Rig Veda 7.98.7: Mandala 7, Sukta 98, Mantra 7
Sukta 7.98
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Bṛhaspati and Indra
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
बृहस्पते युवमिन्द्रश्च वस्वो दिव्यस्येशाथे उत पार्थिवस्य । धत्तं रयिं स्तुवते कीरये चिद्यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
bṛ́haspate yuvám índraś ca vásvo divyásyeśāthe utá pārthivásya | dhattáṃ rayíṃ stuvaté kīráye cid yūyáṃ pāta svastíbhiḥ sádā naḥ ||
اے برہسپتی، تو اور اندر دونوں آسمان اور زمین کی دولت کے مالک ہو۔ ستانے والے کے لیے، گانے والے کے لیے بھی، وجود کی پوری دولت رکھو، اور تم دونوں ہمیشہ اپنی خوش حالی کی ہم آہنگیوں سے ہماری حفاظت کرو۔
Word by Word
- बृहस्पते
- O BṛhaspatiNoun (vocative)Masculine, Vocative, SingularRole SambodhanaRoot बृहस्पति-
- युवम्
- you twoPronounNominative, DualRole KartāRoot युष्मद्-
- इन्द्रः
- IndraNounMasculine, Nominative, SingularRole Kartā (in coordination) / apposition with युवम्Root इन्द्र-
- च
- andIndeclinableConjunctionRoot च
- वस्वः
- of wealth / of the good (treasure)NounNeuter, Genitive, SingularRole Sambandha (genitive relation)Root वसु-
- दिव्यस्य
- heavenlyAdjectiveMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular (agreeing with वस्वः)Role Viśeṣaṇa (of वस्वः)Root दिव्य-
- ईशाथे
- you two rule / have masteryVerbPresent, 2nd person, Dual, ĀtmanepadaRole Kriyā (predicate)Root ईश् (ईशते)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableParticleRoot उत
- पार्थिवस्य
- of the earthly / terrestrialAdjective (used substantively)Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular (elliptic: ‘of the earthly [wealth]’)Role Sambandha (genitive relation)Root पार्थिव-
- धत्तम्
- place, bestowVerbImperative, 2nd person, Dual, ParasmaipadaRole Kriyā (injunction)Root धा
- रयिम्
- wealthNounMasculine, Accusative, SingularRole KarmaRoot रयि-
- स्तुवते
- to the one who praisesKṛdanta (present participle used substantively)Dative, Singular (to/for the praiser)Role SampradānaRoot स्तु
- कीरये
- to the singer/poetNounMasculine, Dative, SingularRole SampradānaRoot कीरि-
- चित्
- indeed / evenIndeclinableEmphatic particleRoot चित्
- यूयम्
- you (all)PronounNominative, PluralRole Kartā (of पात)Root युष्मद्-
- पात
- protectVerbImperative, 2nd person, Plural, ParasmaipadaRole Kriyā (injunction)Root पा (पिबति/पाति) ‘to protect’
- स्वस्तिभिः
- with well-being, with blessingsNounFeminine, Instrumental, PluralRole KaraṇaRoot स्वस्ति-
- सदा
- alwaysIndeclinableAdverbRoot सदा
- नः
- us / for usPronounGenitive/Accusative, Plural (enclitic)Role Sampradāna (beneficiary) / SambandhaRoot अस्मद्-
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): बृहस्पते | युवम् | इन्द्रः | च | वस्वः | दिव्यस्य | ईशाथे | उत | पार्थिवस्य | धत्तम् | रयिम् | स्तुवते | कीरये | चित् | यूयम् | पात | स्वस्तिभिः | सदा | नः । Notable: दिव्यस्ये॑शाथे = दिव्यस्य + ईशाथे (vowel sandhi: -स्य + ई- → -स्ये-)
- Accent marks in the saṃhitā text are retained on the surface forms but do not change morphological segmentation
The meaning
Outer meaning
Bṛhaspati and Indra are masters of heavenly and earthly wealth. They should place a rayi (wealth/plenitude) for the praiser and singer, and guard us always with well-being.
