Rig Veda 9.55.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 55, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.55
उत नो गोविदश्ववित्पवस्व सोमान्धसा । मक्षूतमेभिरहभिः ॥
utá no go-víd aśva-vít páv asva sómā́ndhasā | mákṣū-tamebhir áha-bhiḥ ||
আৰু আমাৰ নিমিত্তে, হে সোম, গো-বিদ্ (কিৰণ-অন্বেষী) আৰু অশ্ব-বিত্ (শক্তি-অন্বেষী) হৈ নিজকে পৱিত্ৰ কৰ; নিজৰ অন্ধসা (ৰস/সাৰ) লৈ অতি ত্বৰিত দিনসমূহৰ সৈতে ত্বৰিতে প্ৰবাহিত হওঁক—আমাৰ অগ্ৰগতিত জ্যোতি আৰু বলৰ বৃদ্ধি ত্বৰান্বিত কৰ।
Petition for Soma’s swift purification and bestowal of ‘cows and horses’ (wealth in ritual idiom); used to accelerate the rite’s efficacy and the sacrificer’s gains.
recovery of light/knowledge (go), release of dynamic energies (aśva)
The ‘swiftest days’ imply alignment with the right rhythm of ṛta rather than chaotic haste.
Go as truth-rays; Soma uncovers satya concealed by limitation.
Release of hidden light and force; acceleration of ascent through successive ‘days’ of consciousness.
Vedic evolutionary symbolism: unveiling (light) + energizing (force) → accelerated transformation.
day (ahaḥ) emphasized
Rays of insight and vital energies are released by purified delight, speeding the natural rhythm of inner growth.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘finding of cows and horses’: the recovery of light (go) and the acquisition of force (aśva). Innerly, Soma’s purification brings back hidden illuminations and releases harnessable energies, and it asks for swift realization across the ‘days’—successive stages of the work.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- go- and aśva- are central Indo-European cultural lexemes (cow/horse) that Vedic poetry elevates into spiritual symbols. The superlative formation (-tama) is inherited morphology, used here to encode intensity of inner hastening.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Soma to act specifically ‘for us’: to become the revealer of light and the giver of energies within the human journey. Soma’s role is both purifier and discoverer—responding to aspiration by unveiling knowledge and empowering movement.
Invoke purified joy to reveal one clear insight (go) and release one clean energy for action (aśva).
ajna (insight/go) and manipura (power/aśva)
Brisk-but-smooth ujjayi-like constriction lightly (optional) for 12 breaths; synchronize ‘makṣu’ sense with exhale to feel forward movement.
Dynamic clarity; energized will with inner sweetness.
After chanting, choose a single obstacle (vṛtra-like inertia) and apply ‘go + aśva’: see clearly what to do, then do it immediately in one small decisive step—this is the ‘swift day’.
Let ‘pávasva’ carry a clear lift; keep ‘góvid aśvávit’ crisply articulated; accelerate slightly on ‘makṣū…ahabhiḥ’ while preserving accent integrity (exact svara needs śākhā marks).
Two emphases: (1) ‘govid aśvavit’ as a double boon; (2) ‘makṣu’ as the propulsion word—do not blur consonant clusters.
(govit): ‘go’ long; final ‘t’ crisp, (aśvavit): ‘śv’ cluster; short ‘a’, (pavasva): ‘sv’ cluster clean, (somāndhasā): keep nasal ‘n’ before ‘dh’, (makṣūtamebhiḥ): retroflex ‘kṣ’; long ū; ‘bh’ voiced aspirate, (ahabhiḥ): light ‘h’; ‘bh’ aspirated
Bright, forward, slightly more forceful; end with clean release.
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