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हिरण्यगर्भसूक्तम् (ऋग्वेद १०.१२१)

Hiranyagarbha Suktam (Rigveda 10.121)

Ṛgveda, Maṇḍala 10, Sūkta 121 — ṛṣi Hiraṇyagarbha Prājāpatya; devatā Ka / Prajāpati; metre triṣṭubh

Continue exploring · आगे पढ़ें

Ṛgveda 10.121 is the hymn of Hiraṇyagarbha, the “Golden Embryo” or golden womb from which the universe unfolds. It belongs to the tenth and latest book of the Ṛgveda, where many of its most philosophical hymns are found. Each of its first nine verses praises a creator who arose in the beginning as the one lord of all beings — who gives breath and strength, whose shadow is both immortality and death, whose greatness is the snowy mountains and the sea, who made the sky and earth firm — and each ends with the same refrain: kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema, “to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?” The question is left open until the last verse names him as Prajāpati, lord of creatures; later tradition also read the word ka, “who?”, as itself a name of the creator. The hymn is an important early source for the idea of a single first principle behind the many gods, and the name Hiraṇyagarbha recurs in the Upaniṣads and Purāṇas. These are among the oldest hymns in any Indo-European language, and their language is often archaic; where scholars and traditional commentators read a word differently, the meaning here says so briefly. 10 verses, the complete sūkta.

ऋग्वेद १०.१२१ हिरण्यगर्भ सूक्त है — उस “स्वर्णिम गर्भ” का सूक्त जिससे सृष्टि प्रकट होती है। यह ऋग्वेद के दसवें और सबसे बाद के मण्डल का है, जहाँ इसके सबसे दार्शनिक सूक्त मिलते हैं। इसके पहले नौ मन्त्र उस सृष्टिकर्ता की स्तुति करते हैं जो आरम्भ में सब प्राणियों के एकमात्र स्वामी के रूप में प्रकट हुआ — जो प्राण और बल देता है, जिसकी छाया अमृत भी है और मृत्यु भी, हिम से ढके पर्वत और समुद्र जिसकी महिमा हैं, जिसने द्युलोक और पृथ्वी को दृढ़ किया — और प्रत्येक मन्त्र एक ही टेक पर समाप्त होता है: “कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम” — “हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?” यह प्रश्न अन्तिम मन्त्र तक खुला रहता है, जहाँ उसे प्रजापति — प्रजाओं का स्वामी — कहा गया है; बाद की परम्परा ने “क” (कौन?) शब्द को भी सृष्टिकर्ता का एक नाम माना। यह सूक्त अनेक देवताओं के पीछे एक आदि-तत्त्व की धारणा का एक महत्त्वपूर्ण प्राचीन स्रोत है, और हिरण्यगर्भ नाम उपनिषदों और पुराणों में बार-बार आता है। ये किसी भी भारोपीय भाषा के सबसे प्राचीन सूक्तों में से हैं और इनकी भाषा प्रायः पुरानी है; जहाँ विद्वान् और पारम्परिक भाष्यकार किसी शब्द को अलग ढंग से पढ़ते हैं, वहाँ अर्थ में यह संक्षेप में बताया गया है। १० मन्त्र, सम्पूर्ण सूक्त।

Textual source · पाठ-स्रोत

Ṛgveda 10.121, complete (10 verses). The Sanskrit follows Sanskrit Wikisource, ऋग्वेदः सूक्तं १०.१२१, a public-domain text. It has been checked verse by verse against Theodor Aufrecht's edition of the Ṛgveda (Bonn, 1877; public domain) as entered in GRETIL, and agrees with it in every verse. Some scholars regard the tenth verse, which names Prajāpati, as a later addition to the hymn; it is part of the saṃhitā text and is given here. The Ṛgveda is chanted with pitch accents (svaras); they are not shown here — the text is given unaccented, as in the source, and it is not presented as an accented Vedic text. The English and Hindi introductions above are original writing by AdiVeda; they give context and summary, not a translation of the Sanskrit and not a traditional commentary.

