Rig Veda 9.86.12: Mandala 9, Sukta 86, Mantra 12
Sukta 9.86
- Rishi
- Soma Pavamāna seer-tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
अग्रे सिन्धूनां पवमानो अर्षत्यग्रे वाचो अग्रियो गोषु गच्छति । अग्रे वाजस्य भजते महाधनं स्वायुधः सोतृभिः पूयते वृषा ॥
ágre síndhūnāṃ pávamāno arṣaty ágre vā́co agriyó góṣu gacchati | ágre vā́jasya bhajate mahā-dhánam svā́yudhaḥ sotṛ́bhiḥ pū́yate vṛ́ṣā ||
सबसे आगे नदियों में वो साफ होने वाला बहता है। सबसे आगे बोलने में वो रोशनी के बीच जाता है। सबसे आगे वो बड़ा खज़ाना पाता है। अपने आप को बचा के वो दबाने वालों से साफ होता है।
Word by Word
- अग्रे
- in front; firstIndeclinableअव्यय; स्थान/काल-अर्थे ‘अग्रे’ = ‘in front/first’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) / अव्ययीभाव (अग्रे)
- सिन्धूनाम्
- of the rivers/streamsNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root सिन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पवमानः
- the purifying (Soma)Adjective (participle)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; वर्तमान-शतृ/शानच्-प्रायः ‘being purified/flowing as purifying’Role KartāRoot पू (धातु, ‘to purify’) → पवमान (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- अर्षति
- flows; rushesVerbलट् (वर्तमान); परस्मैपद; ३ पुरुष; एकवचनRole KriyāRoot ऋष्/अर्ष् (धातु; ‘to flow, rush’)
- अग्रे
- in front; firstIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘in front/first’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) / अव्ययीभाव (अग्रे)
- वाचः
- of speechNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचन (वेदे ‘वाचः’ = ‘of speech’)Role Sambandha (Genitive)Root वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्रियः
- foremostAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition to पवमानः)Root अग्रिय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘foremost, first’)
- गोषु
- among the cows; in the cattleNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (RV usage often); सप्तमी बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- गच्छति
- goes; comesVerbलट् (वर्तमान); परस्मैपद; ३ पुरुष; एकवचनRole KriyāRoot गम् (धातु; ‘to go’)
- अग्रे
- in front; firstIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘in front/first’Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) / अव्ययीभाव (अग्रे)
- वाजस्य
- of prize/strength (vāja)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- भजते
- partakes; wins; obtainsVerbलट् (वर्तमान); आत्मनेपद; ३ पुरुष; एकवचनRole KriyāRoot भज् (धातु; ‘to share, partake, obtain’)
- महाधनम्
- great wealthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot महा-धन (समास; महत् + धन)
- स्वायुधः
- self-armed; having his own weaponAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (epithet of Soma)Root स्व-आयुध (समास; ‘having own weapon’)
- सोतृभिः
- by the pressersNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot सोतृ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘presser, Soma-priest’)
- पूयते
- is purifiedVerbलट् (वर्तमान); आत्मनेपद; ३ पुरुष; एकवचन; कर्मणि/मध्यार्थे ‘is purified’Role KriyāRoot पू (धातु; ‘to purify’)
- वृषा
- the bull; the vigorous oneNoun (used as epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (apposition to पवमानः)Root वृषन्/वृष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bull, virile one’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: अग्रे | सिन्धूनाम् | पवमानः | अर्षति | अग्रे | वाचः | अग्रियः | गोषु | गच्छति | अग्रे | वाजस्य | भजते | महाधनम् | स्वायुधः | सोतृभिः | पूयते | वृषा । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) पवमानो अर्षति → पवमानः अर्षति (ओ + अ = ओ; पदे विसर्गः) (2) अर्षत्यग्रे → अर्षति अग्रे (इ + अ = य; यण्-सन्धि) (3) अग्रे वाचो → अग्रे वाचः (ओ + अ = वा; पदे षष्ठी ‘वाचः’) (4) वाचो अग्रियो → वाचः अग्रियः (ओ + अ = वा; पदे ‘अग्रियः’) (5) गोषु गच्छति (सन्धि-नास्ति) (6) महाधनं स्वायुधः → महाधनम् स्वायुधः (अनुस्वार/मकारादेशः पदान्ते) (7) सोतृभि: पूयते → सोतृभिः पूयते (विसर्गः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Foremost among the streams the self-purifying Soma rushes; foremost in speech he goes, leader among the cows. Foremost he wins the plenitude of force and great treasure; self-armed, the strong one is purified by the pressers.
