Rig Veda Sukta 98
Mandala 7Sukta 987 Mantras

Sukta 98

Sukta 7.98

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (continuing Maṇḍala 7 attribution)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Dieser Hymnus drängt die Adhvaryu-Priester, Indra den rötlichen, gemolkenen Soma darzubringen; Indra erscheint als der stets wiederkehrende Sucher des ausgepressten Trankes und als Stier-Führer der Völker. Dann wendet er sich Indras kriegerischer Hilfe zu — dem Überwinden selbsternannt „großer“ Gegner — und gipfelt in einer gemeinsamen Bitte an Indra und Bṛhaspati um Reichtum (rayi), Ruhm und dauerhaftes Wohlergehen (svasti).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.98

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • IndraSoma-seeker, bull of the peoples

    Indra is the mighty, Soma-loving warrior and ‘bull’ who comes repeatedly to the altar to drink the pressed Soma, granting victory, fame, and abundance to his worshippers.

  • BrihaspatiMantra 7Bṛhaspati

Mantras

Mantra 1

अध्वर्यवोऽरुणं दुग्धमंशुं जुहोतन वृषभाय क्षितीनाम् । गौराद्वेदीयाँ अवपानमिन्द्रो विश्वाहेद्याति सुतसोममिच्छन् ॥

O Adhvaryus, opfert den rötlich schimmernden, gemolkenen Soma‑Stängel dem Stier der Völker. Aus dem fahlgoldenen Glanz kommt er zur Opferstätte zum Trank: Indra geht Tag um Tag, den gepressten Soma begehrend.

Mantra 2

यद्दधिषे प्रदिवि चार्वन्नं दिवेदिवे पीतिमिदस्य वक्षि । उत हृदोत मनसा जुषाण उशन्निन्द्र प्रस्थितान्पाहि सोमान् ॥

Wenn du im vorgelagerten Himmel die schöne Nahrung festsetzt und Tag um Tag dafür den Vollzug des Trinkens herbeiführst, dann — mit Herz und Sinn sich freuend, zustimmend — o Indra, behüte gern die dargelegten Soma‑Tränke.

Mantra 3

जज्ञानः सोमं सहसे पपाथ प्र ते माता महिमानमुवाच । एन्द्र पप्राथोर्वन्तरिक्षं युधा देवेभ्यो वरिवश्चकर्थ ॥

In deiner Kraft geboren, hast du den Soma zur Stärke getrunken; deine Mutter hat deine Größe verkündet. O Indra, du hast den weiten Mittelraum ausgedehnt; durch Kampf hast du den Göttern freien Raum und glücklichen Spielraum geschaffen.

Mantra 4

यद्योधया महतो मन्यमानान्त्साक्षाम तान्बाहुभिः शाशदानान् । यद्वा नृभिर्वृत इन्द्राभियुध्यास्तं त्वयाजिं सौश्रवसं जयेम ॥

Wenn du die Großen, die sich für mächtig halten, in die Schlacht treibst, und wir ihnen offen von Angesicht zu Angesicht begegnen – denen, die mit ihren Armen voranstürmen; oder wenn du, von Männern erwählt, o Indra, im Kampf weiterstreitest: mit dir mögen wir jenen Streit gewinnen, der guten Ruhm bringt, den Ruhm des rechten Hörens.

Mantra 5

प्रेन्द्रस्य वोचं प्रथमा कृतानि प्र नूतना मघवा या चकार । यदेददेवीरसहिष्ट माया अथाभवत्केवलः सोमो अस्य ॥

Ich verkünde Indras erste Taten und die neuen, die der freigebige Maghavan vollbracht hat. Als die Nicht-Götter seiner Māyā nicht standhalten konnten, da wurde Soma ganz sein – sein allein, zu besitzen und zu führen.

