Rig Veda 9.73.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 73, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.73
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna with strong invocation of Varuṇa and Ṛta
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
पवित्रवन्तः परि वाचमासते पितैषां प्रत्नो अभि रक्षति व्रतम् । महः समुद्रं वरुणस्तिरो दधे धीरा इच्छेकुर्धरुणेष्वारभम् ॥
pavitravantaḥ pári vā́cam āsate pitā́ eṣā́m pratnó abhí rakṣati vratám | máhaḥ samudráṃ váruṇas tiró dadhe dhīrā́ ícchekur dharuṇéṣv ārabhám ||
الذين امتلأوا بقوّةِ التطهير يجلسون حول الكلمةِ المُلهَمة. والأبُ القديمُ في داخلهم يحرس ناموسَ عملِهم القويم. وفارونا كأنّه يضع حجابًا على المحيطِ العظيمِ للاتّساع؛ والباحثون المستنيرون يتوقون إلى أن يمسكوا بأسسِ الدعائم الحاملة.
Word by Word
- पवित्रवन्तः
- having/possessing the filter (i.e., purified/with the strainer)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot पवित्र-वत् (प्रातिपदिक) < पवित्र (पु) + वत् (मतुप्)
- परि
- around, all aboutIndeclinableअव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वाचम्
- speech, hymn, utteranceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot वाच् (स्त्री) (प्रातिपदिक)
- आसते
- they sit; they take their seatVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot √आस् (आसँ उपवेशने)
- पिता
- the fatherNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- एषाम्
- of these; theirPronounषष्ठी, बहुवचन (सर्वलिङ्ग)Root एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रत्नः
- ancient, primevalAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot प्रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- towards, overIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- रक्षति
- protects, guardsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √रक्ष् (रक्षँ पालने)
- व्रतम्
- vow; sacred ordinance; fixed ruleNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot व्रत (नपुं) (प्रातिपदिक)
- महः
- of the great (one); of greatnessAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (Vedic form)Root महत्/मह (प्रातिपदिक)
- समुद्रम्
- ocean; sea; (cosmic) floodNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरुणः
- VaruṇaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- तिरः
- across; over; away; in concealmentIndeclinableअव्ययRoot तिरस् (अव्यय/उपसर्गीय)
- दधे
- has placed; has set; has putVerbलिट् (परोक्श/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRoot √धा (डुधाञ् धारणे) with reduplication (दध-)
- धीराः
- the wise; steadfast thinkersAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot धीरा (प्रातिपदिक) < धी (बुद्धि) + र (possessing)
- इच्छेकुः
- they desired; they soughtVerbलिट्/आर्ष-रूप (Vedic), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √इष्/इच्छ् (इषँ इच्छायाम्) (Vedic desiderative/archaic perfect-like form)
- धरुणेषु
- in the supports; in the firm foundations/abodesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot धरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
- आरभम्
- Root आरभ (प्रातिपदिक) < √रभ् (रभँ ग्रहणे) with आ-
The meaning
Outer meaning
Those possessing purification sit around the inspired Word; the ancient Father guards their law. Varuṇa veils the great ocean of the Vast; the wise seek to grasp the supporting foundations.
Inner meaning
Pavitravantaḥ are those in whom the power of purification is active—inner disciplines and clarifying forces. They ‘sit around Vāc’: consciousness gathers around revelation, listening until speech becomes truth-inspired, not ego-driven. The ‘Ancient Father’ (pratna pitā) is the inmost origin—either the indwelling Divine (Purusha) or the timeless guiding consciousness—who protects the vrata: the right working, the soul’s law of practice. Varuṇa, lord of vastness and ṛta, ‘places a veil’ over the great ocean of Mahas (the Vast): the infinite is not seized by the surface mind; it is protected by a law of gradual unveiling. The dhīrāḥ (steadfast illumined ones) yearn to take hold of dharuṇeṣu—the supports, the stable bases (truth-principles) on which higher consciousness can be founded.
