Sraddha Suktam Meaning — Line by Line

श्रद्धा सूक्तम्

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Meaning — Line by Line

Every verse of Sraddha Suktam with its English meaning. Tap any word to hear it, or ▶ to recite the verse.

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Verse 1. Śraddhayāgniḥ samidhyate śraddhayā hūyate haviḥ |
Verse 2. Priyaṃ śraddhe dadataḥ priyaṃ śraddhe didāsataḥ |
Verse 3. Yathā devā asureṣu śraddhāmugreṣu cakrire |
Verse 4. Śraddhāṃ devā yajamānā vāyugopā upāsate |
Verse 5. Śraddhāṃ prātarhavāmahe śraddhāṃ madhyaṃdinaṃ pari |

Verse 1#

श्रद्धया ग्निः समिध्यते श्रद्धया हूयते हविः । श्रद्धां भगस्य मूर्धनि वचसा वेदयामसि ॥१॥

Śraddhayāgniḥ samidhyate śraddhayā hūyate haviḥ | śraddhāṃ bhagasya mūrdhani vacasā vedayāmasi ||1||

MeaningBy faith the sacred fire is kindled; by faith the oblation is offered. With our speech we proclaim Faith (Shraddha) as standing at the very summit of fortune.

Verse 2#

प्रियं श्रद्धे ददतः प्रियं श्रद्धे दिदासतः । प्रियं भोजेषु यज्वस्विदं म उदितं कृधि ॥२॥

Priyaṃ śraddhe dadataḥ priyaṃ śraddhe didāsataḥ | priyaṃ bhojeṣu yajvasvidaṃ ma uditaṃ kṛdhi ||2||

MeaningO Faith, bless and make dear the one who gives, and the one who longs to give; among the bountiful and the offerers of sacrifice, make this prayer of mine come true.

Verse 3#

यथा देवा असुरेषु श्रद्धामुग्रेषु चक्रिरे । एवं भोजेषु यज्वस्वस्माकमुदितं कृधि ॥३॥

Yathā devā asureṣu śraddhāmugreṣu cakrire | evaṃ bhojeṣu yajvasvasmākamuditaṃ kṛdhi ||3||

MeaningAs the gods kept their faith firm even amid the fierce asuras, so among the bountiful givers and the offerers of sacrifice, make this prayer of ours come true.

Verse 4#

श्रद्धां देवा यजमाना वायुगोपा उपासते । श्रद्धां हृदय्ययाकूत्या श्रद्धया विन्दते वसु ॥४॥

Śraddhāṃ devā yajamānā vāyugopā upāsate | śraddhāṃ hṛdayyayākūtyā śraddhayā vindate vasu ||4||

MeaningThe gods, the worshippers guarded by Vayu (the vital breath), wait upon Faith; with the heart's inmost resolve they worship Faith, and through Faith one wins all wealth.

Verse 5#

श्रद्धां प्रातर्हवामहे श्रद्धां मध्यंदिनं परि । श्रद्धां सूर्यस्य निम्रुचि श्रद्धे श्रद्धापयेह नः ॥५॥

Śraddhāṃ prātarhavāmahe śraddhāṃ madhyaṃdinaṃ pari | śraddhāṃ sūryasya nimruci śraddhe śraddhāpayeha naḥ ||5||

MeaningWe invoke Faith at dawn, we invoke Faith at noon, we invoke Faith at the setting of the sun. O Faith, fill us here with faith!

Word-by-Word Breakdown

श्रद्धया

śraddhayā

By/with faith (śraddhā — earnest trust and reverence)

अग्निः समिध्यते

agniḥ samidhyate

The sacred fire (Agni) is kindled

हूयते हविः

hūyate haviḥ

The oblation is offered (into the fire)

श्रद्धां भगस्य मूर्धनि

śraddhāṃ bhagasya mūrdhani

Faith, which is at the very head (summit) of fortune/glory

वचसा वेदयामसि

vacasā vedayāmasi

We proclaim and make known with (this) speech

प्रियं श्रद्धे ददतः

priyaṃ śraddhe dadataḥ

O Faith, make dear (and bless) the one who gives generously

दिदासतः

didāsataḥ

Of one who wishes and prepares to give

भोजेषु यज्वसु

bhojeṣu yajvasu

Among the bountiful givers and the performers of sacrifice

इदं म उदितं कृधि

idaṃ ma uditaṃ kṛdhi

Make effective and fulfilled this (prayer) of mine

यथा देवा असुरेषु

yathā devā asureṣu

Just as the gods (placed faith) even amid the mighty asuras

श्रद्धाम् उग्रेषु चक्रिरे

śraddhām ugreṣu cakrire

Held faith firm even among the fierce ones

यजमानाः

yajamānāḥ

The performers of sacrifice (the worshippers)

वायुगोपाः

vāyugopāḥ

Guarded/protected by Vayu (the wind, the vital breath)

हृदय्यया आकूत्या

hṛdayyayā ākūtyā

With heartfelt intention and inner resolve

श्रद्धया विन्दते वसु

śraddhayā vindate vasu

Through faith one obtains wealth (and all good)

प्रातः हवामहे

prātaḥ havāmahe

At dawn we invoke (Faith)

मध्यंदिनं परि

madhyaṃdinaṃ pari

Around midday (at noon)

सूर्यस्य निम्रुचि

sūryasya nimruci

At the setting of the sun (sunset)

श्रद्धे श्रद्धापय इह नः

śraddhe śraddhāpaya iha naḥ

O Faith, endow us here with faith (fill us with śraddhā)

Origin & History

Source: Rigveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 151)

Author: Rishika Shraddha Kamayani

Period: Vedic period (c. 1500-1000 BCE)

The Sraddha Suktam appears at the close of the Rigveda's tenth Mandala and is, by tradition, ascribed to the seer Shraddha Kamayani — a hymn in which faith both is the subject and is said to be the seer. In it Shraddha is raised to the status of a deity, for the Vedic sages recognised that the entire edifice of ritual and inner life rests upon faith: it is by śraddhā that Agni is kindled and the oblation offered, and by śraddhā that wealth and the gods' favour are won. The hymn became a beloved daily prayer, invoking faith at dawn, noon and dusk, and is regarded as the Veda's own teaching on the supreme importance of an earnest, trusting heart.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sraddha Suktam?▼

It is a hymn of five verses from the Rigveda (Mandala 10, Sukta 151) in praise of Shraddha — faith personified as a goddess. It teaches that faith is what makes the sacred fire burn, the oblation reach the gods, and every good thing in life attainable.

What does 'Shraddha' mean?▼

Shraddha means faith — but in the deep Vedic sense of earnest trust, reverence and conviction of the heart, not mere belief. It is the inner attitude that gives life and power to worship, charity, study and all spiritual effort; without it, the scriptures say, no act bears fruit.

Why is Shraddha invoked at dawn, noon and sunset?▼

The fifth verse prays for faith at the three junctures of the day — sunrise, midday and sunset (the sandhyas) — so that the worshipper's mind remains anchored in faith throughout the whole day. These are also the traditional times of Sandhya worship.

When should one chant the Sraddha Suktam?▼

It is especially fitting at the start of any worship, vrata, homa or course of study, and as part of the three daily sandhyas. Because faith is the foundation of all sadhana, many recite it first, to invoke śraddhā before taking up any spiritual practice.

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