Sukta 187
Sukta 1.187
Gayatri/Anuṣṭubh uncertain (meter requires syllable verification; short verse suggests non-Trishtubh)
This hymn praises Soma as the sacred “Drink” (pitu) that establishes divine resolve, strengthens the gods, and empowers the victory over obstruction symbolized by Vṛtra/Ahi. It blends Soma’s ritual identity (pressed, offered, shared in sadhamāda) with a cosmic role: restoring right order (dharma) and releasing power and light for gods and worshippers alike.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
पितुं नु स्तोषं महो धर्माणं तविषीम् । यस्य त्रितो व्योजसा वृत्रं विपर्वमर्दयत् ॥
मैं उस बड़े देवता की तारीफ करता हूँ जो बड़े काम करता है और धरम को संभालता है। उसकी ताकत इतनी बड़ी है कि उसने वृत्र नाम के राक्षस को तोड़ दिया। त्रित ने उसकी मदद से उस दुश्मन को जोड़-जोड़ के तोड़ दिया।
Mantra 2
स्वादो पितो मधो पितो वयं त्वा ववृमहे । अस्माकमविता भव ॥
हे मीठा शरबत, हे मधुर पेय, हम तुम्हे चुनते हैं। तुम हमारे रखवाले बनो। हमारे अंदर जो भी है उसको साफ रखना।
Mantra 3
उप नः पितवा चर शिवः शिवाभिरूतिभिः । मयोभुरद्विषेण्यः सखा सुशेवो अद्वयाः ॥
शरबत, हमारे पास आ जाओ। अच्छे से आओ, अच्छी चीज़ें लेकर आओ। खुशी देने वाले दोस्त बनो। बिना किसी दुश्मनी के, बिना किसी फरेब के, प्यार से पास आओ।
Mantra 4
तव त्ये पितो रसा रजांस्यनु विष्ठिताः । दिवि वाता इव श्रिताः ॥
शरबत, तुम्हारी ही वो सारी रस वाली चीज़ें हैं जो दुनिया में फैली हुई हैं। आसमान में भी हैं, हवा की तरह सब जगह हैं।
Mantra 5
तव त्ये पितो ददतस्तव स्वादिष्ठ ते पितो । प्र स्वाद्मानो रसानां तुविग्रीवा इवेरते ॥
शरबत, यह सब देनेवाले तुम्हारे हैं। तुम तो सबसे मीठे हो। रस की मीठी चीज़ें आगे बढ़ रही हैं, जैसे कोई ताकतवर लोग चले आ रहे हो।
Mantra 6
त्वे पितो महानां देवानां मनो हितम् । अकारि चारु केतुना तवाहिमवसावधीत् ॥
शरबत, बड़े-बड़े देवताओं का मन तुम में ही लगता है। तुम्हारी चमक से सब साफ दिखता है। तुम्हारी मदद से बड़ा साँप मारा जाता है जो रास्ते में खड़ा था।
Mantra 7
यददो पितो अजगन्विवस्व पर्वतानाम् । अत्रा चिन्नो मधो पितोऽरं भक्षाय गम्याः ॥
हे पेय, जब तुम पहाड़ों से गुज़रे थे, तब तुम चमक रहे थे। अब यहाँ भी तुम मिल सकते हो। तुम मीठी ड्रिंक हो, हमें तुम्हारी ज़रूरत है। हम तुम्हे पियेंगे और मज़ा लेंगे।
Mantra 8
यदपामोषधीनां परिंशमारिशामहे । वातापे पीव इद्भव ॥
जब हम पानी और पौधों को मिलाते हैं, तब एक नई चीज़ बनती है। हवा तुम्हे गरम करती है। तुम अंदर जाके हमें ताकत दो। तुम हमें खुश रखो।
Mantra 9
यत्ते सोम गवाशिरो यवाशिरो भजामहे । वातापे पीव इद्भव ॥
हे सोम, जब हम तुम्हे दूध और जौ के साथ मिलाते हैं, तब एक स्ट्रॉन्ग ड्रिंक बनती है। हवा तुम्हे गरम करती है। तुम अंदर जाके हमें ताकत दो। तुम हमें खुश रखो।
Mantra 10
करम्भ ओषधे भव पीवो वृक्क उदारथिः । वातापे पीव इद्भव ॥
हे पौधा, तुम एक खास ड्रिंक बनो। तुम ताकत वाली चीज़ हो। तुम हमारे काम आओ। हवा तुम्हे गरम करती है। तुम अंदर जाके हमें ताकत दो। तुम हमें खुश रखो।
Mantra 11
तं त्वा वयं पितो वचोभिर्गावो न हव्या सुषूदिम । देवेभ्यस्त्वा सधमादमस्मभ्यं त्वा सधमादम् ॥
हे पेय, हम तुम्हे अपने शब्दों से बुलाते हैं। जैसे गाय अपने बच्चे को बुलाती है, वैसे हम तुम्हे बुलाते हैं। देवताओं के लिए हम तुम्हे तैयार करते हैं। खुशी के लिए हम तुम्हे भेजते हैं। हमारे लिए भी यही काम करो।
Inside Sukta 187
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The poet begins by praising a mighty upholder of great law and power, linking Soma’s might with the archetypal slaying of Vṛtra through Trita’s strength.
