Mandala 10

The tenth mandala, or chapter, of the Rigveda contains 191 hymns. Together with Mandala 1, it forms the latest part of the Rigveda, containing material, including the Purusha Sukta (10.90) and the dialogue of Sarama with the Panis (10.108), and notably containing several dialogue hymns.

Topics
The subjects of the hymns cover a wider spectrum than in the other books, dedicated not only to deities or natural phenomena, including deities that are not prominent enough to receive their own hymns in the other books (Nirrti 10.59, Asamati 10.60, Ratri 10.127, Aranyani 10.146, Indrani 10.159), but also to objects like dice (10.34), herbs (10.97), press-stones (for Soma, 10.94, 175) and abstract concepts like liberality (towards the rishi, 10.117), creation (10.129 (the Nasadiya Sukta), 130, 190), knowledge (10.71), speech, spirit (10.58), faith (10.151), a charm against evil dreams (10.164).

10.15, dedicated to the forefathers, contains a reference to the emerging rite of cremation in verse 14, where ancestors "both cremated (agnidagdhá-) and uncremated (ánagnidagdha-)" are invoked.

10.47 to 50 are to Indra Vaikuntha, "Indra son of Vikuntha". Vikuntha was an Asuri whom Indra had allowed to become his second mother. The rishi of 10.47 is called Saptagu, while that of 10.48–50 is likewise called Indra Vaikuntha.

10.85 is a marriage hymn, evoking the marriage of Suryā, daughter of Surya (the Sun), another form of Ushas, the prototypical bride.

RV 10.121 (the Hiranyagarbha Sukta) is another hymn dealing with creation, containing elements of monotheism. It has a recurring pada "what God shall we adore with our oblation?", in verse 1 named Hiranyagarbha "the golden egg" or Cosmic egg,  later a name of Brahma, in verse 10 addressed as Prajapati.

10.129 (the Nasadiya Sukta) and 130 are creation hymns, probably the best known Rigvedic hymns in the west, especially 10.129.7:
 * He, the first origin of this creation, whether he formed it all or did not form it, / Whose eye controls this world in highest heaven, he verily knows it, or perhaps he knows not. (Griffith)

These hymns exhibit a level of philosophical speculation very atypical of the Rigveda, which for the most part is occupied with ritualistic invocation.

10.145 is attributed to Indrani. It is a spell for a jealous wife to get rid of more favoured rival. Atypical of the Rigveda, similar spells are found in the Atharvaveda.

10.154 is a funeral hymn, asking for that the departed may join those who attained heaven through tapas. Padas 1 cd is reminiscent of the Norse concept of Valhalla:
 * To those for whom the meath flows forth, even to those let him depart. (Griffith)

10.155 is against the "one-eyed limping hag" Arayi.

10.166, attributed to Anila, is a spell for the destruction of rivals, similar to 10.145, but this time to be uttered by men who want to be rid of male rivals.

10.173 and 174 are benedictions of a newly elected king.

The rishis of the 10th Mandala are divided into Shudrasuktas and Mahasuktas, that is, sages who have composed "small" vs. "great" hymns.

Selected hymns
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List of incipits
The dedication as given by Griffith is in square brackets

