Rig Veda Sukta 95
Mandala 7Sukta 956 Mantras

Sukta 95

Sukta 7.95

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.95 Sarasvatī hymn)

Devata

Sarasvatī

Chandas

Jagatī (probable for RV 7.95.1; confirm by syllable count)

Cet hymne loue Sarasvatī comme la puissante force fluviale qui impulse, surpassant toutes les autres eaux, stable et « fondée sur le fer », s’élançant en avant tel un char. Il passe ensuite de la description cosmique à une prière sacrificielle : qu’elle entende, qu’elle s’approche, qu’elle accorde richesse et vigueur, et qu’elle ouvre pour Vasiṣṭha et ses compagnons les « portes du ṛta » (vérité/ordre).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.95

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र क्षोदसा धायसा सस्र एषा सरस्वती धरुणमायसी पूः । प्रबाबधाना रथ्येव याति विश्वा अपो महिना सिन्धुरन्याः ॥

En avant elle se précipite, par force d’impulsion et puissance de soutien — cette Sarasvatī, plénitude aux assises de fer ; pressant sa course comme un char sur sa voie, par sa grandeur elle surpasse toutes les autres eaux.

Mantra 2

एकाचेतत्सरस्वती नदीनां शुचिर्यती गिरिभ्य आ समुद्रात् । रायश्चेतन्ती भुवनस्य भूरेर्घृतं पयो दुदुहे नाहुषाय ॥

Seule, la Consciente, elle s’éveille parmi les rivières — Sarasvatī, pure dans son cours des montagnes jusqu’à la mer. Connaissant les richesses du vaste monde, elle trait pour Nahusha le ghṛta et le payas : la délice clarifiée et la plénitude nourricière.

Mantra 3

स वावृधे नर्यो योषणासु वृषा शिशुर्वृषभो यज्ञियासु । स वाजिनं मघवद्भ्यो दधाति वि सातये तन्वं मामृजीत ॥

Il croît en vigueur parmi les puissances féminines : taureau, et pourtant enfant ; taureau parmi les œuvres dignes du sacrifice. Aux généreux il donne le vājin, la force victorieuse ; pour la victoire il purifie et façonne le corps de notre être.

Mantra 4

उत स्या नः सरस्वती जुषाणोप श्रवत्सुभगा यज्णे अस्मिन् । मितज्ञुभिर्नमस्यैरियाना राया युजा चिदुत्तरा सखिभ्यः ॥

Et que Sarasvatī nous entende — consentante avec grâce, porteuse de bonne fortune — et qu’elle s’approche en ce sacrifice. Avançant avec nos connaisseurs de la mesure et nos actes de révérence, qu’elle devienne la puissance plus haute, qui élève, pour nos compagnons — même par l’attelage de son abondance (rāyā).

Mantra 5

इमा जुह्वाना युष्मदा नमोभिः प्रति स्तोमं सरस्वति जुषस्व । तव शर्मन्प्रियतमे दधाना उप स्थेयाम शरणं न वृक्षम् ॥

Nous, offrant les mains levées, venant de vous et avec nos hommages, reçois, ô Sarasvatī, cet hymne; prends‑y joie. Portant en nous ton refuge de paix, le plus aimé, puissions‑nous nous approcher et demeurer auprès de toi, comme l’on se tient près d’un arbre pour abri.

Mantra 6

अयमु ते सरस्वति वसिष्ठो द्वारावृतस्य सुभगे व्यावः । वर्ध शुभ्रे स्तुवते रासि वाजान्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Ce Vasiṣṭha ici, ô Sarasvatī, ô Bienheureuse, a largement ouvert les portes de la Vérité. Crois, ô Pure; accorde à celui qui te loue les plénitudes de force, les vājas. Et puissiez-vous nous garder toujours par de salutaires svástis.

Inside Sukta 95

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Sarasvatī is introduced in majestic motion—rushing forward with driving and sustaining power, surpassing all waters.

  2. Development

    The hymn shifts from cosmic imagery to intimate ritual address: may she consent, hear, approach the sacrifice, and uplift the community with abundance.

