Rig Veda 9.104.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 104, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.104
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
अस्मभ्यं त्वा वसुविदमभि वाणीरनूषत । गोभिष्टे वर्णमभि वासयामसि ॥
asmábhyaṃ tvā vasu-víd amabhí vā́ṇīr anūṣata | góbhis te várṇam abhí vāsayāmasi ||
Für uns haben die Stimmen zu dir erschallt, o Finder des Reichtums (vasu-vid). Mit den Strahlen des Lichts kleiden wir deine Gestalt, — dein Leuchten rings um uns offenbar machend.
Word by Word
- अस्मभ्यम्
- to us / for usPronounचतुर्थी (दत्तिव) बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्वा
- you (as object)Pronounद्वितीया एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक रूप)Role कर्मRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वसुविदम्
- the wealth-finder / wealth-knowerAdjective (used substantively)द्वितीया एकवचन पुंलिङ्ग (त्वा इति कर्मणि विशेषणम्)Role कर्मRoot वसु-विद् (कृदन्त/विशेषण; वसु + √विद् ‘जान्/विन्द्’)
- अभि
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole (क्रियाविशेषण; दिशाबोधक)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वाणीः
- voices / songsNounप्रथमा बहुवचन स्त्रीलिङ्गRole कर्तृRoot वाणी (स्त्री-प्रातिपदिक)
- अनूषत
- praised / sangVerbलुङ् (अorist) परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष बहुवचनRole (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √नूष्/नुष् (स्तु/प्रशंसायाम्; वेदिक रूप)
- गोभिः
- with cows (i.e., with bovine wealth)Nounतृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot गो (स्त्री/पुं-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root त्वद्/युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वर्णम्
- lustre / colour / radianceNounद्वितीया एकवचन पुंलिङ्गRole कर्मRoot वर्ण (पुं-प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- around, uponIndeclinableअव्ययRole (क्रियाविशेषण)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वासयामसि
- we clothe/cover (we cause to be covered)Verbलट् वर्तमान, परस्मैपद, 1 पुरुष बहुवचन (णिजन्त)Role (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √वास् (वासयति; कारण/णिजन्त ‘to clothe, to cause to dwell/cover’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अस्मभ्यम् | त्वा | वसुविदम् | अभि | वाणीः | अनूषत । गोभिः | ते | वर्णम् | अभि | वासयामसि ॥ 1) ‘वाणी॑रनूषत’ = वाणीः + अनूषत (विसर्ग-लोपः/रुत्व-प्रवृत्तिः; पदपाठे वाणीः अनूषत)
- 2) ‘गोभि॑ष्टे’ = गोभिः + ते (विसर्गः → ष् पूर्वे तकारे; पदपाठे गोभिः ते)
- 3) ‘अभि वा॑सयामसि’ इत्यत्र ‘अभि’ अव्ययम्, क्रियायाः उपसर्गवत् प्रयोगः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
For us the voices have sounded to you, the finder of wealth. With the cows (rays) we clothe your colour/form, making your radiance manifest.
Inner meaning
The seeker’s inspired utterances (vāṇīḥ) rise toward Soma, the discoverer of true plenitude (vasu). As Soma purifies, the rays of illumination (go) clothe and reveal his varṇa—not mere colour but the luminous character/form of consciousness. The result is a surrounding radiance: the inner being is ‘clothed’ in light and delight, and the environment of consciousness becomes bright and protected.
Universal truth
When aspiration is voiced sincerely, the inner bliss responds by revealing itself in light. Knowledge-radiance ‘clothes’ experience, transforming perception and giving a sense of true abundance.
Themes
Light-knowledge (go), Soma radiance, Mantric invocation, Spiritual wealth (vasu)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.104.1, Rig Veda 9.104.2, Rig Veda 9.104.3
Family tradition
Mandala 9’s Soma poets frequently speak in the plural ‘we’, representing a practicing community; attribution for this verse is not preserved here.
Significance
The seer stresses the cooperation of Vāc (aspiration/word) and Go (illumination): speech calls, light reveals, Soma fulfills as inner wealth.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- vasu-vid (finder of plenitude), pavamāna (self-purifying, implied)
- Related deities
- Vāc/Sarasvatī (voices), Uṣas (illumination as rays), Indra (light-winning)
Cosmic role
Soma brings the hidden riches of existence into manifestation; through purification it becomes luminous form (varṇa) clothed in rays (go).
Inner power
Ananda that reveals itself as knowledge-light; it manifests as a surrounding radiance that protects and enriches the consciousness-field.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification praise during filtration/flow; emphasizing gifts (vasu) and radiance (varṇa)
अ॒स्मभ्यं॑ त्वा वसु॒विद॑म॒भि वाणी॑रनूषत । गोभि॑ष्टे॒ वर्ण॑म॒भि वा॑सयामसि ॥
अ॒स्मभ्य॑म् । त्वा॒ । व॒सु॒ऽविद॑म् । अ॒भि । वाणीः॑ । अ॒नू॒ष॒त॒ । गोभिः॑ । ते॒ । वर्ण॑म् । अ॒भि । वा॒स॒या॒म॒सि॒ ॥
asmabhyam | tvā | vasu-vidam | abhi | vāṇīḥ | anūṣata | gobhiḥ | te | varṇam | abhi | vāsayāmasi
Likely Triṣṭubh (expository, two balanced halves)
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables (approx.)
