Rig Veda 9.75.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 75, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.75
- Rishi
- Soma-pavamāna seer tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
परि सोम प्र धन्वा स्वस्तये नृभिः पुनानो अभि वासयाशिरम् । ये ते मदा आहनसो विहायसस्तेभिरिन्द्रं चोदय दातवे मघम् ॥
pári soma prá dhanvā svastáye nṛ́bhiḥ punānáḥ abhí vāsayāśíram | yé te mádā āhanáso víhāyasas tébhir índraṃ codaya dā́tave mágham ||
हे सोम, चारों तरफ फैल जा, हमारे भले के लिए। लोग तुझे साफ़ कर रहे हैं, तू हमें आशीर्वाद दे। तेरी वो शक्तियाँ जो रास्ते के रुकावटें हटाती हैं, उनसे इंद्र को बड़ा देने के लिए बोलो।
Word by Word
- परि
- around, all aroundIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सोम
- O SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- धन्वा
- run/stream forthVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया) —Root धन्व् (धातु; धन्वति/धन्वते ‘to run/stream, to rush’—Vedic)
- स्वस्तये
- for well-being, for welfareNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot स्वस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- नृभिः
- by/with men (worshippers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुनानः
- being purified, purifying himselfParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपदी; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot पू (धातु) → पुनान (शानच्)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वासय
- make (it) fragrant/imbue, clotheVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया) —Root वासय् (णिजन्त; √वस् ‘to clothe/dwell’ → ‘to cause to clothe, to perfume/imbue’—Vedic)
- आशिरम्
- the (milk-)mixture/libationNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot आशिर्/आशिस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘mixture, libation; blessing’—Vedic)
- ये
- who, which (those)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you, yourPronounषष्ठी एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘ते’ = ‘तव’)Role सम्बन्धRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मदाः
- intoxicating draughts/rapturesNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- आहनसः
- smiting, battle-winningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (मदाः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root आ-हन् (धातु) → आहनस (प्रातिपदिक/विशेषण; ‘smiting, striking’—Vedic)
- विहायसः
- sky-ranging, loftyNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचन (मदाः इति सह; ‘sky-going/lofty’ अर्थे विशेषणवत्)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण)Root विहायस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘sky, airy space’)
- तेभिः
- with thosePronounतृतीया बहुवचनRole करणRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चोदय
- impel, urgeVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया) —Root चुद् (धातु) → चोदय (णिजन्त)
- दातवे
- to giveInfinitiveतवेन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-सदृश (infinitive) ‘to give’Role प्रयोजन/उद्देश्यRoot दा (धातु) → दातृ (तुमुन्/तवेन्-प्रत्यय; दातवे)
- मघम्
- bounty, gift, largessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole कर्मRoot मघ (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): परि | सोम | प्र | धन्वा | स्वस्तये | नृभिः | पुनानः | अभि | वासय | आशिरम् || ये | ते | मदाः | आहनसः | विहायसः | तेभिः | इन्द्रम् | चोदय | दातवे | मघम् || 1) ‘नृभि:’ → ‘नृभिः’ (विसर्ग-लोप/लिप्यन्तर). 2) ‘अभि वा॑सया॒शिर॑म्’ → ‘अभि | वासय | आशिरम्’ (अ + आ संधि: ‘अभि’ + ‘आशिरम्’ में पदविभाग से मूल ‘आशिरम्’ स्पष्ट). 3) ‘चोदय’ रूप ‘चुद्’ धातोः णिजन्त-आज्ञार्थ
- ‘दातवे’ तवेन्-प्रत्ययान्त infinitive
The meaning
Outer meaning
Soma, purified by men, ranges and streams for our well-being and clothes us in richness. With your ecstasies—obstruction-smiting and wide-ranging—impel Indra to give mighty abundance.
