✶Gnosis
← Contents
Theme
0655 / 1027

Listen

Dhammapada · narration sample

A one-minute narration sample. Every book in the library is narrated end to end — hear the rest in the app.

Rig Veda · 655 of 1027

Mandala 8: HYMN XXXV. Aśvins.

1.WITH Agni and with Indra, Viṣṇu. Varuṇa, with the Ādityas, Rudras, Vasus, closely leagued; Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, drink the Soma juice.

2.With all the Holy Thoughts, all being Mighty Ones! in close alliance wil the Mountains, Heaven, and Earth; Accordant. of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, drink the Soma juice.

3.With all the Deities, three times eleven, here, in close alliance with the Maruts, Bhṛgus, Floods; Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, drink the Soma juice.

4.Accept the sacrifice, attend to this my call: come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, bring us strengthening food.

5.Accept our praise-song as a youth accepts a maid. Come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, bring us strengthening food.

6.Accept the songs we sing, accept the solemn rite. Come nigh, O ye Twain Gods, to all libations here. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, bring us strengthening food.

7.Ye fly as starlings fly unto the forest trees; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, come thrice, O Aśvins, to our home.

8.Ye fly like swans, like those who travel on their way; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, come thrice, O Aśvins, to our home.

9.Ye fly to our oblation like a pair of hawks; like buffaloes ye seek the Soma we have shed. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, come thrice, O Aśvins, to our home.

10.Come hitherward and drink and satisfy yourselves, bestow upon us progeny and affluence. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, grant us vigorous strength.

11.Conquer your foes, protect us, praise your worshippers; bestow upon us progeny and affluence. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, grant us vigorous strength.

12.Slay enemies, animate men whom ye befriend; bestow upon us progeny and affluence. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, O Aśvins, grant us vigorous strength.

13.With Mitra, Varuṇa, Dharma, and the Maruts in your company approach unto your praiser’s call. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, and with the Ādityas, Aśvins! come.

14.With Viṣṇu and the Aṅgirases attending you, and with the Maruts come unto your praiser’s call. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, and with the Ādityas, Aśvins! come.

15.With Ṛbhus and With Vājas. O ye Mighty Ones, leagued with the Maruts come ye to your praiser’s call. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, and with the Ādityas, Aśvins! come.

16.Give spirit to our prayer and animate our thoughts; slay ye the Rākṣasas and drive away disease. Accordant, of One mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, -the presser’s Soma, Aśvins drink.

17.Strengthen the Ruling Power, strengthen the men of war; slay ye the Rākṣasas and drive away disease. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, the presser’s Soma, Aśvins drink.

18.Give strength unto the milch-kine, give the people strength, slay ye the Rākṣasas and drive away disease. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, the presser’s Soma, Aśvins drink.

19.As ye heard Atri’s earliest eulogy, so hear Śyāvāśva, Soma-presser, ye who reel in joy. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, drink juice, O Aśvins, three days old.

20.Further like running streams Śyāvāśva’s eulogies who presses out the Soma, ye who reel in joy. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, drink juice, O Aśvins, three days old.

21.Seize, as ye grasp the reins, Śyāvāśva’s solemn rites who presses out the Soma, ye who reel in joy. Accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn, drink juice, O Aśvins, three days old.

22.Drive down your chariot hitherward drink ye the Soma’s savoury juice. Approach, ye Aśvins, come to us: I call you, eager for your aid. Grant treasures to the worshipper.

23.When sacrifice which tells our reverence hath begun. Heroes! to drink the gushing juice, Approach, ye Aśvins, come to us: I call you, eager for your aid. Grant treasures to the worshipper.

24.Sate you with consecrated drink, with juice effused, ye Deities. Approach, ye Aśvins, come to us: I call you, eager for your aid. Grant treasures to the worshipper.

Asked of Guide

Why does the priest keep calling the Aśvins to drink the Soma “accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn”?

The hymn repeatedly invites the Aśvins to partake of the Soma while naming their allies—Sūrya, Dawn, Maruts, Ādityas—to place their arrival inside the cosmos’ ordered fellowship; the refrain “accordant, of one mind with Sūrya and with Dawn” frames their coming as cooperative with celestial forces and the cycle of day. The ritual image of the gods drinking three-day-old juice and coming “thrice” ties their benefactions—progeny, strength, protection—to a timely, communal sacrificial economy.

The poem asks the Aśvins to accept praise and libation as friends who return what ritual gives: healing, victory over Rākṣasas, abundance. This linking of the Aśvins with other deities echoes the Rigveda’s broader hymns where individual gods act within a divine assembly (see other Aśvin hymns in Mandala 1 and 8).

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.