Rig Veda 10.99.8: Mandala 10, Sukta 99, Mantra 8
Sukta 10.99
- Devata
- Indraic power associated with Soma and the śyena motif
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
सो अभ्रियो न यवस उदन्यन्क्षयाय गातुं विदन्नो अस्मे । उप यत्सीददिन्दुं शरीरैः श्येनोऽयोपाष्टिर्हन्ति दस्यून् ॥
só abhriyó ná yávasa udanyán kṣáyāya gātúṃ vidán no asmè | úpa yát sī́dad índuṃ śárīraiḥ śyénó 'yopā́ṣṭir hanti dásyūn ||
वो बारिश के बादल की तरह है जो घास ढूंढ रहा है। उसने हमारे लिए रहने की जगह का रास्ता ढूंढ लिया। जब वो सोम के पास बैठता है अपनी पूरी ताकत के साथ, तब वो बाज़ की तरह बन जाता है। उसकी पंजायें लोहे की हैं और वो दुश्मनों को मारता है।
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अभ्रियः
- cloud(-like), cloudNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सः के विशेषणरूपेण) / उपमान-पदRoot अभ्रि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अभ्र’/‘अभ्रि’ से)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न
- यवसः
- of grass, of fodderNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (उपमान-सम्बन्ध) / विशेषण-सम्बन्धRoot यवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- उदन्यन्
- seeking water / bringing waterVerb (participle)वर्तमाने कृदन्तः (शतृ/शानच्-प्रकार), प्रथमा, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गःRole कर्तृ (सः के विशेषणरूपेण)Root उदन्य (धातु/प्रातिपदिक-आधारित; ‘उदन्/उदक’ से ‘जलम् इच्छति/जलयुक्तः’)
- क्षयाय
- for dwelling, for settlementNounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role सम्प्रदानRoot क्षय (प्रातिपदिक)
- गातुम्
- path, wayNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot गातु (प्रातिपदिक)
- विदत्
- found, discoveredVerbलुङ् (अorist), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role कर्तृRoot √विद् (विदँ ज्ञाने)
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी, बहुवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध (प्रसङ्गानुसार)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मे
- among us, in usPronounसप्तमी, बहुवचनम् (वैदिक रूप)Role अधिकरणRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- near, towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot उप
- यत्
- when/that whichPronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (यदा-तदा प्रकारे) / कर्म (सीदद् इत्यस्य)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सीदत्
- sits down, settlesVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role कर्तृRoot √सद् (षदँ विशरणगत्यवसादने; ‘सीदति’ उपवेशन/अवसादन)
- इन्दुम्
- Soma-drop, SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
- शरीरैः
- with bodies, with formsNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्येनः
- eagle, hawkNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot श्येन (प्रातिपदिक)
- अयोपाष्टिः
- iron-weaponed / iron-clawed (one)Noun (compound)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (श्येनः के विशेषण/अप्पोज़िशन)Root अयस् + पाष्टि (समास; ‘अयस्’=लोह/अयस, ‘पाष्टि’=प्रहारक/आघातक/रक्षा-उपकरण)
- हन्ति
- strikes, slaysVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role कर्तृRoot √हन् (हनँ हिंसागत्योः)
- दस्यून्
- Dasyus, hostile foesNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot दस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- सः + अभ्रियः (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: सः अभ्रियः → सोऽभ्रियः)
- उदन्यन् + क्षयाय (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि/अनुस्वार: …उदन्यन् क्षयाय → …उदन्यन्क्षयाय)
- विदत् + नः (त् + न → न्न: विदन्नः)
- उप + यत् (सन्धिः नहीं; पद-सीमा)
- सीदत् + इन्दुम् (त् + इ → दिन्दुं: सीददिन्दुम्; वैदिक संधि)
- श्येनः + अयोपाष्टिः (विसर्ग-सन्धिः: श्येनोऽयोपाष्टिः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Like a rain-cloud thirsting for pasture, he finds for us the path to a dwelling. When he settles near the Soma with his embodied powers, then like a falcon with iron talons he strikes down the Dasyus.
Inner meaning
The seeker-force is compared to a rain-cloud: charged, seeking release and nourishment—an image of gathered aspiration looking for the ‘pasture’ (field of growth). He discovers the gātu (path) to kṣaya (a settled home/state). When this power ‘sits near’ Soma—i.e., when the active energies (śarīraiḥ, the formed instruments of nature) are brought into contact with divine Ananda—then the being becomes like the śyena (falcon), swift and precise, with ‘iron talons’ (unyielding grasp of discernment), striking down Dasyus (chaotic, light-stealing impulses).
Universal truth
Aspiration must find a stable path and a home in consciousness; delight (Soma/Ananda) is not indulgence but a strengthening nectar. When action is seated in inner bliss, it becomes swift, exact, and victorious over disorder.
Themes
soma-empowerment, path-finding, swift-seizure, victory-over-obscurers
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.99.6, Rig Veda 10.99.7, Rig Veda 10.99.9, Rig Veda 10.99.10
Significance
The seer-voice here is strongly yogic: it links ‘finding the path’ with ‘sitting near Soma,’ a classic inner-sacrifice movement from aspiration to Ananda-seated action.
The deity
- Devata
- Indraic power allied with Soma (śyena motif)
- Epithets
- gātuvit (path-finder, implied by gātuṃ vidat), dasyuhan (Dasyu-slayer, explicit), śyena (falcon-like force, as image of the power)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni (organizer of the inner sacrifice, implicit)
Cosmic role
Finds the path to the luminous abode and executes decisive victories once empowered by Soma.