  3. Climax

    The seer’s declaration that Sarasvatī opens wide the ‘doors of ṛta’—a peak statement linking her to truth, revelation, and ritual efficacy.

  4. Where it settles

    A final plea for increase, gifts of strength, and enduring protection through svasti (well-being).

The deity: Sarasvatī

  • In the VedaIn the Rigveda she is foremost among rivers—swift, forceful, sustaining, and victorious over other waters—yet also a goddess who hears prayer, favors sacrifice, grants wealth, and is linked with inspired speech and right knowledge.
  • Cosmic functionShe embodies the life-giving flow that supports lands and peoples, ordering and nourishing the world; as a divine power she also upholds ṛta by bringing clarity, right movement, and auspicious increase to the yajña.
  • Inner significanceThe inward ‘current’ of inspiration and discernment: a purifying stream of awareness that opens the doors of truth, strengthens intention, and carries prayer from the human to the divine.

The seer

  • Vasiṣṭha (Vasiṣṭha Maitrāvaruṇi)Vasiṣṭha gotra (Maitrāvaruṇa lineage in RV 7) · One of the foremost ṛṣis of the Rigveda, celebrated for hymns of spiritual authority and for articulating ṛta (cosmic order) in powerful, ritual-ready poetry; chief seer of much of Maṇḍala 7.

Famous verses

viśvā apo mahinā sindhur anyāḥ
Verse 7.95.1Foundational depiction of Sarasvatī’s overwhelming river-power—impelling, sustaining, and surpassing all other waters; it sets the hymn’s cosmic scale.Read verse 7.95.1 →
उत स्या नः सरस्वती जुषाणोप श्रवत्सुभगा यज्णे अस्मिन् । मितज्ञुभिर्नमस्यैरियाना राया युजा चिदुत्तरा सखिभ्यः ॥
Verse 7.95.4Central sacrificial petition: Sarasvatī is asked to hear, draw near, and become the uplifting power for the companions through abundance—bridging praise and ritual request.Read verse 7.95.4 →
dvārāv ṛtasya
Verse 7.95.6Culminating revelation and benediction: Vasiṣṭha ‘opens the doors of ṛta’ through Sarasvatī, then asks for vāja and lasting protection with svasti.Read verse 7.95.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Mighty river-force that surpasses other waters
  • Impelling power (kṣodas) and sustaining power (dhāyas)
  • “Iron-founded/firm-based” (āyasī dharuṇam) stability
  • Auspicious and gracious hearer of prayer (subhagā, juṣāṇā)
  • Giver of wealth, strength, and ‘victorious powers’ (rāyā, vājān)
  • Opener of the ‘doors of ṛta’ (dvārāv ṛtasya)

Also by this seer

  • Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (majority of sūktas traditionally attributed to Vasiṣṭha and his line)
  • Notable Vasiṣṭha hymns in RV 7 include praises to Indra, Agni, Varuṇa-Mitra, and royal/ritual themes (e.g., RV 7.33; RV 7.82–7.89; RV 7.96–7.97 Sarasvatī-related praises).

The rite, step by step

  • Prepare the altar/fire and seat the rite with ācamana and basic purifications.
  • Invoke Sarasvatī as the surpassing river-power (opening praise), reciting the hymn with clear voice and intention for ṛta and well-being.
  • Offer oblations while requesting her to ‘hear and draw near’ to the yajña (mid-hymn petitions).
  • Conclude with the request to open the doors of truth, grant vāja (strength/means), and protect with svasti (closing benediction).

Offerings

  • Ghee (ājya) oblations into Agni
  • Soma libations where applicable
  • Water/river libation or respectful offering at flowing water (contextual, especially for Sarasvatī as nadī)
  • Simple food offerings (havis) according to rite

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Sarasvatī as a powerful, life-giving river that surpasses all waters, and it asks her to come to the sacrifice, grant prosperity and strength, and protect the worshippers.

It means Sarasvatī is invoked as a power that reveals and establishes truth and right order (ṛta), making the ritual effective and the mind clear and aligned.

Both. The verses describe her as a real, mighty river in motion, and also as a divine presence who hears prayers, blesses the yajña, and gives wealth, inspiration, and well-being.

Ask anything about Sukta 95 of the Rig Veda

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