Inner meaning
Soma is invoked to circulate through the whole being (pari…pra dhanvā) bringing swasti—integral well-being and right harmony. The ‘men’ are the conscious powers in us that purify experience into essence. Soma then ‘clothes’ the nature with āśis—benediction, plenitude, a protective and nourishing inner atmosphere. Soma’s madāḥ are divine intensities of bliss that strike down obstruction (āhanasaḥ) and open the wide inner space (vihāyasaḥ). By these ecstasies Soma awakens Indra—the illumined Mind—to pour down magnanimous force and abundance (magham): light, power, and right enjoyment.
Universal truth
When delight is purified and made steady, it becomes a force that removes inner resistance and calls forth higher intelligence to act generously in life. Well-being arises from inner purification, not outer accumulation.
Themes
Soma-ritual, inner purification, invocation for plenitude, Indra empowered by Soma
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.76–9.79 (Soma’s purification and empowering of Indra themes)
Family tradition
Verse belongs to the Soma-pavamāna liturgical stream; authorship is not clearly attached in the provided data.
Significance
Expresses the classic Vedic psychology: Soma (Ananda) empowers Indra (illumined mind) to conquer resistance and bestow abundance.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (with Indra invoked)
- Epithets
- punānaḥ (purifying), āhanasaḥ (obstruction-smiting), vihāyasaḥ (wide-ranging)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
Soma circulates as bliss-essence; by his rapture he stimulates Indra’s luminous action and generosity.
Inner power
Ananda as dynamic force: it purifies, protects, expands, and triggers illumination to act effectively.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification and offering; invocation for prosperity and victory
परि॑ सोम॒ प्र ध॑न्वा स्व॒स्तये॒ नृभि॑: पुना॒नो अ॒भि वा॑सया॒शिर॑म् । ये ते॒ मदा॑ आह॒नसो॒ विहा॑यस॒स्तेभि॒रिन्द्रं॑ चोदय॒ दात॑वे म॒घम् ॥
परि॑ । सो॒म॒ । प्र । ध॒न्व॒ । स्व॒स्तये॑ । नृऽभिः॑ । पु॒ना॒नः । अ॒भि । वा॒स॒य॒ । आ॒ऽशिर॑म् । ये । ते॒ । मदाः॑ । आ॒ह॒नसः॑ । विऽहा॑यसः । तेभिः॑ । इन्द्र॑म् । चो॒द॒य॒ । दात॑वे । म॒घम् ॥
pari | soma | pra | dhanva | svastaye | nṛ-bhiḥ | punānaḥ | abhi | vāsaya | āśiram | ye | te | madāḥ | āhanasaḥ | vi-hāyasaḥ | tebhiḥ | indram | codaya | dātave | magham
Not securely determined from provided metadata
Imperative, exhortative movement (codaya) suited to energizing prayer.
Builds momentum and confidence; good for activating will and expansive force.
- svastaye
- Literal: for well-being. Symbolic: integral harmony—health of body, life, mind under truth
- punānaḥ
- Literal: being purified. Symbolic: clarifying consciousness by discernment and aspiration
- nṛbhiḥ
- Literal: by men. Symbolic: by inner faculties: will, sincerity, discriminative mind
- abhi vāsaya
- Literal: clothe, cover around. Symbolic: establish an atmosphere of protection and plenitude in the being
- āśis
- Literal: blessing, rich wish. Symbolic: spiritual benediction; fullness of force and joy
- madāḥ
- Literal: intoxicating joys, raptures. Symbolic: ecstatic intensities of Ananda that energize transformation
- āhanasaḥ
- Literal: smiting, slaying. Symbolic: power to break obstruction (vṛtra-like resistances)
- vihāyasaḥ
- Literal: wide-ranging in space. Symbolic: moving in the vast inner expanse (open consciousness)
- Indra
- Literal: Vedic god Indra. Symbolic: divine Mind/illumination that releases light and power
- magham
- Literal: bounty, abundance. Symbolic: large outpouring of force, light, joy, and effective capacity
Soma-pavamāna context: purification/pressing chants used in Soma sacrifice (e.g., Agniṣṭoma sequence), accompanying the flow through the filter (pavitra) and the offering that empowers Indra.
