Rig Veda 9.30.2: Mandala 9, Sukta 30, Mantra 2
Sukta 9.30
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्दुर्हियानः सोतृभिर्मृज्यमानः कनिक्रदत् । इयर्ति वग्नुमिन्द्रियम् ॥
índur hiyānás sotṛ́bhir mṛ́jyamānaḥ kánikradat | íyarti vágnam indriyám ||
ইন্দু দ্ৰুতগামী হৈ, সোম-নিষ্পেষকসকলৰ দ্বাৰা পৰিশোধিত হওঁতে আনন্দেৰে গর্জন কৰে; সি অন্তৰত থকা ইন্দ্ৰীয় শক্তিৰ জাগ্ৰত অগ্নি—বলৰ অগ্নিক—চলিত কৰে।
Word by Word
- इन्दुः
- the Soma (drop)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्दु- (प्रातिपदिक) < √इन्द्/इन्दु (रस/सोम)
- हियानः
- hastening, speedingParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिक आत्मनेपद कृदन्तRole कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot √हि (गति/प्रेरणे) + शानच् (आत्मनेपद वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- सोतृभिः
- by the pressers (Soma-extractors)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot सोतृ- (प्रातिपदिक) < √सु (सोमप्रसवे) + तृच्
- मृज्यमानः
- being purified/cleansedParticiple (Adjective)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिक कर्मणि कृदन्तRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्मणि-भावः: ‘being cleansed’)Root √मृज् (मार्जने/शोधने) + यमान (वर्तमान कर्मणि कृदन्त)
- कनिक्रदत्
- cries aloud, resoundsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √क्रन्द्/क्रद् (नादे/रवे) ; ‘कनि-’ पुनरुक्ति-पूर्वक (intensive/iterative nuance)
- इयर्ति
- sets in motion, impelsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √ईर्/इर् (प्रेरणे/गतौ)
- वग्नुम्
- the swift/active (one/force)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वग्नु- (प्रातिपदिक; RV: ‘swift/active/strong’)
- इन्द्रियम्
- Indra-like power; vital strengthNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (विशेषण-भावे ‘इन्द्रियं’ = ‘इन्द्रसम्बन्धि बलम्’)Root इन्द्रिय- (प्रातिपदिक) < इन्द्र + यत्/इय (belonging to Indra; power)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठ: इन्दु॑र्हिया॒नः = इन्दुः + हियानः (विसर्ग-लोपः/रेफ-आदेशः ‘र्’). सो॒तृभि॑र्मृ॒ज्यमा॑नः = सोतृभिः + मृज्यमानः (विसर्गस्य ‘र्’ आदेशः). कनि॑क्रदत्: पद-रूपे ‘कनिक्-क्रदत्’ इति ध्वन्यात्मक/पुनरुक्ति-पूर्वक क्रन्दन-क्रिया
- संहितायां ‘कनिक्’ + ‘क्रदत्’ संयोगः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indu rushes, is cleansed by the pressers, cries out; he sets in motion the active Indra-power.
Inner meaning
As Soma-consciousness hastens forward (hiyānaḥ) and is purified by the ‘pressers’—the inner disciplines, tapas, and forces that extract the essence—there arises a jubilant cry (kanikradat), the spontaneous joy of liberation from mixture. This purified Soma then awakens ‘vagnum indriyam’: the active flame of Indra-force within—illumined power, courage, and decisive action that breaks resistances (Vṛtra-like coverings).
Universal truth
When aspiration and discipline purify the emotional-energetic nature, joy arises naturally and power becomes luminous and effective rather than impulsive.
Themes
Soma pressed and cleansed, Sound/vibration, Indra-force, Dynamic energy
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.30.1, RV 9.30.3
Significance
The verse maps a yogic sequence: aspiration → purification by tapas → joy → awakening of illumined power. It is a concise psychology of transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (Indu)
- Epithets
- Indu, Pavamāna
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Maruts
Cosmic role
Soma becomes the energizer of Indra (and the Indra-force in man), enabling victory over obstruction.
Inner power
Purified delight that turns into luminous strength and effective will-power.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing (savana) and cleansing
इन्दु॑र्हिया॒नः सो॒तृभि॑र्मृ॒ज्यमा॑न॒: कनि॑क्रदत् । इय॑र्ति व॒ग्नुमि॑न्द्रि॒यम् ॥
इन्दुः॑ । हि॒या॒नः । सो॒तृऽभिः॑ । मृ॒ज्यमा॑नः । कनि॑क्रदत् । इय॑र्ति । व॒ग्नुम् । इ॒न्द्रि॒यम् ॥
induḥ | hiyānaḥ | sotṛ-bhiḥ | mṛjyamānaḥ | kanikradat | iyarti | vagnum | indriyam
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4 × 11 syllables
Quick, kinetic; strong consonantal clusters mirror rushing and polishing.
