Rig Veda Sukta 61
Mandala 6Sukta 6114 Mantras

Sukta 61

Sukta 6.61

Rishi

Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) tradition (traditional attribution for RV 6.61 to Bharadvāja)

Devata

Sarasvatī

Chandas

Trishtubh (common for narrative/praise in this mandala; verse-level confirmation may vary)

Dieser Hymnus preist Sarasvatī als mächtigen, lebensspendenden Strom und als göttliche Macht, die würdigen Gönnern und Opfernden Kraft, Sieg und Fülle verleiht. Er erinnert an ihre Gewalt, die Hindernisse bricht und die hortenden Mächte (Paṇis) bezwingt, und bittet zugleich, dass ihr nährender Fluss die Gemeinschaft zu fruchtbarer, glückverheißender Wohnstatt führe und sie von öder Einbuße fernhalte.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 6.61

Mantras

Mantra 1

इयमददाद्रभसमृणच्युतं दिवोदासं वध्र्यश्वाय दाशुषे । या शश्वन्तमाचखादावसं पणिं ता ते दात्राणि तविषा सरस्वति ॥

Sie gab Divodāsa die stürmische, schuldlösende Kraft, und Vadhryaśva, dem Spender. Sie, die den immerwährenden Paṇi zerschlug, den geizigen Hüter der Beute — das sind deine Gaben der Macht, o Sarasvatī.

Mantra 2

इयं शुष्मेभिर्बिसखा इवारुजत्सानु गिरीणां तविषेभिरूर्मिभिः । पारावतघ्नीमवसे सुवृक्तिभिः सरस्वतीमा विवासेम धीतिभिः ॥

Sie brach mit ihren Kräften hervor wie eine, die Lotosstängel zerreißt; mit ihren gewaltigen Wogen sprengte sie die Bergrücken. Die Töterin des „Fernen“ – der entfremdenden Finsternis – zu unserem Beistand: mit wohlgefügten Worten und mit inspirierten Gedanken (dhī) wollen wir Sarasvatī herbeirufen, ihr nahen und sie bei uns wohnen lassen.

Mantra 3

सरस्वति देवनिदो नि बर्हय प्रजां विश्वस्य बृसयस्य मायिनः । उत क्षितिभ्योऽवनीरविन्दो विषमेभ्यो अस्रवो वाजिनीवति ॥

O Sarasvatī, stoße die Lästerer des Göttlichen hinab; zerschmettere die Nachkommenschaft und das Gedeihen des allumfassenden Täuschers, des māyin. Auch für die Völker fandest du die Wege; aus den unwegsamen Stellen ließest du die Ströme fließen, o du mit sieghafter Kraft.

Mantra 4

प्र णो देवी सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती । धीनामवित्र्यवतु ॥

Vorwärts für uns möge die Göttin Sarasvatī schreiten, reich an vāja-Kräften, die Trägerin sieghafter Macht; sie möge unsere Inspirationen (dhī) schützen und nähren.

Mantra 5

यस्त्वा देवि सरस्वत्युपब्रूते धने हिते । इन्द्रं न वृत्रतूर्ये ॥

Wer dich, o Göttin Sarasvatī, herbeiruft um des wahren Gewinns willen, dem wirst du — wie Indra im Sieg über Vṛtra — zur sieghaften Hilfe im Kampf um das Licht.

Mantra 6

त्वं देवि सरस्वत्यवा वाजेषु वाजिनि । रदा पूषेव नः सनिम् ॥

Du, o Göttin Sarasvatī, in den Kämpfen um vā́ja, o Vājinī, gib uns das siegreiche Gewinnen; wie Pūṣan gewähre uns sicheren Erwerb und rechtes Finden des Weges.

Mantra 7

उत स्या नः सरस्वती घोरा हिरण्यवर्तनिः । वृत्रघ्नी वष्टि सुष्टुतिम् ॥

Und sie, Sarasvatī für uns — furchtbar (den Hemmern), mit goldenem Lauf, Vṛtra-Schlächterin — begehrt und nimmt den wohlgesungenen Lobgesang an.

Mantra 8

यस्या अनन्तो अह्रुतस्त्वेषश्चरिष्णुरर्णवः । अमश्चरति रोरुवत् ॥

Sie, deren ozeanischer Lauf ohne Ende ist—ungehindert, stürmisch, unablässig dahinströmend—deren Kraft im brausenden Schwall vorandrängt: möge in uns Sarasvatīs lichtvoll strömende Macht wirken.

Mantra 9

सा नो विश्वा अति द्विषः स्वसॄरन्या ऋतावरी । अतन्नहेव सूर्यः ॥

Möge sie, unsere Schwester, die Trägerin der Ṛta, uns über alle Feindschaften, über jede Gegenmacht hinübertragen—wie die Sonne, die die Tage ausspannt und die Enge vertreibt.

Mantra 10

उत नः प्रिया प्रियासु सप्तस्वसा सुजुष्टा । सरस्वती स्तोम्या भूत् ॥

Und möge Sarasvatī uns lieb sein unter allen lieben Mächten—sie, die Siebenschwester, wohlgefällig einwilligend; möge sie unserer Hymnen würdig werden.

Mantra 11

आपप्रुषी पार्थिवान्युरु रजो अन्तरिक्षम् । सरस्वती निदस्पातु ॥

Sie, die die irdischen Gestalten und den weiten Mittelraum — das Antarikṣa — erfüllt hat: Möge Sarasvatī uns behüten vor der verneinenden Stimme, vor feindlicher, treffender Rede.

Mantra 12

त्रिषधस्था सप्तधातुः पञ्च जाता वर्धयन्ती । वाजेवाजे हव्या भूत् ॥

In den drei Sitzen gegründet, die siebenfache Ordnung fügend, im fünffachen Werden geboren, unser Wachstum mehrend: Möge sie in jedem Gewinn, in jedem Erringen der Vāja, unsere angerufene Macht sein.

