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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 872 of 1027

Mandala 10: HYMN XXXV. Viśvedevas.

1.THESE fires associate with Indra are awake, bringing their light when first the Dawn begins to shine. May Heaven and Earth, great Pair, observe our holy work. We claim for us this day the favour of the Gods.

2.Yea, for ourselves we claim the grace of Heaven and Earth, of Śaryaṇāvān, of the Hills and Mother Streams. For innocence we pray to Sūrya and to Dawn. So may the flowing Soma bring us bliss to-day.

3.May the great Twain, the Mothers, Heaven and Earth, this day preserve us free from sin for peace and happiness. May Morning sending forth her light drive sin afar. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

4.May this first Dawn bring us the host of gracious Gods: rich, may it richly shine for us who strive for wealth. The wrath of the malignant may we keep afar. We pray to kindled Agni for feilicity.

5.Dawns, who come forward with the bright beams of the Sun, and at your earliest flushing bring to us the light, Shine ye on us to-day auspicious, for renown. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

6.Free from all sickness may the Mornings come to us, and let our fires mount upward with a lofty blaze. The Aśvin Pair have harnessed their swift-moving car. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

7.Send us to-day a portion choice and excellent, O Savitar, for thou art he who dealeth wealth. I cry to Dhiṣaṇā, Mother of opulence. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

8.Further me this declaring of Eternal Law, the Law of Gods, as we mortals acknowledge it! The Sun goes up beholding all the rays of morn. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

9.This day we pray with innocence in strewing grass, adjusting pressing-stones, and perfecting the hymn. Thou in the Ādityas’ keeping movest restlessly. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

10.To our great holy grass I bid the Gods at morn to banquet, and will seat them as the seven priests,— Varuṇa, Indra, Mitra, Bhaga for our gain. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

11.Come hither, O Ādityas, for our perfect weal: accordant help our sacrifice that we may thrive. Pūṣan, Bṛhaspati, Bhaga, both Aśvins, and enkindled Agni we implore for happiness.

12.Ādityas, Gods, vouchsafe that this our home may be praise-worthy, prosperous, our heroes’ sure defence, For cattle, for our sons, for progeny, for life. We pray to kindled Agni for felicity.

13.This day may all the Maruts, all he near us with aid: may all our fires be well enkindled. May all Gods come to us with gracious favour. May spoil and wealth he ours, and all possessions.

14.He whom ye aid, O Deities, in battle, whom ye protect and rescue from affliction, Who fears no danger at your milk-libation, -such may we be to feast the Gods, ye Mighty.

Asked of Guide

Why do the hymns keep praying to Dawn, Agni, and the Ādityas together?

The hymn strings together Dawn, Agni, and the Ādityas because each functions in the ritual as a cooperating power: Dawn brings the light to begin the rite, Agni kindles and carries the oblations, and the Ādityas (solar deities like Varuṇa, Mitra, Pūṣan) secure cosmic order and prosperity. Verse after verse asks these forces to “shine…for felicity” and to preserve the worshippers “free from sin,” showing the sacrifice depends on their combined action.

Linking them also fixes the rite in time and aim: morning light makes the sacrifice efficacious, Agni makes the offering present to gods, and the Ādityas confer wealth, progeny, and protection (verses 1–4, 10–12). This practical network of roles echoes later ritual manuals such as the Gṛhya-sūtras, which likewise assign Agni the mediator’s role and the dawn-Ādityas the guarantors of order and blessing.

Guide is the guide inside the Gnosis app, where every book on these shelves is free to read. Guide is the part you pay for — your guide has read all of them, and answers about the passage you’re actually on. Ask your guide your own question.