Rig Veda 1.91.23: Mandala 1, Sukta 91, Mantra 23
Sukta 1.91
- Devata
- Soma
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
देवेन नो मनसा देव सोम रायो भागं सहसावन्नभि युध्य । मा त्वा तनदीशिषे वीर्यस्योभयेभ्यः प्र चिकित्सा गविष्टौ ॥
devéna no mánasā deva soma rāyó bhāgáṃ sahasāvan abhí yudhya | mā́ tvā tanád ī́śiṣe vī́ryasyóbháyebhyaḥ prá cikitsā́ gaviṣṭáu ||
देव सोम, भगवान जैसी सोच से हमारे लिए लड़ो। हमारे हिस्से की धन- संपदा हमे दिलाओ। तुम्हारी ताकत कम नहीं होनी चाहिए, ऐसा मत होने देना। दोनों तरफ से सावधान रहो, चमक और रोशनी के पीछे पूरा ध्यान दो।
Word by Word
- दे॒वेन॑
- with/through the god (divine power)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचनRole करणRoot देव
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्प्रदानRoot अस्मद्
- मनसा
- with mind, by intentionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचनRole करणRoot मनस्
- देव
- O godNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot देव
- सोम
- O SomaNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सोम
- रायः
- of wealth, of richesNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिक); षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot राय्/रायि (रायः)
- भागम्
- share, portionNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्मRoot भाग
- सहसावन्
- O mighty one, O powerfulAdjective (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सहस् + वन् (प्रातिपदिक: सहसावन्)
- अभि
- towards, againstIndeclinable (preverb) / Adverbउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole उपपद-सम्बन्धRoot अभि
- युध्य
- fight! contend!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot युध्
- मा
- do notIndeclinable (prohibitive particle)निषेधार्थ (with injunctive/imperative)Role सम्बन्धRoot मा
- त्वा
- youPronounद्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (enclitic)Role कर्मRoot त्वद्
- तनदीः
- weakness/decline (tanadī-), failingNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तनदी (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक)
- इशिषे
- you seek/strive forVerbलट्; मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot इष्
- वीर्यस्य
- of heroism, of strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति; एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot वीर्य
- उभयेभ्यः
- from/for both (sides)Adjective/Pronoun(त्रिलिङ्ग); पञ्चमी/चतुर्थी विभक्ति; बहुवचनRole अपादान/सम्प्रदानRoot उभय
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग/अव्ययRole उपपद-सम्बन्धRoot प्र
- चिकित्सा
- perceive clearly! be discerning!Verbलोट्; मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (Vedic)Role क्रियाRoot चित् (intensive/reduplicated base: चिकित्सा)
- गविष्टौ
- in the quest for cows (battle/booty)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति; एकवचन (locative)Role अधिकरणRoot गविष्टि
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): दे॒वेन॑ | नः | मन॑सा | देव | सोम | रायः | भागम् | सहसावन् | अभि | युध्य | मा | त्वा | तनदीः | इशिषे | वीर्यस्य | उभयेभ्यः | प्र | चिकित्सा | गविष्टौ । मुख्य संधि/संयोग: (1) ‘देव सोम’ = सम्बोधन-द्वय (कोई संधि नहीं)
- (2) ‘अभि युध्य’ में उपसर्ग ‘अभि’ क्रिया ‘युध्य’ के साथ
- (3) ‘मा त्वा’ निषेध ‘मा’ + सर्वनाम ‘त्वा’
- (4) ‘तनदीशिषे’ का पदच्छेद ‘तनदीः इशिषे’ (ः + इ → इ; वैदिक संहिता-पाठ में विसर्ग-लोप/संयोग)
- (5) ‘वीर्यस्योभयेभ्यः’ = ‘वीर्यस्य उभयेभ्यः’ (अ + उ → ओ)
- (6) ‘चिकित्सा गविष्टौ’ में क्रिया + अधिकरण (loc.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A prayer to Soma: with a divine mind, fight for our rightful share of wealth/plenitude; do not slacken in your mastery of heroic power; be vigilant on both sides in the quest for the “cows” (gains).