10.1 (827) [ Agni.] ágre bṛhánn uṣásām ūrdhvó asthān 10.2 (828) [Agni.] piprīhí devâṁ uśató yaviṣṭha 10.3 (829) [Agni.] inó rājann ? aratíḥ sámiddho 10.4 (830) [Agni.] prá te yakṣi prá ta iyarmi mánma 10.5 (831) [Agni.] ékaḥ samudró dharúṇo rayīṇâm 10.6 (832) [Agni.] ayáṃ sá yásya śármann ávobhir 10.7 (833) [Agni.] suastí no divó agne pṛthivyâ 10.8 (834) [Agni.] prá ketúnā bṛhatâ yāti agnír 10.9 (835) [ Waters.] âpo hí ṣṭhâ mayobhúvas 10.10 (836) [ Yama Yami.] ó cit sákhāyaṃ sakhiyâ vavṛtyāṃ 10.11 (837) [Agni.] vŕṣā vŕṣṇe duduhe dóhasā diváḥ 10.12 (838) [Agni.] dyâvā ha kṣâmā prathamé ṛténa 10.13 (839) [ Havirdhanas.] yujé vām bráhma pūrviyáṃ námobhir 10.14 (840) [Yama.] pareyivâṃsam praváto mahîr ánu 10.15 (841) [Fathers.] úd īratām ávara út párāsa 10.16 (842) [Agni.] maínam agne ví daho mâbhí śoco 10.17 (843) [Various Deities.] tváṣṭā duhitré vahatúṃ kṛṇoti 10.18 (844) [Various Deities.] páram mṛtyo ánu párehi pánthāṃ 10.19 (845) [Waters or Cows.] ní vartadhvam mânu gāta 10.20 (846) [Agni.] bhadráṃ no ápi vātaya mánaḥ 10.21 (847) [Agni.] â agníṃ ná svávṛktibhir 10.22 (848) [ Indra.] kúha śrutá índaraḥ kásmin adyá 10.23 (849) [Indra.] yájāmaha índaraṃ vájradakṣiṇaṃ 10.24 (850) [Indra. Asvins.] índra sómam imám piba 10.25 (851) [ Soma.] bhadráṃ no ápi vātaya 10.26 (852) [ Pusan.] prá hí áchā manīṣâ 10.27 (853) [Indra.] ásat sú me jaritaḥ sâbhivegó 10.28 (854) [Indra. Vasukra.] víśvo hí anyó arír ājagâma 10.29 (855) [Indra.] váne ná vā yó ní adhāyi cākáñ 10.30 (856) [Waters.] prá devatrâ bráhmaṇe gātúr etu 10.31 (857) [ Visvedevas.] â no devânām úpa vetu śáṃso 10.32 (858) [Indra.] prá sú gmántā dhiyasānásya sakṣáṇi 10.33 (859) [Various Deities.] prá mā yuyujre prayújo jánānāṃ 10.34 (860) [Dice, Etc.] prāvepâ mā bṛható mādayanti 10.35 (861) [Visvedevas.] ábudhram u tyá índravanto agnáyo 10.36 (862) [Visvedevas.] uṣâsānáktā bṛhatî supéśasā 10.37 (863) [ Surya.] námo mitrásya váruṇasya cákṣase 10.38 (864) [Indra.] asmín na indra pṛtsutaú yáśasvati 10.39 (865) [Asvins.] yó vām párijmā suvŕd aśvinā rátho 10.40 (866) [Asvins.] ráthaṃ y~ântaṃ kúha kó ha vāṃ narā 10.41 (867) [Asvins.] samānám u tyám puruhūtám ukthíyaṃ 10.42 (868) [Indra.] ásteva sú prataráṃ lâyam ásyan 10.43 (869) [Indra.] áchā ma índram matáyaḥ suvarvídaḥ 10.44 (870) [Indra.] â yātu índraḥ svápatir mádāya 10.45 (871) [Agni.] divás pári prathamáṃ jajñe agnír 10.46 (872) [Agni.] prá hótā jātó mahân nabhovín 10.47 (873) [Indra Vaikuntha.] jagṛbhmâ te dákṣiṇam indra hástaṃ 10.48 (874) [Indra Vaikuntha.] ahám