Rig Veda 9.74.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 74, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.74
- Rishi
- Traditionally attributed to Soma-pavamāna seers of Mandala 9
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
आत्मन्वन्नभो दुह्यते घृतं पय ऋतस्य नाभिरमृतं वि जायते । समीचीनाः सुदानवः प्रीणन्ति तं नरो हितमव मेहन्ति पेरवः ॥
ātmanván nabhó duhyate ghṛtáṃ páya ṛtásya nā́bhir amṛ́taṃ ví jāyate | samīcīnā́ḥ sudā́navaḥ prīṇanti táṃ náro hitám áva mehanti péravaḥ ||
आसमान से घी और दूध निकलता है। सचाई के केंद्र से अमृत पैदा होता है और फैलता है। जो लोग साथ में चलते हैं वो खुश रहते हैं। वो लोग उसे अंदर रख के बारिश की तरह गिराते हैं।
Word by Word
- आत्मन्वत्
- possessed of self/strength; self-impelledAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (adjectival; agrees with implied सोमः)Role विशेषण (of kartā/subject सोमः)Root आत्मन् + वत् (prātipadika + possessive suffix)
- नभः
- sky, firmamentNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole अधिकारण (locative sense in Vedic usage: ‘in/through the sky’; formally nom./acc.)Root नभस् (prātipadika)
- दुह्यते
- is milked; yieldsVerbलट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रिया (passive/middle: ‘is milked / yields’)Root √दुह् (to milk)
- घृतम्
- ghee, clarified butterNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot घृत (prātipadika)
- पयः
- milk; nourishing sapNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (co-ordinate with घृतम्)Root पयस् (prātipadika)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive dependent on नाभिः)Root ऋत (prātipadika)
- नाभिः
- navel; hub; central sourceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (as subject-noun: ‘the navel/source’)Root नाभि (prātipadika)
- अमृतम्
- immortal (substance); ambrosiaNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म/फल (that which is produced/comes forth)Root अमृत (prātipadika)
- वि
- apart, forth, widelyIndeclinableउपसर्ग (prefix to √जन्)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot वि (upasarga/avyaya)
- जायते
- is born; arisesVerbलट् (present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √जन् (to be born, arise)
- समीचीनाः
- harmonious; well-directed; in due orderAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole विशेषण (of सुदानवः)Root समीचीन (prātipadika; ‘going/lying together, fitting, harmonious’)
- सुदानवः
- the bountiful ones; generous giversNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot सु-दानु (prātipadika; ‘good-giving/munificent’)
- प्रीणन्ति
- they gladden; they satisfyVerbलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √प्री (to please, gladden, satisfy)
- तम्
- him/that (Soma)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (sarvanāman)
- नरः
- men; heroesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot नर (prātipadika)
- हितम्
- set/placed; established; beneficialAdjective (past participle)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (agreeing with तम्)Role विशेषण (of कर्म तम्)Root हित (PPP of √धा ‘to place’; prātipadika)
- अव
- down; forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग (to √मिह्/√मेह्)Role क्रियाविशेषणRoot अव (upasarga/avyaya)
- मेहन्ति
- they pour down; they rainVerbलट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot √मिह्/√मेह् (Vedic: to pour, rain, shed)
- पेरवः
- the pressing/active ones (pressers/agents)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (co-ordinate with नरः, or apposition)Root पेरु/पेरव (prātipadika; Vedic epithet, often ‘swift/active ones’, used of pressing-stones/agents)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved sandhi/pada-splitting: आत्मन्वन्नभो → आत्मन्वत् + नभः (final -t before initial n; Vedic sandhi)
- घृतं पयः kept as two accusatives coordinated
- ऋतस्य नाभिर् → ऋतस्य + नाभिः (visarga before n)
- अमृतं वि जायते → अमृतम् + वि + जायते (m-final before v)
- समीचीनाः सुदानवः (no further split)
- तं नरो → तम् + नरः (anusvāra/ṃ before n)
- हितमव → हितम् + अव
- मेहन्ति पेरवः (no further split)
- Accent marks in the input indicate Vedic udātta/svarita but do not change lemma identification here
The meaning
Outer meaning
From the self-possessed heaven ghee and milk are milked; from the navel of ṛta the immortal is born and spreads. Those in right accord delight in him; men place him within and pour him down like nourishing rain.