Inner power
Intuitive swiftness and exact force arising when the embodied nature is seated in Ananda.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-related praise (general)
सो अ॒भ्रियो॒ न यव॑स उद॒न्यन्क्षया॑य गा॒तुं वि॒दन्नो॑ अ॒स्मे । उप॒ यत्सीद॒दिन्दुं॒ शरी॑रैः श्ये॒नोऽयो॑पाष्टिर्हन्ति॒ दस्यू॑न् ॥
सः । अ॒भ्रियः॑ । न । यव॑से । उ॒द॒न्यन् । क्षया॑य । गा॒तुम् । वि॒दत् । नः॒ । अ॒स्मे इति॑ । उप॑ । यत् । सीद॑त् । इन्दु॑म् । शरी॑रैः । श्ये॒नः । अयः॑ऽअपाष्टिः । ह॒न्ति॒ । दस्यू॑न् ॥
saḥ | abhriyaḥ | na | yavase | udanyan | kṣayāya | gātum | vidat | naḥ | asme iti | upa | yat | sīdat | indum | śarīraiḥ | śyenaḥ | ayaḥ-apāṣṭiḥ | hanti | dasyūn
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables; imagery-rich with a ‘glide’ then ‘strike’ cadence.
Fluid in the first half (cloud/path), sharp in the second (falcon strike).
Moves from calm seeking to sudden clarity; good for shifting from lethargy to precise action.
- अभ्रिय (abhriya)
- Literal: rain-cloud-like. Symbolic: gathered aspiration; charged concentration seeking release
- यवस (yavasa)
- Literal: pasture, grass. Symbolic: field of growth; nourishing truth-energies
- गातु (gātu)
- Literal: path, passage. Symbolic: inner way/opening; right movement of progress
- क्षय (kṣaya)
- Literal: dwelling, abode. Symbolic: stable state of consciousness; inner home
- इन्दु (indu)
- Literal: Soma drop. Symbolic: essence of Ananda; delight that clarifies and empowers
- शरीर (śarīra)
- Literal: bodies. Symbolic: instruments of nature—mind, life, body organized for yoga
- श्येन (śyena)
- Literal: falcon. Symbolic: swift illumined force; intuitive attack on falsehood
- अयः-अपाष्टि (ayo-apāṣṭi)
- Literal: iron-taloned. Symbolic: firm grasp of truth; relentless precision in action
- दस्यु (dasyu)
- Literal: enemy/raider. Symbolic: chaotic impulses that steal light and scatter energy
Soma-related victory verse: when the power ‘sits near Soma’, it becomes the swift falcon that destroys Dasyus—used in soma pressing/offerings to Indra.
During Soma pressing/offerings where Indra–Soma synergy is invoked; also in recitations for protection and victory.
Evocation of Soma-strengthened power; symbolic ‘seating’ of energies near Soma (consecration).
Use when needing both calm nourishment and decisive execution—before study, disciplined practice, or detox from distractions.
abhríya from abhra ‘cloud’. √ ‘to know/find’. indú (Soma drop) from √ ‘to drop/swell’ (traditional); symbolically ‘distilled delight/illumination’. śyena ‘falcon’ frequently symbol of swift seizure (often associated with bringing Soma). ayaḥ ‘metal/iron’; apāṣṭi ‘talon/claw’ (rare).
Soma as delight/illumination in the body, Finding the path to kṣaya (stable abode of consciousness), Destruction of Dasyus (removal of obscuration)
The ‘path to the dwelling’ is r̥ta as a discovered movement—right passage through inner worlds.
Iron talons symbolize satya’s firm hold—truth that does not slip.
Establishing an abode of consciousness; creation as settlement in a higher home after clearing disorder.
Cloud = concentrated aspiration; pasture = nourishment of truth; Soma/Moon = delight-essence; falcon = swift intuition; iron talons = unwavering grasp.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The śyena (falcon) empowered by Soma: once the power settles near the Soma-essence in embodied faculties, it becomes the swift seizer that destroys the Dasyus—inner myth of Soma-fed swiftness conquering obscuration.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- divine ‘sky’ imagery is replaced here by cloud/falcon (still aerial), keeping the IE vertical symbolism of ascent and swift flight. The kill-verb √ again reflects PIE *gwhen-, a stable inherited battle lexeme.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi frames a conditional inner process: the devatā’s victory depends on ‘sitting near Soma with bodies’—i.e., the delight/illumination must be concretely established in the human instruments; then the divine force acts decisively against inner enemies.
‘Find the path to the inner home’ and seat the instruments of nature near Ananda before acting.
Anāhata (Soma-delight) flowing to Maṇipūra (effective action)
Slow_meditative to moderate: 9 rounds of nāḍī-śodhana, then chant once; feel ‘upa yat sīdad induṃ’ as a settling of energies on the exhale.
From seeking (aspiration) to settled delight (Ananda) to luminous precision (intuitive action).
Begin practice by invoking delight (gratitude/inner sweetness). Only then take up the ‘falcon’ work: one precise task that cuts a habitual distraction.
Maintain a flowing first two pādas, then sharpen articulation on ‘śyeno ’yopāṣṭir hanti dasyūn’.
Stress: abhriyo, udanyan, gātuṃ, vidat, kṣayāya, upa yat sīdat, induṃ, śarīraiḥ, śyenaḥ, ayo-pāṣṭiḥ, hanti, dasyūn.
Distinguish ś (palatal) in śyena from s., Keep conjuncts clear: śarīraiḥ (not ‘sarirai’), ayo-pāṣṭiḥ (long ā)., Do not drop visarga-like aspiration: hanti with clean h., Link upa yat smoothly; avoid hard pause.
First half soft and gathering; second half keen and bright.
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