Inner meaning
Soma is the descending Ananda (divine delight) that, when held by a “deva-manas” (illumined mind), becomes a warrior-force in the inner battle. The seeker asks Soma to contend against inner resistances so the being may receive its share of rāyas (spiritual abundance: light, force, joy). “No slackening” is the insistence that the delight must remain steady and sovereign, not diluted by inertia, depression, or desire. “From both sides be vigilant” points to guarding the consciousness against attacks from the subconscient (tamas, habitual impulses) and from the over-mental/vital distortions (pride, excitement, ambition) while pursuing go-iṣṭi—the quest for the rays of knowledge.
Universal truth
When delight is united with a higher mind, it becomes a disciplined power that can fight for our true growth. Steady joy (not emotional intoxication) is protective vigilance; it prevents relapse into inertia and prevents inflation into ego. Inner victory yields luminous knowledge and plenitude.
Themes
Inner battle, Quest for light, Plenitude (rayi), Vigilance
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 1.91 (Soma hymn cluster in Maṇḍala 1)
Significance
Even when the rishi-name is not preserved, the mantra speaks from the Soma-realization: Ananda is not passive sweetness but a vigilant, governing power that sustains aspiration and conquers obscurity.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma
- Epithets
- deva (divine), sahasāvan (mighty/forceful), vīryasya īśi (master of hero-force)
- Related deities
- Agni, Indra, Uṣas, Aśvins
Cosmic role
Soma is the immortal sap/nectar that pervades gods and worlds, sustaining life, inspiration, and the victorious movement of the sacrifice.
Inner power
Ananda that clarifies mind, strengthens will, and gives victorious perseverance; a bliss-force that can ‘fight’ by dissolving resistance and fatigue.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and offering (Soma-yajña context, general Soma-stotra usage)
दे॒वेन॑ नो॒ मन॑सा देव सोम रा॒यो भा॒गं स॑हसावन्न॒भि यु॑ध्य । मा त्वा त॑न॒दीशि॑षे वी॒र्य॑स्यो॒भये॑भ्य॒: प्र चि॑कित्सा॒ गवि॑ष्टौ ॥
दे॒वेन॑ । नः॒ । मन॑सा । दे॒व॒ । सो॒म॒ । रा॒यः । भा॒गम् । स॒ह॒सा॒ऽव॒न् । अ॒भि । यु॒ध्य॒ । मा । त्वा । त॒न॒त् । ईशि॑षे । वी॒र्य॑स्य । उ॒भये॑भ्यः । प्र । चि॒कि॒त्स॒ । गोऽइ॑ष्टौ ॥
devena | naḥ | manasā | deva | soma | rāyaḥ | bhāgam | sahasāvan | abhi | yudhya | mā | tvā | tanat | īśiṣe | vīryasya | ubhayebhyaḥ | pra | cikitsa | go--iṣṭau
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Probable 4 pādas of ~11 syllables (Triṣṭubh-like), with a strong caesura near midline.
Martial and directive; imperative verbs (‘abhi yudhya’, ‘pra cikitsā’) create forward thrust.
Energizes vigilance and resolve while keeping the affect ‘clear and bright’ through Soma’s sweetness.
- देवेन मनसा (devena manasā)
- Literal: with a divine mind. Symbolic: with illumined mentality aligned to the gods; higher discernment guiding experience
- सोम (soma)
- Literal: Soma/nectar. Symbolic: Ananda, the bliss-substance that strengthens and purifies consciousness
- रायः भागम् (rāyaḥ bhāgam)
- Literal: a share of wealth. Symbolic: right portion of spiritual plenitude—light, force, joy, wideness
- सहसावन् (sahasāvan)
- Literal: possessing force/might. Symbolic: Soma as dynamic power of delight that can overcome resistance
- अभि युध्य (abhi yudhya)
- Literal: fight/contend. Symbolic: inner battle against obscurity, inertia, and false movements
- तनत् (tanat)
- Literal: slackening/relaxation. Symbolic: inertia, dilution of aspiration, loss of intensity in sādhanā
- ईशिषे वीर्यस्य (īśiṣe vīryasya)
- Literal: you rule/master hero-force. Symbolic: sovereignty of steady spiritual energy (vīrya) guided by delight
- उभयेभ्यः (ubhayebhyaḥ)
- Literal: from both sides. Symbolic: guarding both subconscient and overactive vital/mental fronts
- गविष्टौ (gaviṣṭau)
- Literal: in the quest for cows. Symbolic: search for rays of light/knowledge; recovery of hidden illuminations
Militant-protective close: Soma is urged to contend for the sacrificer’s share of rayi and to remain vigilant in the gaviṣṭi (quest for light). Suitable as a concluding impetus in Soma offerings.
