Rig Veda 9.73.2: Mandala 9, Sukta 73, Mantra 2
Sukta 9.73
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna, with explicit linkage to Indra
- Chandas
- Likely Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सम्यक्सम्यञ्चो महिषा अहेषत सिन्धोरूर्मावधि वेना अवीविपन् । मधोर्धाराभिर्जनयन्तो अर्कमित्प्रियामिन्द्रस्य तन्वमवीवृधन् ॥
samyák samyáñco mahiṣā́ aheṣata síndhor ūrmā́v ádhi venā́ avīvipan | mádhor dhā́rābhir janáyanto arkám ít priyā́m índrasya tanvàm avīvṛdhan ||
Rectos, avanzando rectamente, los poderosos se precipitaron; sobre la ola del Sindhu los anhelantes (venā́) vibraron e hicieron que ella temblara. Con corrientes de miel engendraron el ark, el himno de iluminación, y acrecentaron en el ser el cuerpo amado de Indra.
Word by Word
- सम्यक्
- straight, rightlyIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Role Adhikaraṇa (रीति/प्रकार)Root सम्यञ्च् (प्रातिपदिक) / अव्यय-रूप
- सम्यञ्चः
- moving straight / directed rightly (ones)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सम्यञ्च् (प्रातिपदिक)
- महिषाः
- bulls, mighty onesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (सम्यञ्चः का विशेषण/समनाधिकरण)Root महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
- अहेषत
- they neighed / resoundedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRoot हिष् (धातु) [हिष्/हेष् ‘to neigh, to sound’]
- सिन्धोः
- of the river/streamNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊर्मौ
- in/on the waveNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: ऊर्मौ)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon, overIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्ग/पूर्वसर्ग)Role Adhikaraṇa (उपरि/अधिष्ठान)Root अधि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वेनाः
- the eager/inspired onesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वेन (प्रातिपदिक) [‘desiring/longing, loving; inspired’]
- अवीविपन्
- they kept stirring / made (it) quiverVerbलिट् (परिप्रास/वैदिक परिपूर्ण-रूप), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्त-आगम (अ-वी-विप-न्)Root विप्/वेप् (धातु) [‘to tremble, quiver; to stir’]
- मधोः
- of sweetness / of honey (Soma)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- धाराभिः
- with streamsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
- जनयन्तः
- generating, producingVerbवर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (अवीविपन् के कर्तृ-समनाधिकरण)Root जन् (धातु) → जनयत् (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अर्कम्
- a hymn/song of praiseNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अर्क (प्रातिपदिक)
- इत्
- indeed, justIndeclinableअव्यय (एव/अपि-भाव)Root इत् (निपात/अव्यय)
- प्रियाम्
- dear, belovedAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (तन्म् विशेषण)Root प्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- तन्वम्
- body, person, selfNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: तन्वम्)Role KarmaRoot तनू (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवीवृधन्
- they increased, they made growVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्त-आगम (अ-वी-वृध्-अन्)Root वृध् (धातु) [‘to grow, increase’]
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): सम्यक् | सम्यञ्चः | महिषाः | अहेषत | सिन्धोः | ऊर्मौ | अधि | वेनाः | अवीविपन् || मधोः | धाराभिः | जनयन्तः | अर्कम् | इत् | प्रियाम् | इन्द्रस्य | तन्वम् | अवीवृधन् । मुख्य सन्धि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) सम्यक्सम्यञ्चो → सम्यक् + सम्यञ्चः (क् + स → क्स्; विसर्ग-लोप/रूपान्तर)
- (2) सिन्धोरूर्मा → सिन्धोः + ऊर्मौ (विसर्गस्य रुत्व/ओ-रूप; ऊर्मि-शब्दस्य वैदिक सप्तमी एकवचन ‘ऊर्मौ’)
- (3) ऊर्मावधि → ऊर्मौ + अधि (औ + अ → आव्/आव; संहितायां ‘ऊर्मावधि’)
- (4) मधोर्धाराभिः → मधोः + धाराभिः (विसर्गस्य रुत्व ‘र्’)
- (5) अर्कमित् → अर्कम् + इत् (अनुस्वार/म् + इ- आरम्भ; संहितायां संयोग)
- (6) प्रियामिन्द्रस्य → प्रियाम् + इन्द्रस्य (म् + इ-)
- (7) तन्वमवीवृधन् → तन्वम् + अवीवृधन् (म् + अ-)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Straight and straight-forward, the mighty ones surged; on the wave of the ocean the desirers quivered. With streams of honey they produced the hymn; and they increased the beloved body of Indra.
