vedicrigvedarudrashiva

Rudra Suktam

रुद्र सूक्तम् in English · English

🕉️ vedic·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Mondays, during Rudrabhishekam, on Maha Shivaratri, or for the sick at dawn·📜 Rigveda, Mandala 2, Sukta 33

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

The Rudra Suktam (Rigveda 2.33), composed by the seer Gritsamada, is one of the Veda's most beautiful and complete hymns to Rudra — the fierce yet compassionate form of Shiva. It praises him as the supreme Lord, wielder of the thunderbolt, and above all as the 'best of all physicians' (bhishaktama), and prays for healing, freedom from disease, long life of a hundred winters, protection from distress and the boon of strong progeny. It is chanted especially for health, healing and Rudra's protective grace.

Origin & Story

Rigveda, Mandala 2, Sukta 33 · Rishi Gritsamada Shaunahotra · c. 1500-1200 BCE

The Rudra Suktam is the celebrated hymn to Rudra in the second Mandala of the Rigveda, attributed to the seer Gritsamada. In an age when Rudra was revered as the awesome lord of storms, healing herbs and the wild, this hymn approaches him with both reverence and tenderness — never asking to be harmed, ever praising his role as the supreme physician. Its prayers for a hundred winters of life, freedom from disease and the protection of progeny have made it a perennial hymn for health and Rudra's grace.

✦ As told in scripture

Because it hails Rudra as 'the best of all physicians', tradition holds that sincere recitation of the Rudra Suktam — especially the second verse praying for a hundred healthy winters — invokes Shiva's healing grace; devotees recite it at the bedside of the sick, and many attribute recoveries and renewed strength to the soothing remedies (shantama bheshaja) the hymn invokes.

0all time

Complete Text with Meaning

Tap any line — or the ▶ button — to hear it recited

Verse 1

Om a te pitarmarutam sumnametu ma nah suryasya samdrisho yuyothah; Abhi no viro arvati kshameta pra jayemahi Rudra prajabhih. (1)

Meaning:Om. O Father of the Maruts, may your grace come to us; do not cut us off from the sight of the sun. May our hero prevail over the foe on horseback; may we flourish, O Rudra, through our offspring.

Verse 2

Tvadattebhi Rudra shantamebhih shatam hima ashiya bheshajebhih; Vyasmaddvesho vitaram vyamho vyamivashchatayasva vishuchih. (2)

Meaning:By the most soothing remedies that you bestow, O Rudra, may I live a hundred winters; drive far from us hatred and distress, scatter the diseases that spread on every side.

Verse 3

Shreshtho jatasya Rudra shriyasi tavastamastavasam vajrabaho; Parshi nah paramamhasah svasti vishva abhiti rapaso yuyodhi. (3)

Meaning:You are the most excellent of all that is, O Rudra, the mightiest of the mighty, thunderbolt in hand; carry us safely across the shore of distress, and ward off all the assaults of affliction.

Verse 4

Ma tva Rudra chukrudhama namobhirma dushtuti vrishabha ma sahuti; Unno viran arpaya bheshajebhirbhishaktamam tva bhishajam shrinomi. (4)

Meaning:Let us not anger you, O Rudra, by our homage, nor by ill praise, O Bull, nor by joint invocation. Raise up our heroes with your medicines; I hear that you are the best healer of healers.

Verse 5

Havimabhirhavate yo havirbhirava stomebhi Rudram dishiya; Ridudarah suhavo ma no asyai babhruh sushipro riradhanmanayai. (5)

Meaning:May I propitiate Rudra — who is invoked with oblations and with hymns — with my offerings. Tender-hearted, easily entreated, tawny and fair-jawed, may he not deliver us up to this wrath.

Verse 6

Unma mamanda vrishabho marutvantvakshiyasa vayasa nadhamanam; Ghriniva chchhayamarapa ashiya vivaseyam Rudrasya sumnam. (6)

Meaning:The mighty Bull with his Maruts has gladdened me, the supplicant, with vitalizing strength; as one unscathed reaching shade from the heat, may I win the grace of Rudra.