Inner meaning
When the higher consciousness becomes self-held (ātmanvat nabhaḥ), it yields ghṛta and payaḥ—clarified richness and luminous sweetness: purified substance of understanding and delight. From the very center (nābhi) of ṛta, amṛta is born—deathless essence of consciousness—spreading through the being as a pervasive purity. Those who are samīcīnāḥ (aligned, consenting to the right movement) and sudānavaḥ (good givers—powers in us that can offer and cooperate) rejoice in Soma. Then the ‘men’ (naraḥ: the active faculties) place him as hitam (set within, established) and ‘rain him down’—let the nectar descend and permeate life as a fostering influence.
Universal truth
When consciousness is centered in truth (ṛta), a deathless sweetness is generated and can be made to pervade the whole life by right alignment and active cooperation.
Themes
Soma-ritual (inner purification), Rita-centered cosmogony, nectar/immortality, descent of light-knowledge
The seer
- Rishi
- As per Anukramaṇī: Soma Pavamāna seer tradition of Maṇḍala 9 (specific ṛṣi for 9.74 differs by recension)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.66 (ghṛta/payas Soma imagery—theme link), Rig Veda 9.86 (amṛta and purification—theme link)
Family tradition
Pavamāna hymns are attributed across multiple seer lineages; the spiritual ‘speaker’ is the Soma-experience of purification and descent.
Significance
The ṛṣi-vision describes the mechanics of inner descent: from the self-held heaven, clarified light and sweetness are drawn; from ṛta’s center, immortality spreads through aligned faculties.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- amṛta-janman (birth of immortality), ghṛta (clarified richness), payaḥ (milk of plenitude), ṛtasya nābhi (navel of ṛta)
- Related deities
- Aditi (wideness supporting amṛta), Varuṇa (ṛta), Agni (inner sacrifice that ‘milks’ the heaven)
Cosmic role
Generator of amṛta from ṛta’s center; mediator that draws heavenly richness into the worlds as nourishing rain.
Inner power
Power of descent and permeation: installs deathless sweetness in the heart and pours it through mind-life-body.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma filtration and offering; Pavamāna stotras
आ॒त्म॒न्वन्नभो॑ दुह्यते घृ॒तं पय॑ ऋ॒तस्य॒ नाभि॑र॒मृतं॒ वि जा॑यते । स॒मी॒ची॒नाः सु॒दान॑वः प्रीणन्ति॒ तं नरो॑ हि॒तमव॑ मेहन्ति॒ पेर॑वः ॥
आ॒त्म॒न्ऽवत् । नभः॑ । दु॒ह्य॒ते॒ । घृ॒तम् । पयः॑ । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । नाभिः॑ । अ॒मृत॑म् । वि । जा॒य॒ते॒ । स॒मी॒ची॒नाः । सु॒ऽदान॑वः । प्री॒ण॒न्ति॒ । तम् । नरः॑ । हि॒तम् । अव॑ । मे॒ह॒न्ति॒ । पेर॑वः ॥
ātman-vat | nabhaḥ | duhyate | ghṛtam | payaḥ | ṛtasya | nābhiḥ | amṛtam | vi | jāyate | samīcīnāḥ | su-dānavaḥ | prīṇanti | tam | naraḥ | hitam | ava | mehanti | peravaḥ
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4 × ~12
Descending, cascading rhythm suited to imagery of milking and raining down.
Induces a sense of ‘downflow’—helpful for receptivity and settling the mind into a luminous sweetness.
- ātmanvat
- Literal: self-possessed, having the self. Symbolic: stable higher poise; self-held consciousness
- nabhaḥ
- Literal: sky/heaven. Symbolic: higher mind/overhead consciousness
- duhyate
- Literal: is milked. Symbolic: drawn down by aspiration and receptivity
- ghṛtam
- Literal: ghee/clarified butter. Symbolic: clarified light-substance; luminous intelligence
- payaḥ
- Literal: milk. Symbolic: nourishing delight and strength
- ṛtasya nābhiḥ
- Literal: navel of ṛta. Symbolic: central truth-point; psychic center of right order
- amṛtam
- Literal: immortal essence. Symbolic: deathless consciousness-force; abiding delight
- samīcīnāḥ
- Literal: moving/standing in right direction. Symbolic: aligned parts of the being consenting to ṛta
- sudānavaḥ
- Literal: good givers. Symbolic: generous inner powers offering to the Divine
- hitam
- Literal: placed, established. Symbolic: installed Soma in the heart-life as a constant presence
- ava mehanti
- Literal: they pour down/rain down. Symbolic: make the nectar descend and pervade action and life
Soma-pavamāna sequence in Soma sacrifice (e.g., Agniṣṭoma): verses used in the purification/flow of Soma through the filter (pavitra) into the kalaśa
As Soma is clarified and made ready for offering; also in sequences invoking amṛta and prosperity.
