Sukta 91
Sukta 7.91
Vasiṣṭha
Vāyu (with Indra–Vāyu context continuing; Manu and Uṣas/Sūrya as supporting figures)
Triṣṭubh (probable)
अस्य सूक्तस्य वसिष्ठ ऋषिः वायुम् इन्द्रवायू च सख्येनाभ्याह्वयति, सोमयागं प्रति तौ निमन्त्रयन् रक्षणं बलं क्षेमं च याचते। स प्राचीनान् अनवद्यान् देवान् स्मारयति ये निरोधकाले मनुम् उपास्थाय, सूर्येण सहोषसं स्थापयामासुः—एषा धर्मस्य पुनःस्थापनस्य मानवानां पथे चक्षुष्मत्त्वस्य च प्रतिमा। अन्ते कवयः (वसिष्ठाः) स्वकृतया सुश्लिष्टया स्तुत्या दीर्घकालिकां स्वस्तिं, सामञ्जस्ययुक्तं कल्याणं च प्रार्थयन्ते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
कुविदङ्ग नमसा ये वृधासः पुरा देवा अनवद्यास आसन् । ते वायवे मनवे बाधितायावासयन्नुषसं सूर्येण ॥
कु॒विद् अङ्ग नमसा ये वृद्धासः पुरा देवाः अनवद्याः आसन्? ते वायवे मनवे बाधिताय उषसं सूर्येण आवासयन्—मानवपथे दीप्तं ऋतं प्रतिष्ठापयन्तः।
Mantra 2
उशन्ता दूता न दभाय गोपा मासश्च पाथः शरदश्च पूर्वीः । इन्द्रवायू सुष्टुतिर्वामियाना मार्डीकमीट्टे सुवितं च नव्यम् ॥
उशन्ता दूताः इव, अदभाय गोपाः, मासांश्च पाथश्च शरदश्च पूर्वीः अतिगच्छन्ति। इन्द्रवायू, वाम् इयाना सुष्टुतिः माडीर्कं च नव्यं सुवितं च ईट्टे—यात्रायाः नवानि द्वाराणि विवृण्वती।
Mantra 3
पीवोअन्नाँ रयिवृधः सुमेधाः श्वेतः सिषक्ति नियुतामभिश्रीः । ते वायवे समनसो वि तस्थुर्विश्वेन्नरः स्वपत्यानि चक्रुः ॥
पीवोऽन्नानां रयिवृद्धः सुमेधाः—नियुताम् अभिश्रीः श्वेतः सिषक्ति। ते वायवे समनसो वि तस्थुः; विश्वे नराḥ स्वपत्यानि चक्रुः—स्वाधिकारस्य सुशासनस्य च कर्माणि।
Mantra 4
यावत्तरस्तन्वो यावदोजो यावन्नरश्चक्षसा दीध्यानाः । शुचिं सोमं शुचिपा पातमस्मे इन्द्रवायू सदतं बर्हिरेदम् ॥
यावत्तरस्तन्वो यावदोजो यावन्नरश्चक्षसा दीध्यानाः । शुचिं सोमं शुचिपा पातमस्मे इन्द्रवायू सदतं बर्हिरेदम् ॥
Mantra 5
नियुवाना नियुतः स्पार्हवीरा इन्द्रवायू सरथं यातमर्वाक् । इदं हि वां प्रभृतं मध्वो अग्रमध प्रीणाना वि मुमुक्तमस्मे ॥
नियुवाना नियुतः स्पार्हवीरा इन्द्रवायू सरथं यातमर्वाक् । इदं हि वां प्रभृतं मध्वो अग्रं मध प्रीणाना वि मुमुक्तमस्मे ॥
Mantra 6
या वां शतं नियुतो याः सहस्रमिन्द्रवायू विश्ववाराः सचन्ते । आभिर्यातं सुविदत्राभिरर्वाक्पातं नरा प्रतिभृतस्य मध्वः ॥
या वां शतं नियुतो याः सहस्रमिन्द्रवायू विश्ववाराः सचन्ते । आभिर्यातं सुविदत्राभिरर्वाक्पातं नरा प्रतिबृतस्य मध्वः ॥
Mantra 7
अर्वन्तो न श्रवसो भिक्षमाणा इन्द्रवायू सुष्टुतिभिर्वसिष्ठाः । वाजयन्तः स्ववसे हुवेम यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
अर्वन्तो न श्रवसो भिक्षमाणाः, इन्द्रवायू, वयं वसिष्ठाः सुष्टुतिभिः युष्मान् याचामहे। वाजयन्तः स्ववसे बलसमृद्धिं जिगीषवः युष्मान् हुवेम; यूयं नः सदा स्वस्तिभिः पात।
Inside Sukta 91
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
A questioning, reverent appeal to the ancient, blameless gods—asking whether they will be won by homage—and a mythic recollection of divine help to Manu through the establishment of Dawn with the Sun.
