Rig Veda 10.76.5: Mandala 10, Sukta 76, Mantra 5
Sukta 10.76
- Rishi
- As per Anukramaṇī for RV 10.76
- Devata
- Likely the Soma-pressers/Adhvaryu group or allied ritual powers
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
दिवश्चिदा वोऽमवत्तरेभ्यो विभ्वना चिदाश्वपस्तरेभ्यः । वायोश्चिदा सोमरभस्तरेभ्योऽग्नेश्चिदर्च पितुकृत्तरेभ्यः ॥
diváś cidā́ vo ’mávattarebhyo vibhvánā cid āśvápastarebhyaḥ | vāyóś cidā́ sómarabhastarebhyo ’gnéś cid arca pitukṛ́ttarebhyaḥ ||
आसमान से भी आगे, तुम लोग ज़्यादा ताकतवाले हो। सब जगह फैलने वाले से भी आगे, तुम लोग काम में ज़्यादा तेज़ हो। वायु से भी आगे, तुम लोग सोम को ज़्यादा पकड़ते हो। अग्नि से भी आगे, तुम लोग सही काटने में ज़्यादा परफेक्ट हो। ऐसे ही हमारी इच्छा बड़ी हुई ताकत और स्किल से उठे।
Word by Word
- दिवः
- of heavenNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root दिव् (प्रातिपदिक: दिव्/द्यौ ‘स्वर्ग’)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (निपात)
- वः
- of you (your)Pronounषष्ठी बहुवचन (enclitic)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद्
- अमवत्तरेभ्यः
- than the more powerfulAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी बहुवचन (comparative)Role अपादान (comparison: ‘than’)Root अमवत् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक: -तर)
- विभ्वना
- with/through might (all-pervading power)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole करणRoot विभ्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (निपात)
- आश्वपस्तरेभ्यः
- than the swifter-workingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी बहुवचन (comparative)Role अपादान (comparison: ‘than’)Root आश्वपस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक: -तर)
- वायोः
- of VāyuNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (निपात)
- सोमरभस्तरेभ्यः
- than the more Soma-seizing/impetuousAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी बहुवचन (comparative)Role अपादान (comparison: ‘than’)Root सोमरभस् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक: -तर)
- अग्नेः
- of AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्ययRoot चित् (निपात)
- अर्च
- praise!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यम पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot अर्च्
- पितुकृत्तरेभ्यः
- than the more father-made/ancestral (i.e., traditional)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी बहुवचन (comparative)Role अपादान (comparison: ‘than’)Root पितुकृत्/पितृकृत् (प्रातिपदिक; तुलनात्मक: -तर)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: दिवः चित् इदं वः अमवत्तरेभ्यः | विभ्वना चित् आश्वपस्तरेभ्यः | वायोः चित् सोमरभस्तरेभ्यः | अग्नेः चित् अर्च पितुकृत्तरेभ्यः || सन्धि-विशेषाः: (1) दिवः+चित् → दिवश्चित् (विसर्ग-लोप/श्च्-आदेश)
- (2) वः+अमवत्तरेभ्यः → वोऽमवत्तरेभ्यः (अवग्रह; ओऽ)
- (3) चित्+आश्व… → चिदा… (त्→द् परे स्वरादौ)
- (4) वायोः+चित् → वायोश्चित्
- (5) …रेभ्यः+अग्नेः → …रेभ्योऽग्नेः (ओऽ)
- (6) अग्नेः+चित् → अग्नेश्चित्
The meaning
Outer meaning
To you even beyond heaven, more mighty; beyond the all-pervading, more swift in works; beyond Vāyu, more grasping of Soma; beyond Agni, sing—to you more perfect in the right cutting-out.
