Hymns to Rtu from the Rigveda - Book I: Translation and Commentary
Summary: This page presents Hymn XV from the Rigveda's first book, dedicated to Rtu, the Vedic deity representing cosmic order and regularity. Translated by the renowned Vedic scholar Ralph T.H. Griffith, the hymn invokes Rtu alongside major Vedic gods including Indra, Agni, and Mitra in the context of Soma sacrificial rituals. Readers will find the complete hymn text with its twelve verses, offering insight into Vedic religious practices and the significance of order in Hindu spiritual traditions.
HYMN 15. RTU.
1 O INDRA drink the Soma juice with Rtu; let the cheering drops
Sink deep within, which
settle there.
2 Drink from the Purifier's cup, Maruts, with Rtu; sanctify
The rite, for
ye give precious gifts.
3 O Nestar, with thy Dame accept our sacrifice; with Rtu drink,
For thou art he who giveth wealth.
4 Bring the Gods, Agni; in the three appointed places set
them down:
Surround them, and with Rtu drink.
5 Drink Soma after the Rtus, from the Brahmana's
bounty: undissolved,
O Indra, is thy friendship's bond.
6 Mitra, Varuna, ye whose ways are
firm - a Power that none deceives-,
With Rtu ye have reached the rite.
7 The Soma-pressers,
fain for wealth, praise the Wealth-giver in the rite,
In sacrifices praise the God.
8 May
the Wealth-giver grant to us riches that shall be far renowned.
These things we gain, among
the Gods.
9 He with the Rtu fain would drink, Wealth-giver, from the Nestar's bowl.
Haste,
give your offering, and depart.
10 As we this fourth time, Wealth-giver, honour thee with the
Rtus, be
A Giver bountiful to us.
11 Drink ye the meath, O Asvins bright with flames, whose
acts are pure. who with
Rtus accept the sacrifice.
12 With Rtu, through the house-fire,
thou, kind Giver, guidest sacrifice:
Worship the Gods for the pious man.
Source: These hymns are reproduced from An English translation of the Vedas by Ralph T.H. Griffith, 1896. Griffith wrote in a poetic, archaic style. In order to make the hymns sound like English poetry, he often compromised the original meaning of the Sanskrit words. Further, his Sanskrit knowledge was limited by the scholarship of the 19th century. For many Indian readers, this feels distant, making his work less accessible than modern prose translations. This page has been formatted, and the hymns are selected and organized by Jayaram V for Hinduwebsite.com. Hymn numbers have been changed from Roman numerals to standard numbers.