Sukta 61
Sukta 6.61
Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya) tradition (traditional attribution for RV 6.61 to Bharadvāja)
Sarasvatī
Trishtubh (common for narrative/praise in this mandala; verse-level confirmation may vary)
अयं सूक्तः सरस्वतीं महतीं जीवनदायिनीं नदीं देवशक्तिं च स्तौति, या योग्येभ्यः यजमानेभ्यः दातृभ्यश्च बलं जयम् ऐश्वर्यं च प्रयच्छति। तस्या उग्रं वेगं स्मरति यः प्रतिबन्धान् भिनत्ति पणीन् च निहन्ति; तथा च प्रार्थयते यत् तस्याः पोषकः प्रवाहः समुदायं सस्यसमृद्धिं शुभनिवासं च नयेत्, वन्ध्यहानिं च पराङ्मुखं करोतु।
Mantras
Mantra 1
इयमददाद्रभसमृणच्युतं दिवोदासं वध्र्यश्वाय दाशुषे । या शश्वन्तमाचखादावसं पणिं ता ते दात्राणि तविषा सरस्वति ॥
इयमददाद्रभसमृणच्युतं दिवोदासं वध्र्यश्वाय दाशुषे । या शश्वन्तमाचखादावसं पणिं ता ते दात्राणि तविषा सरस्वति ॥
Mantra 2
इयं शुष्मेभिर्बिसखा इवारुजत्सानु गिरीणां तविषेभिरूर्मिभिः । पारावतघ्नीमवसे सुवृक्तिभिः सरस्वतीमा विवासेम धीतिभिः ॥
इयं शुष्मैर्बिसखेवाऽरुजत्; तविषेभिरूर्मिभिर्गिरीणां सानूनि व्यभिनत्। पारावतघ्नीं सहायार्थं सुवृक्तिभिर्धीभिश्च सरस्वतीमाविवासेम समीपं नयेम।
Mantra 3
सरस्वति देवनिदो नि बर्हय प्रजां विश्वस्य बृसयस्य मायिनः । उत क्षितिभ्योऽवनीरविन्दो विषमेभ्यो अस्रवो वाजिनीवति ॥
सरस्वति, देवनिदो निबर्हय; विश्वस्य मायिनो बृसयस्य प्रजां च वृद्धिं च भिन्धि। उत क्षितिभ्योऽवनीरविन्दः; विषमेभ्योऽस्रवो धाराः, वाजिनीवति।
Mantra 4
प्र णो देवी सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती । धीनामवित्र्यवतु ॥
प्र नो देवी सरस्वती वाजेभिर्वाजिनीवती; धीनामवित्री अवतु नः।
Mantra 5
यस्त्वा देवि सरस्वत्युपब्रूते धने हिते । इन्द्रं न वृत्रतूर्ये ॥
हे देवि सरस्वति, यः कश्चित् त्वां धने हिते उपब्रूते—इन्द्रं न वृत्रतूर्ये—स तस्य ज्योतिषां युद्धे विजयिनी सहायिका भवसि।
Mantra 6
त्वं देवि सरस्वत्यवा वाजेषु वाजिनि । रदा पूषेव नः सनिम् ॥
त्वं देवि सरस्वति वाजेषु, हे वाजिनि, अस्मान् अव; पूषेव नः सनिं रदा—ध्रुवं लाभं सम्यक्-मार्गप्राप्तिं च देहि।
Mantra 7
उत स्या नः सरस्वती घोरा हिरण्यवर्तनिः । वृत्रघ्नी वष्टि सुष्टुतिम् ॥
उत सा नः सरस्वती घोरा हिरण्यवर्तनिः, वृत्रघ्नी सुष्टुतिं वष्टि गृह्णाति च।
Mantra 8
यस्या अनन्तो अह्रुतस्त्वेषश्चरिष्णुरर्णवः । अमश्चरति रोरुवत् ॥
यस्या अनन्तोऽह्रुतस्त्वेषश्चरिष्णुरर्णवोऽमश्च रोरुवच्चरति; सा सरस्वत्याः दीप्तप्रवाहशक्तिरस्मासु प्रवर्तताम्।
Mantra 9
सा नो विश्वा अति द्विषः स्वसॄरन्या ऋतावरी । अतन्नहेव सूर्यः ॥
सा न ऋतावरी स्वसृर्विश्वा अतिद्विषः सर्वा अन्याः प्रतिपक्षशक्तीः अतिक्रामयतु; यथा सूर्यः अहानि वितनोति संकोचं च व्यपनयति।
Mantra 10
उत नः प्रिया प्रियासु सप्तस्वसा सुजुष्टा । सरस्वती स्तोम्या भूत् ॥
उत नः सरस्वती प्रिया प्रियासु भूत्—सप्तस्वसा सुजुष्टा—स्तोम्या भवतु, सत्तायाः स्वरसमन्वयं प्रबोधयन्ती।
Mantra 11
आपप्रुषी पार्थिवान्युरु रजो अन्तरिक्षम् । सरस्वती निदस्पातु ॥
या पार्थिवानि रूपाण्यापप्रुषी, उरु रजोऽन्तरिक्षं च परिपूरयन्ती—सा सरस्वती निन्दाशब्दात् परुषवाक्प्रहाराच्च अस्मान् पातु।
Mantra 12
त्रिषधस्था सप्तधातुः पञ्च जाता वर्धयन्ती । वाजेवाजे हव्या भूत् ॥
त्रिषधस्था सप्तधातुः, पञ्च जाता वर्धयन्ती—सा वाजे वाजे हव्या भूत्।
Mantra 13
प्र या महिम्ना महिनासु चेकिते द्युम्नेभिरन्या अपसामपस्तमा । रथ इव बृहती विभ्वने कृतोपस्तुत्या चिकितुषा सरस्वती ॥
या महिम्ना महिनाṣu चेकिते, द्युम्नेभिरन्या अपसामपस्तमा; रथ इव बृहती विभ्वने कृतोपस्तुत्या, चिकितुषा सरस्वती।
Mantra 14
सरस्वत्यभि नो नेषि वस्यो माप स्फरीः पयसा मा न आ धक् । जुषस्व नः सख्या वेश्या च मा त्वत्क्षेत्राण्यरणानि गन्म ॥
सरस्वत्यभि नो नेषि वस्यो मा अप स्फरीः पयसा मा न आ धक् । जुषस्व नः सख्या वेश्या च मा त्वत्क्षेत्राण्यरणानि गन्म ॥
Inside Sukta 61
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Sarasvatī is introduced as a powerful benefactress whose gifts of force aid famed patrons and the offering community.