Inner meaning
The ‘mighty ones’ (mahiṣāḥ) are the strong currents/powers released in purification—energies that move ‘samyak samyañcaḥ’: rightly aligned, not crooked by desire. On the wave of the Sindhu (ocean/river), the ‘venāḥ’—the seekers, lovers, desirers of truth—vibrate: aspiration becomes a living tremor that awakens dormant consciousness. From this movement flow ‘streams of honey’ (madhor dhārāḥ): sweet Ananda-currents that generate arka—the illumined hymn/flash of truth. This directly ‘increases Indra’s tanū’—the embodied power of illumined mind in us. In Aurobindonian terms, Soma’s purified delight feeds Indra, making the mind a stronger instrument for breaking obstruction and establishing light.
Universal truth
When energies are aligned to truth and aspiration is kept awake, delight pours as sweetness that gives birth to illuminating insight; this nourishment strengthens the power of discernment and victorious intelligence within.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Indra empowerment, Illumination through delight, Integration and right movement
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.73 (Pavamāna Soma hymn)
Significance
The verse articulates a key Vedic yoga: Soma (delight) and Indra (illumination) are mutually reinforcing—purified sweetness generates the illumined hymn and strengthens the mind’s victorious body.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (with functional support to Indra)
- Epithets
- madhumat (honeyed) implied, pavamāna, samyak-moving (aligned)
- Related deities
- Indra, Maruts (as surging powers), Bṛhaspati (hymn/illumination)
Cosmic role
Dynamic purifier whose sweet streams generate illumination (arka) and empower Indra’s force in the cosmos and in the seeker.
Inner power
Alignment + aspiration + sweetness → illumination; Soma turns desire into truth-seeking vibration and feeds the illumined intelligence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification; praise of the surging purified currents and their boon to Indra
स॒म्यक्स॒म्यञ्चो॑ महि॒षा अ॑हेषत॒ सिन्धो॑रू॒र्मावधि॑ वे॒ना अ॑वीविपन् । मधो॒र्धारा॑भिर्ज॒नय॑न्तो अ॒र्कमित्प्रि॒यामिन्द्र॑स्य त॒न्व॑मवीवृधन् ॥
स॒म्यक् । स॒म्यञ्चः॑ । म॒हि॒षाः । अ॒हे॒ष॒त॒ । सिन्धोः॑ । ऊ॒र्मौ । अधि॑ । वे॒नाः । अ॒वी॒वि॒प॒न् । मधोः॑ । धारा॑भिः । ज॒नय॑न्तः । अ॒र्कम् । इत् । प्रि॒याम् । इन्द्र॑स्य । त॒न्व॑म् । अ॒वी॒वृ॒ध॒न् ॥
samyak | samyañcaḥ | mahiṣāḥ | aheṣata | sindhoḥ | ūrmau | adhi | venāḥ | avīvipan | madhoḥ | dhārābhiḥ | janayantaḥ | arkam | it | priyām | indrasya | tanvam | avīvṛdhan
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Surging and wave-like in the first half; bright, generative lift around ‘madhor dhārābhiḥ’; concluding strengthening cadence.
Stirs aspiration and then sweetens it into clarity; effective for dispelling dullness and producing a luminous, uplifted state.
- स॒म्यक् स॒म्यञ्चः (samyak samyañcaḥ)
- Literal: rightly, straight-forward. Symbolic: alignment; integrity of movement without deviation
- महिषाः (mahiṣāḥ)
- Literal: mighty ones, buffalo-strong. Symbolic: powerful currents/forces of consciousness
- सिन्धोः ऊर्मौ (sindhor ūrmau)
- Literal: on the wave of the ocean/river. Symbolic: on the surge of life/subconscient waters
- वेनाः (venāḥ)
- Literal: desirers, seekers. Symbolic: aspirant powers of longing for truth
- अवीविपन् (avīvipan)
- Literal: they made quiver. Symbolic: awakening vibration; stirring of consciousness
- मधोः धाराभिः (madhoḥ dhārābhiḥ)
- Literal: with streams of honey. Symbolic: flows of Ananda that sweeten and clarify
- अर्कम् (arkam)
- Literal: hymn, ray, illumination. Symbolic: illumined word/insight; light-form in speech
- इन्द्रस्य तन्वम् (indrasya tanvam)
- Literal: Indra’s body. Symbolic: the formed power of illumined mind in the being
- अवीवृधन् (avīvṛdhan)
- Literal: they increased. Symbolic: strengthening and expansion of the luminous capacity
Pavamāna recitation during Soma filtration; thematically supports Indra’s empowerment for victory in the sacrifice and in the seeker.