Inner meaning
The mantra escalates by ‘beyond even…’ (cid ā) to indicate ever-higher intensities of the offering-force addressed (a plural ‘you’—the perfected powers of the sacrifice, the pressers/priests as inner faculties). The seeker calls to capacities in us that surpass ordinary mental height (divaḥ), surpass diffuse pervasion (vibhvanā), surpass mere life-breath movement (Vāyu), and surpass even the initiating flame (Agni). These are the supramentalized faculties that can truly ‘grasp Soma’ (somarabhastara) and ‘cut out’ (pitu-kṛt) the right forms/portions—i.e., discern, separate, and offer the exact movements needed for transformation.
Universal truth
Human growth proceeds by surpassing its own previous maxima: beyond mind’s ceiling, beyond scattered capacity, beyond breath-driven activity, beyond initial enthusiasm—toward a more exact, more integrated mastery that can hold delight and shape it rightly into life.
Themes
Comparative intensification (taras), Ritual skill as inner discrimination, Aspiration to surpass limits
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.76.1-7
Significance
The seer articulates a graded transcendence—an inner pedagogy of ever-greater measures (tara) of power, speed, grasp, and precision, characteristic of the Rigvedic ascent.
The deity
- Devata
- The perfected Soma-pressing/offerer powers (Adrayaḥ/Adhvaryu as inner faculties)
- Epithets
- amavattara (more mighty), āśvapastara (more swift in work), somarabhastara (more capable of grasping Soma), pitukṛttara (more perfect in cutting/portioning)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Vāyu, Indra (background recipient of Soma)
Cosmic role
They are the operative powers that convert the hidden Soma into an effective offering and distribute it in right measures through the worlds.
Inner power
Evolving capacities in the practitioner: strength, swift execution, stable ananda-holding, and exact discrimination/formation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing praise/invocation to the operative ritual powers
दि॒वश्चि॒दा वोऽम॑वत्तरेभ्यो वि॒भ्वना॑ चिदा॒श्व॑पस्तरेभ्यः । वा॒योश्चि॒दा सोम॑रभस्तरेभ्यो॒ऽग्नेश्चि॑दर्च पितु॒कृत्त॑रेभ्यः ॥
दि॒वः । चि॒त् । आ । वः॒ । अम॑वत्ऽतरेभ्यः । वि॒ऽभ्वना॑ । चि॒त् । आ॒श्व॑पःऽतरेभ्यः । वा॒योः । चि॒त् । आ । सोम॑रभःऽतरेभ्यः । अ॒ग्नेः । चि॒त् । अ॒र्च॒ । पि॒तु॒कृत्ऽत॑रेभ्यः ॥
divaḥ | cit | ā | vaḥ | amavat-tarebhyaḥ | vi-bhvanā | cit | āśvapaḥ-tarebhyaḥ | vāyoḥ | cit | ā | somarabhaḥ-tarebhyaḥ | agneḥ | cit | arca | pitukṛt-tarebhyaḥ
44
4 x ~11 syllables
Ascending comparative rhythm; each pāda lifts by repetition of ‘cid ā’ and comparative endings
Creates a laddering effect—mind experiences progressive surpassing and intensification.
- दिवः (divaḥ)
- Literal: heaven. Symbolic: Mental height/clarity; the luminous mind-plane
- अमवत्-तरेभ्यः (amavat-tarebhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the more mighty. Symbolic: To greater soul-power and effective force
- विभ्वना (vibhvanā)
- Literal: all-pervading, widespread. Symbolic: Diffused capacity; breadth without precision
- आश्वपः-तरेभ्यः (āśvapastarebhyaḥ)
- Literal: more swift in work. Symbolic: More rapid, energized execution (vital force under control)
- वायोः (vāyoḥ)
- Literal: of Vāyu (wind). Symbolic: Prāṇa and kinetic life-force
- सोमरभः-तरेभ्यः (somarabhastarebhyaḥ)
- Literal: more grasping/holding Soma. Symbolic: Greater capacity to hold ananda without spilling into excitement or dullness
- अग्नेः (agneḥ)
- Literal: of Agni. Symbolic: Initiating will and aspiration-fire
- पितुकृत्-तरेभ्यः (pitukṛttarebhyaḥ)
- Literal: more skilled in cutting out/portioning. Symbolic: Exact discernment and right formation of the offering; precise yogic discrimination
Praise of ritual agents/powers for superior efficacy in Soma rite; reinforces correct, intensified performance and aspiration.
