Rig Veda 9.69.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 69, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.69
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
उक्षा मिमाति प्रति यन्ति धेनवो देवस्य देवीरुप यन्ति निष्कृतम् । अत्यक्रमीदर्जुनं वारमव्ययमत्कं न निक्तं परि सोमो अव्यत ॥
ukṣā́ mimāti práti yanti dhēnávo devásya devī́r úpa yanti niṣkṛtám | áty akramīd árjunaṃ vā́ram avyáyam átkaṃ ná niktáṃ pári sómo avyat ||
बैल नापता है और गायें उसकी तरफ बढ़ती हैं। देव की शक्तियाँ साफ रास्ते से पास आती हैं। यह उस चमकते दीवार के पार चला गया जो कभी खत्म नहीं होती। सोम उसके चारो तरफ कपड़े की तरह लपेटा हुआ है।
Word by Word
- उक्षा
- the bull (Soma as bull)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot उक्षन् (प्रातिपदिक) / उक्ष् (धातु, ‘सिञ्चने/वर्षणे’)
- मिमाति
- measures out / apportionsVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot मा (धातु, ‘माने/मितौ’)
- प्रति
- towards, in responseIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole उपपद-सम्बन्ध (दिशा/प्रत्यभिमुखता)Root प्रति
- यन्ति
- go, comeVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot या (धातु, ‘गत्यर्थः’)
- धेनवः
- the milch-cows (streams of Soma/offerings)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot धेनु (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवस्य
- of the godNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवीः
- the divine (feminine ones)Noun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- near, up toIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole उपपद-सम्बन्ध (सामीप्य)Root उप
- यन्ति
- go, comeVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot या (धातु, ‘गत्यर्थः’)
- निष्कृतम्
- the outlet/issue, the place of emergence (the straining/pressing outlet)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया एकवचनम् (गत्यर्थक्रियायाः कर्म)Role कर्मRoot निष्कृत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; नि॒स् + कृ ‘करणे’)
- अति
- over, beyondIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole उपपद-सम्बन्ध (अतिक्रम)Root अति
- अक्रमीत्
- stepped over, passedVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot क्रम् (धातु, ‘पादविक्षेपे/गत्यर्थः’)
- अर्जुनम्
- the bright/whiteAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
- वारम्
- enclosure/covering; (also) water/ward (context: a barrier/covering)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot वार (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव्ययम्
- imperishable, unchangingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
- अत्कम्
- a cloak/coveringNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot अत्क (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अत्क’ RV: cloak/covering/garment)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRole उपमान-सम्बन्धRoot न
- निक्तम्
- smeared, anointedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्म (उपमानपदस्य विशेषणम्)Root निक्त (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; नि + अञ्ज्/निज् ‘लेपने/मर्दने’ → ‘smeared, inlaid’)
- परि
- aroundIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRole उपपद-सम्बन्ध (परितः)Root परि
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव्यत
- was woven / wrapped himself (spread around)Verbलुङ् (अorist), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot वे/वय् (धातु, ‘वयने/तन्तुवायने’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-splitting): उक्षा मिमाति | प्रति यन्ति धेनवः | देवस्य देवीः उप यन्ति निष्कृतम् || अति अक्रमीत् अर्जुनम् वारम् अव्ययम् अत्कम् न निक्तम् परि सोमः अव्यत || Notable: देवीरुप → देवीः + उप (visarga before vowel, RV orthography writes -रु-)
- अत्यक्रमीत् → अति + अक्रमीत् (i + a → ya in saṃhitā: aty-)
- न नि॒क्तम् shows particle न + adjective निक्तम्
- accent marks in the prompt are preserved in saṃhitā but analysis is on resolved padas
The meaning
Outer meaning
The bull measures it out; the cows come forward to meet him—divine goddesses come to the clarified outlet. He has crossed beyond the bright, imperishable enclosure; Soma is woven around it like a dyed garment.
