Rig Veda 9.85.7: Mandala 9, Sukta 85, Mantra 7
Sukta 9.85
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अत्यं मृजन्ति कलशे दश क्षिपः प्र विप्राणां मतयो वाच ईरते । पवमाना अभ्यर्षन्ति सुष्टुतिमेन्द्रं विशन्ति मदिरास इन्दवः ॥
átyaṃ mṛjanti kalaśé dáśa kṣípaḥ prá víprāṇāṃ matáyo vā́ca īrate | pávamānā abhyàrṣanti suṣṭutím ā́ índraṃ viśanti madirā́sa índavaḥ ||
দশ দ্রুত হস্ত কলশে সেই অশ্ব (সোম)কে মর্দন করে শোধন করে; বিপ্রদের ভাবনা ও বাণী অগ্রে উচ্ছ্বসিত হয়। পবমান হয়ে তারা সু-স্তুতির দিকে প্রবাহিত হয়; মদির, দীপ্ত ইন্দু-বিন্দুগুলি আমাদের অন্তরে ইন্দ্রে প্রবেশ করে।
Word by Word
- अत्यं
- the steed (swift one; Soma as a steed)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अत्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अत्य’ = घोड़ा/अश्व) अथवा ‘अत्य’ (तीव्र/अत्यन्त) — यहाँ सोम-रूप ‘अत्य’ (द्रुतगामी) के रूप में
- मृजन्ति
- they cleanse/purifyVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot मृज् (धातु) ‘मार्जने/शोधने’
- कलशे
- in the vessel (jar)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
- दश
- tenNumeralअव्यय (संख्याशब्द; रूप अपरिवर्तनीय)Root दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षिपः
- the strainers/sievesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot क्षिप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘क्षिप्/क्षिप’ = छलनी/परिशोधक-उपकरण; सोम-छानने की छलनियाँ)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableअव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- विप्राणाम्
- of the inspired poets/priestsNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)Root विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- मतयः
- thoughts, insightsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot मति (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाचः
- utterances/voicesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईरते
- are set in motion, ariseVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole (अकर्मक; कर्तृ-प्रधान)Root ईर्/इर् (धातु) ‘गत्याम्/प्रेरणे’ (Vedic: ‘to set in motion, to rise’)
- पवमानाः
- purifying (Soma-drops)Adjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot पवमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पू ‘पवने/शोधने’ से वर्तमान कृदन्त ‘पवमान’ = ‘purifying, being purified’)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableअव्ययRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- अर्षन्ति
- they rush/flowVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अर्ष् (धातु) ‘गत्याम्/स्रवणे’ (to rush/flow)
- सुष्टुतिम्
- a well-formed praise (hymn)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सु- + स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक) ‘good praise’
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (गन्तव्य/प्राप्त्यर्थे)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- विशन्ति
- they enterVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot विश् (धातु) ‘प्रवेशने’
- मदिरासः
- intoxicatingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root मदिर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘intoxicating’)
- इन्दवः
- Soma-dropsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक; सोम-बिन्दु/सोम)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठ-समाधान (मुख्य संधि-विच्छेद): (1) क्षिपः प्र → क्षिपः | प्र (विसर्ग-संधि: ‘ः’ के बाद ‘प्’ पर जिह्वामूलीय/उपध्मानीय उच्चारण-परम्परा; लेखन में ‘ः’ ही)
- (2) वाचः ईरते → वाचः | ईरते (विसर्ग के बाद स्वर)
- (3) पवमाना अभ्यर्षन्ति → पवमानाः | अभि | अर्षन्ति (अभि + अर्षन्ति = अभ्यर्षन्ति; ‘इ’ + ‘अ’ → ‘य’)
- (4) सुष्टुतिमेन्द्रम् → सुष्टुतिम् | इन्द्रम् (म् + इ → मि-प्रवृत्ति; पदपाठ में पृथक्)
- (5) मदीरास इन्दवः → मदिरासः | इन्दवः (विसर्ग के बाद स्वर)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Ten swift hands cleanse the steed in the cup; the thoughts and words of inspired seers surge forward. Purifying, the Soma drops flow toward the well-made hymn of praise and enter into Indra.
