Verses 1, 2, 3
त्रिश्चि॑न्नो अ॒द्या भ॑वतं नवेदसा वि॒भुर्वां॒ याम॑ उ॒त रा॒तिर॑श्विना । यु॒वोर्हि यं॒त्रं हि॒म्येव॒ वास॑सोऽभ्यायं॒सेन्या॑ भवतं मनी॒षिभिः॑ ॥
tríścinno adyā́ bhavatam navedasā vibhúrvām yā́ma utá rātíraśvinā ǀ yuvórhí yantrám himyéva vā́saso’bhyāyaṃsényā bhavatam manīṣíbhiḥ ǁ
त्रयः॑ प॒वयो॑ मधु॒वाह॑ने॒ रथे॒ सोम॑स्य वे॒नामनु॒ विश्व॒ इद्वि॑दुः । त्रयः॑ स्कं॒भासः॑ स्कभि॒तास॑ आ॒रभे॒ त्रिर्नक्तं॑ या॒थस्त्रिर्व॑श्विना॒ दिवा॑ ॥
tráyaḥ paváyo madhuvā́hane ráthe sómasya venā́mánu víśva ídviduḥ ǀ tráyaḥ skambhā́saḥ skabhitā́sa ārábhe trírnáktam yāthástrírvaśvinā dívā ǁ
स॒मा॒ने अह॒न्त्रिर॑वद्यगोहना॒ त्रिर॒द्य य॒ज्ञं मधु॑ना मिमिक्षतं । त्रिर्वाज॑वती॒रिषो॑ अश्विना यु॒वं दो॒षा अ॒स्मभ्य॑मु॒षस॑श्च पिन्वतं ॥
samāné áhantríravadyagohanā tríradyá yajñám mádhunā mimikṣatam ǀ trírvā́javatīríṣo aśvinā yuvám doṣā́ asmábhyamuṣásaśca pinvatam ǁ
In these opening verses, the Ṛṣi Kakṣīvān Auśija invokes the Aśvins, the divine horsemen and celestial physicians, centering his vision around the sacred number three. The Aśvins are implored to come to the sacrifice thrice today, bringing their vast, all-pervading momentum and the sweet honey of divine realization. Their chariot is described with triple elements—triple felly-bands, triple seats, and triple pillars of support—representing the governance across the three realms of existence (earth, atmosphere, and heaven) and the passage of time through night and day. The imagery of the garment's border being tightly drawn together (himye'va vāsasaḥ) portrays the closeness of the divine grace wrapping around the worshipper like a protective cloak. The Ṛṣi emphasizes that all beings know the secret of the sweet Soma-flowing chariot, and he calls upon the Aśvins to thrice mingle the sacrifice with sweetness and to overflow the dawns and nights with vigor and refreshing nourishment for the seeker.
Verse 1: O Aśvins, renowned in wisdom, manifest yourselves thrice today; vast is your path, and manifold your bounty. Like the binding of a winter garment, let your harness be close to us, and be present for us with the wise.
Verse 2: Three are the felly-bands upon your honey-bearing chariot, which all beings recognize as the desire of Soma. Three are the supporting pillars of your car for firm establishment, and thrice by night and thrice by day you travel, O Aśvins.
Verse 3: On the same day, thrice banishers of evil, thrice today mingle the sacrifice with sweetness. Thrice grant us vigor-filled refreshings, O Aśvins, and make the nights and dawns flow rich with milk for us.
The translation follows both Sāyaṇa's ritualistic interpretation of the morning, midday, and evening libations, and the esoteric view where the 'three realms' represent the psychological planes of physical, vital, and mental consciousness unified by divine grace.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अश्विना | aśvinā | O two Aśvins (the divine horsemen) |
| त्रिः | triḥ | thrice |
| नवेदसा | navedasā | knowing well, wise |
| यामः | yāmaḥ | journey, path |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| मधुवाहने | madhuvāhane | honey-bearing (chariot) |
| पवयः | pavayaḥ | felly-bands or rims of the wheels |
| स्कम्भासः | skambhāsaḥ | props, pillars |
| नक्तम् | naktam | by night |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| अवद्यगोहना | avadya-gohanā | banishers of evil or reproach |
| मिमिक्षतम् | mimikṣatam | mix, mingle |
| वाजवतीः | vāja-vatīḥ | rich in strength/vigor |
| पिन्वतम् | pinvatam | cause to swell, make flow |
Picture a triple-wheeled golden chariot slicing through the three layers of the cosmos at dawn, noon, and dusk, leaving a trail of sweet honey and divine warmth.