Inner meaning
The bull (Soma as puissant force) apportions and establishes the measure—right distribution of delight/energy in the being. The cows (rays of knowledge, luminous powers) advance to meet this force; the divine energies draw near to the ‘outlet’ (niṣkṛta)—the clarified channel where essence emerges. Soma passes beyond the bright, imperishable enclosure (arjuna vāra avyaya)—beyond limiting but luminous formations—then ‘weaves’ itself around the consciousness like a dyed garment: the whole nature becomes suffused and clothed in purified Ananda.
Universal truth
When the inner force is rightly measured and distributed, knowledge-powers gather; consciousness crosses limiting enclosures and becomes fully suffused—life is ‘clothed’ in transformed delight.
Themes
Ordered distribution of force, Crossing the boundary of impurity, Weaving of purified being, Luminous enclosure
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.69.3 (bull-power and ṛta path), RV 9.69.1–2 (directed thought and honeyed infusion)
Family tradition
Pavamāna Soma tradition highlighting ‘measure’ (mā) and ‘weaving’ (vā/ve) as inner processes of ordering and pervasion.
Significance
Shows a complete arc: right measure → gathering of knowledge-powers → transcendence of enclosures → total pervasion (dyed garment), a classic inner-yajña schema.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Ukṣā (bull), Arjuna (bright—crossed beyond), Pavamāna (purifying)
- Related deities
- Aditi (background of ‘cows’ as rays), Indra (illumined mind receiving Soma), Agni (inner outlet/altar)
Cosmic role
Orders and distributes the delight-force; draws the rays (cows) and divine faculties to the purified channel; enables transcendence beyond enclosing meshes.
Inner power
Establishes right measure, attracts illumination, and pervades the whole nature with transformed Ananda.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma filtration/collection; imagery of strainer (vāra) and clarified outlet (niṣkṛta)
उ॒क्षा मि॑माति॒ प्रति॑ यन्ति धे॒नवो॑ दे॒वस्य॑ दे॒वीरुप॑ यन्ति निष्कृ॒तम् । अत्य॑क्रमी॒दर्जु॑नं॒ वार॑म॒व्यय॒मत्कं॒ न नि॒क्तं परि॒ सोमो॑ अव्यत ॥
उ॒क्षा । मि॒मा॒ति॒ । प्रति॑ । य॒न्ति॒ । धे॒नवः॑ । दे॒वस्य॑ । दे॒वीः । उप॑ । य॒न्ति॒ । निः॒ऽकृ॒तम् । अति॑ । अ॒क्र॒मी॒त् । अर्जु॑नम् । वार॑म् । अ॒व्यय॑म् । अत्क॑म् । न । नि॒क्तम् । परि॑ । सोमः॑ । अ॒व्य॒त॒ ॥
ukṣā | mimāti | prati | yanti | dhenavaḥ | devasya | devīḥ | upa | yanti | niḥ-kṛtam | ati | akramīt | arjunam | vāram | avyayam | atkam | na | niktam | pari | somaḥ | avyata
44
4×11 (probable)
Measured opening (mimāti) then converging movement (prati yanti) then a leap beyond (aty akramīt) and a concluding enveloping cadence (pari avyata).
Instills steadiness and proportion, then a felt breakthrough, ending in a sense of being fully ‘clothed’ in calm power.
