Rig Veda 9.110.7: Mandala 9, Sukta 110, Mantra 7
Sukta 9.110
- Rishi
- Pavam01na Soma hymn tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavam01na
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
त्वे सोम प्रथमा वृक्तबर्हिषो महे वाजाय श्रवसे धियं दधुः । स त्वं नो वीर वीर्याय चोदय ॥
tv e9 soma pratham0101 v 5bkt e1barhi 63o mah e9 v01d601ya 5br e1vase dh edya 43 dadhu 25 d6 s e1 tv e1 43 no v2bra v2bry0101ya codaya d6
सोम, तुम्हारे लिए पहले लोग यज्ञ की बिछौना बिछा के अपना ध्यान लगाया। उन्होंने बड़ी बरकत और सुनने की ताकत के लिए तुम्हे याद किया। अब तुम भी हमें वीरता दिखाने के लिए आगे बढ़ाओ।
Word by Word
- त्वे
- in youPronounसप्तमी एकवचन (प्रयोगः: त्वयि)Role अधिकारणRoot त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) / सर्वनाम
- सोम
- O SomaNounसम्बोधन एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole सम्बोधनRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रथमा
- first (earliest)Adjectiveप्रथमा बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (धियः इति निहित-विशेष्येण सह)Role कर्तृ (कर्तृपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृक्तबर्हिषः
- those whose sacrificial grass is strewn/cleared (ritualists)Adjective (compound)प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग (यजमान/ऋत्विजः)Role कर्तृRoot वृक्त-बर्हिस् (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-समास; वृक्त < √वृज्/वृञ्ज् ‘to clear, remove’; बर्हिस् ‘sacrificial grass’)
- महे
- for greatAdjectiveचतुर्थी एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (वाजाय इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्प्रदानRoot मह् (प्रातिपदिक: महत्)
- वाजाय
- for (the) prize/strengthNounचतुर्थी एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole सम्प्रदानRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रवसे
- for fame/renownNounचतुर्थी एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole सम्प्रदानRoot श्रवस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धियम्
- thought/insight (hymn-vision)Nounद्वितीया एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole कर्मRoot धि (प्रातिपदिक)
- दधुः
- they have placed/establishedVerbलिट् (परोक्शभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √धा (दधाति)
- स
- he/that (one)Pronounप्रथमा एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole कर्तृ (अनुवाद-सम्बन्धः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम)
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot त्वद् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) / सर्वनाम
- नः
- for us / of usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’)Role सम्प्रदान (प्रार्थ्य-हितार्थे)Root अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- वीर
- O heroNounसम्बोधन एकवचन, पुंलिङ्गRole सम्बोधनRoot वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- वीर्याय
- for heroism/valorNounचतुर्थी एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole सम्प्रदानRoot वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- चोदय
- impel, urgeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √चुद् (चोदयति)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): त्वे | सोम | प्रथमा | वृक्तबर्हिषः | महे | वाजाय | श्रवसे | धियम् | दधुः || स | त्वम् | नः | वीर | वीर्याय | चोदय || विशेषम्: (1) ‘त्वे’ = त्वद्-सर्वनाम्नः सप्तमी एकवचन, वैदिके ‘त्वयि’ अर्थे। (2) ‘वृक्तबर्हिषः’ समासपदम्
- बाह्य-सन्धिः नास्ति, अन्तःसमासे वृक्त + बर्हिस्। (3) ‘नः’ एन्क्लिटिक सर्वनाम, प्रसङ्गे ‘अस्मभ्यं’ (चतुर्थी) अर्थः अधिकः। (4) उच्चारणचिह्नाः (सो॑म, प्रथ॒मा, वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो, म॒हे, वाजा॑य, श्रव॑से॒, धियं॑, नो॑, वी॒र्या॑य) वैदिकस्वर-निर्देशाः
- पदच्छेदे स्वरः सामान्यतः न लिख्यते।
The meaning
Outer meaning
In you, O Soma, the first sacrificers who strewed the barhis set their thought for great plenitude and inspired hearing; O hero, urge us toward heroic power.
Inner meaning
The ‘first sacrificers’ are the pioneering inner faculties that begin the yoga: they prepare the seat (barhis) in the consciousness—an ordered, receptive foundation. In Soma they place dhī (the illumined thought) aiming at vāja (plenitude, victorious fullness) and śravas (inspired receptivity/hearing). Soma, as the heroic delight, is asked to impel our being toward vīrya—effective spiritual strength and courageous mastery over resistance.
Universal truth
All enduring growth requires a prepared inner ground and a clear intention. Joy (Ananda) is not a luxury; it is an impelling power that drives us toward strength, courage, and fulfilled capacity.
Themes
Lineage of seers, Soma as impeller, Heroic power, Insight and plenitude
The seer
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma hymn tradition
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.110 (sequence)
Family tradition
Book 9 Soma-pavamāna; verse speaks in the collective memory of the ‘first’ inner workers.
Significance
Connects present practice to an archetypal beginning: the first formation of the inner altar and the placing of dhī in Soma—foundation of the Vedic yoga of transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Soma, Pavamāna, Vīra (hero)
- Related deities
- Agni (leader of sacrifice), Indra (victory and illumination), Bṛhaspati (word/insight)
Cosmic role
Gives the gods strength and delight; in the human, builds force for victory and fullness.
