Rig Veda 9.68.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 68, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.68
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
स मातरा विचरन्वाजयन्नपः प्र मेधिरः स्वधया पिन्वते पदम् । अंशुर्यवेन पिपिशे यतो नृभिः सं जामिभिर्नसते रक्षते शिरः ॥
sá mā́tarā vicáran vājáyan ápaḥ prá médhiraḥ svadháyā pinvate padám | aṃśúr yávena pipiśe yató nṛ́bhiḥ sáṃ jāmíbhir násate rákṣate śíraḥ ||
सोम रस दो माओं के बीच चलता है और पानी को आगे बढ़ाता है। अपने नियम से वो अपनी जगह बना लेता है। जैसे अन्ना पिस-ता है, वैसे ही सोम रस भी तैयार होता है। फिर वो लोगों के साथ मिल कर अपना मक़सद पा लेता है और ऊपर का हिस्सा बचा लेता है।
Word by Word
- सः
- he (that one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मातरौ
- the two mothersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः द्वितीया द्विवचनम्Role कर्मRoot मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- विचरन्
- moving about, roamingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्तः (शतृ) पुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root चर् (धातु) + वि- (उपसर्ग) → विचर्
- वाजयन्
- strengthening/impelling (to victory), making vigorousVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्तः (शतृ) पुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root वाजय् (नामधातु/धातु) < वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपः
- the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः द्वितीया बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableनिपातःRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- मेधिरः
- wise, intelligentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root मेधिर (प्रातिपदिक) < मेधा
- स्वधया
- by (his) own power/impulse; by svadhāNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot स्वधा (प्रातिपदिक)
- पिन्वते
- swells, makes flow, sets in motionVerbलट् (वर्तमान) आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot पिव्/पि (धातु; Vedic pinv-) → पिन्व्
- पदम्
- the step/track/placeNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot पद (प्रातिपदिक)
- अंशुः
- the Soma-stalk/beam (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्गः प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- यवेन
- with barleyNounपुंलिङ्गः तृतीया एकवचनम्Role करणRoot यव (प्रातिपदिक)
- पिपिशे
- has been crushed/groundVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परोक्श) आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot पिष् (धातु) → पिपिष् (परिपूर्ण/तीव्र)
- यतः
- from where; whenceIndeclinableअव्ययम् (अपादान/हेतु-अर्थे)Role अपादानRoot यतस् (अव्यय/सम्बन्ध-प्रातिपदिक)
- नृभिः
- by menNounपुंलिङ्गः तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableनिपातः/उपसर्गःRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- जामिभिः
- with kinsmen/kinsfolkNounपुंलिङ्गः तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot जामि (प्रातिपदिक)
- नसते
- approaches, attains, comes into contactVerbलट् (वर्तमान) आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot नस् (धातु; Vedic nas- ‘to approach/attain/help’)
- रक्षते
- protects, guardsVerbलट् (वर्तमान) आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot रक्ष् (धातु)
- शिरः
- the headNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-wise): स मा॒तरा॑ → सः मातरौ (visarga lost before m; dual object)
- वि॒चर॑न्वा॒जय॑न्न॒पः → विचरन् वाजयन् अपः (final -न् + initial व- gives nasalized junction in saṃhitā; no change in pada)
- प्र मेधि॑रः → प्र मेधिरः
- स्व॒धया॑ पिन्वते → स्वधया पिन्वते
- पिन्वते प॒दम् → पिन्वते पदम्
- अं॒शुर्यवे॑न → अंशुः यवेन (visarga before y becomes r in saṃhitā: अंशुर्-)
- य॒तो नृभि॒: → यतः नृभिः (visarga before n becomes r in saṃhitā: यतो/यतोर्; underlying यतः)
- जा॒मिभि॒र्नस॑ते → जामिभिः नसते (visarga before n becomes r)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Moving between the two Mothers, increasing the waters, the wise one by his own law fills the station. The ray is crushed with grain; then with men and kindred he reaches the goal and guards the head.