- उक्षा (ukṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: sovereign force of Soma; puissant Ananda-power
- मिमाति (mimāti)
- Literal: measures out. Symbolic: right measure (mātrā) of energies; ordered distribution in the being
- धेनवः (dhenavaḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays/streams of knowledge and nourishing powers
- देवीः (devīḥ)
- Literal: goddesses. Symbolic: divine faculties/energies cooperating in transformation
- निष्कृतम् (niṣkṛtam)
- Literal: outlet/clarified exit. Symbolic: purified channel where essence emerges into active life
- अर्जुनम् (arjunam)
- Literal: bright/white. Symbolic: luminous formation; clarified but still enclosing structure
- वारम् (vāram)
- Literal: enclosure/strainer/net. Symbolic: limiting mesh of nature; also the purifying filter
- अव्ययम् (avyayam)
- Literal: imperishable. Symbolic: stable luminous plane/formation that must still be transcended
- अत्कम् न निक्तम् (atkaṃ na niktam)
- Literal: like a garment dipped/dyed. Symbolic: the whole nature dyed in Ananda—pervasive transformation
- परि अव्यत (pari avyata)
- Literal: was woven around. Symbolic: integral clothing of consciousness by the Soma-current
Describes the Soma moving beyond the filter and being ‘woven’—a ritual image of filtration reframed as the weaving of a clarified consciousness-body.
During the flow into the vessel after filtering; celebrating successful passage beyond the strainer/enclosure.
Chant while Soma is collected and prepared for offering.
Practice for ‘right measure’—balancing intensity and receptivity; helpful when integrating spiritual experiences into daily life so the whole nature is pervaded, not just the mind.
√mā ‘measure’ (mimāti) links Soma to ṛta: right measure is right order. ati-√kram ‘step beyond’ marks transcendence beyond the vāra (enclosure/filter). √ve ‘weave’ (avyat) is a key Vedic metaphor for forming the sacrifice and also forming consciousness; the ‘dyed garment’ (niktam atkam) suggests the sheath is transformed by Soma’s infusion.
Ṛta as measure, Transformation of the sheath (kośa-like imagery), Transcendence (ati-kram)
‘Measuring out’ is ṛta in action—cosmic order applied to inner energies.
Clarified outlet (niṣkṛta) suggests emergence of truth into expression.
From enclosure (vāra) to transcendence and pervasion: manifestation first limits, then is surpassed and transformed.
Integral Yoga orientation: transformation is not escape but pervasion—nature dyed in Ananda.
Bull = strong delight-force; cows = rays of knowledge; enclosure/net = limiting formations; dyed garment = pervasive transformation of the whole being.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The purified god crosses the luminous enclosure and re-forms the being as a woven cloth. Mythically: passage through the filter becomes a rite of re-embodiment—Soma creates a new texture of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Weaving (√ve) as a cosmopoetic metaphor is pan-Indo-European (fate/ordering/weaving). Measuring (√mā) likewise is a foundational IE concept for cosmic order (measure → order → rightness).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions Soma as the divine artisan: the practitioner’s powers (dhenu/devi) converge, and Soma apportions and reweaves them into a clarified form, enabling the sacrificer’s consciousness to pass beyond previous limits.
Establish right measure of energy; invite rays of knowledge; pass beyond subtle enclosures; allow bliss to pervade the whole nature.
Maṇipūra (measure/power) harmonized with Sahasrāra (transcending enclosures)
Box-breath (4-4-4-4) briefly to establish ‘measure’, then shift to effortless breathing while sensing pervasion through the whole body.
Balanced, integrated expansion; pervaded embodiment.
After a strong inner experience, do not chase more intensity. ‘Measure it out’: stabilize, let insights (cows) gather, then rest as the Soma-current ‘weaves’ through daily activity—speech, work, relationships.
Vedic accents per Śākala; exact udātta/anudātta/svarita for RV 9.69.4 should be taken from a svara-marked recension.
Keep ‘ukṣā mimāti’ steady and measured; give a clear lift on ‘aty akramīt’ to mark the crossing; let the final ‘pari … avyata’ be enveloping and continuous.
(ukṣā): retroflex ṣ; long ā, (dhenavo): dental dh; light ‘v’, (niṣkṛtam): retroflex ṛ; ‘kṛ’ crisp, (arjunam): ‘rj’ cluster clean, (avyayam): ‘vy’ cluster; do not insert extra vowel, (atkam): hard ‘tk’ cluster, not softened
Measured, resonant, concluding with a warm ‘wrapping’ tone.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
