Rig Veda Sukta 72
Mandala 8Sukta 7218 Mantras

Sukta 72

Sukta 8.72

Dieser Hymnus ist liturgische Weisung und Lobpreis, auf die rechte Ausführung durch den Adhvaryu zentriert: die Bereitung des havis, das Schreiten nach der Vorschrift (praśāsana) und das Voranbringen des Opfers, damit es sein Ziel „gewinnt“. In eindringlichen Bildern der Libation (Eingießen in das tiefe, weit umkreisende Gefäß) verknüpft er präzises Ritualhandeln mit der kosmischen Zirkulation von Soma/Oblation und der tragenden Ordnung des yajña. Die Schlussvision deutet eine tiefere Schicht an: Der „Standort/Schritt“ (pada) der begehrenswerten Kraft wird durch die Zunge rings um den Himmel ausgebreitet — ein Hinweis auf Vāk (sakrale Rede) als die feine Macht, die das Ritual vollendet.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 8.72

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Ritual action centered on the AdhvaryuMantra 1and implicitly Agni/yajña

    The Adhvaryu is the officiant of measured action: he prepares the oblation, directs the physical operations of the rite, and acts ‘knowing the ordinance’ (praśāsana) so the sacrifice proceeds rightly.

  • RudraMantras 3-4
  • IndraMantras 7-10, 13with Soma/inner-pressing imagery in the surrounding verses
  • Indra-AgniMantra 15
  • Mitra-VarunaMantra 17Mitra-Varuṇa (with Soma and Sūrya as supporting powers)
  • SomaMantras 11, 18with an implicit Vāk/utterance symbolism, heaven as dyu

Mantras

Mantra 1

हविष्कृणुध्वमा गमदध्वर्युर्वनते पुनः । विद्वाँ अस्य प्रशासनम् ॥

Bereitet die Opfergabe (havis); möge der Adhvaryu wieder voranschreiten, um zu gewinnen. Sein Gebot (praśāsana) kennend, handelt er nach der rechten Ordnung des Opfers.

Mantra 2

नि तिग्ममभ्यंशुं सीदद्धोता मनावधि । जुषाणो अस्य सख्यम् ॥

Der Hotṛ setze sich nahe an den scharfen, leuchtenden Strahl, in den Bereich des Geistes; die Freundschaft dieser Macht annehmend, tritt er in die rechte Vertrautheit des Opfers ein.

Mantra 3

अन्तरिच्छन्ति तं जने रुद्रं परो मनीषया । गृभ्णन्ति जिह्वया ससम् ॥

Im Innern suchen die Menschen jenen Rudra; und jenseits—mit unterscheidender Einsicht. Mit der Zunge ergreifen sie ihn, den Mächtigen—durch die Kraft des inspirierten Wortes.

Mantra 4

जाम्यतीतपे धनुर्वयोधा अरुहद्वनम् । दृषदं जिह्वयावधीत् ॥

In naher Verwandtschaft entfachte er den Bogen; der Lebens‑Träger stieg in den Wald hinauf. Mit der Zunge schlug er den harten Widerstand nieder — das Wort wurde zur Waffe der inneren Kraft.

Mantra 5

चरन्वत्सो रुशन्निह निदातारं न विन्दते । वेति स्तोतव अम्ब्यम् ॥

Hier umhergehend findet das rötliche Kalb keinen, der es niederlegt; es geht, die mütterliche Quelle suchend, o Sänger — verlangend nach dem Ursprung, der nährt.

Mantra 6

उतो न्वस्य यन्महदश्वावद्योजनं बृहद् । दामा रथस्य ददृशे ॥

Und weiter: groß ist wahrlich sein von Rossen getragener Lauf, weit in seiner Fügung; sichtbar ist das bindende Band seines Wagens — seine geordnete Zügelung der Bewegung.

Mantra 7

दुहन्ति सप्तैकामुप द्वा पञ्च सृजतः । तीर्थे सिन्धोरधि स्वरे ॥

Sieben Kräfte melken das Eine, das Verborgene; dann lassen Zwei und Fünf es strömen – an der Furt des Sindhu, auf dem lichtvollen Ton (svára).

Mantra 8

आ दशभिर्विवस्वत इन्द्रः कोशमचुच्यवीत् । खेदया त्रिवृता दिवः ॥

Mit zehn (lichtvollen) Antrieben von Vivasvat löst Indra den verborgenen Schatz; durch die Kraft, die Ermattung bricht, öffnet er die dreifache Umhegung des Himmels.

Mantra 9

परि त्रिधातुरध्वरं जूर्णिरेति नवीयसी । मध्वा होतारो अञ्जते ॥

Um das Opfer (adhvará), gegründet in der dreifachen Ordnung, zieht die immer neuere, antreibende Kraft; mit honigsüßer Wonne salben sich die Hotars zum Werk.

Mantra 10

सिञ्चन्ति नमसावतमुच्चाचक्रं परिज्मानम् । नीचीनबारमक्षितम् ॥

Mit ehrfürchtiger Darbringung gießen sie in das tiefe Gefäß, das weithin kreisende, allbewegliche; es trägt die herabsteigende Last und doch vergeht es nicht.

Mantra 11

अभ्यारमिदद्रयो निषिक्तं पुष्करे मधु । अवतस्य विसर्जने ॥

Dicht heran: die Presssteine gießen den Honig, die süße Wonne, in den Lotosbecher, beim Freigeben der Tiefen.

Mantra 12

गाव उपावतावतं मही यज्ञस्य रप्सुदा । उभा कर्णा हिरण्यया ॥

Die Kühe — Strahlen der Erleuchtung — nahen der Tiefe; die Große, die dem Opfer (yajña) Wonne spendet, hat beide Ohren aus Gold: sie hört und nimmt den wahren Ruf an.

