Rig Veda 9.43.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 43, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.43
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्दुरत्यो न वाजसृत्कनिक्रन्ति पवित्र आ । यदक्षारति देवयुः ॥
índur átyo ná vā́ja-sṛt kánikranti pavítra ā́ | yád ákṣārati deva-yúḥ ||
इंदु दौड़ता है जैसे घोड़ा दौड़ के कुछ ला दे। वो साफ करने वाले में कूदता है। जब भगवान को ढूँढने वाला आगे बढ़ता है, तब यह उस पार चला जाता है।
Word by Word
- इन्दुः
- the Soma-drop (Indu)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot इन्दु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अत्यः
- a steed, horseNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (उपमान-कर्तृ; उपमा-प्रयोगे)Root अत्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातःRoot न (अव्यय)
- वाजसृत्
- speeding toward the prize/strength (vāja), prize-winningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (अत्यः इति विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (उपमान-कर्तृ-विशेषणम्)Root वाज-सृत् (प्रातिपदिक; सृत् < √सृ ‘to run/flow’)
- कनिक्रमन्ति
- they step/run along, they hasten (repeatedly/quickly)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √क्रम् (क्रमुँ पादविक्षेपे) + नि + क (तीव्रार्थ/पुनरुक्ति-प्रयोग)
- पवित्रे
- in/through the strainer (filter)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot पवित्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- toward, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातः (आ-गमन/समाप्ति-अर्थे)Root आ (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
- यत्
- what, that whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (सम्बन्ध-प्रयोगः)Role कर्म (अक्षारति इति क्रियायाः; ‘what/that which’)Root यद्- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अक्षारति
- it flows, it streamsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √क्षर् (क्षरँ सञ्चरणे/स्रवणे) + अ (प्रत्यय)
- देवयुः
- the god-seeking one (Soma)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot देव-यु (प्रातिपदिक; यु ‘to join/seek’ → ‘seeking the gods’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: इन्दुः | अत्यः | न | वाजसृत् | कनिक्रमन्ति | पवित्रे | आ | यत् | अक्षारति | देवयुः || 1) ‘इन्दुरत्यो’ = इन्दुः + अत्यः (विसर्ग-लोपः, संहितायाम्)
- 2) ‘वाजसृत्कनिक्रमन्ति’ = वाजसृत् + कनिक्रमन्ति (त् + क् संयोगः)
- 3) ‘पवित्र आ’ = पवित्रे + आ (ऋग्वैदिके पदपाठे सप्तमी ‘पवित्रे’; संहितायां ‘पवित्र आ’ इति दृश्यते)
- 4) ‘यदक्षा॒रति’ = यत् + अक्षारति (त् + अ → द्/त्-लोपादि वैदिक-संहितानियमेन; पदपाठे ‘यत्’ पृथक्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Indu, like a racing steed that brings the prize, keeps leaping into the purifier, when the god-seeking one streams forth and passes beyond.
Inner meaning
The bright delight-force (Indu) behaves like a victorious horse: it surges repeatedly into the pavitra—the discerning filter of the mind/heart—so that what emerges is clarified power. The devayu (god-seeking) current ‘streams’ and crosses beyond (ati): aspiration breaks past habitual limits; the bliss-current, purified, becomes a dynamic impetus for transcendence over resistance.
Universal truth
Spiritual joy is not passive; when aspiration is genuine, it repeatedly enters the discipline of purification and thereby gains the power to exceed former boundaries.
Themes
Soma as racer, dynamic purification, aspiration, transcendence
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.43.1, Rig Veda 9.43.2, Rig Veda 9.43.3, Rig Veda 9.43.4
Family tradition
The Soma poets repeatedly stress the ‘pavitra’ as both ritual strainer and inner discrimination—practice as rhythmic purification.
Significance
This verse highlights the dynamic sādhanā-loop: surge of delight → enter purification → emerge stronger → surpass limits.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (Indu)
- Epithets
- Indu, Pavamāna, Vājasṛt (bringer of plenitude)
- Related deities
- Indra (victory), Agni (discipline/leader)
Cosmic role
Energizes gods and seekers; as purified current it becomes victorious impetus for crossing beyond obstruction.
Inner power
Ecstatic force disciplined by discrimination; joy that becomes power for transcendence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma filtration: depiction of Soma’s active movement into the pavitra
इन्दु॒रत्यो॒ न वा॑ज॒सृत्कनि॑क्रन्ति प॒वित्र॒ आ । यदक्षा॒रति॑ देव॒युः ॥
इन्दुः॑ । अत्यः॑ । न । वा॒ज॒ऽसृत् । कनि॑क्रन्ति । प॒वित्रे॑ । आ । यत् । अक्षाः॑ । अति॑ । दे॒व॒ऽयुः ॥
induḥ | atyaḥ | na | vāja-sṛt | kanikranti | pavitre | ā | yat | akṣāḥ | ati | deva-yuḥ
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2 padas of ~11 syllables each (as presented)
Springing, repetitive beat mirroring ‘leaping’ (kanikranti).