Verses 4, 5, 6
त्रिर्व॒र्तिर्या॑तं॒ त्रिरनु॑व्रते॒ जने॒ त्रिः सु॑प्रा॒व्ये॑ त्रे॒धेव॑ शिक्षतं । त्रिर्नां॒द्यं॑ वहतमश्विना यु॒वं त्रिः पृक्षो॑ अ॒स्मे अ॒क्षरे॑व पिन्वतं ॥
trírvartíryātam tríránuvrate jané tríḥ suprāvyé tredhéva śikṣatam ǀ trírnāndyám vahatamaśvinā yuvám tríḥ pṛ́kṣo asmé akṣáreva pinvatam ǁ
त्रिर्नो॑ र॒यिं व॑हतमश्विना यु॒वं त्रिर्दे॒वता॑ता॒ त्रिरु॒ताव॑तं॒ धियः॑ । त्रिः सौ॑भग॒त्वं त्रिरु॒त श्रवां॑सि नस्त्रि॒ष्ठं वां॒ सूरे॑ दुहि॒ता रु॑ह॒द्रथं॑ ॥
trírno rayím vahatamaśvinā yuvám trírdevátātā trírutā́vatam dhíyaḥ ǀ tríḥ saubhagatvám trírutá śrávāṃsi nastriṣṭhám vām sū́re duhitā́ ruhadrátham ǁ
त्रिर्नो॑ अश्विना दि॒व्यानि॑ भेष॒जा त्रिः पार्थि॑वानि॒ त्रिरु॑ दत्तम॒द्भ्यः । ओ॒मानं॑ शं॒योर्मम॑काय सू॒नवे॑ त्रि॒धातु॒ शर्म॑ वहतं शुभस्पती ॥
trírno aśvinā divyā́ni bheṣajā́ tríḥ pā́rthivāni tríru dattamadbhyáḥ ǀ omā́nam śaṃyórmámakāya sūnáve tridhā́tu śárma vahatam śubhaspatī ǁ
The Ṛṣi deepens the litany of the number three, applying it to the chariot's journeys, the joyous movements among the devoted people, and the triple bestowal of healing medicines. The Aśvins are praised as the lords of splendor (śubhaspatī) who bring forth boundless prosperity, radiant fame, and a threefold protective shelter (tridhātu śarma) for the seeker's son or lineage. A striking mythological vignette appears in verse 5: the daughter of Sūrya (the Sun) herself mounts their three-seated chariot. This marriage of the Sun's daughter to the twin horsemen symbolizes the union of illumination, joy, and divine swiftness. In verse 6, the Aśvins are requested to bring divine remedies (divyāni bheṣajā) from the heavens, the earth, and the waters, offering a holistic healing that spans the entire cosmos to protect the worshipper Mamaka's son from all ailments.
Verse 4: Thrice drive your course, thrice among the devoted folk, thrice bestow your gifts in threefold wise. Thrice bring us joyous acclamation, O Aśvins, and thrice cause our sustenance to flow like inexhaustible streams.
Verse 5: Thrice bring us riches, O Aśvins, thrice in divine gatherings, thrice guard our thoughts. Thrice grant us good fortune, thrice radiant fame, while the daughter of the Sun mounts your triple-seated chariot.
Verse 6: Thrice bring us heavenly healing balms, O Aśvins, thrice earthly ones, and thrice from the waters bestow them. To Mamaka's son, grant the guardian shelter of triple foundation, O lords of beauty.
Sāyaṇa explains the 'daughter of the Sun' (Sūryā) as an allegory for the dawn or the rising intelligence of the soul wedding the twin powers of bliss and action.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| वर्तिः | vartiḥ | course, path, abiding place |
| अनुव्रते | anuvrate | following the law or vow |
| नान्द्यम् | nāndyam | rejoicing, joyous greeting |
| अक्षरेव | akṣarā-iva | like imperishable springs/waters |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| रयिम् | rayim | wealth, treasure |
| देवतातू | devatātā | in the assembly/worship of the gods |
| सुभगित्वम् | saubhagatvam | auspiciousness, good fortune |
| दुहिता | duhitā | daughter (here Sūryā) |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| भेषजा | bheṣajā | remedies, medicines |
| पार्थिवानि | pārthivāni | terrestrial, earthly |
| ओमानम् | omānam | help, protection, favor |
| त्रिधातु | tridhātu | threefold, of three elements |
Visualize the radiant Daughter of the Sun stepping gracefully into a gleaming chariot while streams of healing waters flow from heaven, earth, and ocean.