Verse meanings · श्लोकार्थ

प्रत्येक श्लोक के नीचे दिया गया हिन्दी और अंग्रेज़ी अर्थ AdiVeda का अपना सम्पादकीय अनुवाद है, जो ऊपर दिए गए संस्कृत पाठ से सीधे इस संस्करण के लिए किया गया है। यह पाठ को समझने में सहायता के लिए है — यह किसी प्रकाशित अनुवाद का उद्धरण या कोई पारम्परिक भाष्य नहीं है। जहाँ विभिन्न परम्पराएँ किसी अंश को अलग ढंग से पढ़ती हैं, वहाँ संक्षेप में यह बताया गया है।

The Hindi and English meaning under each verse is AdiVeda's own editorial translation, made directly from the Sanskrit printed here for this edition. It is meant to help you follow the text — it is not quoted from any published translation and it is not a traditional commentary. Where traditions read a passage differently, the meaning says so briefly.

ऋग्वेदः १०.१२१ · Ṛgveda 10.121 — The Golden Embryo

हिरण्यगर्भः समवर्तताग्रे भूतस्य जातः पतिरेक आसीत् ।
स दाधार पृथिवीं द्यामुतेमां कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ १ ॥

hiraṇyagarbhaḥ samavartatāgre bhūtasya jātaḥ patireka āsīt,
sa dādhāra pṛthivīṃ dyāmutemāṃ kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 1 ||

Hiranyagarbhah samavartataagre bhuutasya jaatah patireka aasiit, sa daadhaara prithiviim dyaamutemaam kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 1 ||

आरम्भ में हिरण्यगर्भ (स्वर्णिम गर्भ) प्रकट हुआ; उत्पन्न होते ही वह सब भूतों का एकमात्र स्वामी था। उसने पृथ्वी और इस द्युलोक को धारण किया। हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

In the beginning the Golden Embryo arose; once born, he was the one lord of all that exists. He held in place the earth and this sky. To which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

य आत्मदा बलदा यस्य विश्व उपासते प्रशिषं यस्य देवाः ।
यस्य छायामृतं यस्य मृत्युः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ २ ॥

ya ātmadā baladā yasya viśva upāsate praśiṣaṃ yasya devāḥ,
yasya chāyāmṛtaṃ yasya mṛtyuḥ kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 2 ||

Ya aatmadaa baladaa yasya vishva upaasate prashisham yasya devaah, yasya chhaayaamritam yasya mrityuh kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 2 ||

जो आत्मा (प्राण) देने वाला और बल देने वाला है, जिसकी आज्ञा का सब पालन करते हैं और देवता भी जिसकी आज्ञा मानते हैं; जिसकी छाया अमृत है और जिसकी छाया मृत्यु है — हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

He who gives life and gives strength, whose command all obey, whose command the gods obey; whose shadow is immortality and whose shadow is death — to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

यः प्राणतो निमिषतो महित्वैक इद्राजा जगतो बभूव ।
य ईशे अस्य द्विपदश्चतुष्पदः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ ३ ॥

yaḥ prāṇato nimiṣato mahitvaika idrājā jagato babhūva,
ya īśe asya dvipadaścatuṣpadaḥ kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 3 ||

Yah praanato nimishato mahitvaika idraajaa jagato babhuuva, ya iishe asya dvipadashchatushpadah kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 3 ||

जो अपनी महिमा से साँस लेने वाले और पलक झपकाने वाले जगत् का एकमात्र राजा बना; जो इन दो पैर वाले और चार पैर वाले प्राणियों का स्वामी है — हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

He who by his greatness became the one king of all that breathes and blinks, who rules over these two-footed and four-footed creatures — to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

यस्येमे हिमवन्तो महित्वा यस्य समुद्रं रसया सहाहुः ।
यस्येमाः प्रदिशो यस्य बाहू कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ ४ ॥

yasyeme himavanto mahitvā yasya samudraṃ rasayā sahāhuḥ,
yasyemāḥ pradiśo yasya bāhū kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 4 ||

