Rig Veda · 564 of 1027
Mandala 7: HYMN XLVIII. Ṛbhus.
1.YE liberal Heroes, Vājas and Ṛbhukṣans, come and delight you with our flowing Soma. May your strength, Vibhus, as ye come to meet us, turn hitherward your car that brings men profit.
2.May we as Ṛbhu with your Ṛbhus conquer strength with our strength, as Vibhus with the Vibhus. May Vāja aid us in the fight for booty, and helped by Indra may we quell the foeman.
3.For they rule many tribes with high dominion, and conquer all their foes in close encounter. May Indra, Vibhvan, Vāja, and Ṛbhukṣan destroy by turns the wicked foeman’s valour.
4.Now, Deities, give us ample room and freedom: be all of you, one-minded, our protection. So let the Vasus grant us strength and vigour. Preserve us evermore, ye Gods, with blessings.
Asked of Guide
Who are the Ṛbhus in this hymn, and why are they invoked with Vāja and Indra?
The Ṛbhus appear as skilled, beneficent heroes whose presence brings skill and gain; the hymn asks them to “delight you with our flowing Soma” and to lend their strength so worshippers may conquer and obtain booty. They are grouped with Vāja and Indra because all three function as divine allies of warriors and sacrificers—agents who grant victory, protection, and prosperous spoils.
This chapter treats the Ṛbhus as craftsmen of power whose favour secures “ample room and freedom” and preservation by the Gods; the appeal is both practical and ritual, seeking tangible aid in battle and social standing. The grouping echoes other Rig Veda hymns where Indra’s martial might and Vāja’s empowering role pair with specialist benefactors; compare Mandala 1 hymns that likewise invoke Indra alongside assisting deities for victory.
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