Rig Veda 9.86.35: Mandala 9, Sukta 86, Mantra 35
Sukta 9.86
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
इषमूर्जं पवमानाभ्यर्षसि श्येनो न वंसु कलशेषु सीदसि । इन्द्राय मद्वा मद्यो मदः सुतो दिवो विष्टम्भ उपमो विचक्षणः ॥
íṣam ū́rjaṃ pavamānā́bhy arṣasi śyénō ná vaṃsú kalaśéṣu sīdasi | índrāya mádvā mádyo mádaḥ sutó divó viṣṭámbha upamó vi-cakṣáṇaḥ ||
खाने की शक्ति और ताकत ले के तुम बह रहे हो। बाज़ की तरह अपने घोंसले में बैठ जाते हो बर्तन में। तुम इंद्र के लिए खुशी का प्याला हो, नशा देने वाला। तुम आसमान को संभालते हो, सबसे ऊपर हो, सब देखते हो।
Word by Word
- इषम्
- refreshment, nourishmentNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इष् (इषा) / इषा- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऊर्जम्
- strength, vital sapNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot ऊर्ज् / ऊर्ज्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पवमान
- O purifying one (Soma)Adjective (participle)पुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (सामानाधिकरण्ये सोमः)Role KartāRoot पू (पुनाति) → पवमान- (कृदन्त, शतृ/शानच्)
- अभि
- towards, untoIndeclinable (preverb/preposition)अव्ययRoot अभि
- अर्षसि
- you flow, you rushVerbलट् (वर्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole KriyāRoot ऋष्/अर्ष् (गत्यर्थ) धातु
- श्येनः
- a falcon, hawkNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-कर्तृ)Root श्येन- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot न
- वंसु
- good, treasure; desirable goodNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (अव्यक्त-विभक्ति; उपमानपद)Role Karma (उपमेय-गमनस्य)Root वंसु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- कलशेषु
- in the jars, in the vesselsNounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot कलश- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सीदसि
- you sit down, settleVerbलट् (वर्तमान); मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole KriyāRoot सद् (सीदति) धातु
- इन्द्राय
- for IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मद्वा
- intoxicating, gladdeningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषण)Root मद्वन्त्- (प्रातिपदिक; मद + वन्त्)
- मद्यः
- the intoxicant; exhilarating drinkNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण/संज्ञा)Root मद्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मदः
- rapture, exhilarationNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण/भाव)Root मद- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतः
- pressed, expressed (Soma)Adjective (past participle)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root सु (सुनोति) → सुत- (कृदन्त, क्त)
- दिवः
- of heaven, of the skyNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive)Root दिव्/द्यौ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- विष्टम्भः
- support, prop, stayNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (नामरूपेण)Root स्तम्भ् (वि-स्तम्भ्) → विष्टम्भ- (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्तभाव)
- उपमः
- highest, supremeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root उपम- (प्रातिपदिक; उप + म)
- विचक्षणः
- clear-sighted, discerningAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root विचक्षण- (प्रातिपदिक; वि + चक्ष् ‘to see’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: इषम् ऊर्जम् पवमान अभि अर्षसि | श्येनः न वंसु कलशेषु सीदसि || इन्द्राय मद्वा मद्यः मदः सुतः दिवः विष्टम्भः उपमः विचक्षणः || 1) इष॒मूर्जं॑ → इषम् + ऊर्जम् (म् + ऊ → मू)
- 2) पवमाना॒भ्य॑र्षसि → पवमान + अभि + अर्षसि (अ + अ → आ; अभ्यर्षसि = अभि-अर्षसि)
- 3) वंसु॑ क॒लशे॑षु: sandhi not required (simple juxtaposition)
- 4) मद्वा॒ मद्यो॒ मद॑: सु॒तो → मद्वा + मद्यः + मदः + सुतः (visarga sandhi not applied before s- in RV orthography; underlying forms as given)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Pavamāna flows bringing nourishment and strength; like a falcon to its nest he settles in the bowls. Pressed out, he is Indra’s intoxicating ecstasy; he is the support of heaven, supreme and wide-seeing.