Universal truth
Purification gathers the mind around truth-speech; right practice is protected by the deepest Self. The Infinite is veiled until we can hold its foundations—clarity, lawfulness, and inner steadiness—without distortion.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Purification, Guardianship of Ṛta, Revelation (Vāc), Inner discipline (vrata)
The seer
- Rishi
- Pavamāna seer (RV 9.73 attribution uncertain in provided data)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.73 (same hymn), RV 7.86 (Varuṇa and law/inner sincerity; thematic), RV 10.125 (Vāc; conceptual companion)
Family tradition
Pavamāna corpus with strong ṛta/Varuṇa undertones: purification as preparation for vast truth.
Significance
The seer articulates a mature yogic law: purification and right practice attract revelation, but the Vast is unveiled by Varuṇa only when foundations are ready.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (with prominent Varuṇa function)
- Epithets
- Pavitravant (purifying power), Pratna-pitṛ-gupta (guarded by the Ancient Father)
- Related deities
- Varuṇa, Vāc, Indra (as illumined mind that benefits from Soma)
Cosmic role
Soma purifies and gathers Vāc; Varuṇa regulates the unveiling of the Vast according to ṛta.
Inner power
Soma: clarifying bliss that makes revelation possible. Varuṇa: truth-law that prevents premature seizure of the infinite and establishes stable foundations.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification praise; also resonates with rites emphasizing ṛta/vrata (Varuṇa)
प॒वित्र॑वन्त॒: परि॒ वाच॑मासते पि॒तैषां॑ प्र॒त्नो अ॒भि र॑क्षति व्र॒तम् । म॒हः स॑मु॒द्रं वरु॑णस्ति॒रो द॑धे॒ धीरा॒ इच्छे॑कुर्ध॒रुणे॑ष्वा॒रभ॑म् ॥
प॒वित्र॑ऽवन्तः । परि॑ । वाच॑म् । आ॒स॒ते॒ । पि॒तआ । ए॒षा॒म् । प्र॒त्नः । अ॒भि । र॒क्ष॒ति॒ । व्र॒तम् । म॒हः । स॒मु॒द्रम् । वरु॑णः । ति॒रः । द॒धे॒ । धीराः॑ । इत् । शे॒कुः॒ । ध॒रुणे॑षु । आ॒ऽरभ॑म् ॥
pavitra-vantaḥ | pari | vācam | āsate | pitaā | eṣām | pratnaḥ | abhi | rakṣati | vratam | mahaḥ | samudram | varuṇaḥ | tiraḥ | dadhe | dhīrāḥ | it | śekuḥ | dharuṇeṣu | ārabham
48
4 × 12 (norm)
Grave, spacious cadence suited to ‘Mahas samudra’; contemplative yet firm.
Induces a wide, silent interior; supports reverence and restraint—an inward ‘pause’ before the Vast.
- पवित्रवन्तः (pavitravantaḥ)
- Literal: possessing the purifier. Symbolic: those with active inner purification; clarified consciousness
- परि वाचम् (pari vācam)
- Literal: around the Word. Symbolic: collecting awareness around inspired revelation; mantra-centered consciousness
- प्रत्नः पिता (pratnaḥ pitā)
- Literal: ancient father. Symbolic: timeless inner guide—indwelling Divine/Origin consciousness
- व्रतम् (vratam)
- Literal: vow, law, right observance. Symbolic: the soul’s right working; disciplined alignment with ṛta
- महो समुद्रम् (mahaḥ samudram)
- Literal: great ocean of the Vast. Symbolic: infinite consciousness (mahas) experienced as boundless depth
- वरुणः (varuṇaḥ)
- Literal: Varuṇa. Symbolic: power of vastness, law, and inner truth that regulates revelation
- तिरो दधे (tiro dadhe)
- Literal: placed a covering/veil. Symbolic: protective concealment: higher truth hidden until readiness
- धीराः (dhīrāḥ)
- Literal: the steadfast/wise. Symbolic: those stabilized in intelligence and inner poise
- धरुणेषु (dharuṇeṣu)
- Literal: in the supports/foundations. Symbolic: stable planes/principles (truth-bases) enabling higher realization
- आरभम् (ārabham)
- Literal: a grasping, taking hold. Symbolic: spiritual ‘seizing’—direct contact, not conceptual belief
Soma-pavamāna recitation during Soma pressing and purification (pavamāna-stotra context; used in Agniṣṭoma/Atirātra Soma rites)
In Pavamāna sequences; thematically apt in contexts invoking Varuṇa’s order (e.g., vows, truthfulness).