Inner meaning
The ‘steed’ is the dynamic Soma-force in us, made fit by many coordinated faculties—‘ten swift hands’ suggests the full instrumentation of the being (senses and powers) actively purifying and shaping the energy. As purification advances, the vipra’s thoughts and words surge: inspired cognition and expressive mantra become spontaneous. The purified drops seek the ‘well-made praise’—rightly formed inner affirmation—and then enter Indra: delight and energy merge into illumined mind, producing intoxication as spiritual rapture (madirāsa) rather than vital excitement.
Universal truth
Transformation is not passive: many parts of the being must collaborate in purification; then inspired thought and true speech naturally arise, and refined energy joins the higher mind to become luminous ecstasy.
Themes
Soma-ritual, mantra efficacy, purification, Indra empowerment, inner faculties
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.85.1-10, RV 9.72 (cleansing Soma, entering Indra), RV 9.109 (pavamāna purification imagery)
Family tradition
Ninth Maṇḍala: specialized Soma poets/chanters; strong emphasis on purification mechanics (hands, filtering, vessel).
Significance
The verse maps a psychology of practice: disciplined purification by many ‘hands’ yields inspired thought/speech and culminates in union with illumined mind.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (as indavaḥ entering Indra)
- Epithets
- Pavamāna, Indu, Madira (intoxicating)
- Related deities
- Indra, Bṛhaspati (via vāc/hymn), Agni (as inner priest of purification, implicit)
Cosmic role
Purified essence that becomes the ecstasy-power of the gods; it animates mantra (vāc) and strengthens illumination (Indra).
Inner power
Rapturous clarity: energy that has been cleaned of turbulence becomes luminous enthusiasm and inspired expression.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing/straining and associated chants; likely during cleansing/filtration and praise addressed to Indra.
अत्यं॑ मृजन्ति क॒लशे॒ दश॒ क्षिप॒: प्र विप्रा॑णां म॒तयो॒ वाच॑ ईरते । पव॑माना अ॒भ्य॑र्षन्ति सुष्टु॒तिमेन्द्रं॑ विशन्ति मदि॒रास॒ इन्द॑वः ॥
अत्य॑म् । मृ॒ज॒न्ति॒ । क॒लशे॑ । दश॑ । क्षिपः॑ । प्र । विप्रा॑णाम् । म॒तयः॑ । वाचः॑ । ई॒र॒ते॒ । पव॑मानाः । अ॒भि । अ॒र्ष॒न्ति॒ । सु॒ऽस्तु॒तिम् । आ । इन्द्र॑म् । वि॒श॒न्ति॒ । म॒दि॒रासः॑ । इन्द॑वः ॥
atyam | mṛjanti | kalaśe | daśa | kṣipaḥ | pra | viprāṇām | matayaḥ | vācaḥ | īrate | pavamānāḥ | abhi | arṣanti | su-stutim | ā | indram | viśanti | madirāsaḥ | indavaḥ
48
4 × 12 (approx.)
Energetic forward surge (pra… īrate; abhy arṣanti) balanced by expansive cadence; fits the image of many hands working swiftly.
Builds momentum and collective-force feeling; helpful for energizing disciplined practice and invoking inspired speech.
- दश क्षिपः (daśa kṣipaḥ)
- Literal: ten swift (hands). Symbolic: coordinated faculties of the being engaged in purification (integral effort)
- अत्यं (atyam)
- Literal: steed. Symbolic: dynamic life-energy/force harnessed for the goal
- मृजन्ति (mṛjanti)
- Literal: they cleanse. Symbolic: active inner refinement—removing mixture, polishing perception
- कलशे (kalaśe)
- Literal: in the cup. Symbolic: within the prepared consciousness-vessel
- विप्राणाम् (viprāṇām)
- Literal: of inspired seers. Symbolic: of the illumined parts of mind capable of revelation
- मतयः (matayaḥ)
- Literal: thoughts, intentions. Symbolic: formations of understanding shaped by inspiration
- वाचः (vācaḥ)
- Literal: words, speech. Symbolic: mantric expression; truthful articulation that builds inner order
- सुष्टुतिम् (suṣṭutim)
- Literal: well-praised hymn. Symbolic: rightly composed inner affirmation/praise that aligns with ṛta
- मदिरासः (madirāsaḥ)
- Literal: intoxicating. Symbolic: spiritual rapture that uplifts and widens consciousness
- इन्दवः (indavaḥ)
- Literal: bright drops. Symbolic: units of clarified delight/illumination entering higher mind
Soma cleansing in cups by priests; simultaneous production of praise (stuti). Highlights the coupled action of ritual purification and inspired recitation, culminating in Soma’s entry into Indra.
