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Dhammapada · narration sample

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Rig Veda · 642 of 1027

Mandala 8: HYMN XXII. Aśvins.

1.HITHERWARD have I called to-day, for succour, that most wondrous car Which ye ascended, Aśvins, ye whose paths are red, swift to give Car, for Sūrya’s sake.

2.Car ever young, much longed-for, easily invoked, soon guided, first in deeds of might, Which waits and serves, O Sobhari, with benevolence, without a rival or a foe.

3.These Aśvins with our homage, these Two Omnipresent Deities Hitherward will we bring for kind help, these who seek the dwelling of the worshipper.

4.One of your chariot wheels is moving swiftly round, one speeds for you its onward course. Like a milch-cow, O Lords of splendour, and with haste let your benevolence come to us.

5.That chariot of yours which hath a triple seat and reins of gold, The famous car that traverseth the heaven and earth, thereon Nāsatyas, Aśvins, come.

6.Ye with your plough, when favouring Manu with your help, ploughed the first harvest in the sky. As such will we exalt you, Lords of splendour, now, O Aśvins, with our prayer and praise.

7.Come to us, Lords of ample wealth, by paths of everlasting Law, Whereby to high dominion ye with mighty strength raised Trksi, Trasadasyu’s son.

8.This Soma pressed with stones is yours, ye Heroes, Lords of plenteous wealth. Approach to drink the Soma, come, drink in the worshipper’s abode.

9.O Aśvins, mount the chariot, mount the golden seat, ye who are Lords of plenteous wealth, And bring to us abundant food.

10.The aids wherewith ye helped Paktha and Adhrigt;, and Babhru severed from his friends,— With those, O Aśvins, come hither with speed and soon, and heal whatever is diseased.

11.When we continually invoke the Aśvins, the resistless, at this time of day, We lovers of the song, with songs.

12.Through these, ye Mighty Ones, come hither to my call which brings all blessings, wears all forms,— Tlirough which, All-present Heroes, lavishest of food ye strengthened Krvi, come through these.

13.I speak to both of these as such, these Aśvins whom I reverence at this time of day: With homage we entreat them both.

14.Ye who are Lords of splendour, ye whose paths are red, at eve, at mom, at sacrifice, Give us not utterly as prey to mortal foe, ye Rudras, Lords of ample wealth.

15.For bliss I call. the blissful car, at morn the inseparable Aśvins with their car I call, like Sobhari our sire.

16.Rapid as thought, and strong, and speeding to thejoy, bringing.your swiftly-coming help, Be to us a protection even from far away Lords of great wealth, with many aids.’

17.Come, Wonder-Workers, to our home, our home, O Aśvins, rich in cattle, steeds, and gold, Chief drinkers of the Soma’s juice

18.Choice-worthy strength, heroic, firm and excellent, uninjured by the Rakṣas foe, At this your coming nigh, ye Lords of ample wealth and all good things, may we obtain.

Asked of Guide

Why does the hymn keep calling the Aśvins' chariot 'ever young' and describe it in such detail?

The hymn names the chariot—“Car ever young, much longed-for”—to make the Aśvins’ power immediate and reliable: their vehicle is a living sign that they arrive swiftly, renew fortunes, and bridge heaven and earth. The repeated details—golden reins, triple seat, wheels moving swiftly—work as ritual prompts so worshippers can picture the gods entering the worshipper’s dwelling and bringing Soma, healing, and abundance.

The chariot also links the Aśvins to particular myths and deeds the hymn recalls, like ploughing the first harvest for Manu and aiding mortal heroes, which justifies invoking their help now. If you want a close parallel that treats a divine vehicle as a theophany, compare the Rig Veda’s focus on iconic objects with the Bhagavad Gita’s chariot scene where Krishna’s chariot represents divine presence and action.

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.