Inner meaning
The Word-Lord (Bṛhaspati: inspired truth-speech) and the Illumined Mind (Indra) together govern both higher (divya) and embodied (pārthiva) riches—light above and effective capacity below. The seeker asks for ‘rayi’: not mere possessions but plenitude of being—right thought, right word, right force, right joy. Their ‘svastibhiḥ’ are harmonies of well-being: protective alignments in the inner system so the journey remains auspicious and integrally balanced.
Universal truth
When illumination (Indra) is guided by inspired truth-word (Bṛhaspati), prosperity becomes wholeness; protection is not avoidance of life but stable harmony through it.
Themes
benediction, rayi (spiritual wealth), Word and Force alliance, protection
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha gotra
- Other hymns
- RV 7.97 (Soma), RV 7.98 (this hymn), RV 7.104 (protective imprecations, different tone)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha frequently invokes combined powers for integral results—illumination (Indra) supported by the priestly word (Bṛhaspati).
Significance
The seer underscores a balanced yoga: force and victory must be yoked to truth-word; then prosperity becomes plenitude and protection becomes harmony (svasti).
The deity
- Devata
- Bṛhaspati and Indra (dual)
- Epithets
- Bṛhaspati: Brahmaṇaspati, Vācaspati (thematic), Indra: Maghavā, Vṛtrahan (thematic)
- Related deities
- Agni (priestly fire, allied to Bṛhaspati), Sarasvatī (word/flow, thematic), Soma (delight that supports inspiration)
Cosmic role
Bṛhaspati opens the way with the luminous Word; Indra executes the victory and expansion. Together they govern wealth across heaven and earth.
Inner power
Union of inspired guidance (mantric intelligence) with victorious illumination and will—speech that knows + mind that conquers.
In ritual
Where it is used
Benedictive closing/guarding verse within praise sequences; suitable as a concluding śānti-like petition
बृह॑स्पते यु॒वमिन्द्र॑श्च॒ वस्वो॑ दि॒व्यस्ये॑शाथे उ॒त पार्थि॑वस्य । ध॒त्तं र॒यिं स्तु॑व॒ते की॒रये॑ चिद्यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥
बृह॑स्पते । यु॒वम् । इन्द्रः॑ । च॒ । वस्वः॑ । दि॒व्यस्य॑ । ई॒शा॒थे॒ इति॑ । उ॒त । पार्थि॑वस्य । ध॒त्तम् । र॒यिम् । स्तु॒व॒ते । की॒रये॑ । चि॒त् । यू॒यम् । पा॒त॒ । स्व॒स्तिऽभिः॑ । सदा॑ । नः॒ ॥
bṛhaspate | yuvam | indraḥ | ca | vasvaḥ | divyasya | īśātheiti | uta | pārthivasya | dhattam | rayim | stuvate | kīraye | cit | yūyam | pāta | svasti-bhiḥ | sadā | naḥ
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4 × ~11
Benedictive and steady; less martial than earlier verses, with a protective closing.
Stabilizes the nervous system; evokes guidance + strength; ends in a felt ‘blessing field’.
- बृहस्पते (bṛhaspate)
- Literal: O Bṛhaspati. Symbolic: lord of inspired speech, priest of the gods; power of mantra and truth-word
- इन्द्रः (indraḥ)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: illumined mind and victorious force
- वस्वः (vasvaḥ)
- Literal: wealth, riches. Symbolic: inner and outer resources; powers of being
- दिव्यस्य / पार्थिवस्य (divyasya/pārthivasya)
- Literal: of heaven / of earth. Symbolic: higher plane gifts / embodied realization and capacity
- रयिम् (rayim)
- Literal: wealth, treasure. Symbolic: plenitude—integral prosperity of consciousness
- स्तुवते / कीरये (stuvate/kīraye)
- Literal: to the praiser / to the singer. Symbolic: to aspiration (praise) and to inspired expression (song) in the seeker
- स्वस्तिभिः (svastibhiḥ)
- Literal: with well-beings, auspiciousnesses. Symbolic: harmonizing protections; right alignments of the energies
- पात (pāta)
- Literal: protect, guard. Symbolic: sustain the path against deviations and shocks
Concluding benediction typical of hymns: request for rayi and svasti; applicable broadly in Soma rites and daily recitation for protection and increase.