Within Pavamāna sequences during filtering/flow and Indra-oriented offerings
Chanted as Soma flows; frames the process as generating arka and empowering Indra
Use when seeking aligned energy and insight: before study, decision-making, or when overcoming mental obstruction.
sam-yák ‘together + right’ → ‘in right alignment’; samyáñc ‘converging, facing together’ (directional unity). vená from √van ‘desire, win’ indicates the seeking impulse that ‘wins’ illumination. avīvipan is an intensive/causative formation (reduplicated) from √vip/√vep ‘tremble, quiver’ (awakening vibration). madhu ‘honey/sweetness’ is Soma’s delight-aspect; dhārā ‘stream’ (√dhṛ ‘to hold’ → ‘continuous holding flow’). arká is both ‘hymn’ and ‘ray’, enabling the psychological reading: luminous speech generated by bliss-currents. avīvṛdhan is intensive (reduplicated) from √vṛdh ‘increase’, marking a sustained augmentation of Indra’s operative embodiment (tanū).
Ṛta as straightness/alignment (samyak), Bliss as substance (madhu) feeding illumination (arka), Indra as illumined force embodied (tanū)
‘Straight and straight-forward’ is ṛta in motion: right tendency of forces.
Arka as truth-light born from honeyed streams; Satya becomes effective power as Indra’s tanū.
From aligned surging waters arise sweetness; from sweetness arises illumination; illumination strengthens the divine mind in manifestation.
Psychological Vedism: transformation of desire into aspiration (venāḥ) and of impulse into illumination (arka).
Wave = rising life-energy; honey = Ananda; mighty beasts = strong forces; seekers = aspiration; hymn-ray = insight/light in speech; Indra’s body = empowered luminous intelligence.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the Soma-flood empowering Indra: mighty currents surge in right alignment upon the cosmic wave; the seeking impulses set consciousness vibrating; from honeyed streams arises the luminous hymn (arka), and Indra’s embodied power (tanū) is enlarged—Soma generates illumination and strengthens the victorious mind-force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vṛdh ‘grow’ (PIE *werdh- ‘increase’) and √van ‘desire/win’ (PIE *wenh₁- ‘desire, strive’) are clear Indo-European inheritances. The reduplicated intensives (avīvipan, avīvṛdhan) are characteristic of Indo-Iranian verbal style, used to mark repeated/heightened inner action—poetically encoding sustained awakening and growth.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s act is to align the movements (samyak, samyañc) and let the sweet streams of Soma generate luminous speech (arka). In response, the divine force Indra becomes more present and operative as an inner ‘body’ (tanū) within the practitioner—devotion and right processing of Soma translate into increased capacity for illumination and victorious action.
Align energies (‘straight’) and let sweetness generate illumination; consciously ‘feed’ the inner Indra.
Maṇipūra (aligned force) to Ajñā (illumination)
Inhale up the spine imagining a straight current; exhale softly imagining honeyed light spreading in the brow; then a brief pause feeling ‘Indra’s body’ strengthened (clear decisive mind).
Energized clarity; luminous confidence.
If impulses are scattered, repeat ‘samyak samyañcaḥ’ slowly until you feel alignment; then chant the full verse, ending with a silent intention: ‘may the illumined mind in me grow strong and beloved’.
Keep the opening ‘samyak samyañco’ strongly articulated; follow udatta marks; allow a slight lift on ‘mádhoḥ’ and ‘índrasya’ for emphasis consistent with accents.
Do not rush consonant clusters; maintain the wave-like phrasing across pādas 1–2, then brighten on ‘madhor dhārābhiḥ’.
‘samyak samyañcaḥ’: pronounce ñc as ‘ny-ch’ blend., ‘sindhor ūrmāv adhi’: sustain ū in ūrmau; light sandhi between ūrmāv-adhi., ‘avīvipan/avīvṛdhan’: keep long ī; avoid shortening.
Firm and straight in the first half; sweeter, more luminous tone in the honey/arka segment; end with confident resonance on ‘avīvṛdhan’.
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