Clear declarative rhythm with a culminating ‘clothing’ gesture; expansive finish.
Builds invocation through voice, then resolves into a feeling of being wrapped in light—psychologically protective and uplifting.
- वसु॒विदम् (vasu-vidam)
- Literal: finder of wealth/treasure. Symbolic: discoverer of inner riches: Ananda, light, power, harmony
- वाणीः (vāṇīḥ)
- Literal: voices, utterances. Symbolic: inspired speech/aspiration (vāc) that calls down higher experience
- अनूषत (anūṣata)
- Literal: have sounded, have sung. Symbolic: continuous invocation; mantra as formative vibration
- गोभिः (gobhiḥ)
- Literal: with cows. Symbolic: with rays of light/knowledge (not cattle)
- वर्णम् (varṇam)
- Literal: colour, appearance, form. Symbolic: luminous quality and formed expression of consciousness
- अभि वासयामसि (abhi vāsayāmasi)
- Literal: we clothe/cover around. Symbolic: we surround and manifest Soma’s radiance in our nature—illumination becomes our garment
Chanted while Soma is clarified and made ‘bright’; aligns speech (vāṇī) with the manifestation of Soma’s varṇa (radiance).
As Soma is praised while flowing; to invoke wealth/benefit and luminous manifestation for the sacrificers
Recitation/chant; mentally ‘clothing’ Soma with rays (symbolic adornment)
Chant to strengthen inspired speech and luminous perception: before study, teaching, creative work, or when seeking inner abundance rather than external acquisition.
vasu: ‘good, bright wealth’ (PIE *wesu- ‘good’, cf. Avestan vohu ‘good’, Latin bonus is different). √vid ‘find/know’ (PIE *weyd- ‘see/know’, English wit). vāṇī: from √van/√vā ‘sound’ semantic sphere; speech as power. go: multivalent—cow/ray; in RV often ‘ray of light/knowledge’. √vas ‘clothe, dwell’; causative vāsayati ‘cause to be clothed’—image of investing Soma with luminous rays.
vasu as spiritual wealth, mantra (vāṇī) as creative power, illumination through rays of knowledge (go)
‘Clothing with rays’ suggests r̥ta’s orderly revelation—truth becomes visible form.
Voices aligned to truth evoke Soma’s true varṇa (luminous character).
Revelation: hidden essence becomes manifest as light-form through invocation and purification.
Integral-Vedic psychology: Vāc (word) and Go (light) cooperate to manifest Ananda as lived radiance.
dawn-like (implicit via rays/go)
Voice = aspiration/mantra; rays = illumined thoughts; garment = stable sheath of light around consciousness; moon = cool Ananda that reflects higher light.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘cows as rays’ mythologem: the sacrificers ‘clothe’ Soma’s form with gos—rays/knowledges—so the divine radiance becomes manifest. The action is not acquisition of cattle but recovery and investment of illumination into the god-force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know/find’ reflects PIE *weyd- (Skt veda, Greek oîda, English wit). vasu aligns with Indo-Iranian *vasu-/vohu- ‘good’. go- ‘cow’ is PIE *gʷōus (Greek bous, Latin bos, English cow via Germanic *kūz).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s voices actively ‘invest’ Soma with light: speech invokes, and illumination (go) perfects the manifestation (varṇa). Soma, as vasu-vid, reciprocates by revealing spiritual wealth—fullness of being through clarified radiance.
Use sound (vāṇī) to invoke Soma; then visualize rays of knowledge clothing the mind and heart, revealing a calm luminous ‘form’ within.
Viśuddha (vāc) and Ājñā (illumination/go)
Chant on long exhalations; brief silence after each recitation to ‘see’ the radiance-clothing settling around awareness
Luminous quietude—wonder without excitement; a protected, bright field of mind.
After chanting, hold a simple intention: ‘May my speech be true; may my perception be clothed in light.’ Watch for one moment of reactive speech and replace it with a luminous, restrained utterance.
Accents are important on vṛddhi/udatta syllables (e.g.,, ); keep pitch-lifts precise; allow the final cadence to broaden on ‘vāsayāmasi’.
Start intimate on ‘asmabhyam’; brighten on ‘vasu-vidam’; emphasize ‘gobhiḥ’ lightly to mark ‘rays’; land the phrase with a gentle expansion at the end.
: ‘va-su-vi-dam’ (short i), : long ‘ā’ and long ‘īḥ’, : ‘go-bhiḥ’ (bh voiced aspirate), : retroflex ‘ṇ’, : ‘vā-sa-yā-ma-si’ with long ā vowels clear
Clear and luminous; slightly more resonant on ‘go’ and ‘varṇam’ to evoke radiance.
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