- Development
The hymn turns from remembrance to present ritual immediacy: Vāyu/Indra–Vāyu are invited to approach, to drink the pure Soma, and to take their seat on the barhis, extending strength as far as body, force, and vision can reach.
- Climax
The direct Soma-invitation peaks in the command/request to the ‘pure-drinkers’ to drink here and to ‘sit’—signaling the moment of divine presence and energizing influx into the rite and the sacrificer’s domain.
- Where it settles
The Vasiṣṭhas, like steeds seeking fame, close with a sustained plea for vāja and constant protection—‘guard us always with svasti’—sealing the hymn in blessing and continuity.
The deity: Vāyu
- In the VedaVāyu is the swift, life-bearing Wind, first to receive Soma and a frequent companion of Indra in Soma-drinking; together Indra–Vāyu are addressed as pure-drinkers who arrive quickly to the barhis (sacrificial seat). The hymn also alludes to cosmic ordering through Dawn and Sun, framing the gods’ aid to Manu as a restoration of light and passage.
- Cosmic functionRegulates breath and atmospheric movement, carries vitality, and—paired with Indra—supports the dynamic release of energies that clear obstruction and establish luminous order (uṣas–sūrya).
- Inner significanceVāyu signifies prāṇa: the enlivening current that clears inner blockage, steadies perception, and enables the ‘dawn’ of discernment to align with the ‘sun’ of awakened consciousness; Indra–Vāyu together symbolize force guided by vital clarity.
The seer
- VasiṣṭhaVasiṣṭha-gotra (the Vasiṣṭhas; Mānavas in several traditions) · One of the foremost Rigvedic seers, celebrated for authoritative priestly insight (brahman), mastery of praise, and for hymns centered on Varuṇa–Mitra, Indra, and royal-protective theology in Maṇḍala 7.
Famous verses
कुविदङ्ग नमसा ये वृधासः पुरा देवा अनवद्यास आसन् । ते वायवे मनवे बाधितायावासयन्नुषसं सूर्येण ॥śuciṃ somaṃ śucipā pātam asme
yūyaṃ pāta svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Swift mover, first Soma-recipient
- Life-breath and energizer (prāṇa)
- Purifying current; ‘pure-drinker’ in Soma context
- Obstacle-clearing, path-opening power (especially with Indra)
- Bringer of well-being (svasti) and protection
- Linked to dawn-light imagery: ordering, illumination, right passage
Also by this seer
- Principal seer of much of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 7 (a major Vasiṣṭha family book).
- Hymnic corpora addressing Varuṇa’s moral order (ṛta), Indra’s victories, and ritual efficacy of Soma and Agni in the Vasiṣṭha collection.
- Later Vedic/Itihāsa tradition associates Vasiṣṭha with Brahmarṣi status and with preserving sacrificial orthopraxy and royal counsel.
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar and spread the barhis (sacrificial grass/seat) for the arriving deities.
- Invite Vāyu and Indra–Vāyu with namas (reverence) and stuti (well-fashioned praise).
- Press/strain Soma and declare it śuci (pure), fit for the ‘pure-drinkers’.
- Offer Soma with recitation, requesting the gods to ‘sit’ on the barhis and within the sacrificer’s sphere (asme).
- Recall the exemplary divine act (aid to Manu; Dawn established with Sun) as a model for removing present obstruction.
- Conclude with petitions for vāja (force/plenitude), fame, and continual svasti (well-being/protection).
Offerings
- Soma (pressed and purified)
- Barhis (seat of offering)
- Verbal offerings: hymns of praise (suṣṭuti), namas (reverence)
Frequently Asked Questions
Vāyu is primary, but the hymn strongly addresses the dual deity Indra–Vāyu, especially in the Soma-drinking context.
It recalls a divine act of removing obstruction and establishing luminous order—symbolically bringing clarity (Dawn) into full alignment with truth and vision (Sun) for human life.
It functions as an invitation and praise during Soma offerings, asking Indra–Vāyu/Vāyu to come, drink the purified Soma, sit on the offering seat, and grant strength and ongoing well-being (svasti).
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