Rig Veda Sukta 98
Mandala 7Sukta 987 Mantras

Sukta 98

Sukta 7.98

Rishi

Vasiṣṭha (continuing Maṇḍala 7 attribution)

Chandas

Triṣṭubh

Himne ini menggesa para imam Adhvaryu mempersembahkan Soma yang kemerah-merahan, telah diperah dan bercampur susu, kepada Indra—digambarkan sebagai pencari minuman perahan yang sentiasa kembali dan sebagai lembu jantan, pemimpin bangsa-bangsa. Kemudian ia beralih kepada bantuan ketenteraan Indra—menewaskan lawan yang menggelar diri mereka “besar”—dan memuncak dengan seruan bersama kepada Indra dan Bṛhaspati untuk kekayaan (rayi), kemasyhuran, dan kesejahteraan yang berkekalan (svasti).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 7.98

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • IndraSoma-seeker, bull of the peoples

    Indra is the mighty, Soma-loving warrior and ‘bull’ who comes repeatedly to the altar to drink the pressed Soma, granting victory, fame, and abundance to his worshippers.

  • BrihaspatiMantra 7Bṛhaspati

Mantras

Mantra 1

अध्वर्यवोऽरुणं दुग्धमंशुं जुहोतन वृषभाय क्षितीनाम् । गौराद्वेदीयाँ अवपानमिन्द्रो विश्वाहेद्याति सुतसोममिच्छन् ॥

Wahai para Adhvaryu, persembahkan Soma—batang yang kemerahan, telah diperah—kepada Sang Banteng segala kaum. Dari cahaya keemasan ia datang ke altar untuk minum; Indra, hari demi hari, melangkah mencari Soma yang telah diperah.

Mantra 2

यद्दधिषे प्रदिवि चार्वन्नं दिवेदिवे पीतिमिदस्य वक्षि । उत हृदोत मनसा जुषाण उशन्निन्द्र प्रस्थितान्पाहि सोमान् ॥

Apabila Engkau menempatkan santapan yang indah di langit yang mendahului, dan hari demi hari Engkau membawa baginya perbuatan minum itu sendiri; maka—bersuka dengan hati dan dengan fikiran, berkenan—wahai Indra, dengan rela jagalah tegukan-tegukan Soma yang telah dihidangkan.

Mantra 3

जज्ञानः सोमं सहसे पपाथ प्र ते माता महिमानमुवाच । एन्द्र पप्राथोर्वन्तरिक्षं युधा देवेभ्यो वरिवश्चकर्थ ॥

Terlahir dalam daya-Mu, Engkau telah meminum Soma demi kekuatan; Ibumu telah mengisytiharkan kebesaran-Mu. Wahai Indra, Engkau telah meluaskan bentang luas alam-antara; dengan pertempuran Engkau telah menyediakan ruang lapang dan keluasan yang sejahtera bagi para dewa.

Mantra 4

यद्योधया महतो मन्यमानान्त्साक्षाम तान्बाहुभिः शाशदानान् । यद्वा नृभिर्वृत इन्द्राभियुध्यास्तं त्वयाजिं सौश्रवसं जयेम ॥

Apabila Engkau menghalau ke medan perang orang-orang besar yang menyangka diri gagah, dan kami menentang mereka secara terbuka—mereka yang mara menekan dengan lengan mereka; atau apabila, bersama para lelaki pilihan, wahai Indra, Engkau terus berjuang, maka bersama-Mu semoga kami memenangi pertempuran itu, yang membawa nama baik dan kemasyhuran yang didengar benar.

Mantra 5

प्रेन्द्रस्य वोचं प्रथमा कृतानि प्र नूतना मघवा या चकार । यदेददेवीरसहिष्ट माया अथाभवत्केवलः सोमो अस्य ॥

Aku menyatakan perbuatan-perbuatan pertama Indra, dan juga yang baharu yang telah dilakukan oleh Yang Pemurah. Apabila kuasa-kuasa yang tidak ilahi tidak mampu menahan daya-kerjanya, maka Soma menjadi seluruhnya miliknya—miliknya sahaja, untuk dimiliki dan digunakan.

Mantra 6

तवेदं विश्वमभितः पशव्यं यत्पश्यसि चक्षसा सूर्यस्य । गवामसि गोपतिरेक इन्द्र भक्षीमहि ते प्रयतस्य वस्वः ॥

Segala yang mengelilingi ini adalah milik-Mu—kekayaan berupa daya-daya hidup—apa pun yang Engkau lihat dengan mata Surya. Engkaulah satu-satunya tuan dan pelindung Sinar-sinar (lembu-lembu), wahai Indra; semoga kami menikmati kekayaan yang oleh-Mu dipersembahkan dan diarahkan dengan benar.

