Rig Veda 9.91.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 91, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.91
- Rishi
- Rebha Kāśyapa
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
स प्रत्नवन्नव्यसे विश्ववार सूक्ताय पथः कृणुहि प्राचः । ये दुःषहासो वनुषा बृहन्तस्ताँस्ते अश्याम पुरुकृत्पुरुक्षो ॥
sá pratnaván návyase viśvavāra sūktā́ya patháḥ kṛṇuhi prā́caḥ | yé duḥṣáhāso vanúṣā bṛhántas tā́ṃs te aśyāma purukṛt purukṣo ||
सोम, तुम पुराना हो पर नए काम के लिए भी हो। हमें सही रास्ता दिखाओ ताकि हम अच्छे शब्द बोल सकें। रास्ते में बड़ी रुकावतें आती हैं जो सहना मुश्किल है। तुम्हारी शक्ति से हम उनसे आगे निकल जाएं। तुम बहुत काम करते हो और बहुत जगह फैलते हो।
Word by Word
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रत्नवत्
- like the ancient (of old)Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः; प्रथमा एकवचनम् (सः इति सह) / अथवा क्रियाविशेषणवत्Role KartāRoot प्रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + -वत्
- नव्यसे
- for the new (one); for renewalAdjective (used substantively) / Nounपुंलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot नव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- विश्ववार
- O all-desired/bringing all boonsNoun (vocative epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (Sambodhana)Root विश्व-वार (समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- सूक्ताय
- for the hymnNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, चतुर्थी, एकवचनम्Role SampradānaRoot सु-उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- पथः
- pathsNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot पथ् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृणुहि
- make; prepareVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root कृ (धातु)
- प्राचः
- forward; eastwardAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम् (पथः इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot प्राञ्च्/प्राच् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ये
- who; whichPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- दुःसहासः
- hard to withstandAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot दुः-सह (प्रातिपदिक; समास) + -अस्
- वनुषा
- with (their) striving/impulseNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot वनु (प्रातिपदिक) / वनुष् (प्रातिपदिक) (RV: ‘impulse, desire, striving’)
- बृहन्तः
- great; loftyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot बृहन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- तान्
- thosePronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- of you; yourPronounषष्ठी, एकवचनम् (एन्क्लिटिक)Role SambandhaRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्याम
- may we attainVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (RV-प्रयोगः), उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role (क्रिया)Root अश् (धातु: ‘to reach/attain’)
- पुरुकृत्
- O doer of many deedsAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (Sambodhana)Root पुरु-कृत् (समास; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक: कृत् < कृ)
- पुरुक्षो
- O much-increasing/abundant oneAdjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role (Sambodhana)Root पुरु-क्षु/क्षु (समास; प्रातिपदिक; RV epithet ‘much-increasing/abounding’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: सः | प्रत्नवत् | नव्यसे | विश्ववार | सूक्ताय | पथः | कृणुहि | प्राचः || ये | दुःसहासः | वनुषा | बृहन्तः | तान् | ते | अश्याम | पुरुकृत् | पुरुक्षो || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) स प्रत्नवन् → सः + प्रत्नवत् (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते)। (2) प्रत्नवन्नव्यसे → प्रत्नवत् + नव्यसे (त् + न → न्न, अनुस्वार/द्वित्व-सम्भवः)। (3) विश्ववार सूक्ताय → विश्ववार + सूक्ताय (सन्धि-रहित संयोगः)। (4) पथः कृणुहि → पथः + कृणुहि (विसर्गः परे ककारे जिह्वामूलीय-प्रवृत्तिः; संहितायां ‘पथः कृ…’)। (5) बृहन्तस्ताँस्ते → बृहन्तः + तान् + ते (ः + त → स्त्; तान् इत्यत्र न् परे तकारे स्थाने ‘ँ/ं’ लेखनं पदपाठे ‘तान्’)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Soma, desirable to all, as in ancient times yet for what is ever new, make forward paths for the well-spoken inspired hymn; may we pass beyond the vast, hard-to-endure resistances in the struggle by your wide, many-doing power.
