Rig Veda 9.47.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 47, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.47
- Devata
- Soma as helper in vāja and bhara
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
सिषासतू रयीणां वाजेष्वर्वतामिव । भरेषु जिग्युषामसि ॥
siṣāsatū rayīṇā́ṃ vā́jeṣv arvatām iva | bháreṣu jigyúṣām asi ||
तू धन और संपन्नता का मालिक है, जैसे तेज़ घोड़े दौड़ में आगे निकलते हैं। लड़ाई में तू जीतने वाले के पास है।
Word by Word
- सिषासतू
- let the two desire to rule/command; let them seek to directVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), प्रथमपुरुषः, द्विवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्; (वेदिक) सन्-प्रत्यययुक्तं ‘सिषास-’ (desiderative) + -तू (लोट् 3rd du.)Role Kartā (विधेयक्रिया) — ‘they two should/let them’Root शास् (धातु)
- रयीणाम्
- of riches, of wealthNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive) — ‘of riches’Root रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजेषु
- in prizes, in contests (for booty)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role Adhikaraṇa (Locative) — ‘in/among prizes’Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वताम्
- of horsesNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive) — ‘of horses’ (with implied comparison)Root अर्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययम् (उपमानार्थे)Role (उपमान-निर्देशक)Root इव (अव्यय)
- भरेषु
- in battles, in conflictsNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role Adhikaraṇa (Locative) — ‘in battles/struggles’Root भर (प्रातिपदिक)
- जिग्युषाम्
- of the victorious (ones), of conquerorsNoun (participle used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, बहुवचनम्; (परस्मैपद-परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट-आधारित कृदन्तः) ‘जिग्युष्’ = ‘having conquered’Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive) — ‘of the conquerors’Root जि (धातु) → जिग्युस् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; परिपूर्ण/परिपक्व-रूपः)
- असि
- you areVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), मध्यम/उत्तम? → उत्तमपुरुषः? (न) ; द्वितीयपुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्Role विधेयक्रिया (copula) — ‘you are’Root अस् (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): सिषासतू | रयीणाम् | वाजेषु | अर्वताम् | इव | भरेषु | जिग्युषाम् | असि । 1) वाजेष्वर्वतामिव = वाजेषु + अर्वताम् + इव (उकारान्त ‘वाजेषु’ परे अ-आदौ ‘अर्वताम्’ इत्यत्र संहितायां ‘ष्व’ इति रूपम्). 2) जिग्युषामसि = जिग्युषाम् + असि (म् + अ → म् अ, संहितायां ‘मसि’). 3) सिषासतू: वेदिक-लोट् द्विवचन-प्रयोगः
- सन्-प्रत्यययुक्त धातुरूपम् (desiderative) + लोट्-प्रत्ययः -तू
The meaning
Outer meaning
You are the impelling master of riches in the contests of power, like swift horses; in battles you belong to the victorious.
Inner meaning
Soma, as purified delight, becomes the inner charioteer of plenitudes (rayīṇām): he urges forward the growth of our resources—clarity, energy, joy, capacity. In vājeṣu (contests for power/strength) he acts like arvatām iva—like swift horses: he lends speed, endurance, and rhythmic force to the life-energy when it is yoked to the truth. In bhareṣu (battles/pressures of life) he stands with the jigyuṣām, those who are winning—i.e., with the soul-led will that persists until obscurity is conquered.
Universal truth
Right joy is a multiplier of power. When delight is purified, it drives our energies swiftly and places us on the side of victory in life’s struggles.
Themes
victory, inner battle, plenitude, dynamic force
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.47.2, Rig Veda 9.47.3, Rig Veda 9.47.4
Family tradition
Soma-Pavamāna victory-and-power strain: Soma as the secret ally in inner ‘battles’ and ‘contests’.
Significance
Anonymous seer emphasizes Soma as dynamic guide: not only purifier but strategist and energizer in the evolutionary struggle.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (as energizer in vāja and bhara)
- Epithets
- Rayīṇām sisāsatuḥ (impeller of riches), Jigyuṣām sakhā (ally of the victorious—implicit)
- Related deities
- Indra, Maruts, Agni
Cosmic role
Gives increase of power and prosperity; supports the gods and the sacrificer in overcoming opposition.
