Rig Veda Sukta 91
Mandala 7Sukta 917 Mantras

Sukta 91

Sukta 7.91

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (probable)

Dieser Hymnus des Vasiṣṭha ruft Vāyu in enger Gemeinschaft mit Indra–Vāyu an, lädt sie zum Somaopfer ein und erbittet Schutz, Kraft und Wohlergehen. Er erinnert an die uralten, schuldlosen Götter, die Manu in einer Zeit der Hemmung beistanden, indem sie die Morgenröte mit der Sonne einsetzten – ein Bild der Wiederherstellung rechter Ordnung und klarer Schau für den menschlichen Weg. Am Schluss bitten die Dichter (die Vasiṣṭhas) durch ihr wohlgefügtes Lob um dauerhafte svasti, harmonisches Heil.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.91

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • VayuMantras 1, 3Vāyu (with Indra-Vāyu context continuing, Manu and Uṣas / Sūrya as supporting figures)

    Vāyu is the swift, life-bearing Wind, first to receive Soma and a frequent companion of Indra in Soma-drinking; together Indra-Vāyu are addressed as pure-drinkers who arrive quickly to the barhis (sacrificial seat).

  • Indra-VayuMantras 2, 4-7Indra-Vāyu

Mantras

Mantra 1

कुविदङ्ग नमसा ये वृधासः पुरा देवा अनवद्यास आसन् । ते वायवे मनवे बाधितायावासयन्नुषसं सूर्येण ॥

Werden jene uralten Götter, an Kraft gewachsen und tadellos, durch unsere Verehrung gewonnen? Sie ließen — um Vāyu willen und um Manu willen, als er von Hemmung bedrängt war — die Uṣas (Morgenröte) beim Sūrya (Sonne) wohnen und brachten die erleuchtete Ordnung auf den Weg der Menschen.

Mantra 2

उशन्ता दूता न दभाय गोपा मासश्च पाथः शरदश्च पूर्वीः । इन्द्रवायू सुष्टुतिर्वामियाना मार्डीकमीट्टे सुवितं च नव्यम् ॥

Begehrend, wie Boten, als Hüter, die nicht fehlgehen, durchmessen sie die Monate, die Pfade und die vielen früheren Jahreszeiten. O Indra–Vāyu, der wohlgefügte Lobgesang, der zu euch kommt, erbittet eure Gnade und eine neue rechte Führung — neue Öffnungen des Weges.

Mantra 3

पीवोअन्नाँ रयिवृधः सुमेधाः श्वेतः सिषक्ति नियुतामभिश्रीः । ते वायवे समनसो वि तस्थुर्विश्वेन्नरः स्वपत्यानि चक्रुः ॥

Kraftvoll an Nahrung, Mehrer des Reichtums, weise an Einsicht — der weiße Glanz haftet an den angeschirrten Kräften. Für Vāyu stehen sie fest, eines Sinnes; diese Männer haben alle Taten guter Herrschaft und wahren Selbstbesitzes gewirkt.

Mantra 4

यावत्तरस्तन्वो यावदोजो यावन्नरश्चक्षसा दीध्यानाः । शुचिं सोमं शुचिपा पातमस्मे इन्द्रवायू सदतं बर्हिरेदम् ॥

Soweit der Leib reicht, soweit die Kraft sich erstreckt, soweit die Suchenden, im Schauen entflammt, zu entzünden vermögen — trinkt hier den reinen Soma, ihr Rein-Trinker. O Indra–Vāyu, setzt euch auf diesen Opfer-Sitz in uns.

Mantra 5

नियुवाना नियुतः स्पार्हवीरा इन्द्रवायू सरथं यातमर्वाक् । इदं हि वां प्रभृतं मध्वो अग्रमध प्रीणाना वि मुमुक्तमस्मे ॥

Jung und stets sich erneuernd, mit euren angeschirrten (Kräften), reich an begehrenswerter Heldenmacht — o Indra–Vāyu, kommt auf einem Wagen gemeinsam herab zu uns. Denn diese erste Essenz der Süße ist euch dargebracht; dann, gesättigt, löst für uns die Weiten und Befreiungen in uns.

Mantra 6

या वां शतं नियुतो याः सहस्रमिन्द्रवायू विश्ववाराः सचन्ते । आभिर्यातं सुविदत्राभिरर्वाक्पातं नरा प्रतिभृतस्य मध्वः ॥

Jene angeschirrten Kräfte von euch — Hunderte und Tausende, o Indra–Vāyu, reich an jeder begehrenswerten Fülle — gesellen sich zu euch. Mit ihnen kommt zu uns herab, mit klaren Kräften rechten Findens; o ihr beiden Starken, trinkt die honigsüße Wonne, die euch dargebracht und zu euch getragen wird.

