The
tenth Mandala of the
Rigveda has 191 hymns. Together with
Mandala 1, it forms the latest part of the Rigveda, containing much mythological material, including the
Purusha sukta (10.90) and the dialogue of
Sarama with the
Panis (10.108), and notably containing several
dialogue hymns. 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).