bhuvaṃ vásunaḥ pūrviyás pátir 10.49 (875) [Indra Vaikuntha.] aháṃ d~āṃ gṛṇaté pûrviyaṃ vásu 10.50 (876) [Indra Vaikuntha.] prá vo mahé mándamānāya ándhaso 10.51 (877) [Agni. Gods.] mahát tád úlbaṃ stháviraṃ tád āsīd 10.52 (878) [Gods.] víśve devāḥ śāstána mā yáthehá 10.53 (879) [Agni Saucika Gods.] yám aíchāma mánasā só 'yám âgād 10.54 (880) [Indra.] tâṃ sú te kīrtím maghavan mahitvâ 10.55 (881) [Indra.] dūré tán nâma gúhiyam parācaír 10.56 (882) [Visvedevas.] idáṃ ta ékam pará ū ta ékaṃ 10.57 (883) [Visvedevas.] mâ prá gāma pathó vayám 10.58 (884) [ Manas or Spirit.] yát te yamáṃ vaivasvatám 10.59 (885) [ Nirrti and Others.] prá tāri âyuḥ prataráṃ návīya 10.60 (886) [ Asamati and Others.] â jánaṃ tveṣásaṃdṛśam 10.61 (887) [Visvedevas.] idám itthâ raúdaraṃ gūrtávacā 10.62 (888) [Visvedevas, Etc.] yé yajñéna dákṣiṇayā sámaktā 10.63 (889) [Visvedevas.] parāváto yé dídhiṣanta âpiyam 10.64 (890) [Visvedevas.] kathâ devânāṃ katamásya yâmani 10.65 (891) [Visvedevas.] agnír índro váruṇo mitró aryamâ 10.66 (892) [Visvedevas.] devân huve bṛhácchravasaḥ suastáye 10.67 (893) [ Brhaspati.] imâṃ dhíyaṃ saptáśīrṣṇīm pitâ na 10.68 (894) [Brhaspati.] udaprúto ná váyo rákṣamāṇā 10.69 (895) [Agni.] bhadrâ agnér vadhriaśvásya saṃdŕśo 10.70 (896) [ Apris.] imâm me agne samídhaṃ juṣasva 10.71 (897) [ Jnanam.] bŕhaspate prathamáṃ vācó ágraṃ 10.72 (898) [The Gods.] devânāṃ nú vayáṃ jânā 10.73 (899) [Indra.] jániṣṭhā ugráḥ sáhase turâya 10.74 (900) [Indra.] vásūn~āṃ vā carkṛṣe íyakṣan 10.75 (901) [ The Rivers.] prá sú va āpo mahimânam uttamáṃ (the Nadistuti sukta) 10.76 (902) [Press-stones.] â va ṛñjasa ūrj~âṃ víuṣṭiṣu 10.77 (903) [ Maruts.] abhraprúṣo ná vācâ pruṣā vásu 10.78 (904) [Maruts.] víprāso ná mánmabhiḥ suādhíyo 10.79 (905) [Agni.] ápaśyam asya maható mahitvám 10.80 (906) [Agni.] agníḥ sáptiṃ vājambharáṃ dadāti 10.81 (907) [ Visvakarman.] yá imâ víśvā bhúvanāni júhvad 10.82 (908) [Visvakarman.] cákṣuṣaḥ pitâ mánasā hí dhîro 10.83 (909) [ Manyu.] yás te manyo ávidhad vajra sāyaka 10.84 (910) [Manyu.] tváyā manyo sarátham ārujánto 10.85 (911) [Surya's Bridal.] satyénóttabhitā bhûmiḥ 10.86 (912) [Indra.] ví hí sótor ásṛkṣata 10.87 (913) [Agni.] rakṣoháṇaṃ vājínam â jigharmi 10.88 (914) [Agni.] havíṣ p~ântam ajáraṃ suvarvídi 10.89 (915) [Indra.] índraṃ stavā nŕtamaṃ yásya mahnâ 10.90 (916) [ Purusa.] sahásraśīrṣā púruṣaḥ (the Purusha sukta) 10.91 (917) [Agni.] sáṃ jāgṛvádbhir járamāṇa idhyate 10.92 (918) [Visvedevas.] yajñásya vo rathíyaṃ viśpátiṃ viśâṃ 10.93 (919) [Visvedevas.] máhi