Inner meaning
Soma brings iṣa (soul-nourishment) and ūrj (energizing force): the subtle food and power that sustain inner growth. The falcon (śyena) symbolizes the swift upward-moving consciousness that returns to its ‘nest’—the prepared vessels of receptivity (kalaśa) in mind and heart. For Indra (illumined Mind), Soma becomes madhu-like ecstasy: not confusion, but a heightened delight that empowers the slaying of Vṛtra (resistance). Soma is also the ‘support of heaven’: the stabilizing delight that upholds the luminous mind-plane and makes it ‘wide-seeing’ (vicakṣaṇa).
Universal truth
True strength comes from inner nourishment and clarified delight. When the being becomes a fit vessel, inspiration descends and stabilizes higher vision, empowering the mind to overcome obscurity and inertia.
Themes
Soma for Indra, ecstasy, inner nourishment, vision
The seer
- Rishi
- Composite/anonymous Soma-Pavamāna tradition (RV Book 9 anthology)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.86 (context), RV 9.40 (Soma as ecstasy for Indra), RV 1.80 (Indra-Soma joy and strength themes)
Family tradition
Soma hymns used by multiple priestly lines; this verse’s imagery (śyena, kalaśa, Indra-mada) is common across family books and later stotra selections.
Significance
The seer-vision here is the psychology of receptivity: higher delight ‘settles’ only where vessels are prepared, and it empowers the illumined mind (Indra) toward victory.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (for Indra)
- Epithets
- iṣam-ūrjam-bearer, śyena-like (swift), madvā/madya/mada (ecstatic), divo viṣṭambha (support of heaven), upama (supreme), vicakṣaṇa (wide-seeing)
- Related deities
- Indra (illumined mind), Agni (sacrificial will preparing the vessels), Śyena motif linked to Soma-bringing intuition
Cosmic role
Gives the gods their strength and rapture; stabilizes the heaven-world (div) of illumination; as offering, becomes Indra’s power to overcome the Coverer.
Inner power
Ananda as dynamic spiritual intoxication that widens mind, strengthens will, and stabilizes higher vision.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering into cups/bowls after pressing and filtering; Indra-oriented Soma sequences
इष॒मूर्जं॑ पवमाना॒भ्य॑र्षसि श्ये॒नो न वंसु॑ क॒लशे॑षु सीदसि । इन्द्रा॑य॒ मद्वा॒ मद्यो॒ मद॑: सु॒तो दि॒वो वि॑ष्ट॒म्भ उ॑प॒मो वि॑चक्ष॒णः ॥
इष॑म् । ऊर्ज॑म् । प॒व॒मा॒न॒ । अ॒भि । अ॒र्ष॒सि॒ । श्ये॒नः । न । वंसु॑ । क॒लशे॑षु । सी॒द॒सि॒ । इन्द्रा॑य । मद्वा॑ । मद्यः॑ । मदः॑ । सु॒तः । दि॒वः । वि॒ष्ट॒म्भः । उ॒प॒मः । वि॒ऽच॒क्ष॒णः ॥
iṣam | ūrjam | pavamāna | abhi | arṣasi | śyenaḥ | na | vaṃsu | kalaśeṣu | sīdasi | indrāya | madvā | madyaḥ | madaḥ | sutaḥ | divaḥ | viṣṭambhaḥ | upamaḥ | vi-cakṣaṇaḥ
48
4 x ~12 syllables
Balanced sweep: first half nourishing/flowing, second half exultant and declarative (Indra’s ecstasy; support of heaven).
Creates both calm receptivity (settling into vessels) and uplifted exhilaration (mada for Indra).