Inner meaning
Soma (the delight-force) is invoked to open “forward paths” in consciousness for the mantra-vision (sūkta). The seeker faces duḥṣahāsaḥ—massive, difficult-to-bear formations of inertia, doubt, and subconscient pressure that oppose the ascent. Soma’s purification and wideness (purukṣa) enables the being to overpass these coverings and advance into a new, yet perennial, revelation—“old” in its eternal truth, “new” in fresh realization.
Universal truth
True progress is not mere effort but an aided ascent: when inner delight is purified and made active, it clears a living path for inspired speech and right discernment, allowing one to outgrow formidable resistances and enter a wider, more effective mode of being.
Themes
path-opening, mantra efficacy, overcoming resistance, continuity of the ancient and the new
The seer
- Rishi
- Rebha Kāśyapa
- Lineage
- Kāśyapa
- Other hymns
- RV 9.91 (hymn context), Kāśyapa-associated Soma hymns across RV Maṇḍala 9 (general anukramaṇī tradition)
Family tradition
Kāśyapa lineage noted for hymns of inner journeying and luminous discovery; in Soma hymns, the clan often emphasizes purification as a means to wideness and truth-vision.
Significance
Rebha (“the inspired utterer”) suggests a seerhood where mantra is not ornament but a force that cuts paths. The verse’s stress on ‘forward paths’ aligns with Rebha’s role as opener of inner ways through inspired speech.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- viśvavāra (all-desirable), purukṛt (many-doing), purukṣa (wide-acting/wide-growing), pavamāna (self-purifying/being purified)
- Related deities
- Indra (illumined mind empowered by Soma), Agni (will that leads the inner sacrifice), Sūrya (truth-light revealed through purification), Aśvins (helpers of transition and opening)
Cosmic role
Soma as the purified essence that nourishes the gods, sustains ṛta, and enables victorious movement (sanaye) in the cosmic struggle between light and covering.
Inner power
Ananda-shakti (delight-force) that clarifies, widens, and makes the consciousness plastic for inspiration; it turns resistance into passage by joy and luminous intensity.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma Pavamāna cycle (pressing, filtering, offering)
स प्र॑त्न॒वन्नव्य॑से विश्ववार सू॒क्ताय॑ प॒थः कृ॑णुहि॒ प्राच॑: । ये दु॒:षहा॑सो व॒नुषा॑ बृ॒हन्त॒स्ताँस्ते॑ अश्याम पुरुकृत्पुरुक्षो ॥
सः । प्र॒त्न॒ऽवत् । नव्य॑से । वि॒श्व॒ऽवा॒र॒ । सु॒ऽउ॒क्ताय॑ । प॒थः । कृ॒णु॒हि॒ । प्राचः॑ । ये । दुः॒ऽसहा॑सः । व॒नुषा॑ । बृ॒हन्तः॑ । तान् । ते॒ । अ॒श्य्चाम॒ । पु॒रु॒ऽकृ॒त् । पु॒रु॒क्षो॒ इति॑ पुरुऽक्षो ॥
saḥ | pratna-vat | navyase | viśva-vāra | su-uktāya | pathaḥ | kṛṇuhi | prācaḥ | ye | duḥ-sahāsaḥ | vanuṣā | bṛhantaḥ | tān | te | aśycāma | puru-kṛt | purukṣo itipuru-kṣo
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4 pādas of ~12 syllables each (Jagatī cadence; minor resolutions possible in recitation)
Expansive, forward-driving rhythm suited to ‘prācaḥ pathaḥ’ (advance and widening).
Produces a sense of onward movement and overcoming; supports mental opening and confidence in passing beyond obstacles.
