Rig Veda 9.36.6: Mandala 9, Sukta 36, Mantra 6
Sukta 9.36
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आ दिवस्पृष्ठमश्वयुर्गव्ययुः सोम रोहसि । वीरयुः शवसस्पते ॥
ā́ divás pṛṣṭhám aśva-yúr gavya-yúḥ soma rohasi | vīra-yúḥ śávasas pate ||
हे सोम, तू आसमान के पीछे तक जाता है। तेज़ी माँगता है, चमक माँगता है। बहादुरी की ताकत माँगता है, तू ताकत का मालिक है।
Word by Word
- आ
- towards; forthIndeclinableupasarga (preverb)Root आ (upasarga)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounmasculine/neuter (Vedic), genitive singularRole सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root दिव् (prātipadika: दिव्/द्यौ ‘heaven’)
- पृष्ठम्
- the back; summit; surfaceNounneuter, accusative singularRole कर्म (goal/object with motion)Root पृष्ठ (prātipadika)
- अश्वयुः
- seeking horsesAdjectivemasculine, nominative singularRole कर्तृ (apposition to subject)Root अश्वयु (prātipadika; -यु ‘seeking/desiring’)
- गव्ययुः
- seeking cowsAdjectivemasculine, nominative singularRole कर्तृ (apposition to subject)Root गव्ययु (prātipadika; from गव्य ‘bovine/pertaining to cows’ + -यु)
- सोम
- O SomaNounmasculine, vocative singularRole सम्बोधनRoot सोम (prātipadika)
- रोहसि
- thou mountest/ascendestVerbpresent (laṭ), 2nd person singular, parasmaipadaRole क्रियाRoot रुह् (धातु) ‘to rise, mount, grow’
- वीरयुः
- seeking heroes/menAdjectivemasculine, nominative singularRole कर्तृ (apposition to subject)Root वीरयु (prātipadika; -यु ‘seeking’)
- शवसः
- of strengthNounneuter, genitive singularRole सम्बन्ध (genitival relation)Root शवस् (prātipadika) ‘strength, might’
- पते
- O lord/masterNounmasculine, vocative singularRole सम्बोधनRoot पति (prātipadika)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: दिवस्पृष्ठम् → दिवः + पृष्ठम् (visarga sandhi: -ः + प-). शवसस्पते → शवसः + पते (visarga sandhi: -ः + प-). Other forms are already pada-separated
- आ is a preverb used with रोहसि. Accents as in Saṃhitā: दि॒वः (anudātta on di-), पृ॒ष्ठम् (anudātta), अ॑श्व॒युः/ग॑व्य॒युः/सो॑म/वी॒र॒युः/श॑वसस्पते reflect Vedic udātta-svarita patterns but do not change morphological parsing
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Soma, you climb to the back of heaven, desiring horses, desiring cows, desiring heroes—O lord of strength.
Inner meaning
Soma rises to the ‘back of heaven’—to the summit-plane of consciousness where the higher mind is established. In this ascent, he seeks aśva (vital energies of swift action), go (rays of knowledge), and vīra (heroic soul-force). These are not outer possessions but inner powers needed for the journey: speed and capacity to act, illumination and understanding, and courageous endurance. Soma as śavasas pati is the master-force of might that coordinates these powers under purified Ananda.
Universal truth
Spiritual ascent requires a triple equipment: energy to act, light to see, and courage to persist—held together by a purified joy that makes the climb possible.
Themes
Ascent, Cows as illumination, Horses as speed/energy, Heroic force (vīra), Soma as lord of might
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.36
Family tradition
Collective Soma-yoga voice emphasizing ascent and acquisition of inner powers (aśva/go/vīra) for the supramental journey.
Significance
This is a classic inner-equipment verse: it reframes ‘wealth’ as yogic powers needed to rise to the luminous summit.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Śavasaḥ Pati (Lord of Might), Pavamāna, Rohitā/Ascending (implied)
- Related deities
- Indra (heroic power), Sūrya (light), Maruts (dynamic energies)
Cosmic role
Elevates and empowers; a force that climbs to heaven and brings down usable powers to the sacrificer.
Inner power
Uplifting Ananda that converts aspiration into energetic progress, illumination, and heroic endurance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification/chanting during ascent imagery in Soma rites
आ दि॒वस्पृ॒ष्ठम॑श्व॒युर्ग॑व्य॒युः सो॑म रोहसि । वी॒र॒युः श॑वसस्पते ॥
आ । दि॒वः । पृ॒ष्ठम् । अ॒श्व॒ऽयुः । ग॒व्य॒ऽयुः । सो॒म॒ । रो॒ह॒सि॒ । वी॒र॒ऽयुः । श॒व॒सः॒ । प॒ते॒ ॥
ā | divaḥ | pṛṣṭham | aśva-yuḥ | gavya-yuḥ | soma | rohasi | vīra-yuḥ | śavasaḥ | pate
Two half-verses.
