ṛbhu mfn. (√ rabh), clever, skilful, inventive, prudent (said of Indra, Agni, and the Ādityas, RV.; also of property or wealth, RV. iv, 37, 5; viii, 93, 34; of an arrow, AV. i, 2, 3)

ṛbhu (us), m. an artist, one who works in iron, a smith, builder (of carriages &c.), N. of three semi-divine beings (Ṛbhu, Vāja, and Vibhvan, the name of the first being applied to all of them; thought by some to represent the three seasons of the year [Ludwig, RV. vol. iii, p. 187], and celebrated for their skill as artists; they are supposed to dwell in the solar sphere, and are the artists who formed the horses of Indra, the carriage of the Aśvins, and the miraculous cow of Bṛhaspati; they made their parents young, and performed other wonderful works [Sv-apas]; they are supposed to take their ease and remain idle for twelve days [the twelve intercalary days of the winter solstice] every year in the house of the Sun [Agohya]; after which they recommence working; when the gods heard of their skill, they sent Agni to them with the one cup of their rival Tvaṣṭṛ, the artificer of the gods, bidding the Ṛbhus construct four cups from it; when they had successfully executed this task, the gods received the Ṛbhus amongst themselves and allowed them to partake of their sacrifices &c.; cf. Kaegi, RV. p. 53 f.), RV.; AV. &c.