Mantra 7

बृहस्पते युवमिन्द्रश्च वस्वो दिव्यस्येशाथे उत पार्थिवस्य । धत्तं रयिं स्तुवते कीरये चिद्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥

Wahai Bṛhaspati, engkau dan Indra menguasai kekayaan langit dan juga bumi. Kurniakanlah kepada pemuji—bahkan kepada penyanyi—rayi, kelimpahan wujud; dan peliharalah kami berdua sentiasa dengan swasti, kesejahteraan yang sejahtera dan harmoni.

Inside Sukta 98

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct ritual injunction: offer the ruddy, prepared Soma to Indra who comes to drink.

  2. Development

    Indra is praised as repeatedly approaching the altar; the hymn shifts from liturgical invitation to practical dependence on Indra for strength and success against formidable opponents.

  3. Climax

    The prayer for winning the decisive battle—victory that yields enduring good fame (sauśravasa) through Indra’s companionship in the fight.

  4. Where it settles

    A harmonizing close: Indra and Bṛhaspati together are invoked to bestow wealth/plenitude and to guard the worshippers with lasting well-being (svasti).

The deity: Indra

  • Cosmic functionHe embodies victorious force that breaks resistance, clears the way for order and prosperity, and releases life-supporting powers through conquest of obstacles.
  • Inner significanceIndra signifies the awakened will and courageous clarity that ‘drinks’ inspiration (Soma), confronts inner arrogance and fear, and wins the battle for right hearing, right action, and confident vitality.

The seer

  • VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha gotra (Āditya/Brāhmaṇa seer line; traditionally linked with the Tr̥tsu-Bharata court) · Chief seer of Maṇḍala 7, celebrated for hymns to Indra and Varuṇa, for royal priesthood themes, and for shaping Vedic praise into a disciplined, ritual-forward style.

Famous verses

sutasomam icchan
Verse 7.98.1Sets the hymn’s ritual center: Soma offering to Indra as the daily-coming seeker of the pressed draught, linking liturgy with Indra’s characteristic desire for Soma.Read verse 7.98.1 →
ajāṃ sauśravasaṃ jayema
Verse 7.98.4Articulates the hymn’s martial petition: facing proud ‘great’ foes and winning the battle with Indra for sauśravasa—good repute grounded in ‘true hearing.’Read verse 7.98.4 →
pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Verse 7.98.7Concludes with a dual benediction to Indra and Bṛhaspati as joint lords of heavenly and earthly wealth, asking for rayi and continuous protection through svasti.Read verse 7.98.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Soma-seeker and Soma-drinker
  • Bull-like strength; leader of peoples
  • Battle-giver and victory-bestower
  • Protector of the sacrificer
  • Giver of rayi (wealth/plenitude) and fame
  • Allied with Bṛhaspati for prosperity and auspiciousness

Also by this seer

  • Major authorship of Rigveda Maṇḍala 7 (many sūktas attributed to the Vasiṣṭhas)
  • Hymns to Varuṇa and Ṛta-centered theology (notably within RV 7)
  • Royal/tribal victory and protection hymns connected with Bharata-Tr̥tsu traditions

The rite, step by step

  • Preparation and pressing of Soma (aṃśu), made ready for offering and drinking
  • Adhvaryu makes the Soma oblation/invitation at the altar (vedi) to draw Indra near
  • Recitation praising Indra as the daily-coming Soma-seeker and bull of the peoples
  • Petition for Indra’s aid in confrontations and battles, openly facing strong adversaries
  • Concluding appeal to Indra together with Bṛhaspati to establish rayi and lasting svasti

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma (ruddy, milked Soma-stalk/juice)
  • Associated libations/oblations customary to Soma rites (Soma draught at the vedi)

Frequently Asked Questions

It invites Indra to the Soma offering as the one who continually seeks the pressed Soma, and it asks him to grant victory, fame, and prosperity to the worshippers.

Because the hymn portrays him as coming again and again to the altar specifically to drink the freshly pressed Soma, making Soma the central means of drawing his power and favor.

Bṛhaspati represents sacred speech and priestly power; together with Indra’s strength, the hymn asks for complete mastery of wealth—heavenly and earthly—and for continuous well-being (svasti).

Ask anything about Sukta 98 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

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.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play