During pavamāna sequences and Indra-Soma offerings seeking strength/abundance
Chant while Soma is purified and offered; prayer for swasti and magha
Chant before work or decision-making to invite purified joy and illumined intelligence; use as ‘inner prosperity’ practice.
Key roots: (1) √pū 'to purify/cleanse' → punānáḥ (present middle participle): Soma as the self-clarifying delight in the inner filter of discernment. (2) √dhanv/√dhāv (Vedic usage: 'to run, stream, rush') → dhanvā: the forward streaming of the rasa (essence). (3) su-asti → svastí, svastáye (dative): 'good-being', right settlement in being. (4) √vas 'to dwell, to clothe' (causative) → vāsaya: 'cause to be clothed/inhabited', i.e., invest the seeker with āśis. (5) √mad 'to rejoice, be glad, be intoxicated' → madāḥ: raptures that raise and widen consciousness. (6) ā-han 'to strike down' → āhanasaḥ: Soma’s power to smite inner resistances. (7) vi-hāyas 'wide space/sky' → vihāyasaḥ: moving in the inner vast (vyoman), not merely physical heaven. (8) √cud 'to impel' → codaya (imperative): activate Indra’s executive force. (9) √dā 'to give' → dātave (infinitive): purpose of Indra’s movement is bestowal. (10) maghá 'bounty, gift' (cf. Avestan magā- 'gift/power') → magham: plenitude of force and felicity.
svasti (right-being, well-established harmony), inner purification (pavana/pūta), activation of divine Force (Indra) through delight (Soma)
Well-being (svasti) is harmony with Ṛta; Soma’s purification aligns the nature with right movement.
Illumined Mind (Indra) gives ‘true abundance’—capacity aligned with truth, not ego desire.
Expansion into vastness and release of energies through the alliance of bliss and illumination.
Integral Vedic psychology: Ananda fuels illumination; illumination distributes effective abundance.
Flowing on all sides = pervasion of consciousness; covering = protective field of sattva; vastness = open inner sky.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The empowerment of Indra by Soma’s madāḥ (raptures): Soma’s purified flow generates the ecstasy-force that enables Indra (the executive luminous mind-power) to bestow magha (mighty plenitude). The implied mythic action is the arousal of the thunder-force against inner obstruction (āhanasaḥ), a psychological analogue of Indra’s victory over enclosing powers.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Several lexemes align with Indo-Iranian/PIE patterns: √mad (rapture/intoxication) corresponds to an Indo-Iranian semantic field of exhilaration; maghá- 'bounty' has an Avestan cognate magā- 'gift/power'. The causative of √vas ('clothe, cause to dwell') reflects a productive PIE causative strategy in Indo-Iranian. The verb √cud 'impel' shows the common Indo-European motif of 'driving/urging' as a formula for divine activation.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The speaker positions the human collectivity (nṛbhiḥ) as co-worker in purification: Soma is clarified through human energies/ritual-psychic effort, and in return Soma 'clothes' the seekers with āśis (plenitude). Soma then mediates the reciprocity by urging Indra to give magha—so the exchange is triadic: human aspiration/purification → Soma’s clarified delight → Indra’s executive bestowal.
Invoke Soma as purified joy circulating around the body; then call Indra as clear discerning light in the head to act from that joy.
Maṇipūra (will/force)
Brisker exhale on ‘codaya’ (impel), calmer inhale receiving ‘magham’ (abundance).
Expansive, energized, victorious clarity without aggression.
When blocked, first cultivate a small, pure joy; offer it upward; then ask for a decisive insight/action—let ‘Indra’ act from ‘Soma’.
If full Vedic svara is not available, chant with a gentle rise on svastáye, punānáḥ, madā́ḥ, codáya, mágham; firm cadence on imperatives.
Keep ‘pari soma pra dhanvā’ as a single energetic opening; emphasize ‘codaya’ clearly.
svastaye: ‘sv’ conjunct clean; short a, punāno: long ā; nasalization on ‘no’, āśiram: long ā; ś as palatal, vihāyasas: long ā; articulate ‘yasa’
Energizing, confident, not harsh; keep brightness in tone.
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