Sukta 74
Sukta 6.74
Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya lineage) (traditional attribution for Maṇḍala 6; this hymn addressed to Soma-Rudra)
Soma-Rudra (dual deities as healing and protective powers)
Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 6.74; requires full hymn metrical scan for absolute confirmation)
ଋଗ୍ବେଦ ୬.୭୪ ହେଉଛି ସୋମ–ରୁଦ୍ର ଦ୍ୱୟ ଦେବତାଙ୍କୁ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟ କରିଥିବା ସଂକ୍ଷିପ୍ତ ଚିକିତ୍ସା ଓ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ସୂକ୍ତ। ଏଥିରେ ତାଙ୍କୁ ଅନ୍ତର୍ନିହିତ ‘ଅସୁର୍ୟ’ (ପ୍ରଭୁତ୍ୱମୟ ଦୀପ୍ତ ଜୀବଶକ୍ତି) କୁ ଧାରଣ କରାଇବାକୁ, ହବି ଗ୍ରହଣ କରିବାକୁ, ଏବଂ ଦ୍ୱିପଦ ଓ ଚତୁଷ୍ପଦ ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣୀଙ୍କୁ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ଦେବାକୁ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରାଯାଇଛି। ଶରୀର ଭିତରେ ଔଷଧର ସ୍ଥାପନ, ଦୋଷ ଓ ପୀଡାର ବନ୍ଧନ ଢିଲା କରିବା, ଏବଂ ବରୁଣଙ୍କ ପାଶରୁ ମୁକ୍ତି ପାଇଁ ନିବେଦନ ରହିଛି—ଶେଷରେ ନିରନ୍ତର ରକ୍ଷା ଓ ଉପକାର ପାଇଁ ପୁନଃ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା ସହିତ।
Mantras
Mantra 1
सोमारुद्रा धारयेथामसुर्यं प्र वामिष्टयोऽरमश्नुवन्तु । दमेदमे सप्त रत्ना दधाना शं नो भूतं द्विपदे शं चतुष्पदे ॥
ହେ ସୋମ-ରୁଦ୍ର, ଆମ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଆସୁର୍ୟ (ପ୍ରଭୁତ୍ୱମୟ ଦିବ୍ୟ ତେଜ) ଧାରଣ କରାଅ; ଆମ ଇଷ୍ଟୟଃ (ଯଜ୍ଞାର୍ପଣ) ଶୀଘ୍ର ତୁମ ପାଖକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚୁ। ଘରେଘରେ ସପ୍ତ ରତ୍ନ ଧାରଣ କରି, ଆମ ପାଇଁ ଦ୍ୱିପଦରେ ଶାନ୍ତି, ଚତୁଷ୍ପଦରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶାନ୍ତି—କ୍ଷେମ ହେଉ।
Mantra 2
सोमारुद्रा वि वृहतं विषूचीममीवा या नो गयमाविवेश । आरे बाधेथां निॠतिं पराचैरस्मे भद्रा सौश्रवसानि सन्तु ॥
ହେ ସୋମ-ରୁଦ୍ର, ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଦିଗରୁ ଆସୁଥିବା ଯେ ଅମୀବା (ରୋଗ) ଆମ ଗୟ (ଜୀବଶକ୍ତି/ପ୍ରାଣ)ରେ ପ୍ରବେଶ କରିଛି, ତାହାକୁ ଛିଣ୍ଡି ଦୂର କର। ନିଋତି (ବିଘଟନ-ନାଶଶକ୍ତି)କୁ ବାହାରମୁଖୀ ପଥରେ ଅତି ଦୂରେ ହଂକାଇ ଦିଅ; ଆମ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଭଦ୍ର, ସୁଶ୍ରବସ (ସୁଖ୍ୟାତ) ଶକ୍ତି ଓ ସିଦ୍ଧି ରହୁ।
Mantra 3
सोमारुद्रा युवमेतान्यस्मे विश्वा तनूषु भेषजानि धत्तम् । अव स्यतं मुञ्चतं यन्नो अस्ति तनूषु बद्धं कृतमेनो अस्मत् ॥
ହେ ସୋମ ଓ ରୁଦ୍ର, ତୁମେ ଦୁହେଁ ଆମ ଭିତରେ—ଆମ ଶରୀରମାନଙ୍କରେ—ଏହି ସମସ୍ତ ଔଷଧିଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଧାରଣ କରାଅ। ଆମ ଶରୀରରେ ଯାହା କିଛି ବନ୍ଧା ଅଛି, ଯେ ଗଢ଼ା ଦୋଷ, ଯେ ପାପକୃତ୍ୟର ଗଠି—ତାହାକୁ ତଳେ ପକାଇ ମୁକ୍ତ କର; ଆମଠାରୁ ଦୂର କର।
Mantra 4
तिग्मायुधौ तिग्महेती सुशेवौ सोमारुद्राविह सु मृळतं नः । प्र नो मुञ्चतं वरुणस्य पाशाद्गोपायतं नः सुमनस्यमाना ॥
ହେ ସୋମ ଓ ରୁଦ୍ର—ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣାୟୁଧଧାରୀ, ତୀକ୍ଷ୍ଣଶରଧାରୀ, ତଥାପି ସୁକୃପାଳୁ—ଏଠି ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ଆମ ପ୍ରତି ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ କୃପା କର। ବରୁଣଙ୍କ ପାଶରୁ ଆମକୁ ଆଗକୁ ମୁକ୍ତ କର; ଏବଂ ସୁମନସ୍ ହୋଇ ଆମକୁ ରକ୍ଷା କର।
Inside Sukta 74
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens by calling Soma–Rudra to uphold asuryá (radiant lordliness) within the worshipper and to receive offerings swiftly, establishing a household-wide horizon of “seven treasures” and peace for all beings.