Yasyeme himavanto mahitvaa yasya samudram rasayaa sahaahuh, yasyemaah pradisho yasya baahuu kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 4 ||

जिसकी महिमा से ये हिम से ढके पर्वत हैं, और जिसका, कहते हैं, नदी (रसा) के साथ यह समुद्र है; ये दिशाएँ जिसकी हैं, जो उसकी भुजाएँ हैं — हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

Whose greatness these snowy mountains are, and whose, they say, is the ocean with the world-river; whose are these quarters, which are his arms — to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

येन द्यौरुग्रा पृथिवी च दृळ्हा येन स्वः स्तभितं येन नाकः ।
यो अन्तरिक्षे रजसो विमानः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ ५ ॥

yena dyaurugrā pṛthivī ca dṛḻhā yena svaḥ stabhitaṃ yena nākaḥ,
yo antarikṣe rajaso vimānaḥ kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 5 ||

Yena dyaurugraa prithivii cha drilhaa yena svah stabhitam yena naakah, yo antarikshe rajaso vimaanah kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 5 ||

जिसके द्वारा उग्र द्युलोक और पृथ्वी दृढ़ किए गए, जिसके द्वारा स्वर्ग और आकाश का शिखर थामा गया, जो अन्तरिक्ष में लोकों को नापता है — हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

By whom the mighty sky and the earth were made firm, by whom the sun’s realm and heaven’s vault were propped up, who measures out the space in the mid-air — to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

यं क्रन्दसी अवसा तस्तभाने अभ्यैक्षेतां मनसा रेजमाने ।
यत्राधि सूर उदितो विभाति कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ ६ ॥

yaṃ krandasī avasā tastabhāne abhyaikṣetāṃ manasā rejamāne,
yatrādhi sūra udito vibhāti kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 6 ||

Yam krandasii avasaa tastabhaane abhyaikshetaam manasaa rejamaane, yatraadhi suura udito vibhaati kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 6 ||

जिसकी ओर, उसकी रक्षा से स्थिर होकर, काँपते मन से दोनों युद्धरत सेनाओं (या द्युलोक और पृथ्वी) ने देखा; जिसमें उदय हुआ सूर्य चमकता है — हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

To whom the two contending hosts, held firm by his help, looked up with trembling minds; in whom the risen sun shines forth — to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation? (The “two contending hosts” are read by some as sky and earth.)

आपो ह यद्बृहतीर्विश्वमायन्गर्भं दधाना जनयन्तीरग्निम् ।
ततो देवानां समवर्ततासुरेकः कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ ७ ॥

āpo ha yadbṛhatīrviśvamāyangarbhaṃ dadhānā janayantīragnim,
tato devānāṃ samavartatāsurekaḥ kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 7 ||

Aapo ha yadbrihatiirvishvamaayangarbham dadhaanaa janayantiiragnim, tato devaanaam samavartataasurekah kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 7 ||

जब विशाल जल सारे विश्व में फैला, गर्भ को धारण करता हुआ और अग्नि को जन्म देता हुआ, तब उसी से देवताओं का एकमात्र प्राण (असु) प्रकट हुआ — हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

When the great waters came, pervading the whole world, carrying the embryo and giving birth to fire, from them arose the one life-breath of the gods — to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

यश्चिदापो महिना पर्यपश्यद्दक्षं दधाना जनयन्तीर्यज्ञम् ।
यो देवेष्वधि देव एक आसीत्कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ ८ ॥

yaścidāpo mahinā paryapaśyaddakṣaṃ dadhānā janayantīryajñam,
yo deveṣvadhi deva eka āsītkasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 8 ||

Yashchidaapo mahinaa paryapashyaddaksham dadhaanaa janayantiiryajnam, yo deveshvadhi deva eka aasiitkasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 8 ||