- इषम् (iṣam)
- Literal: food, refreshment. Symbolic: psychic nourishment; subtle sustenance for the soul
- ऊर्जम् (ūrjam)
- Literal: sap, vigor, energy. Symbolic: vital-spiritual force that supports action and endurance
- श्येनः (śyenaḥ)
- Literal: falcon. Symbolic: swift ascending consciousness; dynamic intuition returning with the ‘spoil’ of light
- वंसु (vaṃsu)
- Literal: to its home/nest (wealth/home nuance). Symbolic: the settled inner seat; the heart-home of receptivity
- कलशेषु (kalaśeṣu)
- Literal: in the bowls/vessels. Symbolic: prepared mind-heart containers; purified receptacles of experience
- इन्द्राय (indrāya)
- Literal: for Indra. Symbolic: for the illumined mind-force that conquers darkness
- मदः (madaḥ)
- Literal: intoxication, rapture. Symbolic: ecstatic wideness and power (ananda) energizing illumination
- दिवः विष्टम्भः (divo viṣṭambhaḥ)
- Literal: support of heaven. Symbolic: foundation that upholds the illumined consciousness
- विचक्षणः (vicakṣaṇaḥ)
- Literal: wide-seeing. Symbolic: comprehensive vision born of clarified delight
Soma offering into kalaśa; Soma prepared as Indra’s mada in Soma rites
When Soma is collected in vessels and offered to Indra; during stotra/śastra praising Soma’s empowering effect.
Pouring into kalaśa, presenting to Indra; recitation to affirm strength and uplift.
Chant before meditation or study to ‘prepare the vessel’ and invite inspired joy; also before challenging tasks to invoke wide-seeing strength.
√mad yields ‘joy/intoxication’—in Soma hymns, spiritual ecstasy that empowers Indra (the illumined force). śyéna ‘falcon’ is a classic Soma-carrier symbol; psychologically, swift movement of aspiration and downward settling into receptivity (kalaśa). √cakṣ ‘see’ (PIE *kʷekʷ-?; more securely IE ‘see’ complex) underlines Soma as discriminating vision, not mere drink.
iṣa and ūrj (nourishment and energy), Indra as awakened mind-force, vision/discrimination (vicakṣaṇa)
Implied: the right ‘settling’ of Soma in vessels suggests ordered receptivity and right measure.
Wide-seeing (vicakṣaṇa) implies truth-vision supported by delight, not by strain alone.
Heaven is upheld by delight—suggesting that higher consciousness is stabilized by ananda as its foundation.
Aurobindonian psychology: Soma-Ananda empowering Indra-illumination, establishing a stable higher mind.
Falcon = swift intuition; bowls = purified mind-heart; flow = movement of delight; heaven = illumined mind-plane.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Soma-falcon motif (śyena) and Soma as Indra’s mada: the swift power brings the essence to the vessels and becomes the ecstasy that empowers the divine warrior-mind (Indra).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Indra is Indo-Iranian, but key lexemes show IE inheritance: √mad ‘rejoice/intoxicate’ has cognate semantics across IE (joy/intoxication fields), and √cakṣ ‘see’ parallels IE ‘see/observe’ roots; the formula ‘support of heaven’ echoes archaic IE cosmological imagery of sky-support.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi prepares receptacles (kalaśa) and receives Soma’s flow as nourishment and energy; Soma then empowers Indra within—turning inner force into wide-seeing action grounded in the ‘support of heaven’ (stable luminous consciousness).
Prepare the ‘kalaśa’: quiet the mind-heart as a clean vessel; invite a swift descent of delight like a falcon returning home; let it widen perception (vicakṣaṇa).
Anāhata (receptive vessel) and Ājñā (wide-seeing)
Slow-moderate inhalation imagining ‘śyena’ ascent; exhale imagining Soma settling into the heart-vessel; brief pause to feel stable support.
Quiet receptivity opening into ecstatic wideness without agitation.
If agitation arises, return to ‘settling in the bowl’ (stability) rather than chasing ecstasy; let joy serve clarity and strength for right action.
Three-tone Vedic accents; emphasize udātta on key nouns (iṣam, ūrjam, indrāya) and maintain clear cadence across pāda breaks.
Keep śyeno na vaṃsu as a single image-unit; do not over-pause between śyenaḥ and na.
śyenaḥ: palatal ś, not s, kalaśeṣu: retroflex ṣ in -śeṣu, indrāya: clear dr cluster, viṣṭambhaḥ: retroflex ṣṭ; final visarga light
Steady, full, slightly uplifted on ‘mada’ phrases; end with calm breadth on vicakṣaṇaḥ.
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