The Rigveda || Mandal 1 || Sutra 120 || English Podcast

Main Themes and Key Ideas:

The central themes explored in these verses revolve around the invocation of the Ashvins and the human desire for their favour and guidance. Several key ideas are prominent:

1. The Need for Knowledge and Intelligence to Invoke the Ashvins: The opening verse immediately poses a question about who can effectively rouse the Ashvins. It explicitly states the limitation of the ignorant and unintelligent in achieving this. This establishes a prerequisite for fruitful interaction with these deities.

• Quote: "What call, Ashvins, leaders and commanders, would rouse you to action and victory? Who could, if he were ignorant and unintelligent, lead you to victory and win your pleasure, and how? (None of the ignorant and unintelligent.)" (Verse 1)

1. The Ashvins as Guides for Both Ignorant and Learned: Despite the initial emphasis on intelligence, the text clarifies that both the ignorant and the learned can seek guidance from the Ashvins, albeit for different reasons. The ignorant seek direction for progress, while the learned seek further advancement. Crucially, even those in a state of doubt or inaction should seek their help.

• Quote: "Let the ignorant man and the imperceptive unintelligent person ask the Ashvins, men of intelligence and wisdom, the way forward for progress. Similarly another, the intelligent and the learned person too in his own way should ask the way forward for further advancement. In any case, let them ask the way out and onward for the sake of the man who would otherwise stand still doing nothing, in the state of doubt and inaction." (Verse 2)

1. The Ashvins as Harbingers of Light, Knowledge, and Teachers: The supplicants repeatedly address the Ashvins as bringers of light, knowledge, and universal teachers. They are invoked to reveal desired knowledge and provide guidance on the path forward for humanity.

• Quote: "The same, Ashvins, harbingers of light and knowledge, we invoke. Both, we pray, universal teachers and benefactors, reveal to us the knowledge wanted and loved at heart today here and now. Invoking, yearning to join you and the knowledge earnestly desired, praying for sympathy and grace, may this humanity look up to you for guidance on the way forward." (Verse 3)
• Quote: "Ashvins, harbingers of light and knowledge, that voice which rings like the resounding proclamation of the brilliant visionary, by which the scholar does homage and reverence to you, the same voice and word, we pray, may the teacher speak to us like a scholar in search of food, energy and light for all of us." (Verse 5)

1. The Ashvins Possess Mysterious Knowledge and are to be Revered: The text highlights the Ashvins' understanding of complex matters, described as the "mysterious knowledge of analysis, integration and formulaic structure and formation of things in creation and science." They are seen as "brilliant veterans" and are due homage and reverence.

• Quote: "Ashvins, generous givers, and destroyers of want and ignorance, I ask you questions about the mysterious knowledge of analysis, integration and formulaic structure and formation of things in creation and science, brilliant veterans, dynamic and tolerant as well as enduring as you are, both scholars and teachers. May we offer you homage and reverence, and may you, we pray, guide and protect us." (Verse 4)