Rig Veda 9.14.7: Mandala 9, Sukta 14, Mantra 7
Sukta 9.14
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अभि क्षिपः समग्मत मर्जयन्तीरिषस्पतिम् । पृष्ठा गृभ्णत वाजिनः ॥
abhí kṣípaḥ sám agmata márjayantīr iṣáspátim | pṛṣṭhā́ gṛbhṇata vājínaḥ ||
तेज़ शक्तियाँ उसकी तरफ आ जाती हैं। वो उसे साफ करती हैं और आगे बढ़ाती हैं। वो शक्तियाँ उसकी पीठ पकड़ के उसे उठा ले जाती हैं।
Word by Word
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- क्षिपः
- the throwers/casters (i.e., those who cast/drive on)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षिप्/क्षेप (प्रातिपदिक ‘क्षिप्’ m.)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्गRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अग्मत
- came, wentVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot गम् (धातु)
- मर्जयन्तीः
- purifying (fem. pl.), cleansingParticiple (Adjectival) / Noun-likeस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वर्तमानकालिक शतृ-प्रत्यय (परस्मैपद) ‘cleansing/purifying’Role KartāRoot मृज् (धातु) → मर्जयन्ती (वर्त. कृदन्त/शतृ)
- इषस्पतिम्
- the lord of refreshment/impulse (epithet of Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इषस्-पति (प्रातिपदिक; इषस् ‘refreshment/impulse’ + पति ‘lord’)
- पृष्ठा
- backs, surfaces (i.e., the upper parts)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (वैदिक रूप: -आ = -ानि)Role KarmaRoot पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृभ्णत
- they grasp, seizeVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole KriyāRoot ग्रह्/गृभ् (वैदिक धातु ‘to seize, grasp’)
- वाजिनः
- the prize-winners / swift onesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): अभि | क्षिपः | सम् | अग्मत | मर्जयन्तीः | इषस्पतिम् | पृष्ठा | गृभ्णत | वाजिनः । 1) सम॑ग्मत = सम् + अग्मत (उपसर्ग ‘सम्’ + लुङ् रूप ‘अग्मत’)
- 2) म॒र्जय॑न्तीरि॒षस्पति॑म् = मर्जयन्तीः + इषस्पतिम् (ईः + इ → ईर्, वैदिक संधि/संहितापाठ)
- 3) पृ॒ष्ठा (वैदिक) = पृष्ठानि (नपुंसक द्वितीया बहुवचन में -आ प्रत्यय/छन्दसि रूप)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The swift ones have come together toward him, cleansing the Lord of plenitude; the forceful ones seize his back, bearing him onward.
Inner meaning
The ‘swift energies’ (kṣipaḥ) are quickened movements of prāṇa, thought, and aspiration converging on Soma within. They cleanse the lord of plenitude (iṣas pati)—the master-current of nourishment, increase, and inner plenty. Seizing his ‘back’ suggests supportive forces taking up the burden of progression: once the delight-current is purified, the energetic faculties carry it forward into action and realization.
Universal truth
When our energies converge rather than scatter, they purify the source of nourishment in us; then life itself begins to carry the practice forward with steadiness and strength.
Themes
Convergence, Support and bearing, Energization, Purification
The seer
Significance
A practical yoga-instruction in symbolic form: gather energies, purify the source of inner nourishment, and let dynamic powers carry the realization into life.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Iṣaspati (lord of plenitude), Pavamāna
- Related deities
- Indra (vāja/victory), Agni (purification), Maruts (swift energies; thematic)
Cosmic role
Giver of increase and strength to gods and humans; the purified essence that nourishes all powers.
Inner power
Ananda that becomes iṣ (nourishing impetus) and vāja (effective force) when supported by aligned energies.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pavamāna recitation during pressing/filtration
अ॒भि क्षिप॒: सम॑ग्मत म॒र्जय॑न्तीरि॒षस्पति॑म् । पृ॒ष्ठा गृ॑भ्णत वा॒जिन॑: ॥
अ॒भि । क्षिपः॑ । सम् । अ॒ग्म॒त॒ । म॒र्जय॑न्तीः । इ॒षः । पति॑म् । पृ॒ष्ठा । गृ॒भ्ण॒त॒ । वा॒जिनः॑ ॥
abhi | kṣipaḥ | sam | agmata | marjayantīḥ | iṣaḥ | patim | pṛṣṭhā | gṛbhṇata | vājinaḥ
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4 x ~12 syllables
Gathering-and-driving rhythm; compact convergence then push
Energizes and coordinates; good for overcoming scattered attention.
