Rigveda Hymns or Shuktas

The Rigveda consists of a collection of hymns or Suktas, which are composed in praise of various deities. Here are a few examples of well-known hymns and prayers from the Rigveda:

1. The Gayatri Mantra (Rigveda 3.62.10):

   Om bhur bhuvah svah

   Tat savitur varenyam

   Bhargo devasya dhimahi

   Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat

   Translation:

   We meditate on the divine light of the Supreme Being

   Who illuminates all realms (physical, astral, and celestial),

   May that divine light enlighten our intellect.

2. Hymn to Agni (Rigveda 1.1):

   Agnim ile purohitam

   Yajnasya devam ritvijam

   Hotaram ratna dhatamam

   Translation:

   I praise Agni, the priest of the offering,

   The divine messenger of the sacrifice,

   The bestower of treasures and oblations.

3. Hymn to Indra (Rigveda 2.12):

   Indra yuvam sumedhasam

   Sujo asman sajoshhasam

   Shrita tvam sumanah pari

   Translation:

   O Indra, the bestower of wisdom,

   The one who strengthens and uplifts us,

   We seek your benevolence with good intentions.

4. Hymn to Varuna (Rigveda 7.86):

   Asmin yad indra varuna

   Agnim jatam mridhaya

   Tava vratam sva dhatana

   Translation:

   O Indra and Varuna, you are the creators of Agni,

   We honor your divine authority and offerings,

   Uphold your sacred covenant with us.

5. Hymn to Soma (Rigveda 9.108):

   Somasah parame vyoman

   Yasmin deva adhi vishve nisheduh

   Yastanna veda kim richa karishyati

   Translation:

   Soma, the supreme heavenly drink,

   In which all the gods are present,

   Who knows this Soma, what will he not achieve?

6. Hymn to Usha (Rigveda 1.113):

   Usha te agne samavartha devi

   Vakshasi satya yasha havyavaham

   Translation:

   O Usha (Goddess of Dawn), you bring forth the divine Agni,

   You hold the truth and fame, and carry the oblation.

7. Hymn to Saraswati (Rigveda 1.3):

   Aham rashtri adhi vasayami

   Ima rudriya aham dyava-prithivi

   Translation:

   I abide as the sovereign of the people,

   I pervade this entire universe, heaven, and earth.

8. Hymn to Mitra and Varuna (Rigveda 5.63):

   Mitra Varunau bhagam asi

   Iha ketuna divi dhatam

   Drishadvantam sukritam

   Translation:

   O Mitra and Varuna, you are the sharers of wealth,

   Grant us riches in this world and in heaven,

   And bestow abundant blessings upon us.

9. Hymn to Agni (Rigveda 1.1):

   Agnim eedhe puruhitam yajnyasya devam ritvijam

   Hotaram ratna-dhatamam

   Translation:

   I invoke Agni, the priest of the offering, the divine messenger of the sacrifice,

   the bestower of treasures and oblations.

10. Hymn to Indra (Rigveda 2.12):

   Indra yuvam sumedhasam sujo asman sajoshhasam

   Shrita tvam sumanah pari

   Translation:

   O Indra, the bestower of wisdom, the one who strengthens and uplifts us,

   we seek your benevolence with good intentions.

11. Hymn to Surya (Rigveda 1.115):

   Asme tvam raja somo agni prasannas te mahi

   Divi deva sukrtasya

   Translation:

   O Surya, you are the king, the soma, and Agni,

   we offer our praises to you, the divine one in heaven.

12. Hymn to Rudra (Rigveda 1.43):

   Namaste astu dhanvane bahubhyam uta te namah

   Yata ishuh shivah tama asuh shivam babhuvate tayoh

   Translation:

   O Rudra, we bow to you with both arms,

   we offer our salutations to you, the auspicious one,

   may peace and auspiciousness be with both of you.

13. Hymn to Vishnu (Rigveda 1.154):

   Vishnuh tvamasi nishkramano vishnurasi

   Tvamasi paramamasi vishnorvi shva abhi

   Tvamasi yajnamasi paramasi vishtapah

   Translation:

   You are Vishnu, the one who pervades everywhere,

   You are the supreme and all-pervading Vishnu,

   You are the sacrifice and the highest offering.

14. Hymn to Aditi (Rigveda 1.89):

   Aditir mama varunasya nabhah

   Yathemam vayam prapitva-yamasya

   Translation:

   Aditi, you are the mother of Varuna and the sky,

   We approach you as our refuge and protector.

15. Hymn to Agni (Rigveda 10.5):

   Agnim pra vo dravinam vrikodara

   Havyavaham sumnayam na shuchantam

   Translation:

   O Agni, the bearer of offerings,

   We invoke you for wealth and abundant blessings,

   May you accept our pure oblations.

16. Hymn to Savitr (Rigveda 3.62):

   Savitur devasya vidmahe

   Vakshasya dhi mahi

   Tanno suryah prachodayat

   Translation:

   We meditate on the divine light of Savitr,

   May that illuminating Sun inspire our intellect.

17. Hymn to Saraswati (Rigveda 1.3):

   Sarasvatim asmin varunate yajne

   Vacho dhevihiti sheh maa charanti

   Translation:

   We invoke Saraswati, the goddess of speech,

   May her divine blessings guide our words.

18. Hymn to Agni (Rigveda 1.58):

   Agnim nah pada-pushpam ajasram huta

   Vishvatah pari sritaam

   Translation:

   We offer eternal, reverential words like flowers to Agni,

   Who is encompassing and all-pervading.

19. Hymn to Maruts (Rigveda 5.52):

   Marutah stomaan varshabham vadema

   Pratigrahaanna sahaman bhava

   Translation:

   Let us sing hymns to the Maruts, the storm gods,

   May they accept our offerings and be with us.

20. Hymn to Agni (Rigveda 2.1):

   Agnir hotha kavikratuh

   Satyashatruh samragnah samradat

   Translation:

   Agni, the priest, the poet, the wise seer,

   The enemy of falsehood, the sovereign of all.