Verses 7, 8, 9
त्रिर्नो॑ अश्विना यज॒ता दि॒वेदि॑वे॒ परि॑ त्रि॒धातु॑ पृथि॒वीम॑शायतं । ति॒स्रो ना॑सत्या रथ्या परा॒वत॑ आ॒त्मेव॒ वातः॒ स्वस॑राणि गच्छतं ॥
trírno aśvinā yajatā́ divédive pári tridhā́tu pṛthivī́maśāyatam ǀ tisró nāsatyā rathyā parāváta ātméva vā́taḥ svásarāṇi gacchatam ǁ
त्रिर॑श्विना॒ सिंधु॑भिः स॒प्तमा॑तृभि॒स्त्रय॑ आहा॒वास्त्रे॒धा ह॒विष्कृ॒तं । ति॒स्रः पृ॑थि॒वीरु॒परि॑ प्र॒वा दि॒वो नाकं॑ रक्षेथे॒ द्युभि॑र॒क्तुभि॑र्हि॒तं ॥
tríraśvinā síndhubhiḥ saptámātṛbhistráya āhāvā́stredhā́ havíṣkṛtám ǀ tisráḥ pṛthivī́rupári pravā́ divó nā́kam rakṣethe dyúbhiraktúbhirhitám ǁ
क्व१॒॑ त्री च॒क्रा त्रि॒वृतो॒ रथ॑स्य॒ क्व१॒॑ त्रयो॑ वं॒धुरो॒ ये सनी॑ळाः । क॒दा योगो॑ वा॒जिनो॒ रास॑भस्य॒ येन॑ य॒ज्ञं ना॑सत्योपया॒थः ॥
kvá trī́ cakrā́ trivṛ́to ráthasya kvá tráyo vandhúro yé sánīḷāḥ ǀ kadā́ yógo vājíno rā́sabhasya yéna yajñám nāsatyopayātháḥ ǁ
The Ṛṣi continues his vibrant exploration of cosmic architecture. The Aśvins embrace the threefold earth day after day, moving across vast distances with the speed of the wind—likened to the breath or the self-moving wind traversing its native paths (svasarāṇi). Verse 8 invokes the primordial rivers, the seven mothers, and the triple oblations, linking the Aśvins' protective canopy to the summit of heaven guarded through day and night. In verse 9, a series of wondrous, probing questions ring out: Where are your three wheels? Where are your three seat-boxes linked together? When is the harnessing of your swift ass (rāsabha), the humble yet tireless mount that pulls your chariot to the sacrifice? These questions express both awe and a playful intimacy with the divine twins, highlighting the mysterious mechanics of divine grace.
Verse 7: Thrice day by day, O adorable Aśvins, you encompass the threefold earth. Like the self-moving wind, like the breath itself, O Nāsatyas, you travel from afar to your native dwelling places.
Verse 8: Thrice with the rivers, the seven mothers, O Aśvins, thrice with the three receptacles is the oblation prepared. Over the triple earths and the streaming waters, you guard the ridge of heaven, established by day and night.
Verse 9: Where are the three wheels of your triple chariot? Where are the three seat-boxes, joined in one place? When is the yoking of your swift ass, O Nāsatyas, by which you speed to the sacrifice?
The mention of the ass (rāsabha) is traditional for the Aśvins, interpreted by commentators as representing endurance and the carrying of heavy burdens through the dense material world.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| यजता | yajatā | worthy of worship, adorable |
| त्रिधातु | tridhātu | threefold |
| आत्मेव | ātmā-iva | like the soul or vital breath |
| स्वसराणि | svasarāṇi | native pastures, resting places |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सिन्धुभिः | sindhubhiḥ | with the rivers |
| सप्तमातृभिः | saptamātṛbhiḥ | with the seven mothers |
| आहावाः | āhāvāḥ | libation tanks or vessels |
| नाकम् | nākam | vault of heaven, pain-free realm |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| चक्रा | cakrā | wheels |
| त्रिवृतः | trivṛtaḥ | triple-twisted, threefold |
| वन्धुरः | vandhuraḥ | seat-box of a chariot |
| रासभस्य | rāsabhasya | of the ass (the Aśvins' traditional mount) |
Imagine a cosmic cart powered by a humble, sturdy donkey, crossing seven great rivers while the stars overhead bear witness to its mysterious three-wheeled design.