जिसने अपनी महिमा से उन जलों को भी देखा जो दक्ष (शक्ति) को धारण करते हुए यज्ञ को जन्म दे रहे थे; जो देवताओं के ऊपर एकमात्र देव था — हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

He who by his greatness looked over even the waters, which held creative power and gave birth to the sacrifice; he who was the one god above the gods — to which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

मा नो हिंसीज्जनिता यः पृथिव्या यो वा दिवं सत्यधर्मा जजान ।
यश्चापश्चन्द्रा बृहतीर्जजान कस्मै देवाय हविषा विधेम ॥ ९ ॥

mā no hiṃsījjanitā yaḥ pṛthivyā yo vā divaṃ satyadharmā jajāna,
yaścāpaścandrā bṛhatīrjajāna kasmai devāya haviṣā vidhema || 9 ||

Maa no himsiijjanitaa yah prithivyaa yo vaa divam satyadharmaa jajaana, yashchaapashchandraa brihatiirjajaana kasmai devaaya havishaa vidhema || 9 ||

जो पृथ्वी का जनक है, जिसने सत्य-धर्म वाले होकर द्युलोक को उत्पन्न किया, जिसने चमकते हुए विशाल जलों को उत्पन्न किया — वह हमें हानि न पहुँचाए। हम किस देवता की हवि से पूजा करें?

May he not harm us — he who begot the earth, who, true in his laws, begot the sky, who begot the bright and mighty waters. To which god shall we offer worship with our oblation?

प्रजापते न त्वदेतान्यन्यो विश्वा जातानि परि ता बभूव ।
यत्कामास्ते जुहुमस्तन्नो अस्तु वयं स्याम पतयो रयीणाम् ॥ १० ॥

prajāpate na tvadetānyanyo viśvā jātāni pari tā babhūva,
yatkāmāste juhumastanno astu vayaṃ syāma patayo rayīṇām || 10 ||

Prajaapate na tvadetaanyanyo vishvaa jaataani pari taa babhuuva, yatkaamaaste juhumastanno astu vayam syaama patayo rayiinaam || 10 ||

हे प्रजापति, तुम्हारे अतिरिक्त और कोई इन सब उत्पन्न वस्तुओं को घेरकर (धारण किए) नहीं है। जिस कामना से हम तुम्हें आहुति देते हैं, वह हमें प्राप्त हो; हम धन के स्वामी बनें।

Prajāpati, none other than you encompasses all these created things. May that for which we offer to you be ours; may we be lords of riches.

Text source & editorial review

Source of this text
Ṛgveda, Maṇḍala 10, Sūkta 121 — ṛṣi Hiraṇyagarbha Prājāpatya; devatā Ka / Prajāpati; metre triṣṭubh
Last reviewed
What was reviewed
On 13 October 2026 every verse of this text was re-checked: the Devanagari for script and encoding errors, the IAST line letter by letter against the Devanagari, and the pronunciation line and the Hindi and English meanings for completeness. The Hindi and English meanings of every verse were also read against the original, and the errors found were corrected.

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What is the Hiranyagarbha Suktam (Rigveda 10.121)?

Hiranyagarbha Suktam (Rigveda 10.121) (हिरण्यगर्भसूक्तम् (ऋग्वेद १०.१२१)) is a Vedic hymn (sūkta). A sūkta is a hymn of the Vedas; the Vedic hymns are among the oldest religious poetry in the world and are still recited in worship.

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Yes. On Adiveda the Hiranyagarbha Suktam (Rigveda 10.121) is given verse by verse in Devanagari (the script used for Sanskrit and Hindi) with Roman (IAST) transliteration, simple phonetics, and Hindi and English meanings, so you can read, pronounce and understand every line.

What is the source of the Hiranyagarbha Suktam (Rigveda 10.121)?

The Hiranyagarbha Suktam (Rigveda 10.121) is drawn from Ṛgveda, Maṇḍala 10, Sūkta 121 — ṛṣi Hiraṇyagarbha Prājāpatya; devatā Ka / Prajāpati; metre triṣṭubh.

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