Sukta 170
Sukta 10.170
Sūrya / the Great Light (Bṛhat, Vibhrāṭ) with Soma as sustenance; possibly a solar hymn within Soma liturgy
This brief hymn praises Sūrya as the supreme, all-pervading Light (Bṛhat, Vibhrāṭ) who drinks the Soma-honey and thereby stabilizes life-force and sacrifice. It portrays the Sun as self-sustaining, wind-driven in motion, guarding beings, and radiating manifoldly while upholding all worlds through the cosmic workmanship (Viśvakarman) and the support of the All-Gods.
Mantras
Mantra 1
विभ्राड्बृहत्पिबतु सोम्यं मध्वायुर्दधद्यज्ञपतावविह्रुतम् । वातजूतो यो अभिरक्षति त्मना प्रजाः पुपोष पुरुधा वि राजति ॥
Let the Vast, the all-shining drink the Soma-honey; let it set the life-force firmly in the lord of the sacrifice, unshaken. Wind-driven, it guards by its own self-being; it fosters the becomings and shines out in many ways.
Mantra 2
विभ्राड्बृहत्सुभृतं वाजसातमं धर्मन्दिवो धरुणे सत्यमर्पितम् । अमित्रहा वृत्रहा दस्युहन्तमं ज्योतिर्जज्ञे असुरहा सपत्नहा ॥
The all-shining Vast is well-supported, most victorious in the winning of plenitude; it is the Law of heaven set firm in the foundation, the Truth established. This Light is born as slayer of the hostile, slayer of the Coverer, most smiting of the dark-seizers; it is the destroyer of false powers and the conqueror of opposing forces.
Mantra 3
इदं श्रेष्ठं ज्योतिषां ज्योतिरुत्तमं विश्वजिद्धनजिदुच्यते बृहत् । विश्वभ्राड्भ्राजो महि सूर्यो दृश उरु पप्रथे सह ओजो अच्युतम् ॥
This is the best of lights, the supreme Light; it is called the Vast, winner of the world and winner of the riches (the plenitudes). The universal-shining, the great Radiance—Sun for the seeing—has spread wide its irresistible force and unfaltering power.
Mantra 4
विभ्राजञ्ज्योतिषा स्वरगच्छो रोचनं दिवः । येनेमा विश्वा भुवनान्याभृता विश्वकर्मणा विश्वदेव्यावता ॥
Shining forth with your light you have gone to the solar world, the luminous realm of heaven; by you all these worlds are upheld and borne—by the All-Worker, supported by the powers of the All-Gods.
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Sūrya, described as the Great and all-shining Light (Bṛhat, Vibhrāṭ). Soma appears as the nourishing offering the Light ‘drinks’.
In ritual terms it means the deity accepts the Soma offering. Symbolically, it suggests the supreme Light receives the essence of delight/strength and then establishes vitality and clarity in the sacrificer and the world.
It widens the vision from the visible Sun to the cosmic order: the worlds are upheld through universal workmanship (Viśvakarman) and supported by the collective divine powers (Viśve Devāḥ).