Invigorating; stimulates perseverance and the will to break through inertia.
- वाजसृत् (vājasṛt)
- Literal: bringing vāja (prize/strength). Symbolic: carrying plenitude: effective force and accomplishment
- कनिक्रन्ति (kanikranti)
- Literal: keeps leaping/jumping repeatedly. Symbolic: recurrent upsurge of energy and delight in practice
- पवित्रे (pavitre)
- Literal: into the strainer/purifier. Symbolic: inner discrimination, refining discipline; the psychic filter
- अक्षा (akṣāḥ)
- Literal: flows/streams (from √akṣ). Symbolic: outpouring of consciousness-force under aspiration
- देवयुः (devayuḥ)
- Literal: god-seeking. Symbolic: the aspiring being turned toward the Divine
- अति (ati)
- Literal: beyond, across. Symbolic: transcendence of limits; surpassing obstruction
Describes energetic movement of Soma into the filter; emphasizes repeated ‘leaping’ motion of the stream in purification
At the moment of Soma flowing/being strained; accompanying the visible ‘leaping’ of liquid through/into the strainer
Chant to intensify the purification and empower the offering
Use when energy is dull: chant to reawaken disciplined enthusiasm—joy entering the ‘filter’ of mindful attention.
vā́ja-sṛt: compound vā́ja ‘plenitude/strength’ + sṛt ‘running/flowing’ from √sṛ ‘to flow, run’ (PIE *ser- ‘flow’). kánikranti: intensive/reduplicated formation to √kram ‘step’ (PIE *krem- ‘step’). deva-yú-: ‘seeking the gods’ (√yu ‘to join, pursue, seek’). akṣāḥ: ambiguous; commonly ‘axle’ (akṣa) in RV; here may image the Soma crossing the ‘axles’/supports of the press/filtering apparatus—metaphorically, crossing structural limits.
aspiration (deva-yu) as the motive force of purification, crossing beyond limits (ati) as transcendence through refinement
The pavitra is ṛta’s instrument: it ensures the force that crosses beyond is not chaotic but luminous.
Evolution by repeated surges and refinements; crossing thresholds through disciplined joy.
Yoga of practice (abhyāsa) and purification: repetition (kanikranti) as law of transformation.
Vital energy repeatedly enters discrimination; aspiration streams and surpasses old limits.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as the racing steed repeatedly leaping into the purifier. The mythic image of speed and victory signifies the inner force that, driven by god-seeking aspiration (deva-yuḥ), repeatedly enters discrimination (pavitra) until it can ‘pass beyond’ (ati)—a figure of progressive purification and transcendence.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sṛ ‘flow’ reflects PIE *ser- ‘flow’ (cf. Latin serum ‘whey’ debated; broader IE flow lexicon). √kram ‘step’ has plausible PIE stepping cognates. The horse/racer metaphor is an inherited IE poetic device for energized movement and victorious advance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi highlights the inner mechanics: Soma’s own aspiration (deva-yu) is the divine drive within the human process. The seer’s role is to recognize and support this repeated entry into the purifier—steady practice of refinement—until the force becomes fit for divine enjoyment and action.
Let joy surge, then consciously ‘strain’ it through mindfulness and truth; use the refined energy to cross a stuck pattern.
Maṇipūra (dynamic surge) refined toward Ājñā (discrimination)
Kapalabhati-light (if suitable) for 30–60 strokes, then calm breathing while chanting; feel ‘leaps’ of clarity entering a subtle filter at the brow.
Energetic clarity; breakthrough readiness.
Chant 27 times when facing inertia or doubt; after chanting, take one concrete action aligned with your highest intention—this is ‘ati’ (beyond).
Let kanikranti and pavitre carry noticeable lift; keep ati slightly stressed to mark ‘beyond’.
Use a springy articulation on ‘atyo na vājasṛt’; do not blur consonant clusters.
induḥ: final visarga soft, vājasṛt: ‘ṛ’ clear; avoid ‘rit’, kanikranti: roll through ‘kr’ cleanly, pavitre: short vowels; dental ‘t’, devayuḥ: ‘yu’ distinct; visarga soft
clear, bright, slightly vigorous; avoid shouting—keep it ‘purified force’.
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