Rig Veda Sukta 97
Mandala 7Sukta 9710 Mantras

Sukta 97

Sukta 7.97

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha-gotra tradition for Maṇḍala 7; hymn to Bṛhaspati/Brāhmaṇaspati)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh (11-syllable pādas; typical for Maṇḍala 7 praise/invocation)

Dieser Hymnus des Vasiṣṭha ruft Bṛhaspati/Brāhmaṇaspati als göttlichen Freund und priesterliche Macht an, die das Opfer wirksam macht, die Rede läutert und den Weg zur Fülle öffnet. Das Lob ist in das Soma-Pressen gestellt, bei dem auch Indra willkommen geheißen wird; die Verehrer bitten, vor dem freigebigen Geber „ohne Fehl“ zu werden und Kraft, Freude und rechte Führung zu empfangen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.97

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Brihaspati / BrahmanaspatiMantras 2, 4-8, 10Bṛhaspati / Brāhmaṇaspati (with a relational horizon that includes Indra as allied power in the hymn)

    Bṛhaspati is praised as the pure and purifying lord of sacred speech (brahman), “golden-voiced,” forceful and luminous, who grants divine help, removes fault, and makes the Soma-pressing fruitful for many companions.

  • IndraMantras 1, 10
  • Brahmanaspati / BrihaspatiMantras 3, 9Brāhmaṇaspati / Bṛhaspati

Mantras

Mantra 1

यज्ञे दिवो नृषदने पृथिव्या नरो यत्र देवयवो मदन्ति । इन्द्राय यत्र सवनानि सुन्वे गमन्मदाय प्रथमं वयश्च ॥

Im Opfer, im Menschensitz von Himmel und Erde, wo die gottsuchenden Männer frohlocken; wo für Indra die Soma-Pressungen bereitet werden — möge er zur Trunkenheit der Wonne kommen und auch die erste Weite unseres Seins herbeibringen.

Mantra 2

आ दैव्या वृणीमहेऽवांसि बृहस्पतिर्नो मह आ सखायः । यथा भवेम मीळ्हुषे अनागा यो नो दाता परावतः पितेव ॥

Wir erwählen und rufen zu uns die göttlichen Hilfen; nahe uns trete Bṛhaspati, unser mächtiger Freund, o Gefährten — damit wir vor dem freigebigen Geber schuldlos werden, vor ihm, der aus der fernen Ferne uns schenkt wie ein Vater.

Mantra 3

तमु ज्येष्ठं नमसा हविर्भिः सुशेवं ब्रह्मणस्पतिं गृणीषे । इन्द्रं श्लोको महि दैव्यः सिषक्तु यो ब्रह्मणो देवकृतस्य राजा ॥

Ihn, den Ältesten, mit Verneigung und mit Opfergaben besinge ich — Brāhmaṇaspati, den Heilvollen. Möge der große göttliche Lobgesang sich an Indra heften, den König des gottgeschaffenen Wortes (Brahman).

Mantra 4

स आ नो योनिं सदतु प्रेष्ठो बृहस्पतिर्विश्ववारो यो अस्ति । कामो रायः सुवीर्यस्य तं दात्पर्षन्नो अति सश्चतो अरिष्टान् ॥

In unseren Schoß des Werdens setze sich der Liebste, Bṛhaspati, der alle begehrenswerten Gaben trägt, wie er ist. Er ist das Verlangen nach Reichtum und nach heldischer Kraft; das gebe er und trage uns hinüber über die, die uns bedrängen, unversehrt.

Mantra 5

तमा नो अर्कममृताय जुष्टमिमे धासुरमृतासः पुराजाः । शुचिक्रन्दं यजतं पस्त्यानां बृहस्पतिमनर्वाणं हुवेम ॥

Ihn rufen wir an — Bṛhaspati, den Unermüdlichen: diesen dem Unsterblichen wohlgefälligen Hymnus; ihn stützen diese Spender, die uralt Geborenen, die Unsterblichen. Den rein Rufenden, den Verehrungswürdigen der Wohnstätten — Bṛhaspati, den Unermüdlichen — rufen wir.

Mantra 6

तं शग्मासो अरुषासो अश्वा बृहस्पतिं सहवाहो वहन्ति । सहश्चिद्यस्य नीलवत्सधस्थं नभो न रूपमरुषं वसानाः ॥

Ihn tragen die starken, rötlichen Rosse, im gemeinsamen Zug — Bṛhaspati. Selbst sein Sitz ist blau-dunkel wie der Himmel; doch er trägt eine rötliche Gestalt — mächtig, sich bewegend im einträchtigen Antrieb.

Mantra 7

स हि शुचिः शतपत्रः स शुन्ध्युर्हिरण्यवाशीरिषिरः स्वर्षाः । बृहस्पतिः स स्वावेश ऋष्वः पुरू सखिभ्य आसुतिं करिष्ठः ॥

Denn er ist rein, hundertfach weit; er ist der Läuterer, mit goldenem Wort, antreibend, Träger leuchtender Kraft. Bṛhaspati, von gutem Eingang, hoch und gewaltig, wird vielen Gefährten das Pressen des Soma bereiten — ein Ausströmen der Wonne.

Mantra 8

देवी देवस्य रोदसी जनित्री बृहस्पतिं वावृधतुर्महित्वा । दक्षाय्याय दक्षता सखायः करद्ब्रह्मणे सुतरा सुगाधा ॥

Die beiden Göttinnen, Himmel und Erde, die Gebärerinnen des Gottes, haben Bṛhaspati durch ihre Größe erstarken lassen. O Gefährten, werdet kundig für das Werk der Unterscheidung; bereitet dem Brahman einen sicheren, leicht zu durchschreitenden Übergang.

