liquid; it is the carrier of cosmic medicine ('bheṣajam') and immortality ('amṛtam'). The Ṛṣi declares that Soma himself revealed that all healing powers reside within the waters, alongside Agni, the universal warmth. The seeker prays to the waters to wash away all crookedness, falsehood, and guilt ('duritam', 'anṛtam'), leaving the mind pristine and capable of gazing long upon the sun ('jyok ca sūryam dṛśe').

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 16: Like mothers, sisters of those performing the sacrifice, they move along their paths, blending milk with sweetness.

Verse 17: Those waters that are near the sun, or those with whom the sun is united—may they quicken our sacrifice.

Verse 18: I invoke the divine waters where our cattle drink; oblations must be offered to the rivers.

Verse 19: Within the waters is immortality, within the waters is medicine, and for the praise of waters, O gods, be swift.

Verse 20: Soma told me: Within the waters reside all medicines, and Agni who brings universal joy, and the waters that heal all.

Verse 21: O Waters, supply medicine as a shelter for my body, so that I may long look upon the sun.

Verse 22: Whatever untruth is in me, O Waters—whatever wrong I have done, whatever I have falsely sworn—wash it all away.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

These verses are famously used in Vedic purification rituals (such as the *Aṅgiras* baths). Sāyaṇa explains the waters as both the physical rivers of the Punjab and the subtle currents of life-force (*prāṇa*).

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 16

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अम्बयः	ambayaḥ	mothers
जामयः	jāmayaḥ	sisters
पृञ्चतीः	pṛñcatīḥ	mixing, blending

Verse 17

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
सूर्ये	sūrye	near the sun
हिन्वन्तु	hinvantu	quicken, impel, bless
अध्वरम्	adhvaram	the sacrifice

Verse 18

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
आपो देवीः	āpo devīḥ	divine waters
गावः पिबन्ति	gāvaḥ pibanti	cows drink
सिन्धुभ्यः	sindhubhyaḥ	to the rivers

Verse 19

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अमृतम्	amṛtam	immortality, nectar
भेषजम्	bheṣajam	medicine, healing
वाजिनः	vājinaḥ	swift, spirited

Verse 20

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
अब्रवीत्	abravīt	spoke, told
विश्वशंभुवम्	viśvaśambhuvam	bringing universal joy/happiness
विश्वभेषजीः	viśvabheṣajīḥ	possessing all medicines

Verse 21

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
पृणीत	pṛṇīta	fill, supply
वरूथम्	varūtham	shelter, defense
ज्योक्	jyok	for a long time

Verse 22

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
दुरितम्	duritam	wrongdoing, misdeed
अभिदुद्रोह	abhidudroha	I have injured/transgressed
अनृतम्	anṛtam	untruth, falsehood

🧠

Memory Hook

Picture standing beneath a pure waterfall at sunrise, letting the cool, sparkling streams wash away all inner dust and fatigue, making your eyes clear enough to look straight at the sun.

Act 6

Union with Varcas: The Radiant Climax

Verses 23, 24

Verse 23

आपो॑ अ॒द्यान्व॑चारिषं॒ रसे॑न॒ सम॑गस्महि । पय॑स्वानग्न॒ आ ग॑हि॒ तं मा॒ सं सृ॑ज॒ वर्च॑सा ॥

ā́po adyā́nvacāriṣam rásena sámagasmahi ǀ páyasvānagna ā́ gahi tám mā sám sṛja várcasā ǁ

Verse 24

सं मा॑ग्ने॒ वर्च॑सा सृज॒ सं प्र॒जया॒ समायु॑षा । वि॒द्युर्मे॑ अस्य दे॒वा इंद्रो॑ विद्यात्स॒ह ऋषि॑भिः ॥

sám māgne várcasā sṛja sám prajáyā sámā́yuṣā ǀ vidyúrme asya devā́ índro vidyātsahá ṛ́ṣibhiḥ ǁ

📖 Immersive narrative, word breakdowns, and spiritual context

The Sūkta culminates in a deeply personal prayer for total spiritual and physical integration. The Ṛṣi proclaims, 'āpo adyānvacāriṣam rasena samagasmahi'—today I have walked with the waters, I have united with their essence. He then turns to Agni, the divine flame of aspiration, asking to be united with 'varcas' (spiritual brilliance), offspring ('prajā'), and longevity ('āyuṣā'). The hymn closes with a universal blessing: may the gods and Indra, alongside the ancient Ṛṣis, recognize and validate this attainment of inner radiance. The seeker is now fully cleansed, illuminated, and aligned with cosmic power.

💭 Flowing Translation

Verse 23: Today I have moved with the waters; we have united with their essence. O Agni, rich in streams, come hither and unite me with splendor.

Verse 24: Unite me, O Agni, with splendor, with progeny, with long life. May the gods know this of me, and Indra with the Ṛṣis.

📝 Scholar's Reading Note

The final verses are classic Vedic benedictions for vitality (*āyuḥ*, *prajā*, *varcas*). Sri Aurobindo notes that 'varcas' represents the dynamic spiritual light that transforms the human vessel into a divine form.

📚 Word-by-Word Breakdown

Verse 23

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
रसेन	rasena	with essence/juice/flavor
समगस्महि	samagasmahi	we have united
पयस्वान्	payasvān	rich in milk/streams
वर्चसा	varcasā	with splendor/brilliance

Verse 24

Devanāgarī	IAST	Translation
वर्चसा	varcasā	with brilliance
प्रजया	prajayā	with progeny/offspring
आयुषा	āyuṣā	with longevity/life-span
ऋषिभिः	ṛṣibhiḥ	with the seers

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Memory Hook

Imagine a lamp being lit from a blazing fire, instantly radiating golden light all around — that is the seeker uniting with Agni and Varcas.