During Soma rites or Soma praise sequences; also suitable in daily recitation for strengthening inner aspiration.
Invocation/praise to Soma to secure rāyas (plenitude) and victory in the inner/outer struggle.
Use as a mantra for sustaining disciplined joy and stamina in practice—especially when facing fatigue, doubt, or oscillation.
manas- from √man ‘think’ (PIE *men-); √yudh ‘fight’ (PIE *yeudh- ‘battle’); īśiṣe from √īś ‘rule, have power’; vīrya from vīra (PIE *wiHro-). cikits- relates to √cit ‘perceive’ (PIE *ḱeyt- ‘notice’). gaviṣṭi- ‘desire/quest for cows’ (go + iṣṭi) where go bears the Vedic polysemy ‘cow/ray/wealth’—innerly ‘rays of knowledge’. tanat is textually difficult; taken here as ‘slackening/relaxation’ that must not seize Soma in his ruling of vīrya.
Rayi as plenitude of being (not material wealth), Gaviṣṭi as recovery of knowledge-light from darkness, Vigilance (cikitsā) as disciplined consciousness
Soma fights for the seeker’s ‘share’ by restoring right proportion and right movement in consciousness.
‘Divine mind’ implies truth-guided perception that prevents false delight or tamasic collapse.
Recovery of hidden light (go) through victorious pressure of delight and will.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral Yoga reading (Aurobindo): Ananda as a power of transformation, not mere enjoyment.
Nectar = bliss-substance; battle = tapas against resistance; cows = rays/knowledges to be won and stabilized.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘fight for the share of rayi’ and the ‘quest for the cows (rays).’ It is the archetypal recovery of light/knowledge through struggle, now explicitly entrusted to Soma acting with divine mind.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- manas (√man) reflects PIE *men- ‘think’; yudh (√yudh) reflects PIE *yeudh- ‘battle’; cikits- from √cit reflects PIE *ḱeyt- ‘notice’. The phraseology maintains inherited heroic diction repurposed for inner conquest.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi commissions Soma as champion of the aspirant’s spiritual allotment: Soma must actively contend for the seeker’s fullness (rayi-bhāga) and remain vigilant on all sides in the recovery of the rays (go) that constitute illumination.
Unite illumined mind with quiet joy; let Ananda become a vigilant force that protects aspiration.
Anahata (joy) integrating with Ajna (illumined mind)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana or equal breathing (sama-vṛtti) before chanting to prevent ‘slackening’ and stabilize tone.
Bright, steady, watchful calm with courageous forward pressure.
Chant when energy dips: feel a cool, luminous nectar filling the chest and rising to the brow; then affirm vigilant will on both ‘fronts’—below (habits) and above (ego-inflation).
Follow Rigvedic udātta/anudātta/svarita as per śākhā tradition; key lifts typically on deva-, soma-, rāyaḥ-, vīrya-, go-.
Keep udātta syllables clearly raised; avoid flattening at caesura after ‘abhi yudhya’. Let ‘mā tvā tanat’ be firm and clipped.
(devena): short e-vowel clarity; no diphthongization, (manasā): dental n; long ā sustained, (sahasāvan): aspirate h; keep v soft, (gaviṣṭau): pronounce iṣṭ as ‘ishṭ’; au as diphthong
Clear, steady, slightly resonant (cool brightness rather than fiery force).
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