Verse 7

Eva babhro vrishabha chekitana yatha deva na hrinishe na hamsi; Havanashrunno Rudreha bodhi brihadvadema vidathe suvirah. (15)

Meaning:So, O tawny, mighty, all-discerning Bull, be such that you are not angered and do not harm; hear our call, O Rudra, and be present here; may we, rich in heroes, proclaim your greatness aloud in the assembly.

Verse 8

Om shantih shantih shantih.

Meaning:Om, peace, peace, peace.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Click any word to hear its pronunciation

pitah marutam🔊O Father of the Maruts (Rudra, lord of the storm-gods)

sumnam a etu🔊May your grace / benevolence come (to us)

ma nah suryasya samdrishah yuyothah🔊Do not deprive us of the sight of the sun (i.e. of life)

pra jayemahi prajabhih🔊May we flourish / prosper with offspring

tvadattebhih bheshajebhih🔊With the healing medicines given by you

shantamebhih🔊Most soothing, most beneficial (remedies)

shatam himah ashiya🔊May I live a hundred winters (a full long life)

amivah chatayasva🔊Drive away the diseases / ailments

shreshthah jatasya🔊The most excellent of all that is born / exists

vajrabaho🔊O wielder of the thunderbolt in your arm

parshi nah param amhasah🔊Carry us across to the far shore of distress / sin

ma tva chukrudhama🔊May we never anger you

bhishaktamam bhishajam🔊The best of all physicians / healers

vrishabhah marutvan🔊The mighty bull (Rudra) accompanied by the Maruts

ghrini iva chhayam🔊As one seeks shade from the scorching heat

vivaseyam Rudrasya sumnam🔊May I attain / win the grace of Rudra

yatha deva na hrinishe na hamsi🔊So that, O God, you are not angered and do not harm

havanashrut🔊Hearer of our invocations / calls

brihad vadema vidathe suvirah🔊May we, blessed with heroic offspring, speak aloud (your praise) in the assembly

Benefits of Chanting रुद्र सूक्तम्

✦

Invokes Rudra (Shiva) as the supreme healer (bhishaktama) for health and recovery

✦

Prayer for a long, healthy life of a hundred winters (shatam himah)

✦

Removes diseases, ailments and the spread of illness (amivah chatayasva)

✦

Grants protection from distress, enmity and all forms of affliction

✦

Bestows strong, virtuous progeny and the prosperity of the family

✦

Calms Rudra's fierce aspect and wins his soothing, compassionate grace

How to Chant रुद्र सूक्तम्

Repetitions11times

Best TimeMondays, during Rudrabhishekam, on Maha Shivaratri, or for the sick at dawn

Chant facing east or north, ideally during Rudrabhishekam of a Shiva Linga or before an image of Shiva. Recite each verse clearly and with feeling, especially the prayers for healing and long life, and close with the threefold shanti. For those who are ill, it is traditionally recited on their behalf in the early morning. It may be chanted once within worship or repeated reverently.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete रुद्र सूक्तम् written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It is a Vedic hymn to Rudra (Shiva) from the Rigveda, Mandala 2, Sukta 33, composed by Rishi Gritsamada. It praises Rudra as the mightiest god and the foremost of physicians, and prays for healing, long life and protection.

The Sri Rudram (Rudra Prashna) is from the Yajurveda and includes the famous Namakam and Chamakam. The Rudra Suktam here is the Rigvedic hymn to Rudra (RV 2.33). Both glorify Rudra-Shiva, but they are distinct hymns from different Vedas.

The hymn addresses Rudra as 'bhishaktamam bhishajam' — the best healer among healers — because he both bestows soothing medicines and removes disease. This is why the Rudra Suktam is especially chanted for health and recovery from illness.

It is ideal on Mondays, during Rudrabhishekam, on Maha Shivaratri and in the month of Shravan. It is also recited at dawn for the well-being and swift recovery of those who are unwell.