Mantra 13

प्र या महिम्ना महिनासु चेकिते द्युम्नेभिरन्या अपसामपस्तमा । रथ इव बृहती विभ्वने कृतोपस्तुत्या चिकितुषा सरस्वती ॥

Sie, die durch ihre Größe unter den Großen offenbar wird, die mit leuchtenden Kräften die anderen überragt — die wirksamste in den Werken: Sarasvatī, weit wie ein Wagen in seinem Lauf, zum weiten Werden gefügt, zu preisen von den Wissenden.

Mantra 14

सरस्वत्यभि नो नेषि वस्यो माप स्फरीः पयसा मा न आ धक् । जुषस्व नः सख्या वेश्या च मा त्वत्क्षेत्राण्यरणानि गन्म ॥

O Sarasvatī, führe uns hin zum besseren Reichtum; stoße uns nicht fort — schlage uns nicht mit deinem nährenden Strom. Nimm unsere Freundschaft und unsere Nähe an; lass uns nicht von dir fortgehen in öde Fluren, ohne lebendigen Lauf.

Inside Sukta 61

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Sarasvatī is introduced as a powerful benefactress whose gifts of force aid famed patrons and the offering community.

  2. Development

    Her unstoppable, roaring, ocean-like course is celebrated—both as physical river might and as divine power that overcomes withholding, restores strength, and sustains life.

  3. Climax

    The hymn dwells on her irresistible surge and victorious capacity to strike down the hoarding Paṇi, presenting her as the decisive power that turns scarcity into abundance.

  4. Where it settles

    A direct prayer asks her to lead the people to better fortune, not to repel or harm them with her flow, and to keep them in her fertile sphere rather than drifting to barren, supportless lands.

The deity: Sarasvatī

  • In the VedaIn the Rig Veda she is foremost among rivers—swift, roaring, wide-flowing, and richly nourishing—yet also a goddess whose ‘gifts’ empower patrons, protect the sacrificer, and uphold right order through her purifying current.
  • Cosmic functionShe carries fertility and plenty through her waters, sustains settled life and pasture, and acts as a force that clears impediments so ṛta (right order) and communal prosperity can prevail.
  • Inner significanceSarasvatī signifies the luminous flow of inspiration and coherent speech, the cleansing stream of discernment, and the inner current that removes ‘debts’ and blockages so strength and right action arise.

The seer

  • Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya tradition)Bharadvāja-gotra; Bārhaspatya lineage (descendants/affiliation of Bṛhaspati) · A principal seer-family of Maṇḍala 6, renowned for hymns that combine martial prosperity, patronage themes, and precise ritual praise, often linking divine power with social well-being.

Famous verses

इयमददाद्रभसमृणच्युतं दिवोदासं वध्र्यश्वाय दाशुषे । या शश्वन्तमाचखादावसं पणिं ता ते दात्राणि तविषा सरस्वति ॥
Verse 6.61.1Sets the hymn’s tone by portraying Sarasvatī as a giver of ‘debt-releasing’ strength and as a victor over the hoarding Paṇi—linking her to protection, patronage, and the ethics of generous exchange.Read verse 6.61.1 →
यस्या अनन्तो अह्रुतस्त्वेषश्चरिष्णुरर्णवः । अमश्चरति रोरुवत् ॥
Verse 6.61.8A vivid centerpiece describing her endless, unhindered, roaring movement (arṇava), highlighting her as an unstoppable cosmic/psychic current of power and inspiration.Read verse 6.61.8 →
sarasvaty abhi no neṣi vasyo
Verse 6.61.14Concluding petition: asks Sarasvatī to lead to ‘the better,’ to nourish without harming, to accept friendship and nearness, and to keep the community from barren fields—an enduring prayer for guidance and sustainable prosperity.Read verse 6.61.14 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Mighty, impetuous, and unconquerable flow
  • Nourishing ‘payas’ (milk-like abundance) and fertility
  • Roaring, oceanic movement (arṇava) and expansive power
  • Obstacle-breaking and protector against hoarding/withholding forces
  • Bestower of strength, victory, and auspicious settlements

Also by this seer

  • Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 attributed to the Bharadvājas
  • Hymns to Agni, Indra, the Aśvins, and allied deities in RV 6
  • Later Vedic tradition associates Bharadvāja with priestly lineages and ritual expertise preserved in śrauta-smārta transmission

The rite, step by step

  • Ācamana and purification; establish intention for prosperity/protection
  • Kindle or attend the sacred fire (Agni) and make preliminary offerings
  • Recite RV 6.61 as Sarasvatī-stuti, with mindful visualization of her strong, cleansing flow
  • Make main oblations while requesting strength, victory over impediments, and fertile dwelling
  • Conclude with śānti-prārthanā: seek continued friendship/near presence and avoidance of ‘barren fields’ (loss of support)

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) oblations
  • Milk or milk-products where customary (symbolic of ‘payas’)
  • Water libations/river-offerings when performed near a water source
  • Grains or soma-substitutes according to the rite

Frequently Asked Questions

In this hymn Sarasvatī is both a great river and a goddess: her waters nourish life, and her divine power grants strength, protection, and inspired clarity to those who offer and live rightly.

The Paṇi represents withholding and hoarding that blocks rightful gain. By saying Sarasvatī strikes down the Paṇi, the hymn praises her as the force that removes obstacles to prosperity and restores healthy circulation of wealth and support.

The final verse asks Sarasvatī to lead the people toward better fortune, not to push them away or harm them with her flow, and to keep them close to her fertile, life-sustaining sphere rather than ‘barren fields.’

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