Sukta 96
Sukta 7.96
Vasiṣṭha (explicit)
Jagatī or Triṣṭubh (uncertain from excerpt; Sarasvatī hymns often Triṣṭubh/Jagatī—requires full metrical count)
This six-verse hymn of Vasiṣṭha praises Sarasvatī as the sovereign, life-giving river whose inspired flow widens the two worlds and nourishes speech, strength, and prosperity. The poet invokes Sarasvatī (and Sarasvant) for generative power—progeny, increase, and sustaining food—imagining her as a visible, overflowing udder from which the community may partake. Overall, the sukta functions as an invocation for abundance, right utterance, and fruitful continuity under the deity’s purifying current.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
बृहदु गायिषे वचोऽसुर्या नदीनाम् । सरस्वतीमिन्महया सुवृक्तिभिः स्तोमैर्वसिष्ठ रोदसी ॥
तू बड़ा गाना गा, तू नदियों में रानी है। सरस्वती को बड़े बड़े शब्दों से याद कर, वशिष्ठ। जब तक दुनिया और पृथ्वी दोनों फैल न जाएँ।
Mantra 2
उभे यत्ते महिना शुभ्रे अन्धसी अधिक्षियन्ति पूरवः । सा नो बोध्यवित्री मरुत्सखा चोद राधो मघोनाम् ॥
सरस्वती, जब तेरी बड़ी ताकत से दोनों चमकदार शक्तियाँ ऊपर आ जाती हैं, तब हमारे अंदर जाग उठ। तू मरुत के साथी है, अच्छे लोगों के लिए बरकत ला।
Mantra 3
भद्रमिद्भद्रा कृणवत्सरस्वत्यकवारी चेतति वाजिनीवती । गृणाना जमदग्निवत्स्तुवाना च वसिष्ठवत् ॥
सरस्वती से दुआ है कि वो हमारे लिए अच्छा करे। वो है बड़ी शक्तिशाली, जो हमारे दिमाग को जगाए। हम उसकी तारीफ करते हैं, जमदग्नि और वसिष्ठ जैसे रिशि किए थे। ऐसे ही उसको बुला रहे हैं कि वो हमारे पास आए।
Mantra 4
जनीयन्तो न्वग्रवः पुत्रीयन्तः सुदानवः । सरस्वन्तं हवामहे ॥
हम लोग जो देना में अच्चे हैं, हम सरस्वंत को बुला रहे हैं। हम चाहते हैं कि नयी शुरुवात हो। आगे बढ़ने की इच्छा है, और संतान की शक्ति चाहिए। इसलिए उसको पुकार रहे हैं कि वो आए।
Mantra 5
ये ते सरस्व ऊर्मयो मधुमन्तो घृतश्चुतः । तेभिर्नोऽविता भव ॥
सरस्वंत, तुम्हारी लहरें जैसे शहद में भीगी हैं, घी जैसी चमक है उनमें। उन लहरों से हमारा कल्याण करो। हमें बचा के रखना, मदद करना।
Mantra 6
पीपिवांसं सरस्वतः स्तनं यो विश्वदर्शतः । भक्षीमहि प्रजामिषम् ॥
सरस्वती का दूध बहुत भरपूर है, जो सबको दिखता है। उस्से हम पीना चाहते हैं। ऐसे ही हमें संतान मिले और ज़िन्दगी में पूरा सुख मिले।
Inside Sukta 96
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A ‘vast word’ is raised: Sarasvatī is hailed as the sovereign river, and the poet commits to magnifying her with well-shaped hymns.
- Development
The hymn moves from cosmic praise (river among rivers, widening the worlds) to practical invocation for increase—calling Sarasvant and seeking generative continuity.
- Climax
The vivid nourishment image peaks: the community asks to partake of Sarasvat’s full, universally seen ‘breast/udder,’ receiving progeny and sustaining force (iṣ).
- Where it settles
The prayer settles into blessing: inspired speech, abundance, and fruitful life are requested as Sarasvatī’s settled gift to the worshippers.
The deity: Sarasvatī
- Cosmic functionShe embodies the sustaining current that fertilizes land and society—bestowing waters, plenty, and increase—while also supporting the ordered flow of mantra and ritual efficacy.
- Inner significanceSarasvatī signifies the inner stream of inspiration and clarity: the capacity for luminous speech, creative fertility (ideas and progeny), and the steady nourishment of life-force (iṣ, ojas) when one’s praise aligns with truth.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra; one of the Saptarṣi (often linked with the Maitrāvaruṇa line in the RV) · Principal seer of much of Maṇḍala 7, renowned for powerful priestly speech (brahman), royal consecration themes, and hymns to Varuṇa–Mitra, Agni, and the rivers; emblematic of the Vasiṣṭha–Viśvāmitra rivalry in later tradition.
Famous verses
nadīnām asuryā (the sovereign among rivers)
जनीयन्तो न्वग्रवः पुत्रीयन्तः सुदानवः । सरस्वन्तं हवामहे ॥pīpivāṃsaṃ… stanam (the full udder/breast)
Attributes of the deity
- Sovereign river among rivers (nadīnām asuryā)
- Purifying and life-giving flow
- Giver of nourishment, abundance, and progeny
- Patron of inspired speech and “well-made” utterance (suvṛkti)
- Visible, overflowing ‘udder/breast’ imagery of sustenance
- Linked with Sarasvant as a complementary generative power
Also by this seer
- Large portion of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (Vasiṣṭha family book)
- Notable hymns to Varuṇa and Mitra-Varuṇa (within RV 7)
- Agni hymns and ritual-priestly compositions emphasizing right formulation of praise (suvṛkti)
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and kindle Agni; establish a clean ritual space oriented to waters/river symbolism.
- Recite the opening praise magnifying Sarasvatī with suvṛktis and stomas (well-shaped hymns).
- Offer oblations while invoking Sarasvatī as the sovereign river and source of widening vitality.
- Invoke Sarasvant for generative strength and continuity (putrīyant—desire for ‘son-power’/issue).
- Conclude with the nourishment petition: partake of the ‘full udder’—asking for food-force (iṣ) and progeny (prajā) to be granted.
- Seal with benedictory recitation and distribution/consumption of sanctified offerings (where applicable).
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations into Agni
- Water libations/ācamana-style offerings (where ritually appropriate)
- Soma/pressing context may be implied in broader ritual use, though not explicit in the excerpt
- Grains or milk products as prosperity symbols aligned with ‘udder’ imagery
Frequently Asked Questions
She is praised as the sovereign river among rivers—purifying, nourishing, and powerful—who also supports inspired, well-formed speech used in ritual.
It asks for abundance and nourishment (iṣ), generative strength and progeny (prajā), and the widening, strengthening power that comes with true, effective praise.
It is a poetic image for overflowing nourishment: Sarasvatī/Sarasvat is envisioned as a visible source of sustenance from which the community may ‘partake’ and be strengthened.
Ask anything about Sukta 96 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