Ascending, aspirational rhythm; repeated -yuḥ compounds create a climbing, insistent seeking.
Invokes upward drive and courage; energizes the practitioner with a sense of ascent and readiness.
- दिवः पृष्ठम् (divaḥ pṛṣṭham)
- Literal: the back/summit of heaven. Symbolic: highest mental plane; luminous summit of consciousness
- अश्वयुः (aśvayuḥ)
- Literal: desiring horses. Symbolic: seeking swift vital energies and effective dynamism
- गव्ययुः (gavyayuḥ)
- Literal: desiring cows. Symbolic: seeking rays of knowledge/illumination (go = light)
- वीरयुः (vīrayuḥ)
- Literal: desiring heroes. Symbolic: seeking heroic soul-force, courage, steadfast power
- शवसः पते (śavasaḥ pate)
- Literal: lord of strength/might. Symbolic: governing power that masters and directs energies in yoga
- रोहसि (rohasi)
- Literal: you ascend. Symbolic: the uplifting movement of purified consciousness
Culminating movement of Soma in the rite: ascent toward the heavenly summit; invoked for strength and victorious powers (aśva/go/vīra).
During pavamāna chants as Soma is raised/collected and offered; used to call powers for the sacrificer.
Chant while Soma is carried/raised toward offering vessels; symbolic ‘ascent’ enacted in ritual movement.
Before challenging work or disciplined practice: invoke swift energy (aśva), clear insight (go), and courage (vīra) under a joyful, purified attitude.
Key terms: (1) rohasi: from √ruh ‘rise, mount’—spiritual ascent of the purified force. (2) -yuḥ compounds (aśva-yuḥ, gavya-yuḥ, vīra-yuḥ): from √yu ‘to join, desire, seek’—Soma is characterized as a seeker/attractor of powers needed for fulfillment. (3) aśva: ‘horse’ as speed and dynamic energy; (4) go: ‘cow’ as ray/knowledge; (5) vīra: hero as soul-force capable of battle against inner darkness; (6) śavas: strength/might—dynamic power that accomplishes.
ascent of consciousness (√ruh), light-knowledge (go), strength (śavas) as force for transformation
Ascent is toward the ordered luminous plane; powers sought are to serve ṛta, not egoic conquest.
Go (rays) indicates satya-illumination guiding action.
Vertical movement: raising consciousness to the summit and drawing down powers for manifestation.
Aurobindo-Kashyap: aśva/go/vīra as psychological symbols of transformed life-force and knowledge.
Sky summit = higher mind; horse = dynamic prāṇa; cow = knowledge-rays; hero = psychic/vital courage; Soma = uplift of delight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘ascent to the heavenly summit’ mythologem: purified Soma climbs to divás pṛṣṭha. The desired horses/cows/heroes encode the classic triad of progress—speed of force, light of knowledge, and heroic capacity—needed to win the inner battle and establish truth-consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ruh ‘rise’ fits the widespread IE ‘ascent’ imagery for divine elevation. aśva reflects PIE *h₁éḱwos ‘horse’ (cf. Latin equus). vīra ‘man/hero’ aligns with PIE *wiHro- ‘man’ (cf. Latin vir). These inherited lexemes are redeployed in RV for a spiritual-psychological ascent narrative.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer addresses Soma as śavasas pati, acknowledging him as master of transformative power. Soma’s ‘desires’ (yuḥ-compounds) mirror the seeker’s aspiration: the deity embodies and draws down the very energies—speed, light, heroism—that the human needs for ascent.
Visualize ascent to a clear summit of consciousness; call in energy, light, and courage as supports.
Sahasrāra/Ājñā for ascent; Maṇipūra for śavas (strength)
Ujjāyī (gentle) or counted inhale 4–6, exhale 6–8 while chanting to feel upward lift.
Upward-moving aspiration (udāna-like), courageous and clear.
Chant 7 times; after each repetition, briefly contemplate one power: (1) aśva—steady energy, (2) go—clear seeing, (3) vīra—fearless perseverance.
Not recoverable precisely without svara text; chant with energetic but controlled Vedic accenting; keep repeated -yuḥ compounds clearly articulated.
Give a slight upward lift on ‘ā’ openings and on each -yuḥ compound; conclude firmly on ‘śavasaḥ pate’.
divas pṛṣṭham: retroflex ‘ṣṭh’ cluster; vocalic ‘ṛ’ in pṛṣṭham, aśvayuḥ: ‘śv’ conjunct clean, gavyayuḥ: hard ‘g’, ‘vy’ cluster, vīrayuḥ: long ī; roll into ‘yuḥ’ softly, śavasaḥ: ‘śa’ palatal; keep short vowels distinct
Uplifting, resonant, ‘ascending’ placement; end with grounded authority.
7
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