During or around pressing/portioning and offering sequences
Praise and energize the pressers/priests; ensure right measures and effective grasp of Soma
Use to cultivate ‘ever-greater’ capacities: strength, speed without haste, stable joy, and precise discernment in practice and work.
This verse uses stacked comparatives (-tarebhyaḥ) to intensify address to a group (likely ritual functionaries/powers associated with pressing and offering). √arc ‘to shine/praise’ (arca) links praise with radiance. āśu ‘swift’ + apas ‘work’ indicates rapid effective action. somarabhas: rabhas ‘grasp, seize, impetuosity’ (√rabh ‘to seize’)—inwardly, capacity to seize the delight-essence. pitu-kṛt is a technical sacrificial competence (‘cutting/ordering portions’), re-read inwardly as precise discrimination that prepares the offering of consciousness.
Hierarchy of powers (increasing intensities), Tapas as intensified skill and force, Rita as right ‘cutting/ordering’ (pitu-kṛt)
‘Cutting out’ points to ṛta as proportion—right measure is cosmic order in action.
Truth is not only height (div) but exactness (right cutting) and stable holding (grasping Soma).
Evolution by progressive surpassing; refinement from broad force to precise formation.
Integral Yoga resonance: ascent beyond mind and prāṇa toward stable ananda and exact formation of consciousness.
Heaven = mental clarity; wind = prāṇa currents; fire = will/aspiration; horse = vital energy; ‘beyond’ = transcendence of each into a higher integration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘surpassing’: powers/agents addressed are declared stronger than heaven, more effective than the all-pervading, more Soma-seizing than Vayu, more expertly ordering than Agni. Inwardly it encodes the ascent of practice: ever greater force, speed of work, and precision of offering that exceeds ordinary cosmic supports.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The comparative formation (-tara) is an inherited IE feature (cf. Latin -ior, Greek -teros as a cognate pattern). √rabh ‘seize’ has Indo-Iranian parallels and fits the IE heroic diction of ‘grasping’ the prize/essence.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi elevates the addressed powers by comparative praise, thereby drawing them to act with maximal intensity for the sacrifice/inner work. The relationship is functional and reciprocal: heightened recognition elicits heightened efficacy—swift work (āśu-apas), Soma-seizing (soma-rabhas), and right ordering (pitu-kṛt).
Contemplate four surpassings: beyond mind’s ceiling, beyond diffuseness, beyond breath-driven action, beyond initial fire—toward stable joy and precise discernment.
Ajna (discernment) and Sahasrara (beyond heaven)
Even breathing with silent count 11 per exhale for one Triṣṭubh cycle; after each pāda, brief inner ‘lift’ (no strain).
Ascending concentration with increasing precision
Pick one domain to refine today: (1) strength, (2) speed, (3) stable joy, (4) exactness. Offer it consciously as your ‘portion’ (pitu) to the higher consciousness.
Tri-svara; maintain the comparative emphasis (tará endings) with clear udātta where marked in the saṃhitā text.
Each pāda should feel like a step up; keep ‘cid ā’ lightly linked, not swallowed.
vibhvanā: articulate bhv cluster cleanly, āśvapastarebhyaḥ: keep long ā and clear śv, somarabhastarebhyaḥ: do not drop ‘bha’; keep ‘ra-bha’ distinct, pitukṛttarebhyaḥ: retroflex ṛ; geminate tt clearly
Clear, lifted, slightly aspirational; avoid aggression—this is an ascent by refinement.
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