Mantra 13

आ सुते सिञ्चत श्रियं रोदस्योरभिश्रियम् । रसा दधीत वृषभम् ॥

Gießt in den ausgepreßten Soma die Kraft der Fülle — überströmenden Glanz für Himmel und Erde; mit dem Saft der Rasa gründet die Stierkraft inwendig.

Mantra 14

ते जानत स्वमोक्यं सं वत्सासो न मातृभिः । मिथो नसन्त जामिभिः ॥

Sie erkennen ihre eigene Heimstatt des Seins; wie Kälber bei den Müttern kommen sie zusammen und vereinen sich — Verwandte mit Verwandten — in Gegenseitigkeit.

Mantra 15

उप स्रक्वेषु बप्सतः कृण्वते धरुणं दिवि । इन्द्रे अग्ना नमः स्वः ॥

Nah, auf den Kränzen, stoßen sie ihren glühenden Ruf aus und errichten festen Halt im Himmel des Geistes; Indra und Agni — Verehrung in der lichten Welt.

Mantra 16

अधुक्षत्पिप्युषीमिषमूर्जं सप्तपदीमरिः । सूर्यस्य सप्त रश्मिभिः ॥

Er hat die anschwellende Nahrung und Kraft gemolken, die siebenstufige Fülle; mit den sieben Strahlen der Sonne wird es vollbracht.

Mantra 17

सोमस्य मित्रावरुणोदिता सूर आ ददे । तदातुरस्य भेषजम् ॥

Den Soma haben Mitra und Varuṇa — das aufgerichtete Gesetz der Sonne tragend — uns gewährt; das wird zur heilenden Arznei für das bedrängte Wesen im Innern.

Mantra 18

उतो न्वस्य यत्पदं हर्यतस्य निधान्यम् । परि द्यां जिह्वयातनत् ॥

Und nun: jene Stätte von ihm, dem Begehrenswerten, sein geheimes Niedergelegtes — er spannte sie mit der Zunge rings um den Himmel: die Macht des Wortes, die den lichten Denkraum umschließt.

Inside Sukta 72

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct ritual imperative: prepare the oblation and let the Adhvaryu come forward, acting with knowledge of the ordinance.

  2. Development

    The hymn deepens into imagery of pouring and circulation—vessels, movement, and the unperishing continuity of the rite’s power.

  3. Climax

    A symbolic elevation of ritual into cosmology: the rite’s ‘station’ (pada), a hidden deposit, is stretched around heaven by the tongue—sacred utterance completing the cosmic frame.

  4. Where it settles

    The sacrifice is implicitly secured as enduring and effective: correct action, correct pouring, and empowered speech together establish the rite’s lasting success.

The deity: Adhvaryu

  • In the VedaHe is closely linked with Agni (who receives and carries offerings) and Soma (the poured, circulating potency).
  • Cosmic functionTo translate intention and sacred order into effective cosmic exchange—making offerings move correctly so that prosperity, strength, and right order (ṛta) are renewed between heaven, earth, and the gods.
  • Inner significanceDisciplined will and skill-in-action (kriyā-śakti): the capacity to align speech, mind, and deed so that inner offering becomes transformative rather than merely mechanical.

Famous verses

vidvām̐ asya praśāsanam
Verse 8.72.1Sets the program of the sukta: havis preparation, Adhvaryu’s forward movement, and efficacy through knowing the ordinance (praśāsana).Read verse 8.72.1 →
सिञ्चन्ति नमसावतमुच्चाचक्रं परिज्मानम् । नीचीनबारमक्षितम् ॥
Verse 8.72.10Striking libation image of pouring into the deep, wide-circling, all-moving vessel—expressing the unbroken, ‘unperishing’ continuity of sacrificial flow.Read verse 8.72.10 →
pari dyāṃ jihvayātanat
Verse 8.72.18Reveals the hymn’s inner layer: the ‘station’ (pada) of the desirable power is spread around heaven by the tongue, pointing to Vāk as a completing force of yajña.Read verse 8.72.18 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Rule-governed ritual precision (vidvān praśāsanam)
  • Preparation and offering of havis
  • Libation/pouring symbolism (soma as circulating power)
  • Efficacy through correct procedure
  • Link between utterance (jihvā/Vāk) and cosmic space (dyu)

Also by this seer

  • No secure additional hymns can be attributed with certainty due to the rishi being unrecorded for this sukta in the received headings.

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the havis (oblation) and set the rite in readiness.
  • Summon/advance the Adhvaryu to resume the work and ‘win again’ through correct performance.
  • Execute the prescribed actions in sequence (measuring, placing, and coordinating implements and stations).
  • Pour/libate with reverence into the proper vessel(s), maintaining continuity and rhythm of offering.
  • Complete the rite with sanctified utterance—speech as the subtle ‘tongue’ that encircles and stabilizes the heavenly order.

Offerings

  • Havis (clarified butter, grains, or cooked oblation as appropriate)
  • Soma libations (or their ritual equivalents)
  • Reverential offerings with namas (acts of homage accompanying the pour)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn focuses on the Adhvaryu—the priest responsible for the practical, step-by-step actions of the sacrifice—while also implying Agni and Soma as the receiving and circulating powers.

It stresses doing the rite by ordinance and correct sequence: prepare the oblation, proceed properly, and pour with reverence so the sacrifice becomes effective and enduring.

It points to sacred speech (Vāk) as more than sound: the tongue symbolizes mantra and utterance that ‘completes’ the rite by establishing a subtle order that reaches and stabilizes the cosmic space (dyu).

Ask anything about Sukta 72 of the Rig Veda

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