Inner power
Ananda that accelerates and disciplines the vital force, turning it into a victorious instrument.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-yajña chants for strength and victory
सि॒षा॒सतू॑ रयी॒णां वाजे॒ष्वर्व॑तामिव । भरे॑षु जि॒ग्युषा॑मसि ॥
सि॒सा॒सतुः॑ । र॒यी॒णाम् । वाजे॑षु । अर्व॑ताम्ऽइव । भरे॑षु । जि॒ग्युषा॑म् । अ॒सि॒ ॥
sisāsatuḥ | rayīṇām | vājeṣu | arvatām-iva | bhareṣu | jigyuṣām | asi
44
4 pādas (approx. 11 syllables each)
Quick, forward-driving; imagery of speed and contest fits a vigorous cadence.
Energizes and motivates; helpful when lethargy or doubt must be overcome.
- रयीणाम् (rayīṇām)
- Literal: of riches, plenitudes. Symbolic: inner resources: peace, force, knowledge, harmony, delight
- वाजेषु (vājeṣu)
- Literal: in prizes/contests for strength. Symbolic: strivings for spiritual power and effective capacity
- अर्वतामिव (arvatām iva)
- Literal: like horses. Symbolic: vital energies when disciplined and made swift for the soul’s journey
- भरेषु (bhareṣu)
- Literal: in battles, burdens, conflicts. Symbolic: inner struggles under pressure; confronting resistance
- जिग्युषाम् (jigyuṣām)
- Literal: of the victorious. Symbolic: the soul-led, persevering will that is winning truth over falsehood
- सिसासतुः (sisāsatuḥ)
- Literal: impelling/urging master (desiderative nuance). Symbolic: the power that spurs growth and directs energies toward the goal
Soma as ‘victory-aid’ in ritual competitions; in inner rite, Soma supports conquering movements of consciousness
During Soma purification/offering sequences associated with gaining vāja (strength/prize)
Recitation to invoke Soma’s empowering and victory-giving force
Use before demanding work, training, or inner discipline sessions to harness vital energy without agitation.
sisāsatuḥ likely from desiderative/intensive of √sās/√śās ‘to instruct/impel/command’ → ‘impel strongly/lead’. rayi- ‘wealth’ expands to ‘fullness’ (semantic field of giving/abundance). vāja- from √vaj/√vāj ‘be strong, speed, vigor’ → ‘prize/strength/plenitude’; supports psychological ‘force of attainment’. arvat- ‘steed’ from √arv ‘to run/move swiftly’. jigyuṣ- perfect participial formation from √ji ‘to conquer’ (PIE *gʷyeh₃- / *gʷei̯- ‘live/conquer’ debated; but √ji firmly ‘win’ in Indo-Aryan).
struggle between knowledge and obscuration (inner battle), rāyī as fullness of being (bṛhat tendency)
Soma supports victory when force is yoked to ṛta rather than ego-impulse.
The ‘victorious’ are those aligned with truth; Soma stands with them as inner delight.
Evolution through struggle: power grows through contests guided by delight and order.
Yoga of transformation: vital energy (aśva) becomes an instrument of the soul under Soma’s purification.
Horses symbolize the life-force; Soma is the nectar that both feeds and disciplines it for swift progress and victory.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘race/contest and battle’ mythologem: divine aid as swift horses in vāja and bhara. Inner sense: Soma drives the seeker’s energies toward plenitude and ensures victory over resistance.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √ji ‘win’ parallels IE victory lexemes (cf. Greek níkē is different root; but the ‘win/conquer’ semantic is pan-IE). arvat ‘steed’ participates in widespread IE horse symbolism for speed/power in heroic-poetic diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi aligns with Soma as the inner charioteer: by offering and attunement, the seeker becomes ‘jigyuṣ’ (victorious), and Soma functions as the impelling mastery of rayi in the struggle.
Invoke purified joy to harness the ‘horses’ of prāṇa and desire into steady, victorious action.
Manipura (power) with Anahata (joy as harmonizer)
Brisk but controlled breathing (e.g., 6 breaths/min) to energize without agitation; feel the ‘reins’ in the navel center.
From scattered drive to disciplined momentum; confidence grounded in clarity.
Before action, feel one wave of joy in the body. Offer it upward, then direct it into one concrete step. If restlessness arises, slow and ‘yoke the horses’ again.
Not fully determinable from provided text; chant with a slightly quicker cadence to match ‘arvatām iva’.
Keep ‘vājeṣv arvatām iva’ fluid and swift; give a firm closure on ‘jigyuṣām asi’.
siṣāsatuḥ: keep ṣ retroflex; long ā, rayīṇām: long ī, nasal ṇ, vājeṣu: long ā; soft j, bhareṣu: aspirate bh, clear eṣu
Energizing, steady, not shouted; ‘victory’ phrase should sound confident and composed.
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