- Development
Her unstoppable, roaring, ocean-like course is celebrated—both as physical river might and as divine power that overcomes withholding, restores strength, and sustains life.
- Climax
The hymn dwells on her irresistible surge and victorious capacity to strike down the hoarding Paṇi, presenting her as the decisive power that turns scarcity into abundance.
- Where it settles
A direct prayer asks her to lead the people to better fortune, not to repel or harm them with her flow, and to keep them in her fertile sphere rather than drifting to barren, supportless lands.
The deity: Sarasvatī
- In the VedaIn the Rig Veda she is foremost among rivers—swift, roaring, wide-flowing, and richly nourishing—yet also a goddess whose ‘gifts’ empower patrons, protect the sacrificer, and uphold right order through her purifying current.
- Cosmic functionShe carries fertility and plenty through her waters, sustains settled life and pasture, and acts as a force that clears impediments so ṛta (right order) and communal prosperity can prevail.
- Inner significanceSarasvatī signifies the luminous flow of inspiration and coherent speech, the cleansing stream of discernment, and the inner current that removes ‘debts’ and blockages so strength and right action arise.
The seer
- Bharadvāja (Bārhaspatya tradition)Bharadvāja-gotra; Bārhaspatya lineage (descendants/affiliation of Bṛhaspati) · A principal seer-family of Maṇḍala 6, renowned for hymns that combine martial prosperity, patronage themes, and precise ritual praise, often linking divine power with social well-being.
Famous verses
इयमददाद्रभसमृणच्युतं दिवोदासं वध्र्यश्वाय दाशुषे । या शश्वन्तमाचखादावसं पणिं ता ते दात्राणि तविषा सरस्वति ॥यस्या अनन्तो अह्रुतस्त्वेषश्चरिष्णुरर्णवः । अमश्चरति रोरुवत् ॥sarasvaty abhi no neṣi vasyo
Attributes of the deity
- Mighty, impetuous, and unconquerable flow
- Nourishing ‘payas’ (milk-like abundance) and fertility
- Roaring, oceanic movement (arṇava) and expansive power
- Obstacle-breaking and protector against hoarding/withholding forces
- Bestower of strength, victory, and auspicious settlements
Also by this seer
- Large portions of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 6 attributed to the Bharadvājas
- Hymns to Agni, Indra, the Aśvins, and allied deities in RV 6
- Later Vedic tradition associates Bharadvāja with priestly lineages and ritual expertise preserved in śrauta-smārta transmission
The rite, step by step
- Ācamana and purification; establish intention for prosperity/protection
- Kindle or attend the sacred fire (Agni) and make preliminary offerings
- Recite RV 6.61 as Sarasvatī-stuti, with mindful visualization of her strong, cleansing flow
- Make main oblations while requesting strength, victory over impediments, and fertile dwelling
- Conclude with śānti-prārthanā: seek continued friendship/near presence and avoidance of ‘barren fields’ (loss of support)
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya) oblations
- Milk or milk-products where customary (symbolic of ‘payas’)
- Water libations/river-offerings when performed near a water source
- Grains or soma-substitutes according to the rite
Frequently Asked Questions
In this hymn Sarasvatī is both a great river and a goddess: her waters nourish life, and her divine power grants strength, protection, and inspired clarity to those who offer and live rightly.
The Paṇi represents withholding and hoarding that blocks rightful gain. By saying Sarasvatī strikes down the Paṇi, the hymn praises her as the force that removes obstacles to prosperity and restores healthy circulation of wealth and support.
The final verse asks Sarasvatī to lead the people toward better fortune, not to push them away or harm them with her flow, and to keep them close to her fertile, life-sustaining sphere rather than ‘barren fields.’
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