At moments of active preparation of Soma and during stotra/śastra praising Indra.
Accompanies washing/straining and the offering of the clarified Soma to Indra.
Use before creative or study work: invoke purification of energy and the rising of inspired thought and speech; then ‘offer’ the result to the higher mind.
daśa kṣipaḥ ‘ten swift ones’ likely the ten fingers/hands of the priests; psychologically, the multiple faculties that purify experience. atya ‘steed’ continues Soma-as-force metaphor. √īr ‘raise/set in motion’ links the rite to emergence of vā́c and mati: purified Soma catalyzes inspired speech. √viś ‘enter’ describes Soma’s penetration into Indra: delight entering the luminous will. su-stuti indicates that right-form speech is a channel for Soma’s movement.
coordination of faculties (ten swift ones), vā́c as effective channel of power, entry of delight into luminous will (Indra)
The ‘well-made praise’ indicates alignment of speech/thought with ṛta; correct formation enables descent of power.
Inspired vipra-thought and vāc arise when inner mixture is removed—truth speaks when the instrument is clean.
Mantra as creation: purified Soma powers the word, and the word shapes the inner world.
Mantric psychology (Aurobindo): vāc and soma cooperate—delight fuels revelation and expression.
Many inner faculties refine the life-force into a bright current; inspired thought and speech surge and the refined delight enters illumined mind as rapture.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The coordinated rite: hands cleanse Soma; seers’ thoughts and words rise; Soma flows into praise and then enters Indra. Inner myth: disciplined faculties purify the delight-force; inspired speech forms the channel; the force enters the victorious luminous power.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- daśa ‘ten’ from PIE *déḱm̥(t) (Lat. decem, Gk. déka). √viś ‘enter’ relates to PIE *weys- ‘settle/dwell/enter’ (cf. Sanskrit viś ‘clan/settlement’ and related IE ‘village’ words). √īr ‘raise’ participates in an IE semantic field of ‘arouse/raise’ used in ritual-poetic contexts.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s inspired community (vipra) provides both purification (mṛj) and right utterance (su-stuti). Soma responds by becoming madirā (uplifting) and entering Indra—so the seer’s speech is not descriptive but operative, enabling the devatā’s presence and action.
Coordinate the ‘ten hands’: gather senses, breath, mind, and will into one purifying action; let inspired thought and truthful speech arise from clarity.
Viśuddha (vāc) and Ājñā (Indra/illumination); grounding via Maṇipūra (disciplined action).
Brisk-energetic but controlled: 6–8 breaths/min with slightly stronger exhale; mentally ‘wash’ agitation on exhale, ‘receive’ clarity on inhale.
Energized clarity; inspired flow of articulation.
If speech is reactive or thought scattered, first ‘clean the steed’: simplify input, steady breath, then speak/think only after the inner current feels bright and smooth.
Observe accents on key action words (,,,, ). Keep the ‘pra’ forward impulse clear.
Let the first pāda be energetic and articulated; slightly broaden on ‘suṣṭutim’ and ‘indraṃ viśanti’ to mark the culmination.
: kṣ as a single cluster; keep i short., : pr cluster crisp; long ā in -ṇām., : retroflex ṭ not present; keep dental t; vāc with long ā., : d voiced; keep ri as short i after r (not ṛ)., : nd cluster; final ḥ soft.
Bright, assertive, clean consonants; avoid heaviness—aim for ‘swift hands’ feel.
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