Rig Veda 9.88.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 88, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.88
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
वायुर्न यो नियुत्वाँ इष्टयामा नासत्येव हव आ शम्भविष्ठः । विश्ववारो द्रविणोदा इव त्मन्पूषेव धीजवनोऽसि सोम ॥
vāyúr na yó niyútvāṃ iṣṭáyāmā nā́satyā-iva háva ā́ śámbhaviṣṭhaḥ | viśvá-vāro draviṇodā́ iva tmán pūṣéva dhī-jávanó asi soma ||
सोम वायु जैसा है, जैसे घोड़े जुते हैं और चलते हैं जहाँ जाना हो। नासत्य जैसा है जो बुलाने पर आता है, खुशी देने वाला। सबको पसंद आता है, खुद में धन देने वाला है। पूषन जैसा है जो सोच तेज़ करता है, ऐसा है सोम।
Word by Word
- वायुः
- Vāyu (Wind-god)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वायु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like/asIndeclinableअव्ययRoot न (निपात)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot यद्- (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- नियुत्वान्
- having (his) niyut-horses/teamsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (यः…नियुत्वान्) विशेषणRoot नियुत्वन्त्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘नियुत्’ युक्तः)
- इष्टयामा
- whose course/coming is desired at the sacrificeAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root इष्टि-यामन्- (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- नासत्य
- Nāsatya (an Aśvin)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमान/सम्बोधन-भाव)Root नासत्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- हवः
- invocation/callNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ/भाव (आ…शम्भविष्ठः इत्यस्य विषयः)Root हव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, hitherIndeclinableअव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- शम्भविष्ठः
- most beneficent; most welfare-bringingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (हवः…शम्भविष्ठः) / विशेषणRoot शम्भविष्ठ- (प्रातिपदिक; शम्-भव ‘welfare-bringing’ + इष्ठ)
- विश्ववारः
- bringing all desirable gifts/boonsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root विश्व-वार- (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- द्रविणोदाः
- giver of wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot द्रविणोदा- (समास-प्रातिपदिक; द्रविण ‘wealth’ + दा ‘giver’)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- त्मन्
- self; by oneselfNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (अव्यक्त-विभक्ति; ‘स्वयम्/आत्मना’ अर्थे)Role करण/अधिकारण (अर्थतः ‘स्वयम्/आत्मना’)Root त्मन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पूषा
- PūṣanNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (उपमान)Root पूषन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- धीजवनः
- swift in thought/impulse; thought-speedingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषण)Root धी-जवन- (समास-प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- you areVerbलट्; मध्यमपुरुष; एकवचनRole (सम्बन्ध-क्रिया)Root अस् (धातु)
- सोम
- O SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सोम- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धि-निरसन): वायुः | न | यः | नियुत्वान् | इष्टयामा | नासत्य | इव | हवः | आ | शम्भविष्ठः || विश्ववारः | द्रविणोदाः | इव | त्मन् | पूषा | इव | धीजवनः | असि | सोम || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) वायुः + न → वायुर् न (विसर्ग-रेफ) । (2) नासत्य + इव → नासत्येव (अ + इ → ए) । (3) हवः + आ → हव आ (विसर्ग-लोप/पदविरामे) । (4) धीजवनः + असि → धीजवनोऽसि (विसर्गः → ’अ’ पूर्वे अवग्रह) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Soma moves like Vāyu with yoked steeds along desired paths; like the Aśvins at the call, he is most bliss-giving. He is all-desirable, like a giver of treasure in himself, and like Pūṣan he quickens inspired thought.
Inner meaning
Purified Soma is a many-powered helper: as Vāyu, it is life-breath moving with harnessed energies along the chosen inner routes; as the Aśvins, it comes swiftly to the seeker’s call bringing healing and right functioning; as a treasure-giver, it yields inherent riches (self-existent Ananda); as Pūṣan, it stimulates the ‘swift-going’ intelligence (dhī-javana)—inspiration that can travel and act. The mantra maps how delight, once clarified, becomes breath-force, responsiveness, abundance, and inspired guidance.
Universal truth
Refined joy becomes a versatile spiritual resource: it steadies the life-force, responds to sincere invocation, supplies inner wealth, and accelerates insight.
Themes
Soma as beneficence, Swift help and right path, Inner treasure (draviṇa), Awakening of inspired thought
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.88, Broader Soma hymns linking Soma with Vāyu/Aśvins/Pūṣan motifs (numerous in RV 9)
Significance
The seer synthesizes multiple devatā-functions into Soma: Ananda is shown as the integrator that supports prāṇa, healing, wealth of being, and inspired guidance—key for an integral sādhanā.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Śambhaviṣṭha (most bliss-fostering), Viśvavāra (all-desirable), Draviṇodā (treasure-giver), Dhījavana (quickener of inspiration)
- Related deities
- Vāyu, Aśvins (Nāsatyas), Pūṣan, Indra
Cosmic role
Soma mediates between worlds: life-movement (Vāyu), swift aid (Aśvins), nourishment and guidance (Pūṣan), and wealth of being.