dyāvāpṛthivī bhūtam urvî 10.94 (920) [Press-stones.] praíté vadantu prá vayáṃ vadāma 10.95 (921) [ Urvasi. Pururavas.] hayé jâye mánasā tíṣṭha ghore 10.96 (922) [Indra.] prá te mahé vidáthe śaṃsiṣaṃ hárī 10.97 (923) [Praise of Herbs.] yâ óṣadhīḥ pûrvā jātâ 10.98 (924) [The Gods.] bŕhaspate práti me devátām ihi 10.99 (925) [Indra.] káṃ naś citrám iṣaṇyasi cikitvân 10.100 (926) [Visvedevas.] índra dŕhya maghavan tvâvad íd bhujá 10.101 (927) [Visvedevas.] úd budhyadhvaṃ sámanasaḥ sakhāyaḥ 10.102 (928) [Indra.] prá te rátham mithūkŕtam 10.103 (929) [Indra.] āśúḥ śíśāno vṛṣabhó ná bhīmó 10.104 (930) [Indra.] ásāvi sómaḥ puruhūta túbhyaṃ 10.105 (931) [Indra.] kadâ vaso ? stotráṃ háryate 10.106 (932) ubhâ u nūnáṃ tád íd arthayethe 10.107 (933) [ Daksina.] āvír abhūn máhi mâghonam eṣāṃ 10.108 (934) [ Sarama. Panis.] kím ichántī sarámā prédám ānaḍ 10.109 (935) [Visvedevas.] té avadan prathamâ brahmakilbiṣé 10.110 (936) [Apris.] sámiddho adyá mánuṣo duroṇé 10.111 (937) [Indra.] mánīṣiṇaḥ prá bharadhvam manīṣâṃ 10.112 (938) [Indra.] índra píba pratikāmáṃ sutásya 10.113 (939) [Indra.] tám asya dyâvāpṛthivî sácetasā 10.114 (940) [Visvedevas.] gharmâ sámantā trivŕtaṃ ví āpatus 10.115 (941) [Agni.] citrá íc chíśos táruṇasya vakṣátho 10.116 (942) [Indra.] píbā sómam mahatá indriyâya 10.117 (943) [Liberality.] ná vâ u devâḥ kṣúdham íd vadháṃ dadur 10.118 (944) [Agni.] ágne háṃsi ní atríṇaṃ 10.119 (945) [Indra.] íti vâ íti me máno 10.120 (946) [Indra.] tád íd āsa bhúvaneṣu jyáyiṣṭhaṃ 10.121 (947) [ Ka.] hiraṇyagarbháḥ sám avartatâgre 10.122 (948) [Agni.] vásuṃ ná citrámahasaṃ gṛṇīṣe 10.123 (949) [ Vena.] ayáṃ venáś codayat pŕśnigarbhā 10.124 (950) [Agni, Etc.] imáṃ no agna úpa yajñám éhi 10.125 (951) [ Vak.] aháṃ rudrébhir vásubhiś carāmi 10.126 (952) [Visvedevas.] ná tám áṃho ná duritáṃ 10.127 (953) [ Night.] râtrī ví akhyad āyatî 10.128 (954) [Visvedevas.] mámāgne várco vihavéṣu astu 10.129 (955) [Creation.] nâsad āsīn nó sád āsīt tadânīṃ 10.130 (956) [Creation.] yó yajñó ? viśvátas tántubhis tatá 10.131 (957) [Indra.] ápa prâca indra víśvāṁ amítrān 10.132 (958) [ Mitra. Varuna.] ījānám íd diyaúr gūrtâvasur 10.133 (959) [Indra.] pró ṣú asmai purorathám 10.134 (960) [Indra.] ubhé yád indra ródasī 10.135 (961) [Yama.] yásmin vṛkṣé supalāśé 10.136 (962) [ Kesins.] keśî agníṃ keśî viṣáṃ 10.137 (963) [Visvedevas.] utá devā ávahitaṃ 10.138 (964) [Indra.] táva tyá indra sakhiyéṣu váhnaya 10.139 (965) [ Savitar.] sûryaraśmir hárikeśaḥ purástāt 10.140 (966) [Agni.] ágne táva śrávo váyo 