Chant during filtration/collection; mentally ‘veil’ distractions and sit around Vāc (mantra).
For practitioners: use before speaking/teaching—sit around the Word inwardly; renew vrata (ethical alignment) so speech becomes protected by truth.
pavitra- from √pū / √pav ‘to purify, cleanse, clarify’; indicates a sifting/clarifying force. vāc- from √vac ‘to speak’; in RV often revelation-word. vratá- from √vṛ ‘to choose, will, restrain/cover’ → chosen rule/discipline; in Varuṇa context ‘law of ṛta’. Varuṇa from √vṛ ‘to cover, encompass, bind’ → the all-encompassing regulator. samudrá- ‘gathered waters’ (sam-ud-) → plenitude/totality. dharuṇá- from √dhṛ ‘to hold, support’ → foundation/support. ārabh- (-√) ‘to seize, take hold of’ → inner grasping of a stable basis.
Ṛta (cosmic order), Vrata (law/discipline aligned to ṛta), Vāc (revelatory speech), Mahas (the Vast)
Vrata is the personal form of ṛta; Varuṇa guards it and thus controls access to the Vast.
Vāc becomes satya-bearing when purification and vrata are intact.
Veiling/unveiling: manifestation proceeds by measured revelation of the Vast into forms.
Integral Vedism: Mahas as vast consciousness; Varuṇa as regulator of truth-order; Soma as ananda-purifier enabling ascent.
The ocean is infinite consciousness; the veil is protective ignorance/measure; foundations are stable realizations (truth, calm, sincerity) that can hold vast experience.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the purification-and-revelation cycle: Soma (as the purifying current) gathers the seers around Vāc, while Varuṇa—lord of binding order—veils the ‘great ocean of the Vast’. The concealment is not mere hiding but a protective cosmic boundary that compels the dhīraḥ to seek and ‘grasp’ the dharuṇāni (supporting planes). This is the recurrent RV pattern: Truth is present as plenitude (samudra/mahas) yet covered; the seeker must purify and stabilize to access it.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Key terms preserve old Indo-European semantic fields: √dhṛ ‘hold’ (dharuṇa-) aligns with PIE *dher- ‘to hold, support’. √vac ‘speak’ (vāc-) aligns with PIE *wekʷ- ‘voice/speak’ (cf. Latin vox). Varuṇa from √vṛ ‘cover/bind’ resonates with PIE *wer- ‘to cover’ and the broader Indo-European notion of a binding cosmic order. The verse’s syntax (participial/nominal density: pavitravantaḥ, dhīrāḥ, pratnaḥ) is typical of archaic Indo-European poetic style, packing agency into epithets rather than finite verbs.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s stance is not petition alone but alignment: by becoming ‘pavitravantaḥ’ they qualify to sit around Vāc (receive revelation). The Devatā reciprocates by guarding the seeker’s vrata (inner law) through the ‘Ancient Father’ principle and by Varuṇa’s ordering concealment—forcing maturation. The exchange is thus: purification and disciplined receptivity from the human side; protection of right order and graded disclosure from the cosmic powers.
Sit ‘around Vāc’: listen inwardly for the truer word beneath thought; renew the inner vow (vrata) of sincerity.
Viśuddha (truth-speech) and Sahasrāra/upper mind (Mahas as Vast)
Silent kumbhaka after exhale for a moment of ‘veil’—restraint; then inhale as widening into the Vast.
Quiet, wide, ethically aligned awareness.
Chant slowly 9 times. After each recitation, pause in silence, sensing the ‘ocean’ behind the mind. Do not force experiences; ask for the ‘foundations’—calm, truthfulness, steadiness—to be established first.
Vedic accents per śākhā; exact svara requires a marked Saṃhitā.
Chant with deliberate pauses at syntactic joints; keep ‘mahaḥ samudram’ broad and sustained; soften tone on ‘tiro dadhe’ to suggest veiling.
Maintain aspirates: dhīrā (dh-), chekur (ch-), dharuṇeṣu (dh-)., Keep retroflex ṇ in dharuṇeṣu clear., Avoid collapsing consonant clusters: pavitravantaḥ (pa-vi-tra-van-taḥ).
Deep, steady, restrained; minimal ornamentation.
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