Inner power
Transforms delight into regulated prāṇa, responsive help, self-contained abundance, and swift inspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Pavamāna Soma chants in Soma-yajña
वा॒युर्न यो नि॒युत्वाँ॑ इ॒ष्टया॑मा॒ नास॑त्येव॒ हव॒ आ शम्भ॑विष्ठः । वि॒श्ववा॑रो द्रविणो॒दा इ॑व॒ त्मन्पू॒षेव॑ धी॒जव॑नोऽसि सोम ॥
वा॒युः । न । यः । नि॒युत्वा॑न् । इ॒ष्टऽया॑मा । नास॑त्याऽइव । हवे॑ । आ । शम्ऽभ॑विष्ठः । वि॒श्वऽवा॑रः । द्र॒वि॒णो॒दाःऽइ॑व । त्मन् । पू॒षाऽइ॑व । धी॒ऽजव॑नः । अ॒सि॒ । सो॒म॒ ॥
vāyuḥ | na | yaḥ | niyutvān | iṣṭa-yāmā | nāsatyā-iva | have | ā | śam-bhaviṣṭhaḥ | viśva-vāraḥ | draviṇodāḥ-iva | tman | pūṣā-iva | dhī-javanaḥ | asi | soma
44
4 x 11 (approximate)
Quick, airy movement with simile-stacking; fits Vāyu/Aśvins speed imagery.
Energizes prāṇa and attention; evokes swift assistance and bright responsiveness.
- वायुः (vāyuḥ)
- Literal: Wind-god, air. Symbolic: Life-force/prāṇa; movement of vital energy in right channels
- नियुत्वान् (niyutvān)
- Literal: with yoked steeds. Symbolic: Controlled energies; disciplined prāṇa supporting ascent
- इष्टयामा (iṣṭayāmā)
- Literal: moving by desired paths. Symbolic: Chosen inner pathways of practice; directed movement of consciousness
- नासत्य (nāsatya)
- Literal: Aśvin (true/unaltering). Symbolic: Healing powers; swift right functioning and help at the call
- शम्भविष्ठ (śambhaviṣṭha)
- Literal: most beneficent, most fostering of bliss. Symbolic: Ananda as active benevolence; joy that heals and supports
- विश्ववार (viśvavāra)
- Literal: all-desirable. Symbolic: Integral fulfillment; delight that contains many boons
- द्रविणोदा (draviṇodā)
- Literal: giver of treasure/wealth. Symbolic: Bestower of inner riches: strength, clarity, wideness
- पूषा (pūṣā)
- Literal: Pūṣan, nourisher/guide. Symbolic: Guiding intuition; nourishment of the journey
- धी-जवन (dhī-javana)
- Literal: swift of inspired thought. Symbolic: Rapid, effective inspiration; illumined intelligence in motion
Pavamāna praise; aligns Soma with multiple divine functions (Vāyu/Aśvins/Pūṣan) in the rite
During Soma filtration/flow, invoking Soma’s beneficent qualities
Recitation while Soma runs through the filter; offering and praise
Chant to stabilize breath, invite help in difficulty, and kindle inspiration before creative or healing work.
śam ‘peace/bliss’ + √bhū ‘become’ → śam-bhaviṣṭha ‘most bringing bliss’. dhī ‘inspired thought/vision’ (root √dhī/√dhyai ‘think, contemplate’ in Vedic development); javana ‘speeding’ from √ju ‘hasten’ → dhī-javana ‘quickener of insight’. tman ‘self, vital being’ indicates Soma’s self-sufficing treasure (inner draviṇa).
Integration of powers (Soma as synthesis of divine functions), Dhī (inspired intelligence), Śam (bliss/peace)
‘Desired paths’ become ṛta-paths when chosen by the soul’s aspiration rather than desire-nature.
Nāsatya implies fidelity to truth-functioning—help that does not deviate.
Delight as multi-functional creative energy: it becomes movement, healing, wealth, and guidance.
Yoga of integral transformation: one essence (Ananda) expressing many divine functions.
Breath becomes a yoked steed; the inner journey gains guidance; inspiration moves swiftly when carried by purified joy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma is praised through a chain of divine identifications: wind-swiftness (Vāyu), rescuing arrival (Aśvins), guiding nourishment (Pūṣan), and treasure-giving. Psychologically, Soma is the integrative delight that mobilises life-force, brings timely aid, guides the journey, and accelerates inspired intelligence (dhī).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The comparative ‘X-iva’ style is a hallmark of Indo-European praise-poetry. Terms for yoking/teams and swift motion reflect shared IE poetics of divine mobility; the abstraction dhī as ‘vision-thought’ shows Vedic specialization of cognitive vocabulary.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi approaches Soma as a practical inner helper: not distant theology but an invoked power ‘coming at the call’ and producing śam (bliss) while energising dhī. The relationship is experiential and functional—Soma is asked to operate as multi-form aid within the seeker.
Let Ananda regulate breath and summon swift inner help; invite inspiration to move freely.
Viśuddha (breath/flow, expression) to Ājñā (inspiration/guide)
Gentle prāṇāyāma: inhale 4, exhale 6 while mentally repeating ‘vāyur na…’ to feel breath yoked and guided
Clear, buoyant, responsive; inspired readiness.
When stuck: (1) return to breath (Vāyu), (2) call sincerely for help (Aśvins), (3) rest in self-sufficient joy (draviṇodā in tman), (4) act on the first clean intuitive push (Pūṣan/dhī).
Svara notations not supplied; keep RV accent discipline; treat simile-openers (vāyur na…, nāsatyeva…) with clear pitch articulation.
Avoid slurring consonant clusters: ni-yutvān, iṣ-ṭa-yā-mā, śam-bha-viṣ-ṭhaḥ, dhī-ja-va-naḥ.
‘niyutvām̐’ ends with nasalization (candrabindu/anusvāra context): keep a light nasal resonance., ‘nāsatyeva’: long ā; keep ‘ty’ crisp., ‘draviṇodā’: retroflex ṇ; do not dentalize., ‘pūṣeva’: long ū and retroflex ṣ.
Airy yet steady; slightly brighter on the similes, grounded on ‘asi soma’.
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