The marriage of Sūryā, the daughter of Sūrya, with Soma is an allegorical poetry, indicating the spiritual journey of the Individual.
Here, Sūryā/woman indicates the Spiritual practice/Sādhanā (साधना) of the individual.
Out of total 47 verses in this Sukta (Rig Veda 10.85), a few were considered for elaboraing the spiritual meaning, embedded in the apparent literal poetry.
The above celestial wedding of Surya and Soma is incorporated into the Atharva Veda Kanda 14 – Suktas 1 and 2.
Atharva Veda expands upon the Rig Vedic hymns, turning these verses into direct, actionable mantras, spells, and domestic rituals meant to ensure prosperity, fertility, and marital harmony.
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In the opening verse, by stating that the Earth is held up because of TRUTH and that Ādityas exist due to ṛta, the importance of following the path of TRUTH with त्रिकारणशुद्धि - trikāraṇaśuddhi (by thought, word and action) in the spiritual practices of an individual
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Rig Veda 10.85.1
सत्येनोत्तभिता भूमिः सूर्येणोत्तभिता द्यौः । ऋतेनादित्यास्तिष्ठन्ति दिवि सोमो अधि श्रितः ॥
satyenottabhitā bhūmiḥ sūryeṇottabhitā dyauḥ | ṛtenādityās tiṣṭhanti divi somo adhi śritaḥ ||
English translation:
By TRUTH is the earth propped up; by the Sun is Heaven propped up. By ṛta do the Ādityas stand, and Soma is fixed in heaven.
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In Verse No.3, it is clearly stated that SOMA is not a plant, and cannot be experienced by everyone.
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Rig Veda 10.85.3
सोमं मन्यते पपिवान्यत्सम्पिंषन्त्योषधिम् । सोमं यं ब्रह्माणो विदुर्न तस्याश्नाति कश्चन ॥
somam manyate
papivān yat sampiṃṣanty oṣadhim | somaṃ yam brahmāṇo vidur na tasyāśnāti kaś
cana ||
English translation:
A man thinks he has drunk the soma when they crush the plant. But the Soma that the formulators know—no one at all consumes that.
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In verse 9, it was stated that Soma was the bridegroom; and Savitar gave Sūryā to her husband.
We have to remember that in Rig Veda, SOMA is not the Moon God, but the DIVINE BLISS that the individual experiences at the culmination of spiritual practices.
When an individual performs spiritual practices, focussing on the Savitar, one will experience DIVINE BLISS, which was stated allegorically as Savitar giving Sūryā to SOMA.
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Rig Veda 10.85.9
सोमो वधूयुरभवदश्विनास्तामुभा वरा । सूर्यां यत्पत्ये शंसन्तीं मनसा सविताददात् ॥
somo vadhūyur abhavad aśvināstām ubhā varā | sūryāṃ yat patye śaṃsantīm manasā savitādadāt ||
English translation:
Soma was the bridegroom; the Aśvins were both wooers, when Savitar gave Sūryā to her husband, as she pronounced (her vow) with her (whole) mind.
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It is well known fact that in spiritual practices, mind will be focussed on the mantra or deity.
This aspect was mentioned in the verse 10, wherein it was stated that Sūryā proceeded to her new home through her mind as cart/wagon.
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Rig Veda 10.85.10
मनो अस्या अन आसीद्द्यौरासीदुत च्छदिः । शुक्रावनड्वाहावास्तां यदयात्सूर्या गृहम् ॥
mano asyā ana āsīd dyaur āsīd uta cchadiḥ | śukrāv anaḍvāhāv āstāṃ yad ayāt sūryā gṛham ||
English translation:
Mind was her cart/wagon, and heaven was her canopy. The two glowing ones were the draft-oxen, when Sūryā drove to her (new) home.
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Rig Veda says explicitly that an individual will progress spiritually only if one overcomes one’s 3 main vices, which were mentioned in esoteric manner as Varuṇa removing his पाशा(pāśā) bonds/fetters.
Further, it was also stated in Rig Veda that the formless ENERGY/BRAHMAN/BLISS exists in the womb of ṛta (the cosmic TRUTH) - ṛtasya yoni.