Chant during the flow through the filter; symbolically ‘milking’ ghṛta/payas and invoking amṛta’s spread.
A receptivity practice: chant after settling into silence, imagining a gentle descent of clarity (ghṛta) and sweetness (payaḥ) into the whole system.
ātman-vat: ātman ‘breath/self’ + -vat ‘possessing’; implies collected selfhood (not scattered). duhyate: √duh ‘to milk, yield’; common Soma-image for drawing essence from higher planes. ghṛta: from √ghṛ ‘to sprinkle, shine (clarify)’; in RV often ‘bright clarified substance’ → clarified thought-light. payas: from √pā ‘to drink/nourish’ (and the semantic field of ‘sap/juice’); inner sense: sustaining sweetness of consciousness. ṛta: from √ar/ṛ ‘to fit, move rightly’ → cosmic order/truth in action. nābhi: ‘navel’ as central knot/source; RV cosmology uses nābhi as origin-point of waters/light. amṛta: a- ‘not’ + mṛta ‘mortal/death’ (√mṛ ‘to die’); deathless substance/force. mehanti: √mih ‘to sprinkle, rain’; descent imagery. samīcīna: sam- ‘together’ + īcīna (from √i/ī ‘to go’) ‘going in one direction’ → harmonized movement.
Ṛta (Truth-Order as generative center), Amṛta (deathless essence), descent of higher consciousness into the human vessel
Explicit: amṛta arises from ṛta’s nābhi—truth is the womb of immortality.
Satya as stable self-possession (ātmanvat) enabling true descent.
Immortality ‘born’ from the center and spreading—creation renewed by amṛta’s diffusion.
Integral Vedāntic psychology: higher consciousness yields substance (ghṛta/payas) that transforms life.
Rain imagery (fertilizing descent)
From overhead silence, clarified light and sweetness descend; from the truth-center, deathless consciousness spreads; aligned faculties cooperate to make the descent continuous.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘milking of heaven’ and the ‘birth of amṛta from the nābhi of Ṛta’: a cosmogonic/psychogonic myth where the higher world yields a clarified nectar (Soma/ghṛta/payas) that is then made to descend as rain into the human field. The outer image (milk/rain) is the shell; the inner action is extraction and descent of truth-substance from the supramental order.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Key roots are archaic and pan-Indo-European in semantic type: √duh ‘milk’ (cf. PIE *dʰewgʰ- ‘produce/milk’ type; compare Germanic ‘dugan’ only loosely semantic—better taken as an inherited pastoral/ritual verb in Indo-Iranian), √mih ‘rain/sprinkle’ (PIE *meygʰ- ‘to rain/mist’ is often proposed for Indo-Iranian forms), and the abstract ṛta (often linked to PIE *h₂er- ‘fit, join, order’). The verse’s syntax chains genitives (ṛtasya nābhiḥ) to mark an ontological source: ‘from the center of Ṛta’—a characteristic Indo-European poetic strategy for cosmogonic derivation.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer does not ‘request’ in a transactional way; he describes a law of inner operation: when Soma (the conscious essence) is established (hitam) and welcomed by aligned powers (samīcīnāḥ), it naturally pours downward (ava mehanti) as nourishment and delight. The reciprocity is: human installation and right alignment invite the deity’s descent of amṛta; the deity responds by becoming an inner rain of plenitude.
Receive the ‘milked’ descent of clarified light (ghṛta) and sweetness (payaḥ) from the overhead silence; rest in ṛta’s center and let amṛta spread.
Sahasrāra/above-head (nabhaḥ) descending to Anāhata (installation: hitam)
Cooling receptive breathing: inhale through nose 4–6, exhale 6–8, feeling a gentle ‘rain’ down the front channel into the heart and belly.
Receptive descent, quiet bliss, steady inner alignment.
After a minute of stillness, chant and visualize a golden-white nectar descending; then place attention in the heart as ‘hita’; let the sweetness spread to speech and action.
Rigvedic accenting per śākhā; maintain clear udatta lifts on key nouns (ghṛtam, payaḥ, amṛtam).
Chant with a ‘descending’ contour on phrases about duhyate and ava mehanti; keep ‘ṛtasya nābhiḥ’ centered and steady.
ātmanvat: long ā; conjunct -nv- lightly, duhyate: dh aspirated; hy conjunct clear, ghṛtam: gh aspirated; ṛ vocalic r, amṛtam: mṛ conjunct; short a at start, prīṇanti: long ī; retroflex ṇ
Soft, steady, inward; allow resonance to settle in the chest and palate.
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