Part 19 - Pūṣan (the Knower of the Paths)

Pūṣan is regarded as the knower of the path in the Vedas, and so he is invoked to manifest the hidden goods.^[1] It is believed that the lost and hidden king Soma has been found by the grace of Pūṣan.^[2]

In the Vedic texts, it is stated that the deity is offered oblation whenever something gets lost:

sampūṣanviduṣā iti naṣṭamadhijigamiṣan mūlho vā/^[3]

Besides this, the verses for Pūṣan are recited when cows are driven to pasture.^[4]

Pūṣan is regarded as the protector or guardian of the paths in the Vedas. He is called pāthaspatha in the Vedic mythology.^[5]

He is invoked to protect from harm on his path:

pūṣantava vrate vayaṃ na riṣyema kadā cana/ stotārasta iha smasi/^[6]

He is begged to grant an auspicious path, i.e. dadātu punaḥ pūṣā pathyāṃ yā svasti,^[7] and worshipped to remove dangers, the wolf and the way-layers from the paths.^[8] With the view to protect, Pūṣan follows the cattle.^[9] He saves them from injury, brings them home unhurt and drives back the lost to their destinations.^[10] He is begged to disperse foes and make the path good enough to lead to good pasture.^[11]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

cf., tveṣaṃ śargho na mārutaṃ tuviṣvaṇyanarvāṇaṃ pūṣaṇaṃ saṃ yathā śatā/ saṃ sahasrā

[2]:

cf., pūṣā rājānamāghṛṇirapagūlhaṃ guhā hitam/ avindaccitrabarhiṣam// Ibid., 1.23.14

[3]:

Ᾱś. GS., 3.7.9

[4]:

cf., …pūṣā gā anvetu na iti gāḥ pratiṣṭhamānā anumantrayet…/ Śāṅkhyāyanagṛhyasūtra, 3.9.1

[5]:

Ṛgvedasaṃhitā, 6.49.8

[6]:

Ibid., 6.54.9

[7]:

Ibid.,10.59.7

[8]:

cf., saṃ pūṣannadhvanastira vyaṃho vimuco napāt/ Ibid., 1.42.1

[9]:

cf., Ibid., 6.54.5,6,10; 58.2

[10]:

cf., mākirṇeśanmākīṃ riṣanmākīṃ saṃ śāri kevaṭe/ athāriṣṭābhirā gahi// Ibid., 6.54.7

[11]:

cf. ati naḥ saścato naya sugā naḥ supathā kṛṇu/pūṣanniha kratuṃ vidaḥ// abhi sūyavasaṃ naya na navajvāro addhvane/ pūṣanniha kratuṃ vidaḥ// Ibid., 1.42.7,8