When the spiritual practise reaches its culmination, one will experience the BLISS.
This was stated in Verse 24, as Sūryā joining her husband, SOMA, in the womb of ṛta.
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Rig Veda 10.85.24
प्र त्वा मुञ्चामि वरुणस्य पाशाद्येन त्वाबध्नात्सविता सुशेवः । ऋतस्य योनौ सुकृतस्य लोकेऽरिष्टां त्वा सह पत्या दधामि ॥
pra tvā muñcāmi varuṇasya pāśād yena tvābadhnāt savitā suśevaḥ | ṛtasya yonau sukṛtasya loke 'riṣṭāṃ tvā saha patyā dadhāmi ||
English translation:
I release you from the fetter of Varuṇa, with which well-disposed Savitar bound you. In the womb of ṛta, in the world of the well-performed I place you unharmed along with your husband.
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An individual attaining the SELF REALISATION/BLISS is mentioned in the Verse 27 as merging Sūryā’s body with her husband. Thereafter, one will experience the everlasting happiness, which was mentioned as begetting children, in esoteric sense.
Further, the BLISS will last till the death of the body, which was mentioned as the two becoming old.
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Rig Veda 10.85.27
इह प्रियं प्रजया ते समृध्यतामस्मिन्गृहे गार्हपत्याय जागृहि । एना पत्या तन्वं सं सृजस्वाधा जिव्री विदथमा वदाथः ॥
iha priyam prajayā te sam ṛdhyatām asmin gṛhe gārhapatyāya jāgṛhi | enā patyā tanvaṃ saṃ sṛjasvādhā jivrī vidatham ā vadāthaḥ ||
English translation:
Here let your heart’s desire be realized through children; here in this house be vigilant for the ruling of your household. With this husband merge your body. Then (even) as an elderly couple you two will announce the ceremonial distribution.
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The general interpretation of the following 3 verses, ie., 39 to 41, is as follows:
The hymn notes that a woman is protected in her youth by three divine guardians before marriage: Soma (the Moon), who gives youth; Gandharva, who preserves beauty and purity; and Agni (Fire), who represents domestic warmth.
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However, the inner meaning of the verses 39 to 41 is different.
It indicates the returning of one’s mind from BLISS to physical level.
SOMA is the BLISS, the highest level. Gandharva is the next below level. And, Agni is the Ground level.
Thus, the verses 39 to 41 narrates the coming down of the mind from the highest level of BLISS – SOMA to ground level (AGNI), passing through the mid-level – Gandharva.
Finally, it will be restored to the individual.
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Rig Veda 10.85.39
पुनः पत्नीमग्निरदादायुषा सह वर्चसा । दीर्घायुरस्या यः पतिर्जीवाति शरदः शतम् ॥
punaḥ patnīm agnir adād āyuṣā saha varcasā | dīrghāyur asyā yaḥ patir jīvāti śaradaḥ śatam ||
English translation:
Agni has given the wife back, along with lifetime and luster, (to him) who as her husband will live, long-lived, through a hundred autumns.
Rig Veda 10.85.40
सोमः प्रथमो विविदे गन्धर्वो विविद उत्तरः । तृतीयो अग्निष्टे पतिस्तुरीयस्ते मनुष्यजाः ॥
somaḥ prathamo vivide gandharvo vivida uttaraḥ | tṛtīyo agniṣ ṭe patis turīyas te manuṣyajāḥ ||
English translation:
Soma acquired (you) first; the Gandharva acquired (you) next. Agni was your third husband. The fourth was human-born.
Rig Veda 10.85.41
सोमो ददद्गन्धर्वाय गन्धर्वो दददग्नये । रयिं च पुत्राँश्चादादग्निर्मह्यमथो इमाम् ॥
somo dadad gandharvāya gandharvo dadad agnaye | rayiṃ ca putrām̐ś cādād agnir mahyam atho imām ||
English translation:
Soma gave (her) to the Gandharva; the Gandharva gave (her) to Agni. Agni has given both wealth and sons to me, and also this woman here.
