Dadhikrāvan
deity figure · 3 works · 5 mentions · 6 anchored passages
Dadhikrā · the prize-winning steed
in the texts
Rigveda
A divinized prize-winning horse, praised across an extended hymn sequence and said to be given by Mitra and Varuṇa.
I celebrate greatly the course of the steed Dadhikrāvan, full of purpose, with many boons, a bull — him who, shining like fire for the Pūrus, Mitra and Varuṇa gave to the swift.
You also gave Dadhikrā, the prize-winning steed widely restrained, the conqueror of all tribes — the straight-coursing, falcon-like, dappled, swift, ever-active, noble, lord-of-men-like hero.
In remembering the great food and refreshment of Dadhikrāvan and the auspicious name of the Maruts, we invoke Varuṇa, Mitra, Agni, and Indra of the thunderbolt-arm for well-being.
Atharvaveda (Paippalāda)
A divinized swift horse figure used as a simile for the dawns' movement toward Bhaga.
The dawns bow together for the sacrifice, as Dadhikrāvan bows toward the bright track;
Sāmaveda
A deified swift horse praised for victory and blessing.
I have spoken in praise of Dadhikrāvan, the victorious, the horse of might.