- Development
It develops into explicit therapeutic language: the gods are asked to place medicines in the bodies and to cast down and loosen whatever is bound—affliction, fault, and the knot of wrongdoing.
- Climax
The peak plea is liberation from Varuṇa’s noose (pāśa), a vivid image of cosmic/moral constraint, paired with an urgent request for mercy from the keen-weaponed yet benevolent deities.
- Where it settles
The hymn resolves in protective assurance: Soma–Rudra are asked to guard the worshippers with a favorable mind, stabilizing the restored condition as ongoing welfare and safety.
The deity: Soma-Rudra
- In the VedaA paired invocation where Soma (the pressed, purifying, life-giving draught and its deity) and Rudra (the fierce yet healing archer-lord) are approached together as physicians and protectors—keen-weaponed yet gracious, bearers of remedies, and bestowers of peace in every home.
- Cosmic functionSoma sustains vitality, clarity, and replenishment through the lunar/nectar principle and sacrificial elixir; Rudra governs storm-force, crisis, and the power that both wounds and cures. Together they restore balance by removing pollution, disease, and moral/ritual entanglement, and by guarding life across human and animal domains.
- Inner significanceSoma signifies inner cooling, lucidity, and rejuvenation; Rudra signifies the sharp discernment that cuts through affliction and bondage. Their union symbolizes integrated healing—soothing nourishment joined to incisive release—freeing the psyche from guilt-knots, fear, and constriction into well-being and courage.
The seer
- BharadvājaBārhaspatya (Bharadvāja gotra; Angirasa stream through Bṛhaspati in later tradition) · Foremost seer of Maṇḍala 6, celebrated for hymns that unite ritual precision with practical aims—protection, healing, victory, and the right ordering of life through speech (brahman).
Famous verses
śaṃ no bhūtaṃ dvipade śaṃ catuṣpade
सोमारुद्रा युवमेतान्यस्मे विश्वा तनूषु भेषजानि धत्तम् । अव स्यतं मुञ्चतं यन्नो अस्ति तनूषु बद्धं कृतमेनो अस्मत् ॥varuṇasya pāśāt
Attributes of the deity
- Dual healers (bheṣajá) and protectors
- Keen-weaponed yet compassionate (tigmāyudha… suśevau)
- Bestowers of peace for bipeds and quadrupeds
- Upholders of asuryá (lordly luminous power)
- Liberators from bonds, including Varuṇa’s pāśa (noose)
- Household-wide beneficence (“in every dwelling”)
Also by this seer
- Majority of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 (Bharadvāja family collection)
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, the Aśvins, Pūṣan, and allied deities emphasizing protection and well-being
- Later Vedic/Itihāsa-Purāṇa tradition remembers Bharadvāja as a paradigmatic rṣi-teacher associated with dharma, learning, and transmission of sacred knowledge
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the sacred space and kindle Agni (or establish a clean offering place) with purification (ācamana/pariṣecana as customary).
- Recite RV 6.74 as an invocation to Soma–Rudra, mentally offering the hymn as iṣṭi (sacrificial intention).
- At the healing petition (esp. v.3–4), perform a focused prayer for removal of bodily bonds and moral/ritual knots; optionally accompany with light sprinkling of water or touching the heart/head as a symbolic “unbinding.”
- Conclude with a protection prayer for the household and cattle, affirming śaṃ (peace/welfare) for dvipád and cátuṣpad.
- Offer closing oblations and a silent moment of gratitude/resolve (saṃkalpa) to live in restored order (ṛta).
Offerings
- Soma libation where available (or symbolic Soma such as water/milk in later practice)
- Ghee (ājya) into Agni
- Simple oblations: milk, curds, barley, or medicinal herbs as appropriate to local tradition
- Water for purification and symbolic release
Frequently Asked Questions
They are invoked together as a twofold healing power: Soma as the life-giving, purifying nectar principle, and Rudra as the fierce protector who can also cure and remove harm.
It is a prayer for well-being for people (two-footed) and for animals like cattle (four-footed), extending protection to the whole household economy and life-support system.
Varuṇa’s noose symbolizes binding by cosmic law—guilt, debt, or constraint. The hymn asks Soma–Rudra to loosen these bonds so the worshipper can return to health, freedom, and right order.
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