Inner meaning
Soma leads the inner currents: the purified delight becomes the first movement in the life-streams—setting the tone of the whole being. ‘Foremost in speech’ indicates that true mantra/word becomes guided by the luminous rasa, not by ego or habit; Soma is agriyaḥ, the front-runner in vā́c. ‘In the cows’ (goṣu) means among the rays of knowledge: Soma moves as leader within illuminations, organizing them into a coherent light. As leader he wins vā́ja (effective force for victory) and mahādhana (great treasure of realization). ‘Self-armed’ suggests innate spiritual capacity—Soma brings its own means (svāyudhaḥ) when the aspirant (sotṛbhiḥ, pressers) applies steady effort and purification. The result is precedence of soul-delight over obscurity in every movement.
Universal truth
When purified delight leads our energies, speech, and understanding, it naturally attracts strength and inner wealth; disciplined effort allows the soul’s native power to take the first place in life.
Themes
precedence of illumination, Soma as leader, treasure of force, inner workers (sotṛ)
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma Pavamāna seer-tradition
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.86.1-12, Rig Veda 9.72 (Soma and speech), Rig Veda 9.97 (Soma as winner of treasure)
Family tradition
Pavamāna hymns used in Soma rites; psychologically, they teach precedence (agre) of purified delight as leader of speech, light, and power.
Significance
A practical yogic instruction: put Soma (purified delight) in front—of energies, word, and knowledge—so victory-force and treasure follow.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- pavamāna (self-purifying), agriya (foremost/leader), svāyudha (self-armed), vṛṣā (strong bull)
- Related deities
- Indra (via vāja/victory context), Sarasvatī/Vāc (speech power), Bṛhaspati (word and light)
Cosmic role
Leads the streams, inspires speech, moves among rays of knowledge, and brings victory-force and treasure; purified by the pressers for offering.
Inner power
The leading Ananda that organizes prāṇa, vā́c, and illumination; grants effective strength and abundance of realization.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification by the sotṛ priests; praise of Soma’s precedence and potency.
अग्रे॒ सिन्धू॑नां॒ पव॑मानो अर्ष॒त्यग्रे॑ वा॒चो अ॑ग्रि॒यो गोषु॑ गच्छति । अग्रे॒ वाज॑स्य भजते महाध॒नं स्वा॑यु॒धः सो॒तृभि॑: पूयते॒ वृषा॑ ॥
अग्रे॑ । सिन्धू॑नाम् । पव॑मानः । अ॒र्ष॒ति॒ । अग्रे॑ । वा॒चः । अ॒ग्रि॒यः । गोषु॑ । ग॒च्छ॒ति॒ । अग्रे॑ । वाज॑स्य । भ॒ज॒ते॒ । म॒हा॒ऽध॒नम् । सु॒ऽआ॒यु॒धः । सो॒तृऽभिः॑ । पू॒य॒ते॒ । वृषा॑ ॥
agre | sindhūnām | pavamānaḥ | arṣati | agre | vācaḥ | agriyaḥ | goṣu | gacchati | agre | vājasya | bhajate | mahādhanam | su-āyudhaḥ | sotṛ-bhiḥ | pūyate | vṛṣā
48
4 × 12 syllables
Insistent and directive through repetition of agre; a marching, leadership cadence.
Creates resolve and forward movement; psychologically places the listener in a ‘leading’ orientation rather than reactive following.
