GarbhShiksha

हिंदी में पढ़ें 

3 verses with meanings

Rig Veda 10.184: a Vedic hymn for a coming baby

Hymn 10.184 of the Rig Veda is one of the oldest Indian prayers for a coming pregnancy. Its first line, 'Vishnur yonim kalpayatu', asks Vishnu to prepare the womb, Tvashta to shape the baby's form, and Dhata to place the baby in the womb. The hymn is short, just three verses, and this page gives all three. The first verse also appears in the Charaka Samhita, and it is often recited in the garbhadhan sanskar, the traditional rite for a couple hoping to conceive.

The second verse calls on two mother goddesses, Sinivali and Sarasvati, and the healer twins, the Ashvins, to hold the early pregnancy. The third looks ahead to a baby 'born in the tenth month'. Vedic months were counted by the moon, so that is close to our nine. Couples usually chant the hymn together in the morning, slowly, 3 or 11 times. It suits the months of hoping and the first weeks, and the third verse is lovely to come back to as your due date comes near.

This is a blessing and an expression of hope, not a fertility treatment. If conception is taking time, or you have any worry in early pregnancy, please see your doctor. Prayer and medical care go side by side. Read our disclaimer

How to practise these verses

For every verse below, unless it says otherwise.

Best time
Morning, together as a couple
How to practise
Chant slowly 3 or 11 times
Who can chant
Mother and father together
Best weeks
Before conception – Week 8

Honest noteA blessing and an expression of hope. It is not a fertility treatment.

Blessing for conception and the forming baby

May Vishnu Prepare the Womb

विष्णुर्योनिं कल्पयतु त्वष्टा रूपाणि पिंशतु ।आ सिञ्चतु प्रजापतिर्धाता गर्भं दधातु ते ॥

vishnur yonim kalpayatu tvashta rupani pimshatu, a sinchatu prajapatir dhata garbham dadhatu te

Rig Veda 10.184.1 (also used in Charaka Samhita, Sharira Sthana 8)

Meaning

May Vishnu prepare the womb. May Tvashta shape the baby's form. May Prajapati give the seed. May Dhata place the baby in you.

Why we suggest this

This is one of the oldest Indian prayers written for a coming pregnancy. Couples hoping to conceive and mothers in the first weeks use it.

What you can expect

A quiet moment of hope as a couple. Saying it together can ease the stress of trying to conceive.

Theme: Hoping for a Baby & Early Weeks

Holding the early pregnancy

Sustain the Baby, Sinivali and Sarasvati

गर्भं धेहि सिनीवालि गर्भं धेहि सरस्वति ।गर्भं ते अश्विनौ देवावा धत्तां पुष्करस्रजा ॥

garbham dhehi sinivali garbham dhehi sarasvati, garbham te ashvinau devav a dhattam pushkarasraja

Rig Veda 10.184.2

Meaning

Hold the baby, Sinivali. Hold the baby, Sarasvati. May the healer-twins, the Ashvins, wearing lotus garlands, hold your baby.

Why we suggest this

Two mother goddesses and the healer gods are asked to hold the early pregnancy. It fits weeks 1–12, when many mothers worry most.

What you can expect

A feeling of being held and cared for. A gentle verse to whisper with a hand on your belly.

Theme: Hoping for a Baby & Early Weeks

Prayer for a full-term baby

Born in the Tenth Month

हिरण्ययी अरणी यं निर्मन्थतो अश्विना ।तं ते गर्भं हवामहे दशमे मासि सूतवे ॥

hiranyayi arani yam nirmanthato ashvina, tam te garbham havamahe dashame masi sutave

Rig Veda 10.184.3

Meaning

The baby the Ashvins kindled, like fire from golden fire-sticks: we call that baby to be born in the tenth month.

Why we suggest this

It completes the Vedic pregnancy hymn and looks ahead to a full-term birth. The Vedic 'ten months' are lunar months, about our nine.

What you can expect

A hopeful picture of a full-term baby. Good to repeat in the first weeks and again near the due date.

Theme: Hoping for a Baby & Early Weeks