- kṣipaḥ
- Literal: swift ones. Symbolic: quickened energies—prāṇic and mental movements aligned to the goal
- sam agmata
- Literal: have come together. Symbolic: integration/convergence; gathering of scattered forces
- marjayantīḥ
- Literal: cleansing, polishing. Symbolic: purifying movements that refine the delight-current
- iṣas patim
- Literal: lord of nourishment/plenitude. Symbolic: master of inner abundance—Soma as the source of increase (iṣ) in consciousness
- pṛṣṭhā gṛbhṇata
- Literal: seize the back. Symbolic: support the forward drive; take up the ‘load’ so progress becomes sustained
- vājinaḥ
- Literal: possessing vāja (force/prize), vigorous. Symbolic: dynamic powers of realization; victorious energies
The assisting ‘swift ones’ can reflect ritual helpers/streams; inwardly, converging faculties cleanse and support Soma-force in the system.
As Soma is made ready and ‘strengthened’ for offering
Chant while Soma is cleansed; invokes supportive powers to bear the rite forward
Use before work or service as a ‘concentration’ mantra—gather energies, purify motive, act from inner plenty.
kṣipra/kṣip: ‘swift’ from √kṣip ‘to throw, send quickly’. marjayantīḥ: causative/iterative from √mṛj ‘cleanse’. iṣ: ‘impulse, refreshment, power of nourishment’ (often a dynamic forward force). vāja: ‘strength, plenitude, victorious force’ (not merely ‘food/prize’); vājina: ‘full of vāja’. gṛbh: √grah/gṛbh ‘grasp’ (PIE *gʰrebʰ- ‘grab’ is a plausible cognate set).
iṣ (forward impulsion), vāja (plenitude of force), collective convergence of faculties
Ṛta manifests as convergence: right arrangement of energies around the central truth/delight.
Purification makes nourishment truthful—free from mixed motives.
Nourishment and increase—creation as growth of powers around a purified essence.
Integral-psychological: coordination of instruments around Ananda as the sustaining center.
Swift ones = winds/Marut-like energies (prāṇa); cleansing = filtration; bearing = sustained tapas in action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Allied swift powers gather to cleanse and carry Soma as lord of iṣ. Inner myth: the faculties converge, purify, and then ‘bear’ the awakened impulsion (iṣ) so it can act victoriously as vāja.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mṛj (cleanse) and √gṛbh/√grah (grasp) show archaic verbal systems with participles and imperatives; vāja as ‘victorious force’ parallels IE poetic diction where ‘strength/prize’ terms merge.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi depicts a cooperative yoga: Soma is ‘lord of iṣ’, but the human energies (kṣipaḥ/vājinaḥ) must gather, cleanse, and uphold him. The reciprocity is functional—divine impulsion rises when the being offers coordinated support.
Gather scattered energies into one stream; feel a supportive force at the back (spine) carrying awareness forward.
manipura (iṣ/vital strength) and sushumna/spinal support (pṛṣṭha imagery)
3-part breathing (dirgha): abdomen–chest–collarbone, then exhale fully; 9 rounds to collect prāṇa.
Collected, vigorous, steady
Before action: (1) converge attention, (2) purify intention, (3) feel supportive energy behind you, (4) move forward without dispersion.
Keep the rise on marjáyantīḥ (as marked in tradition); maintain crisp consonants in kṣipaḥ and vājinaḥ.
Articulate consonant cluster kṣ (kṣi-paḥ) distinctly; keep ‘pṛṣṭhā’ with retroflex ṣṭh.
kṣipaḥ: kṣ not ‘kh’., marjayantīḥ: ja-yan- with clear y., iṣas: short i, retroflex ṣ., vājinaḥ: long ā; soft j.
Energizing, rhythmic, well-supported breath
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