- अग्रे (agre)
- Literal: in front, foremost. Symbolic: leadership of the psychic-spiritual movement over nature’s inertia
- सिन्धूनाम् (sindhūnām)
- Literal: of streams/rivers. Symbolic: currents of prāṇa, life-movements, and thought-waves
- वाचः (vācaḥ)
- Literal: of speech/word. Symbolic: mantric expression; formative power of consciousness
- अग्रियः (agriyaḥ)
- Literal: leader, foremost. Symbolic: that which goes first—guiding principle in sadhana
- गोṣu (goṣu)
- Literal: in the cows. Symbolic: in the rays of light/knowledge (illumined perceptions)
- वाज (vāja)
- Literal: force, prize, victory-power. Symbolic: effective energy for overcoming resistance (Vṛtra-coverings)
- महाधन (mahādhana)
- Literal: great wealth/treasure. Symbolic: abundance of inner realizations and capacities
- स्वायुध (svāyudha)
- Literal: self-armed. Symbolic: intrinsic spiritual power; self-sufficient force when aligned
- सोतृभिः (sotṛbhiḥ)
- Literal: by pressers. Symbolic: disciplined practitioners applying tapas and method
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: strong creative potency; robust spiritual force
Soma pressing and straining; emphasizes the role of sotṛs (pressers) and Soma’s precedence in the rite.
During pressing/filtration sequences; emphasizes Soma’s primacy and the efficacy (vāja) gained thereby.
Chant while Soma is pressed and purified; supports the notion of Soma going ‘first’ into the ritual flow.
Use as a ‘priority mantra’: to set the day’s intention—let the soul’s joy lead speech and action; useful before public speaking or decision-making.
agre ‘in front’ functions as a refrain-like intensifier: Soma is the principle of precedence. goṣu ‘in cows’ is read symbolically as ‘in rays/lights’ because go in Vedic diction frequently denotes luminous radiance and its treasures (knowledge). svāyudha = sva + āyudha (instrument/weapon) from √yudh ‘fight’—inner armament as inherent capacity to overcome resistance.
vāja as force-plenitude, go (cows) as rays/knowledge, inspired speech (vāc)
Repeated agre encodes ṛta as correct ordering—what must lead in the cosmos and in the sadhaka.
Leadership of Soma implies truth-led speech and perception rather than ego-led formations.
Order and abundance arise when the right principle leads; wealth is an effect of alignment.
Integral yoga reading: psychic delight leads the instrumentation (speech, prāṇa, mind), enabling victorious transformation.
Streams = life currents; cows = illuminations; pressing = disciplined effort refining essence; leadership = right order in consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘the leader-current’: Soma goes foremost in streams, speech, and rays, and therefore wins the great treasure. Innerly, the clarified delight leads the life-currents and the word, bringing vāja (victorious plenitude) before all other impulses.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vāc ‘speech’ is cognate with Avestan vac- and rooted in PIE *wekʷ- ‘to speak’. The prominence of ‘foremost speech’ reflects an IE poetics where inspired utterance is a primary vehicle of power and truth.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi positions Soma as the principle that should lead all movements (streams, speech, lights). The human collaborators (sotṛs) are necessary: they ‘press’ and purify, i.e., apply aspiration and discipline, enabling Soma to manifest as precedence, not as a secondary after-effect.
Establish Soma as ‘first’: let delight lead breath, speech, and thought; then act from that precedence.
Vishuddha (speech) guided by Ajna (illumination) and stabilized in Anahata (joy).
On each ‘agre’ take a clean inhale; on the rest of the pāda exhale steadily—training leadership and follow-through.
Proactive, soul-led agency (not reactive nature-led movement).
Before speaking or acting, repeat the first pāda mentally to set the lead; then feel a golden stream in the spine moving ‘ahead’ of impulses, organizing them.
Repetition of agre invites consistent udatta emphasis; keep pitch disciplined so the ‘lead’ is audible but not shouted.
Mark each agre with a clear, slightly heightened accent; keep the rest even to convey ordered leadership.
(agre): crisp ‘gr’ cluster, (sindhūnām): long ū; retroflex ḍh not present—keep dental n, ṣu (goṣu): long o; ṣ retroflex, (svāyudhaḥ): ‘svā’ long; ‘yudh’ voiced; final ḥ light
Clear, directive, and steady; avoid wavering—this verse teaches precedence and order.
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.
