Sukta 95
Sukta 7.95
Vasiṣṭha (traditional for RV 7.95 Sarasvatī hymn)
Sarasvatī
Jagatī (probable for RV 7.95.1; confirm by syllable count)
This hymn praises Sarasvatī as the mighty, impelling river-power who surpasses all other waters, steady and “iron-founded,” rushing forward like a chariot. It then turns from cosmic description to a sacrificial prayer: may she hear, draw near, grant wealth and strength, and open the “doors of ṛta” (truth/order) for Vasiṣṭha and his companions.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र क्षोदसा धायसा सस्र एषा सरस्वती धरुणमायसी पूः । प्रबाबधाना रथ्येव याति विश्वा अपो महिना सिन्धुरन्याः ॥
सरस्वती आगे बढ़ रही है, बहुत ताकत के साथ। वो सब पानी में सबसे बड़ी है। जैसे रस्ता पे रथ चलता है, वैसे ही वो चलती है। इसकी नीव लोहे जैसी मज़बूत है। अपनी बड़ाई के कारण यह बाकी सब दरियाओं से बड़ी है।
Mantra 2
एकाचेतत्सरस्वती नदीनां शुचिर्यती गिरिभ्य आ समुद्रात् । रायश्चेतन्ती भुवनस्य भूरेर्घृतं पयो दुदुहे नाहुषाय ॥
सरस्वती अकेली नदियों में सबसे जागरुक है। पहाड़ों से लेकर समुंदर तक साफ़-साफ़ चलती है। यह दुनिया की दौलत जानती है। इंसान के लिए यह घी और दूध जैसा पोषण देती है।
Mantra 3
स वावृधे नर्यो योषणासु वृषा शिशुर्वृषभो यज्ञियासु । स वाजिनं मघवद्भ्यो दधाति वि सातये तन्वं मामृजीत ॥
वो ताकत में बढ़ रहा है, ऊर्जा के बीच में। एक बच्चा है, फिर भी बैल जैसा मज़बूत है। यज्ञ के काम में वो सबसे टगड़ा है। जो लोग देते हैं, उनको वो खुशाली देता है। जीत के लिए वो हमारे शरीर को साफ़ बनाता है।
Mantra 4
उत स्या नः सरस्वती जुषाणोप श्रवत्सुभगा यज्णे अस्मिन् । मितज्ञुभिर्नमस्यैरियाना राया युजा चिदुत्तरा सखिभ्यः ॥
सरस्वती हमारी सुन ले और इस यज्ञ में आए। वो भाग्य लाने वाली है। हमारे साथ जो लोग जानते हैं और पूजा करते हैं, उनके साथ चले। हमारे दोस्तों के लिए वो ऊपर वाली ताकत बने। अपनी दौलत देके हमारे काम आए।
Mantra 5
इमा जुह्वाना युष्मदा नमोभिः प्रति स्तोमं सरस्वति जुषस्व । तव शर्मन्प्रियतमे दधाना उप स्थेयाम शरणं न वृक्षम् ॥
सरस्वती, हम हाथ उठा के तुम्हे पूजा कर रहे हैं। हमारी यह स्तुति सुन ले और खुश हो जा। तुम्हारी शरण में हम सफ़ेद हैं, जैसे पेड़ के सारे में कोई खड़ा हो।
Mantra 6
अयमु ते सरस्वति वसिष्ठो द्वारावृतस्य सुभगे व्यावः । वर्ध शुभ्रे स्तुवते रासि वाजान्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
वशिष्ठ ने सच का दरवाज़ा खोला है सरस्वती। तू बड़ी भाग्यशाली है। साफ़ दिल वाली, जो तुझे गाता है उसको तू शक्ति दे। और हमेशा हम पर अच्छा रक्षा कर।
Inside Sukta 95
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Sarasvatī is introduced in majestic motion—rushing forward with driving and sustaining power, surpassing all waters.
- Development
The hymn shifts from cosmic imagery to intimate ritual address: may she consent, hear, approach the sacrifice, and uplift the community with abundance.
- Climax
The seer’s declaration that Sarasvatī opens wide the ‘doors of ṛta’—a peak statement linking her to truth, revelation, and ritual efficacy.
- 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
उत स्या नः सरस्वती जुषाणोप श्रवत्सुभगा यज्णे अस्मिन् । मितज्ञुभिर्नमस्यैरियाना राया युजा चिदुत्तरा सखिभ्यः ॥dvārāv ṛtasya
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.
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