Mantra 7

अर्वन्तो न श्रवसो भिक्षमाणा इन्द्रवायू सुष्टुतिभिर्वसिष्ठाः । वाजयन्तः स्ववसे हुवेम यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Wie eifrige Rosse, nach Ruhm begehrend, bitten wir, die Vasiṣṭhas, euch, o Indra und Vāyu, mit wohlgefügten Lobgesängen. Um für uns selbst die Fülle der Kraft und Selbstherrschaft zu gewinnen, rufen wir euch an; behütet uns allezeit mit euren heilsamen, glückverheißenden Harmonien.

Inside Sukta 91

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A questioning, reverent appeal to the ancient, blameless gods—asking whether they will be won by homage—and a mythic recollection of divine help to Manu through the establishment of Dawn with the Sun.

  2. Development

    The hymn turns from remembrance to present ritual immediacy: Vāyu/Indra–Vāyu are invited to approach, to drink the pure Soma, and to take their seat on the barhis, extending strength as far as body, force, and vision can reach.

  3. Climax

    The direct Soma-invitation peaks in the command/request to the ‘pure-drinkers’ to drink here and to ‘sit’—signaling the moment of divine presence and energizing influx into the rite and the sacrificer’s domain.

  4. Where it settles

    The Vasiṣṭhas, like steeds seeking fame, close with a sustained plea for vāja and constant protection—‘guard us always with svasti’—sealing the hymn in blessing and continuity.

The deity: Vāyu

  • In the VedaThe hymn also alludes to cosmic ordering through Dawn and Sun, framing the gods’ aid to Manu as a restoration of light and passage.
  • Cosmic functionRegulates breath and atmospheric movement, carries vitality, and—paired with Indra—supports the dynamic release of energies that clear obstruction and establish luminous order (uṣas–sūrya).
  • Inner significanceVāyu signifies prāṇa: the enlivening current that clears inner blockage, steadies perception, and enables the ‘dawn’ of discernment to align with the ‘sun’ of awakened consciousness; Indra–Vāyu together symbolize force guided by vital clarity.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (the Vasiṣṭhas; Mānavas in several traditions) · One of the foremost Rigvedic seers, celebrated for authoritative priestly insight (brahman), mastery of praise, and for hymns centered on Varuṇa–Mitra, Indra, and royal-protective theology in Maṇḍala 7.

Famous verses

कुविदङ्ग नमसा ये वृधासः पुरा देवा अनवद्यास आसन् । ते वायवे मनवे बाधितायावासयन्नुषसं सूर्येण ॥
Verse 7.91.1Sets the theological frame: ancient gods’ blameless power and the paradigmatic rescue of Manu by aligning Dawn with the Sun—an image of removing obstruction and restoring ordered illumination.Read verse 7.91.1 →
śuciṃ somaṃ śucipā pātam asme
Verse 7.91.4Central ritual injunction: invites Indra–Vāyu to drink the pure Soma and to sit on the barhis; it compresses the hymn’s sacrificial purpose into a vivid, performative moment.Read verse 7.91.4 →
yūyaṃ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Verse 7.91.7Concluding petition and self-identification of the Vasiṣṭhas; asks for vāja (winning force) and continual safeguarding through svasti, giving the hymn its enduring practical intent.Read verse 7.91.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Swift mover, first Soma-recipient
  • Life-breath and energizer (prāṇa)
  • Purifying current; ‘pure-drinker’ in Soma context
  • Obstacle-clearing, path-opening power (especially with Indra)
  • Bringer of well-being (svasti) and protection
  • Linked to dawn-light imagery: ordering, illumination, right passage

Also by this seer

  • Principal seer of much of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (a major Vasiṣṭha family book).
  • Hymnic corpora addressing Varuṇa’s moral order (ṛta), Indra’s victories, and ritual efficacy of Soma and Agni in the Vasiṣṭha collection.
  • Later Vedic/Itihāsa tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with Brahmarṣi status and with preserving sacrificial orthopraxy and royal counsel.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar and spread the barhis (sacrificial grass/seat) for the arriving deities.
  • Invite Vāyu and Indra–Vāyu with namas (reverence) and stuti (well-fashioned praise).
  • Press/strain Soma and declare it śuci (pure), fit for the ‘pure-drinkers’.
  • Offer Soma with recitation, requesting the gods to ‘sit’ on the barhis and within the sacrificer’s sphere (asme).
  • Recall the exemplary divine act (aid to Manu; Dawn established with Sun) as a model for removing present obstruction.
  • Conclude with petitions for vāja (force/plenitude), fame, and continual svasti (well-being/protection).

Offerings

  • Soma (pressed and purified)
  • Barhis (seat of offering)
  • Verbal offerings: hymns of praise (suṣṭuti), namas (reverence)

Frequently Asked Questions

Vāyu is primary, but the hymn strongly addresses the dual deity Indra–Vāyu, especially in the Soma-drinking context.

It recalls a divine act of removing obstruction and establishing luminous order—symbolically bringing clarity (Dawn) into full alignment with truth and vision (Sun) for human life.

It functions as an invitation and praise during Soma offerings, asking Indra–Vāyu/Vāyu to come, drink the purified Soma, sit on the offering seat, and grant strength and ongoing well-being (svasti).

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