Rig Veda · Mandala 10 · Sukta 165
Rig Veda 10.165 — Viśvedevas
Deity: Viśvedevas. Rishi family (Mandala 10): Many seers — generally considered latest in composition. This Sukta contains 5 verses presented below in Devanagari Sanskrit, IAST romanisation, and Ralph T. H. Griffith's English translation. Click any verse to read a fuller explanation.
Verses
Rig Veda 10.165.1
देवाः कपोत इषितो यदिछन दूतो निरतया इदमाजगाम | तस्मा अर्चाम कर्णवाम निष्क्र्तिं शं नो अस्तु दविपदेशं चतुष्पदे
devāḥ kapota iṣito yadichan dūto nirtyā idamājaghāma | tasmā arcāma kṛṇavāma niṣkṛtiṃ śaṃ no astu dvipadeśaṃ catuṣpade
Rig Veda 10.165.2
शिवः कपोत इषितो नो अस्त्वनागा देवाः शकुनो गर्हेषु | अग्निर्हि विप्रो जुषतां हविर्नः परि हेतिः पक्षिणी नोव्र्णक्तु
śivaḥ kapota iṣito no astvanāghā devāḥ śakuno ghṛheṣu | aghnirhi vipro juṣatāṃ havirnaḥ pari hetiḥ pakṣiṇī novṛṇaktu
Auspicious be the Dove that hath been sent us, a harmless bird, ye Gods, within our dwelling. May Agni, Sage, be pleased with our oblation, and may the Missile borne on wings avoid us.
Rig Veda 10.165.3
हेतिः पक्षिणी न दभात्यस्मानाष्ट्र्यां पदं कर्णुतेग्निधाने | शं नो गोभ्यश्च पुरुषेभ्यश्चास्तु मा नोहिंसीदिह देवाः कपोतः
hetiḥ pakṣiṇī na dabhātyasmānāṣṭryāṃ padaṃ kṛṇuteaghnidhāne | śaṃ no ghobhyaśca puruṣebhyaścāstu mā nohiṃsīdiha devāḥ kapotaḥ
Let not the Arrow that hath wings distract us: beside the fire-place, on the hearth it settles. May, it bring welfare to our men and cattle: here let the Dove, ye Gods, forbear to harm us.
Rig Veda 10.165.4
यदुलूको वदति मोघमेतद यत कपोतः पदमग्नौक्र्णोति | यस्य दूतः परहित एष एतत तस्मै यमाय नमोस्तु मरित्यवे
yadulūko vadati moghametad yat kapotaḥ padamaghnaukṛṇoti | yasya dūtaḥ prahita eṣa etat tasmai yamāya namoastu mrityave
The screeching of the owl is ineffective and when beside the fire the Dove hath settled, To him who sent it hither as an envoy, to him be reverence paid, to Death, to Yama.
Rig Veda 10.165.5
रचा कपोतं नुदत परणोदमिषं मदन्तः परि गांनयध्वम | संयोपयन्तो दुरितानि विश्वा हित्वा न ऊर्जं परपतात पतिष्थः
ṛcā kapotaṃ nudata praṇodamiṣaṃ madantaḥ pari ghāṃnayadhvam | saṃyopayanto duritāni viśvā hitvā na ūrjaṃ prapatāt patiṣthaḥ
Drive forth the Dove, chase it with holy verses: rejoicing, bring ye hither food and cattle, Barring the way against all grief and trouble. Let the swift bird fly forth and leave us vigour.
Want to hear this Sukta chanted? Subscribe to Pro for
full audio recitations of every verse, on-demand AI commentary, and verse
search across the entire Rig Veda.