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Rig Veda · 560 of 1027
Mandala 7: HYMN XLIV. Dadhikrās.
1.I CALL on Dadhikrās, the first, to give you aid, the Aśvins, Bhaga, Dawn, and Agni kindled well, Indra, and Viṣṇu, Pūṣan, Brahmaṇaspati, Ādityas, Heaven and Earth, the Waters, and the Light.
2.When, rising, to the sacrifice we hasten, awaking Dadhikrās with adorations. Seating on sacred grass the Goddess Iḷā. let us invoke the sage swift-hearing Aśvins.
3.While I am thus arousing Dadhikrāvan I speak to Agni, Earth, and Dawn, and Sūrya, The red, the brown of Varuṇa ever mindful: may they ward off from us all grief and trouble.
4.Foremost is Dadhikrāvan, vigorous courser; in forefront of the cars, his way he knoweth, Closely allied with Sūrya and with Morning, Ādityas, and Aṅgirases, and Vasus.
5.May Dadhikrās prepare the way we travel that we may pass along the path of Order. May Agni bear us, and the Heavenly Army: hear us all Mighty Ones whom none deceiveth.
Asked of Guide
Who is Dadhikrās and why does the hymn call him to lead the ritual?
Dadhikrās is invoked as a foremost courser and vanguard: “Foremost is Dadhikrāvan, vigorous courser; in forefront of the cars, his way he knoweth.” The hymn casts him as a guiding force who prepares the ritual path and escorts worshippers with divine company — Aśvins, Dawn, Agni, Ādityas and others.
The poet asks Dadhikrās to “prepare the way we travel that we may pass along the path of Order,” which makes him a ritual guide who secures safe passage and cosmic order. This role matches how other Vedic hymns treat animal or charioteer figures as liminal guardians, comparable to passages in other Mandalas that enlist cosmic powers to open sacred movement.
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