Inner power
Ananda as dynamic impetus (codana): it turns aspiration into effective strength (vīrya) and stabilizes illumined thought.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma yajña—praise during purification/pressing; also general Soma stotras
त्वे सो॑म प्रथ॒मा वृ॒क्तब॑र्हिषो म॒हे वाजा॑य॒ श्रव॑से॒ धियं॑ दधुः । स त्वं नो॑ वीर वी॒र्या॑य चोदय ॥
त्वे इति॑ । सो॒म॒ । प्र॒थ॒माः । वृ॒क्तऽब॑र्हिषः । म॒हे । वाजा॑य । श्रव॑से । धिय॑म् । द॒धुः॒ । सः । त्वम् । नः॒ । वी॒र॒ । वी॒र्या॑य । चो॒द॒य॒ ॥
tve iti | soma | prathamāḥ | vṛkta-barhiṣaḥ | mahe | vājāya | śravase | dhiyam | dadhuḥ | saḥ | tvam | naḥ | vīra | vīryāya | codaya
Likely 4 pādas in original.
Invocatory and exhortative; ends with a strong imperative cadence (codaya).
Builds resolve and forward movement; good for energizing practice without agitation.
- प्रथमाः (prathamāḥ)
- Literal: the first ones. Symbolic: pioneering movements of aspiration; original inner seekers
- वृक्तबर्हिषः (vṛkta-barhiṣaḥ)
- Literal: with strewn barhis grass. Symbolic: prepared inner seat/field of consciousness made receptive and orderly
- धियं दधुः (dhiyaṃ dadhuḥ)
- Literal: they placed thought. Symbolic: established illumined intention and discerning intelligence
- वाजाय (vājāya)
- Literal: for vāja (prize/strength). Symbolic: plenitude, victorious fullness of being
- श्रवसे (śravase)
- Literal: for hearing/renown. Symbolic: capacity to receive the inspired Word and guidance
- वीर (vīra)
- Literal: hero. Symbolic: Soma as courageous Ananda that fights inertia
- वीर्याय (vīryāya)
- Literal: for heroism/power. Symbolic: spiritual potency; effective mastery in action
Soma praise linking ancient sacrificers practice to present aspiration; used to invoke Soma as impeller of strength and inspired speech.
At moments of offering and invocation for strength and plenitude.
Recite to establish intention (dhī) and request impetus toward vīrya.
Use as a ‘before work/discipline’ mantra: place your intention, then ask for joyful strength to carry it through.
dhiyam from √dh2b 'to think, perceive' inspired insight. dadhu 25 from √dh01 'to place' (perfect/aorist nuance). codaya from √cud 'to impel' activation of force. v2bra/v2brya from √v2br 'heroic manliness, strength' inwardly: capacity to act from the soul-force. v 5bkta-barhis indicates ritual preparedness; psychologically: a prepared foundation for receiving Somas illumination and force.
Dhi (inspired insight), Śravas (heard revelation/fame of truth), Vīrya (soul-force) activated by Soma
Prepared barhis symbolizes ordered foundation; vīrya is force aligned to ṛta rather than egoic drive.
Dhī placed in Soma becomes truth-guided intelligence.
From prepared ground arises plenitude—manifestation through right arrangement and energizing delight.
Integral yoga reading: Ananda is a necessary power for transformation and effective action.
Barhis = quiet receptive base; Soma = sweet force; vīrya = courageous energy in the nerves and will, purified by delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ancestral founding of the sacrifice in Soma: the first sacrificers place their inspired thought in Soma to gain vāja and śravas, and Soma in turn impels heroic power. Inwardly, it is the myth of transmission: the same Soma-force that empowered the earliest seers now urges the present seeker toward vīrya.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā (dadhuḥ) reflects PIE *d+0ehd- 'to put, place' (cf. Greek títhēmi, Latin faciō via related formations). vīra relates to PIE *wiHro- 'man' (cf. Latin vir). These inherited roots support the archaic theme: placing thought in the god to gain strength and renown.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rṣi establishes continuity with the Əirst sacrificers: they invested dhi in Soma for vāja and śravas; therefore Soma is asked to reciprocate now by impelling the worshippers toward vīrya. The relationship is explicitly pedagogic and empowering: Soma is both the receptacle of the seers dhi and the active stimulator of their heroic realization.
Set dhī (clear intention) into the heart as a ‘seat’ and invoke Soma to impel courageous follow-through.
Manipura (vīrya/strength) supported by Anahata (joy)
3–6 rounds of steady diaphragmatic breathing; on inhale feel ‘mahe vājāya’; on exhale ‘vīryāya codaya’ as a resolve.
Collected, energized, confident.
Begin practice by ‘strewing the barhis’: relax body, straighten spine, quiet mind. Then chant and immediately do one concrete act aligned with your intention.
Precise Vedic accents need the accented saṃhitā; treat the imperative ‘codaya’ with a clear terminal lift and release.
Make a deliberate pause after ‘dadhuh’ (they placed) and then address ‘sa tvaṃ’ with renewed directness.
vṛkta-barhiṣo: retroflex ṛ, aspirated bh, śravase: śra- crisp; -va- light, dhiyam: dhi- voiced aspirate, short i, vīryāya: long īr, palatal y, codaya: co- longish o, dental d
Firm, steady, slightly resonant in the chest.
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