Sukta 58
Rishi: Unspecified here (to be resolved via Anukramaṇī for AVŚ 7.58).
Devata: Indra-Varuṇa; Soma as offering/deity.
Chandas: Likely Triṣṭubh (to be verified against full hymn).
हे संक्षिप्त पौष्टिक सूक्त ‘अन्न–सोम स्वीकार’ या सूत्ररूप मंत्राने इंद्र–वरुणांना पिळलेला, मधुर (मधुमिश्रित) सोम पिण्यास आणि बर्हिसावर आसन घेऊन अर्पणाची मान्यता देण्यास आमंत्रित करते. देवतांचा प्रसन्न सहभाग विधीत दृढ झाल्याने, दृढ दैवी विधानाखाली अन्न, तेज/वीर्य आणि सुव्यवस्थित समृद्धी स्थिर राहावी, हा या सूक्ताचा उद्देश आहे.
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
अन्नम्। इन्द्रा॑वरुणा सुतपावि॒मं सु॒तं सोमं॑ पिबतं॒ मद्यं॑ धृतव्रतौ । यु॒वो रथो॑ अध्व॒रो दे॒ववी॑तये॒ प्रति॒ स्वस॑र॒मुप॑ यातु पी॒तये॑
हे अन्न होवो. हे इंद्र-वरुणा, सुत (पिळलेल्या) सोमाचे शुद्धीकरण करणारे, हे धृतव्रत, हा सुत सोम—उत्साहवर्धक मद्य—प्या. तुमचा रथ—हा अध्वर (यज्ञ)—देवांच्या उपभोगासाठी प्रत्युत्तर म्हणून पुढे येवो; ‘स्वसृ’ (भगिनी)कडे, पानासाठी, जावो.
Mantra 2
इन्द्रा॑वरुणा॒ मधु॑मत्तमस्य॒ वृष्णः॒ सोम॑स्य वृष॒णा वृ॑षेथाम्। इ॒दं वा॒मन्धः॒ परि॑षिक्तमा॒सद्या॒स्मिन् ब॒र्हिषि॑ मादयेथाम्
हे इंद्र-वरुणा, अतिशय मधुर, बलवान सोमाचे—हे दोघे वृषभ—त्यात तुम्ही सामर्थ्यवान व्हा. तुमच्यासाठी हा सोम-रस सर्व बाजूंनी परिषिक्त आहे; या बर्हिष् (पवित्र कुशासन)ावर बसून—यात तुम्ही आनंद मानावा.
Inside Sukta 58
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Begins with “Annam” (Food) and immediately invites Indra–Varuṇa, the ‘purifiers of the pressed,’ to drink the exhilarating Soma.
- What it asks
That the gods come to the rite, sit on the barhis, drink the honeyed essence, and thereby render the offering effective for nourishment and prosperity.
- Where its power lies
The sacrifice itself is framed as their chariot approaching for devavīti—implying that correct invitation compels divine attendance and enjoyment, which in turn produces increase.
- How it closes
Ends with the image of Indra–Varuṇa seated on the sacred grass, delighting in the poured essence—an implicit seal of acceptance.
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Anna-sūkta (Food/Nourishment)
What it is for
To have the offering (Soma/andhas, and by extension food) accepted and enjoyed by Indra–Varuṇa, resulting in strengthened nourishment, vigor, and orderly well-being.
Who it is for
Householders and ritual performers seeking food-security, strength, and auspicious prosperity; also applicable in domestic adaptations where Soma is substituted by an acceptable consecrated drink.
Also used as
- Anna-sūkta (nourishment/food)
- Soma-acceptance / Devavīti (invitation of gods to the rite)
The deity
Indra embodies invigorating power, conquest, and increase; Varuṇa embodies ṛta (cosmic order), oath, and stable ordinance. Together they represent force guided by law—strength that becomes legitimate, fruitful prosperity when sanctified by right ritual and truth.
Powers of the deity
- Bestowing strength, vigor, and increase (Indra)
- Maintaining ṛta, moral-ritual order, and firm vows (Varuṇa)
- Accepting and “making effective” offerings when properly invited
- Granting nourishment/food-security through divine sanction of the sacrificial meal/drink
Why the deity is called
They are invoked as ‘steadfast in ordinance’ to drink the exhilarating Soma and sit on the sacred grass, so the offering is accepted and turns into tangible nourishment, stability, and prosperity for the performer.
The seer
- Unspecified (Anukramaṇī attribution to be verified for AVŚ 7.58)Atharvan. Paustika rites: securing nourishment, strengthening household prosperity, and ensuring acceptance of offerings through invitatory and consecratory formulas.
Other hymns of this seer
- AVŚ 7.58 (this hymn); further attributions require Anukramaṇī verification.
Preparing for the rite
- Prepare a clean ritual space; seat of kuśa/barhis laid out.
- Arrange the offering drink (Soma in śrauta setting; in Atharvanic domestic use, a consecrated substitute drink may be employed) and food (anna) to be sanctified.
- Establish intention: nourishment and divine approval under firm ordinance (dhṛtavrata).
The rite
- Recite 7.58.1 as an invitatory: call Indra–Varuṇa to drink the pressed Soma; conceive the rite itself as their chariot coming for devavīti (the gods’ enjoyment).
- Recite 7.58.2 while presenting/encircling (pari-ṣic) the offered essence (andhas) and inviting them to sit on the barhis and rejoice.
- Conclude by offering the drink/food to the deities (mentally or ritually) and then consuming/distributing as prasāda according to one’s tradition.
What it needs
- Anna (food)
- Soma/andhas (or ritually acceptable substitute drink)
- Barhis/kuśa grass seat
- Offering vessel; water for purification (optional)
When
Performed at a meal-offering, prosperity rite, or whenever consecrating food/drink; ideally in a clean, calm time (e.g., morning or before eating).
The main substance
Soma/andhas (or consecrated substitute drink) together with anna (food)
How it is prepared
Prepare the drink in a clean vessel; optionally sprinkle/encircle (pari-ṣic) with purified water as a domestic analogue, then present it before the barhis/kuśa seat while reciting the mantras; food is set alongside to be sanctified as ‘anna’.
Frequently Asked Questions
To get divine acceptance of the offering—especially Soma/andhas—so that food (anna) becomes a source of strength, nourishment, and stable prosperity.
Indra represents invigorating power and increase, while Varuṇa represents firm ordinance and ṛta. Together they symbolize prosperity that is both strong and properly sanctioned.
In Atharvanic domestic practice, Soma is often represented by a ritually acceptable substitute drink offered with purity and intention; the hymn’s focus is the consecration and acceptance of nourishment.
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