Inner meaning
Soma moves between the two Mothers (dyāvāpṛthivī, or symbolically mind and life / higher and lower nature), harmonizing them and making the waters (currents of life and consciousness) increase. By svadhā—its innate truth-law—this wise force (medhiraḥ) establishes the right ‘padam’ (station/step) in the being. The aṃśu (ray) is ‘ground with grain’ (yava): the luminous essence is worked into the substance of life, transformed into usable energy for action. With the nṛbhis (inner manly powers, effective faculties) and jāmibhis (kindred harmonies), it reaches the goal (nasate) and protects the head (śiraḥ): the summit—clarity of consciousness, the governing center—so the realization is not lost.
Universal truth
Spiritual realization must be integrated into life-substance: the light must be ‘worked’ into daily nature; then supported by allied faculties it reaches its aim and safeguards the highest orientation of the mind.
Themes
Inner ascent, Soma pressing as transformation, Protection of the summit, Vital energies as waters
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.68
Significance
The seer emphasizes embodiment: Soma’s light must be integrated (‘ground with grain’) and then protected at the summit so the higher consciousness governs life.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- medhira (wise), aṃśu (ray), pavamāna
- Related deities
- Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (two Mothers), Agni (will in embodiment), Indra (head/summit of illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Soma mediates between heaven and earth and increases the waters; it establishes the ‘step’ of the sacrifice and brings the offering to fruition.
Inner power
Integrates light into life-substance, organizes energies by inner law (svadhā), and protects the higher center of consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification and offering; imagery of working/pressing/grinding aligns with Soma preparation and associated food-offerings.
स मा॒तरा॑ वि॒चर॑न्वा॒जय॑न्न॒पः प्र मेधि॑रः स्व॒धया॑ पिन्वते प॒दम् । अं॒शुर्यवे॑न पिपिशे य॒तो नृभि॒: सं जा॒मिभि॒र्नस॑ते॒ रक्ष॑ते॒ शिर॑: ॥
सः । मा॒तरा॑ । वि॒ऽचर॑न् । वा॒जऽय॑न् । अ॒पः । प्र । मेधि॑रः । स्व॒धया॑ । पि॒न्व॒ते॒ । प॒दम् । अं॒शुः । यवे॑न । पि॒पि॒शे॒ । य॒तः । नृऽभिः॑ । सम् । जा॒मिऽभिः॑ । नस॑ते । रक्ष॑ते । शिरः॑ ॥
saḥ | mātarā | vi-caran | vāja-yan | apaḥ | pra | medhiraḥ | svadhayā | pinvate | padam | aṃśuḥ | yavena | pipiśe | yataḥ | nṛ-bhiḥ | sam | jāmi-bhiḥ | nasate | rakṣate | śiraḥ
44
4 × ~11
Balanced movement between ‘two mothers’ (alternating feel) with firm closing that ‘guards the head’.
Grounding and integrating; helps bring light down into life while keeping the mind’s summit clear.
- mātarā (two)
- Literal: two mothers. Symbolic: heaven/earth; higher/lower nature; mind and life as nurturing bases
- apaḥ
- Literal: waters. Symbolic: life-currents, energies, streams of consciousness
- medhiraḥ
- Literal: wise/intelligent. Symbolic: discriminating consciousness-force operating in purification
- svadhā
- Literal: own law, inherent power. Symbolic: inner truth-nature; spontaneous right functioning of the soul-force
- padam
- Literal: step/station. Symbolic: stable poise or realized plane established in the being
- aṃśuḥ
- Literal: ray/beam (of Soma). Symbolic: luminous essence, concentrated light-force
- yava
- Literal: barley/grain. Symbolic: life-substance, practical material of nature; food of embodied existence
- pipiśe
- Literal: is crushed/ground. Symbolic: assimilation—light worked into the substance of life
- nṛbhiḥ
- Literal: with men. Symbolic: effective powers of action and courage in the sādhaka
- jāmibhiḥ
- Literal: with kindred. Symbolic: harmonizing supportive forces; allied movements of the being
- śiraḥ
- Literal: head. Symbolic: summit of consciousness; governing clarity; highest orientation
Soma pressing imagery (crushing with yava) integrated with inner ascent: establishing padam and guarding śiras; used in the Soma rite while pressing/straining and invoking protection and attainment.
