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Rig Veda · 494 of 1027
Mandala 6: HYMN LIII. Pūṣan.
1.LORD of the path, O Pūṣan, we have yoked and bound thee to our hymn, Even as a car, to win the prize.
2.Bring us the wealth that men require, a manly master of a house, Free-handed with the liberal meed.
3.Even him who would not give, do thou, O glowing Pūṣan, urge to give, And make the niggard’s soul grow soft.
4.Clear paths that we may win the prize; scatter our enemies afar. Strong God, be all our thoughts fulfilled.
5.Penetrate with an awl, O Sage, the hearts of avaricious churls, And make them subject to our will.
6.Thrust with thine awl, O Pūṣan: seek that which the niggard’s heart holds dear, And make him subject to our will.
7.Tear up and read in pieces, Sage, the hearts of avaricious churls, And make them subject to our will.
8.Thou, glowing Pūṣan, carriest an awl that urges men to prayer; Therewith do thou tear up and rend to shreds the heart of every one.
9.Thou bearest, glowing Lord! a goad with horny point that guides the cows Thence do we seek thy gift of bliss.
10.And make this hymn of ours produce kine, horses, and a store of wealth For our delight and use as men.
Asked of Guide
Why does the hymn ask Pūṣan to 'penetrate with an awl' and 'tear up the hearts' of the stingy?
The hymn addresses Pūṣan as a guide and patron of prosperity, asking him to loosen stinginess so wealth and generosity can flow: phrases like “penetrate with an awl” and “tear up the hearts of avaricious churls” are metaphors for piercing hardened reluctance and removing obstacles to giving. The repeated images of an awl and goad frame Pūṣan as an agent who pries open closed hearts to make people “subject to our will,” i.e., inclined to share resources and support the ritual community.
This language parallels other Vedic hymns that use physical instruments to describe divine action, as in Rig Veda Book 10 where gods are asked to “open” or “release”. The hymn’s blunt imprecations aim at social ends: securing cattle, wealth, and allies by transforming personal stinginess into liberality that sustains the house and the sacrificers.
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