Mantra 6

तवेदं विश्वमभितः पशव्यं यत्पश्यसि चक्षसा सूर्यस्य । गवामसि गोपतिरेक इन्द्र भक्षीमहि ते प्रयतस्य वस्वः ॥

Dein ist dies alles ringsum, der Reichtum an lebendiger Kraft, was immer du mit dem Auge Sūryas erblickst. Du bist der eine Herr und Hüter der Strahlen-Kühe, o Indra; mögen wir teilhaben an den Gütern, die von dir recht dargebracht und gelenkt sind.

Mantra 7

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. Verleiht dem Lobpreisenden — selbst dem Sänger — rayi, die Fülle des Seins; und behütet uns beide stets mit heilsamen svastis.

Inside Sukta 98

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct ritual injunction: offer the ruddy, prepared Soma to Indra who comes to drink.

  2. Development

    Indra is praised as repeatedly approaching the altar; the hymn shifts from liturgical invitation to practical dependence on Indra for strength and success against formidable opponents.

  3. Climax

    The prayer for winning the decisive battle—victory that yields enduring good fame (sauśravasa) through Indra’s companionship in the fight.

  4. Where it settles

    A harmonizing close: Indra and Bṛhaspati together are invoked to bestow wealth/plenitude and to guard the worshippers with lasting well-being (svasti).

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe embodies victorious force that breaks resistance, clears the way for order and prosperity, and releases life-supporting powers through conquest of obstacles.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened will and courageous clarity that ‘drinks’ inspiration (Soma), confronts inner arrogance and fear, and wins the battle for right hearing, right action, and confident vitality.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/Brāhmaṇa seer line; traditionally linked with the Tr̥tsu-Bharata court) · Chief seer of Maṇḍala 7, celebrated for hymns to Indra and Varuṇa, for royal priesthood themes, and for shaping Vedic praise into a disciplined, ritual-forward style.

Famous verses

sutasomam icchan
Verse 7.98.1Sets the hymn’s ritual center: Soma offering to Indra as the daily-coming seeker of the pressed draught, linking liturgy with Indra’s characteristic desire for Soma.Read verse 7.98.1 →
ajāṃ sauśravasaṃ jayema
Verse 7.98.4Articulates the hymn’s martial petition: facing proud ‘great’ foes and winning the battle with Indra for sauśravasa—good repute grounded in ‘true hearing.’Read verse 7.98.4 →
pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Verse 7.98.7Concludes with a dual benediction to Indra and Bṛhaspati as joint lords of heavenly and earthly wealth, asking for rayi and continuous protection through svasti.Read verse 7.98.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-seeker and Soma-drinker
  • Bull-like strength; leader of peoples
  • Battle-giver and victory-bestower
  • Protector of the sacrificer
  • Giver of rayi (wealth/plenitude) and fame
  • Allied with Bṛhaspati for prosperity and auspiciousness

Also by this seer

  • Major authorship of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (many sūktas attributed to the Vasiṣṭhas)
  • Hymns to Varuṇa and Ṛta-centered theology (notably within RV 7)
  • Royal/tribal victory and protection hymns connected with Bharata-Tr̥tsu traditions

The rite, step by step

  • Preparation and pressing of Soma (aṃśu), made ready for offering and drinking
  • Adhvaryu makes the Soma oblation/invitation at the altar (vedi) to draw Indra near
  • Recitation praising Indra as the daily-coming Soma-seeker and bull of the peoples
  • Petition for Indra’s aid in confrontations and battles, openly facing strong adversaries
  • Concluding appeal to Indra together with Bṛhaspati to establish rayi and lasting svasti

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (ruddy, milked Soma-stalk/juice)
  • Associated libations/oblations customary to Soma rites (Soma draught at the vedi)

Frequently Asked Questions

It invites Indra to the Soma offering as the one who continually seeks the pressed Soma, and it asks him to grant victory, fame, and prosperity to the worshippers.

Because the hymn portrays him as coming again and again to the altar specifically to drink the freshly pressed Soma, making Soma the central means of drawing his power and favor.

Bṛhaspati represents sacred speech and priestly power; together with Indra’s strength, the hymn asks for complete mastery of wealth—heavenly and earthly—and for continuous well-being (svasti).

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