During Soma preparation/pavamāna recitations; also thematically suited to moments of establishing the altar/seat (padam).
Chant while Soma is prepared/strained; inwardly, while integrating insight into practical resolve.
Chant when translating insight into habit-change: ‘grind the ray with grain’—take one concrete practice that embodies the light (diet, speech, routine).
mātṛ ‘mother’ (PIE *méh₂tēr) used cosmically for sustaining bases. vāja from √vāj ‘be strong, speed, win’ → ‘plenitude of force/food/prize’; here ‘energizing the waters’ suggests intensification of life-force. svadhā ‘own power/law’ (sva- ‘self’ + √dhā ‘place’) indicates inherent ordering capacity. aṃśu ‘ray’ is Soma’s luminous filament. √piṣ ‘crush’ is ritual pressing but also inner ‘refinement’ of substance.
Svadhā as self-law of the divine force, Padam as stable attainment/plane, Śiras as summit-consciousness (higher mind)
padam is the stable placement of consciousness in ṛta; waters increased are energies moving rightly.
svadhā indicates truth acting from within, not imposed rule.
Descent and embodiment: light is processed into substance; the summit (head) must be protected so creation remains aligned.
Integral Yoga/psychological Vedism: descent of light into life and safeguarding the higher poise.
Waters = energies; grain = embodied life; grinding = assimilation; head = governing consciousness (crown/brow).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘two Mothers’ (Heaven–Earth) as the cosmic frame within which Soma moves and establishes a ‘padam’ (station). The pressing of the ray (aṃśu) with grain is the mythic-ritual act that yields refined force; the culmination is attainment and protection of the ‘head’—the upper seat of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- mātṛ is a direct PIE inheritance (*méh₂tēr). √dhā in svadhā continues PIE *dheh₁-. The semantic field of vāja (strength/prize/plenitude) parallels IE heroic vocabulary where ‘winning’ and ‘strength’ converge, but Vedic extends it to inner plenitude of force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Soma is depicted as the medhira (wise) agent who, through svadhā, establishes the seeker’s stable plane (padam). The human collaborators (nṛbhiḥ) and allied inner kin (jāmibhiḥ) participate; Soma’s reciprocal gift is protection of the summit (śiras), i.e., safeguarding the higher consciousness once awakened.
Bring a realized insight (ray) into a single embodied action (grain). Feel the higher and lower nature cooperate.
sahasrāra/ājñā (head protection) with grounding in mūlādhāra (embodiment)
slow chanting with a slightly longer exhale on ‘rakṣate śiraḥ’ to seal the practice; brief silent pause at the end to feel the ‘head’ clear
integrated, steady, protected clarity
After chanting, choose one ‘grain’ practice for the day (a small discipline). End by placing attention at the crown/brow for 1 minute, imagining a gentle luminous guard/halo.
Needs svara-marked recension; chant with correct vowel lengths and retroflex/dental distinctions.
Observe clusters: vicaran (vi-ca-ran), vājayan (vā-ja-yan), svadhayā (sva-dha-yā), pipiśe (pi-pi-śe), jāmibhiḥ (jā-mi-bhiḥ).
mātarā: long ā; retroflex ṭ not present—keep dental t, apaḥ: final ḥ, medhiraḥ: dh aspirated, svadhayā: dh aspirated; yā long, aṃśuḥ: nasalized aṃ; ś palatal, yavena: y soft; e long, nṛbhiḥ: vocalic ṛ, rakṣate: kṣ conjunct clear, śiraḥ: ś palatal; visarga at end
grounded, warm, steady; emphasize clarity on ‘śiraḥ’ to ‘seal’ the head-space
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