- Development
Soma is presented as the principle that sets divine intention rightly and manifests as a beautiful sign of light (ketu), enabling the defeat of the obstructing serpent (Ahi).
- Climax
The hymn reaches its peak where Soma’s aid is explicitly tied to the striking down of obstruction—victory as a direct consequence of the consecrated drink’s power and clarity.
- Where it settles
It ends with the community’s act of pressing and offering Soma ‘for the gods and for us,’ sealing the rite in shared joy (sadhamāda) and mutual benefit.
The deity: Soma
- In the VedaIn this hymn Soma is praised as a mighty upholder of great law (maho dharmāṇam) and as the force by whose aid obstruction (Ahi/Vṛtra) is struck down.
- Cosmic functionMediator between human rite and divine power: Soma energizes Indra and the gods, supports ṛta/dharma, and enables the release of blocked waters/light by overcoming Vṛtra-like resistance.
- Inner significanceSoma symbolizes clarified vitality and inspired consciousness—an inner ‘nectar’ that steadies the mind, awakens luminous insight (ketu), and gives courage to overcome inertia, fear, and inner obstruction.
The seer
- Agastya Māna (traditional attribution)Agastya/Manava line (traditional) · Agastya is famed as a seer who bridges ritual precision with expansive cosmic vision, later celebrated in Itihāsa-Purāṇa as a stabilizer of dharma and a master of sacred speech.
Famous verses
maho dharmāṇam
cāru ketunā
sadhamādam
Attributes of the deity
- Pressed and offered sacred drink (pitu/soma)
- Luminous sign/insight (ketu)
- Strength-giving, victory-bringing
- Upholder of ṛta/dharma
- Shared joy/communion (sadhamāda)
Also by this seer
- Numerous hymns in Rigveda Maṇḍala 1 traditionally linked with Agastya/Agastya-related seers (attribution varies by recension and anukramaṇī).
- Agastya is widely associated in later tradition with hymnic composition and the spread of Vedic culture; however, direct RV 1.187 rishi attribution is not fully secure without the full anukramaṇī data.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the Soma (or its ritual substitute where applicable) with purification and intention.
- Press/extract the juice; filter/clarify (pavamāna sense).
- Offer Soma in the fire and/or as libation to the gods, especially in an Indra-Soma context.
- Recite the hymn to ‘set the mind of the gods’ and invite victorious power over obstruction.
- Conclude with shared participation/blessing (sadhamāda): the offering is for the gods and for the sacrificers’ uplift.
Offerings
- Soma juice (pressed and purified)
- Ghee/clarified butter (as accompanying oblation)
- Fire offerings (āhuti) aligned with Soma recitation
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn primarily addresses Soma, called “pitu” (the Drink). Soma is praised as a power that supports dharma/ṛta and helps defeat obstruction symbolized by Vṛtra or Ahi.
In Vedic thought Soma empowers the gods—especially the heroic force that overcomes blockage. So the Vṛtra/Ahi motif shows Soma’s role in turning sacred offering into victorious strength and release.
Offer and cultivate Soma-like clarity: a purified, luminous energy that steadies the mind, strengthens resolve, and helps remove inner and outer obstacles, concluding in shared well-being (sadhamāda).
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