- प्रत्नवत् (pratnavat)
- Literal: as of old, in the ancient way. Symbolic: the perennial law of inner sacrifice; the timeless method of ascent
- नव्यसे (navyase)
- Literal: for the new. Symbolic: ever-fresh realization; continuous renewal of consciousness
- विश्ववार (viśvavāra)
- Literal: all-desirable. Symbolic: Soma as universally fulfilling delight that draws all powers toward harmony
- सुउक्ताय/सूक्ताय (sūktāya)
- Literal: to the well-spoken hymn. Symbolic: mantric speech as a channel of truth-vision (vāk of illumination)
- पथः…प्राचः (pathaḥ…prācaḥ)
- Literal: paths…forward. Symbolic: openings for ascent and right movement of thought, will, and life-force
- दुःसहासः (duḥṣahāsaḥ)
- Literal: hard to endure/overcome. Symbolic: obstinate resistances of the lower nature and subconscient
- वनुषा (vanuṣā)
- Literal: in the struggle/contest. Symbolic: the inner battle of transformation (yuddha for light)
- बृहन्तः (bṛhantaḥ)
- Literal: vast, great. Symbolic: large formations of darkness/inertia that occupy the field
- पुरुकृत् (purukṛt)
- Literal: doer of much. Symbolic: Soma’s many operations of purification, joy, and increase
- पुरुक्षो (purukṣo)
- Literal: wide-acting, wide-growing. Symbolic: wideness of consciousness; expansive delight that carries beyond limits
Invokes Soma to open paths for suktá (effective mantra) and to overcome resistances; suitable for moments in ritual emphasizing successful progression and unobstructed offering.
During Soma yajña while Soma is purified on the filter and prepared for offering; also in recitational sequences of Pavamāna hymns.
Chanting to accompany the flow/filtration and to invoke the opening of paths for the sacrifice’s success.
Use as a mantra for breaking inner stagnation: recite before meditation or creative work to ‘open the forward paths’ for inspired speech and action.
prā́c ‘forward/eastward’ connects to dawn-direction and progressive movement. √aś ‘reach’ (PIE *h₂eḱ- ‘reach’ possible association) marks attainment. puru- ‘many/wide’ is a productive Vedic intensifier; purukṛt frames Soma as abundant accomplisher. The juxtaposition pratnavat… navyase encodes Vedic continuity: eternal truth renewed in fresh realization.
tradition and renewal (pratna/nava), progressive ascent via mantra-paths, overcoming vast resistances (bṛhat obstacles)
The ‘forward paths’ are ṛta’s tracks in consciousness—right movement replacing obstruction.
Sūkta as truth-speaking; Soma makes truth utterance effective by purification.
Renewal of the eternal: the ancient truth continually becomes new in experience (pratnavat…navyase).
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindo-style) reading: ascent through purification and wideness, not merely ritual success.
Soma’s flowing purification corresponds to the movement of delight through the mind-life, carving channels through resistant formations and enabling inspired expression.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘path-making’ power: Soma opens the forward ways for the inspired word, enabling the seeker to pass beyond vast, oppressive resistances. This is the mythic theme of opening hidden roads (often linked with dawn/light) reframed as inner progress guided by mantra.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The formulaic opposition ‘ancient’ vs ‘new’ is an archaic poetic device found in IE traditions to express perennial truth renewed. The verb √kṛ ‘make’ (high-frequency IE-type action verb) and √aś ‘reach’ encode the pragmatic, goal-directed character of Vedic spiritual diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Soma to act as path-maker for the suktá—suggesting that the word becomes effective only when the divine power clears and arranges the inner routes. In reciprocity, the rishi’s suktá offers Soma a channel of manifestation; Soma returns widened capacity to endure and surpass resistance.
Invoke Soma as purified delight to open inner channels for mantra-vision and to pass beyond resistance.
Ājñā (clarity of inspired word) and Anāhata (delight/wideness)
Moderate nāḍī-śodhana for 6–8 rounds, then recite on long exhalations to feel ‘forward paths’ opening.
From effortful striving to luminous flow; a widened, confident poise.
Before chanting, recall one specific ‘duḥṣahāsa’ habit-pattern. While reciting, feel a cool-golden current rising and widening, making a clear passage for truthful speech and right action.
Use Vedic svara as marked in the Saṃhitā text (udātta/anudātta/svarita). In absence of full accent notation in the app view, default to a steady recitation with slight lift on udātta-marked syllables.
Keep clear stress on key vocatives: viśvavāra, purukṛt, purukṣo; let ‘pathaḥ kṛṇuhi prācaḥ’ flow as one forward-moving phrase.
(sa) not ‘sha’; keep dental sibilant, (prācaḥ): long ā; final ḥ lightly aspirated, (duḥ-sahāsaḥ): visarga before s; do not drop ḥ, (bṛhantaḥ): vocalic ṛ in bṛ-, (aśyāma): palatal ś, long ā
Clear, resonant, slightly ascending on ‘prācaḥ’; firm tone on ‘duḥṣahāsaḥ’.
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