Verses 10, 11, 12
आ ना॑सत्या॒ गच्छ॑तं हू॒यते॑ ह॒विर्मध्वः॑ पिबतं मधु॒पेभि॑रा॒सभिः॑ । यु॒वोर्हि पूर्वं॑ सवि॒तोषसो॒ रथ॑मृ॒ताय॑ चि॒त्रं घृ॒तवं॑त॒मिष्य॑ति ॥
ā́ nāsatyā gácchatam hūyáte havírmádhvaḥ pibatam madhupébhirāsábhiḥ ǀ yuvórhí pū́rvam savitóṣáso ráthamṛtā́ya citrám ghṛtávantamíṣyati ǁ
आ ना॑सत्या त्रि॒भिरे॑काद॒शैरि॒ह दे॒वेभि॑र्यातं मधु॒पेय॑मश्विना । प्रायु॒स्तारि॑ष्टं॒ नी रपां॑सि मृक्षतं॒ सेध॑तं॒ द्वेषो॒ भव॑तं सचा॒भुवा॑ ॥
ā́ nāsatyā tribhírekādaśáirihá devébhiryātam madhupéyamaśvinā ǀ prā́yustā́riṣṭam nī́ rápāṃsi mṛkṣatam sédhatam dvéṣo bhávatam sacābhúvā ǁ
आ नो॑ अश्विना त्रि॒वृता॒ रथे॑ना॒र्वांचं॑ र॒यिं व॑हतं सु॒वीरं॑ । शृ॒ण्वंता॑ वा॒मव॑से जोहवीमि वृ॒धे च॑ नो भवतं॒ वाज॑सातौ ॥
ā́ no aśvinā trivṛ́tā ráthenārvā́ñcam rayím vahatam suvī́ram ǀ śṛṇvántā vāmávase johavīmi vṛdhé ca no bhavatam vā́jasātau ǁ
The Sūkta culminates in a warm, inviting summons. The Ṛṣi urges the Nāsatyas to approach swiftly, partake of the flowing oblation, and drink the honey with mouths made for sweetness. He notes that Savitṛ (the divine stimulator) dispatches their glistening, butter-rich chariot ahead of the dawn for the sake of Ṛta (cosmic truth). In verse 11, the invocation expands to include the thirty-three deities (the three groups of eleven), bringing a magnificent assembly of the divine pantheon to the madhupeya (honey-drinking). The Ṛṣi prays for the elongation of life span (āyus tāriṣṭam), the washing away of all flaws and blemishes, the banishing of hostility, and a constant companionship in all victories of strength (vāja-sāti).
Verse 10: Draw near, O Nāsatyas; the oblation is invoked, drink of the sweet draught with honey-drinking mouths. For Savitṛ sends forth your bright, butter-dripping chariot ahead of the dawn for the sake of truth.
Verse 11: Come hither, O Aśvins, with the thirty-three gods to this honey-libation. Prolong our span of life, wipe away our flaws, drive off our foes, and be our constant companions in being.
Verse 12: Bring hither to us, O Aśvins, with your triple car, an oncoming wealth rich in heroes. Hearing my call for your aid, I invoke you; be for our increase and victory in the conquest of prize.
The reference to 'three times eleven gods' (tribhir ekādaśaiḥ) is recognized by Yāska and Sāyaṇa as the standard Vedic pantheon of 33 principal deities, underscoring the universal scope of this Aśvin invocation.
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| नासत्या | nāsatyā | O Nāsatyas (epithet of the Aśvins) |
| मधुपैभिः | madhupebhiḥ | honey-drinking |
| सविता | savitā | Savitṛ, the divine impeller |
| घृतवन्तम् | ghṛtavantam | dripping with clarified butter/grace |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| त्रिभिरेकादशैः | tribhir ekādaśaiḥ | with the thirty-three (three times eleven) gods |
| आयुः तारिष्टम् | āyuḥ tāriṣṭam | extend/prolong life |
| रपांसि | rapāṃsi | blemishes, faults, sins |
| सचाभुवा | sacābhuvā | associated, being together with |
| Devanāgarī | IAST | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| त्रिवृता | trivṛtā | triple-twined, threefold |
| अर्वाञ्चम् | arvāñcam | turned towards us, approaching |
| सुवीरम् | suvīram | rich in heroic energy/sons |
| वाजसातौ | vājasātau | in the winning of treasure or prize |
Picture a grand celestial banquet where thirty-three radiant deities gather around a golden cup of honey, raising their voices in joyful celebration of life and victory.