10.141 (967) [Visvedevas.] ágne áchā vadehá naḥ 10.142 (968) [Agni.] ayám agne jaritâ tvé abhūd ápi 10.143 (969) [Asvins.] tyáṃ cid átrim ṛtajúram 10.144 (970) [Indra.] ayáṃ hí te ámartiya 10.145 (971) [ Sapatnibadhanam.] imâṃ khanāmi óṣadhiṃ 10.146 (972) [ Aranyani.] áraṇyāni áraṇyāni 10.147 (973) [Indra.] śrát te dadhāmi prathamâya manyáve 10.148 (974) [Indra.] suṣvāṇâsa indara stumási tvā 10.149 (975) [Savitar.] savitâ yantraíḥ pṛthivîm aramṇād 10.150 (976) [Agni.] sámiddhaś cit sám idhyase 10.151 (977) [Faith.] śraddháyāgníḥ sám idhyate 10.152 (978) [Indra.] śāsá itthâ mahâṁ asi 10.153 (979) [Indra.] īṅkháyantīr apasyúva 10.154 (980) [New Life.] sóma ékebhyaḥ pavate 10.155 (981) [Various.] árāyi kâṇe víkaṭe 10.156 (982) [Agni.] agníṃ hinvantu no dhíyaḥ 10.157 (983) [Visvedevas.] imâ nú kam bhúvanā sīṣadhāma 10.158 (984) [Surya.] sûriyo no divás pātu 10.159 (985) [ Saci Paulomi.] úd asaú sûriyo agād 10.160 (986) [Indra.] tīvrásyābhívayaso asyá pāhi 10.161 (987) [Indra.] muñcâmi tvā havíṣā jîvanāya kám 10.162 (988) bráhmaṇāgníḥ saṃvidānó 10.163 (989) akṣîbhyāṃ te nâsikābhyāṃ 10.164 (990) [Dream-charm.] ápehi manasas pate 10.165 (991) [Visvedevas.] dévāḥ kapóta iṣitó yád ichán 10.166 (992) [ Sapatnanasanam.] ṛṣabhám mā samānânāṃ 10.167 (993) [Indra.] túbhyedám indra pári ṣicyate mádhu 10.168 (994) [ Vayu.] vâtasya nú mahimânaṃ ráthasya 10.169 (995) [Cows.] mayobhûr vâto abhí vātu usrâ 10.170 (996) [Surya.] vibhrâḍ bṛhát pibatu somiyám mádhu 10.171 (997) [Indra.] tuváṃ tyám iṭáto rátham 10.172 (998) [ Dawn.] â yāhi vánasā sahá 10.173 (999) [The King.] â tvāhārṣam antár edhi 10.174 (1000) [The King.] abhīvarténa havíṣā 10.175 (1001) [Press-stones.] prá vo grāvāṇaḥ savitâ 10.176 (1002) [Agni.] prá sūnáva ṛbhūṇ~âm 10.177 (1003) [ Mayabheda.] pataṃgám aktám ásurasya māyáyā 10.178 (1004) [ Tarksya.] tiyám ū ṣú vājínaṃ devájūtaṃ 10.179 (1005) [Indra.] út tiṣṭhatâva paśyata 10.180 (1006) [Indra.] prá sasāhiṣe puruhūta śátrūñ 10.181 (1007) [Visvedevas.] práthaś ca yásya sapráthaś ca nâma 10.182 (1008) [Brhaspati.] bŕhaspátir nayatu durgáhā tiráḥ 10.183 (1009) [The Sacrificer, Etc.] ápaśyaṃ tvā mánasā cékitānaṃ 10.184 (1010) [.] víṣṇur yóniṃ kalpayatu 10.185 (1011) [ Aditi.] máhi trīṇâm ávo astu 10.186 (1012) [Vayu.] vâta â vātu bheṣajáṃ 10.187 (1013) [Agni.] prâgnáye vâcam īraya 10.188 (1014) [Agni.] prá nūnáṃ jātávedasam 10.189 (1015) [Surya.] âyáṃ gaúḥ pŕśnir akramīd 10.190 (1016) [Creation.] ṛtáṃ ca satyáṃ cābhiìddhāt 10.191 (1017) [Agni.] sáṃ-sam íd yuvase vṛṣann -->