Mantra 9

इयं वां ब्रह्मणस्पते सुवृक्तिर्ब्रह्मेन्द्राय वज्रिणे अकारि । अविष्टं धियो जिगृतं पुरंधीर्जजस्तमर्यो वनुषामरातीः ॥

Diese wohlgefügte Rede, o Brahmaṇaspati, ist für euch bereitet — als Brahman für Indra, den Vajra-Träger. Mögen die Gedanken behütet und emporgehoben sein; mögen die Füllen der Einsicht die Feindseligkeiten der Engherzigen vertreiben.

Mantra 10

बृहस्पते युवमिन्द्रश्च वस्वो दिव्यस्येशाथे उत पार्थिवस्य । धत्तं रयिं स्तुवते कीरये चिद्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

O Bṛhaspati, du und Indra seid die Herren des Reichtums des Himmels und auch der Erde. Legt dem Sänger, dem Preisenden, die Fülle des Seins zu; und ihr — behütet uns allezeit mit euren heilsamen Harmonien, mit eurem svastí.

Inside Sukta 97

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens in the living arena of sacrifice—where devayavaḥ (god-seeking men) rejoice and the Soma pressings are prepared for Indra.

  2. Development

    Attention turns from the communal rite to the enabling spiritual agency: Bṛhaspati is called as the divine help and intimate Friend who grants faultlessness and fatherly giving from ‘beyond.’

  3. Climax

    Bṛhaspati is exalted in a crescendo of epithets—pure, purifier, golden-voiced, luminous—culminating in his power to establish the Soma outpouring for many companions.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into confident petition: may the rite succeed, may the worshippers stand blameless before the generous Giver, and may prosperity and strength flow through right invocation.

The deity: Bṛhaspati / Brāhmaṇaspati

  • Cosmic functionGuardian and activator of ṛta through inspired speech and priestly power—he “opens” paths, strengthens the sacrifice, and secures prosperity and victory by right invocation.
  • Inner significanceThe awakened intelligence and truthful speech within the aspirant: the power that clarifies intention, purifies motives, and aligns action with a higher order, enabling inner strength and communal harmony.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (Maṇḍala 7 family tradition) · Foremost seer-priest of the Rigveda, celebrated for brahman (sacred utterance), royal counsel, and hymns that unite ritual precision with spiritual insight.

Famous verses

yathā bhavema mīḻhuṣe anāgāḥ
Verse 7.97.2Central petition to ‘choose the divine helps’ and to have Bṛhaspati come near as mighty Friend, granting blamelessness before the generous Giver and fatherly protection.Read verse 7.97.2 →
hiraṇyavāśīḥ
Verse 7.97.7A signature portrait of Bṛhaspati’s nature—pure, purifying, golden-voiced, luminous—ending with the key ritual boon: he makes the Soma-pressing/outpouring effective for many comrades.Read verse 7.97.7 →
यज्ञे दिवो नृषदने पृथिव्या नरो यत्र देवयवो मदन्ति । इन्द्राय यत्र सवनानि सुन्वे गमन्मदाय प्रथमं वयश्च ॥
Verse 7.97.1Sets the sacrificial scene and relational horizon: the Soma-pressings for Indra and the desired arrival of divine exhilaration and ‘first wideness’ (vayaḥ) of life-power.Read verse 7.97.1 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Lord of brahman (sacred utterance)
  • Purifier and remover of दोष/āpāpa (fault, blemish)
  • Golden-voiced, luminous, inspiring
  • Friend and guide of worshippers
  • Opener of ways; granter of bounty
  • Allied with Indra in Soma-sacrifice contexts

Also by this seer

  • Primary authorship association with Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (many sūktas)
  • Vasiṣṭha-related praise of Agni, Indra, Varuṇa-Mitra, and the Ādityas across Maṇḍala 7
  • Vasiṣṭha traditions preserved in later Vedic-Brāhmaṇa and Itihāsa-Purāṇa lineages as paradigms of the purohita (royal chaplain)

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the yajña-space as the ‘human seat’ joining Heaven and Earth (nṛṣadana).
  • Kindle/establish Agni and arrange the Soma implements; ready the three pressings (savanāni).
  • Invite Indra to the exhilaration (mada) of Soma, establishing the atmosphere of shared divine-human gladness.
  • Invoke Bṛhaspati as mighty Friend and protector of the rite; ask for ‘divine helps’ (daivyā avāṃsi).
  • Recite praise emphasizing Bṛhaspati’s purity, purifying force, and golden speech; request removal of fault and right standing before the Giver.
  • Conclude with petitions for successful āsuti (Soma outpouring), strength, and prosperity for the community of ‘many comrades’ (purū sakhībhyaḥ).

Offerings

  • Soma juice (pressed and offered/āsuti)
  • Ghee and oblations into Agni (as customary supports of the Soma rite)
  • Sacred speech: stotra/śastra-style recitation as an offering of brahman

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn mainly addresses Bṛhaspati (also called Brāhmaṇaspati), the divine lord of sacred speech and priestly power. Indra appears in the background as the Soma-drinking ally within the sacrifice.

It asks Bṛhaspati to come as a close Friend, remove fault, and make the sacrifice—especially the Soma outpouring—successful, so the worshippers receive strength, joy, and prosperity.

These titles point to his role as the power of luminous, truthful speech that cleanses the rite and the mind. In Vedic thought, right utterance sustains the sacrifice and brings the desired divine response.

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