At the close of a stotra or offering segment seeking wealth and protection; also adaptable as daily auspicious recitation.
Petition for rayi and continuous svasti-protection.
Excellent as a daily ‘protection + prosperity of being’ mantra before study, teaching, or creative work (Bṛhaspati) combined with decisive action (Indra).
bṛhaspati: bṛhánt ‘vast’ + pati ‘lord’—lord of the vast Word; power that opens by inspired speech. īśāthe: √īś ‘to own, rule’ (dual), sovereignty over divya/pārthiva wealth—inner and outer planes. svasti: su- ‘good’ + asti ‘being’ (√as ‘to be’, PIE *h₁es-), hence ‘good-being’ as a protection-formula; rayi as plenitude rather than mere property.
Word-power (Bṛhaspati) allied with Force-power (Indra), svasti as stable harmony of being, integration of higher and lower planes (divya + pārthiva)
Bṛhaspati (truth-word) and Indra (victorious mind) together establish ṛta in speech and action.
Inspired speech as a channel of satya; wealth becomes truthful plenitude rather than craving.
Heaven/earth integration: divya and pārthiva wealth unified—spirit realized in life.
Vedic integralism (speech-power + mind-power as instruments of realization).
Heaven/earth = higher consciousness and embodied nature; svasti = harmonious flow of energies; rayi = fullness of life-force and understanding.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The alliance of Word (Bṛhaspati) and Force (Indra) as joint sovereigns of wealth in heaven and earth. Psychologically, inspired speech and illumined power together grant plenitude (rayi) and maintain ‘good-being’ (svasti) as a protective harmony.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- svasti is a transparent archaic compound su- + √as ‘be’, paralleling Indo-European well-being formulae. Dual forms (yuvam, īśāthe, dhattam) preserve an old grammatical category used in ritual-poetic pairing of powers.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi positions himself as stuvat/kīra (praiser/word-maker) and asks the lords of Word and Force to ‘place’ rayi in him and to guard him with svasti. The exchange is: offered hymn (word) for granted plenitude and protection.
Invoke guidance of the inner Word (Bṛhaspati) and execution by illumined mind (Indra); ask for rayi as wholeness, then rest in svasti as harmonized protection.
Viśuddha (word/truth expression) + Ājñā (illumined direction)
Slow coherent breathing (5–6 breaths/min). Mentally chant ‘bṛhaspate’ on inhale (receive guidance) and ‘indraś ca’ on exhale (execute).
Settled, guided, auspiciously protected.
Before speaking/teaching/deciding: 1) Sit 2 minutes in silence. 2) Chant once, then ask inwardly: ‘What is the true word? What is the true act?’ 3) End with a brief intention: ‘May svasti govern my day.’
Benedictive contour: keep udatta prominence on bṛ́haspate, índraś, vásvo, divyásya, pārthivásya, rayím, svastíbhih; soften at ‘sadā naḥ’.
Pause slightly after addressing: ‘bṛhaspate’; then balance the dual: ‘yuvam indraś ca’; give warmth to petitions: ‘dhattaṃ rayiṃ… yūyam pāta…’.
‘bṛhaspate’: vocalic ṛ as short ‘ri’ with tongue-tip curl minimal; avoid ‘briha-’., ‘īśāthe’: long ī; ś (palatal) clear; ‘th’ aspirated., ‘kīraye’: long ī; ‘ry’ cluster clean., ‘svastibhiḥ’: sva- (not ‘suva’); final ḥ light.
Warm, prayerful, steady; end with a protective hush.
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