Stimulates energy and courage; the ‘cry’ element can be felt as an uplift in the chest and breath.
- hiyānaḥ
- Literal: rushing, impelled forward. Symbolic: aspiration-driven movement of consciousness toward the higher
- sotṛbhiḥ
- Literal: by the pressers. Symbolic: inner tapas: practices and forces that ‘press out’ the essence from experience
- mṛjyamānaḥ
- Literal: being cleansed, rubbed, polished. Symbolic: refinement of nature through friction—transforming raw impulses into clear energy
- kanikradat
- Literal: crying out, exulting. Symbolic: the joy-signal of purified prāṇa; spontaneous affirmation of the soul
- vagnum indriyam
- Literal: active/strong (agni-like) Indra-power. Symbolic: illumined dynamism: the Indra-force that acts with light, not blind drive
Soma purification with pressing: the sound/cry marks Soma’s energizing; invoked to increase indriya (lordly strength) for the sacrificer.
During pressing and purification; when Soma is actively processed by priests
Chant alongside physical pressing/cleansing; invoke energizing outcome for the rite
Use before challenging action or disciplined practice: to convert effort (pressing) into joyful, illumined power rather than strain.
mṛjyamānaḥ < √mṛj ‘cleanse’. kanikradat is an intensive/reduplicated formation conveying repeated sound. indriya ‘belonging to Indra’ becomes ‘sovereign power’ in the being. vagnu is a difficult Vedic term; commonly glossed as ‘fire/active energy’—inner reading takes it as the awakened dynamic principle Soma sets moving.
awakening of indriya (sovereign power), purification leading to intensified energy
Purification aligns energy with ṛta—power acting in right rhythm rather than turbulence.
Indra-force is truth-lit power; it acts by seeing through the coverer.
Transformation of raw substance into divine force—alchemy of consciousness.
Vedic yoga psychology: prāṇa refined into tejas and buddhi-like illumination.
Rushing = intensification of aspiration; rubbing = friction of sadhana; cry = release of suppressed joy; awakened fire = tejas empowered by illumination.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘crying Soma’ that, once cleansed, awakens Indra-power. Mythic action: Soma rushes, resounds, and rouses sovereign force; inner action: purified delight releases a victorious mastery-energy in the practitioner.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Reduplicated intensive (kanikradat) is a common Indo-European expressive device for repeated sound. The semantic network of ‘impel/raise’ (iyarti) and ‘power’ (indriya) reflects archaic formulaic diction linking motion + force + sovereignty.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi depicts Soma as the initiator of power: human pressers cleanse Soma, and Soma in turn awakens indriya—effective mastery—within the human system, enabling heroic spiritual action.
Convert disciplined effort into joyful power; feel the ‘pressed essence’ rise as clear energy.
Maṇipūra (power/tejas) with support of Anāhata (joy-cry)
Brisk-energetic 12–18 breaths: inhale with ‘hiyānaḥ’ sense of forward rush; exhale with ‘mṛjyamānaḥ’ sense of cleansing. End with 3 calmer breaths to stabilize the Indra-force.
From rajas purified into sattvic dynamism—effective, illumined action.
If effort feels harsh, recall ‘mṛjyamānaḥ’: polish, don’t punish. Let joy (kanikradat) be the sign you are extracting essence, not merely straining.
Triṣṭubh with energetic articulation; keep udātta peaks on action-words; allow a slight vocal ‘lift’ on ‘kanikradat’.
Make ‘indur hiyānaḥ’ forward-driving; ‘mṛjyamānaḥ’ slightly more deliberate; ‘iyarti’ decisive.
indur: sandhi ‘r’ light, hiyānaḥ: ‘hy’ cluster clean; long ā, sotṛbhiḥ: vocalic ‘ṛ’ clear; aspirate bh, mṛjyamānaḥ: ‘mṛj’ with vocalic ṛ; ‘jy’ distinct, vagnum: hard ‘g’ (not j); keep ‘vag’ crisp
Bright, forceful, but controlled; avoid shouting—aim for ‘joyful power’.
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