Rig Veda 9.95.2: Mandala 9, Sukta 95, Mantra 2
Sukta 9.95
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
हरिः सृजानः पथ्यामृतस्येयर्ति वाचमरितेव नावम् । देवो देवानां गुह्यानि नामाविष्कृणोति बर्हिषि प्रवाचे ॥
hárīḥ sṛjānás pathyā́m ṛtásyéyarti vā́cam aritā́iva nā́vam | devó devā́nāṃ guhyā́ni nā́mā́viṣkṛṇoti bárhiṣi prá-vāce ||
पीला सोम बहता है और सही रास्ता बनाता है। वो शब्द को आगे बढ़ाता है जैसे कोई नाव चलाता है। देवता लोगों के छुपे हुए नाम को वो जगह दिखाता है जहाँ पूजा होती है।
Word by Word
- हरिः
- the tawny one (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot हरि- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सृजानः
- creating, bringing forthVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot √सृज् (सृजति) + शानच्
- पथ्याम्
- the path (fit/straight way)Adjective (used substantively)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पथ्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋतस्य
- of ṛta (cosmic order/truth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root ऋत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईयर्ति
- sets in motion, impelsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √ईर्/ईर् (ईयर्ति) [वेदिक रूप]
- वाचम्
- speech, voiceNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वाच्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरितेव
- like a rowerNoun + Indeclinableअरिता: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इव = उपमा-अव्ययRole कर्तृ (उपमान-कर्तृ)Root अरितृ- (प्रातिपदिक) + इव
- नावम्
- a boatNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नौ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवः
- the god (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- गुह्यानि
- hidden, secretAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot गुह्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नाम
- namesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्म (गुह्यानि नामानि)Root नामन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- आविष्कृणोति
- makes manifest, revealsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot आविस् + √कृ (कृणोति) [वेदिक]
- बर्हिषि
- on the sacred grass (altar-strewn barhis)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot बर्हिस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रवाचे
- in the proclamation/utterance (at the recitation)Noun (action-noun) / Indeclinable-like locativeनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (वेदिक प्रयोग: ‘प्रवाचे’ = ‘प्रवचने/प्रवचनकाले’)Role अधिकरणRoot प्र + √वच् (वचति) → प्रवाच- (कृदन्त/भाव)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेद (पद-आधार): हरिः | सृजानः | पथ्याम् | ऋतस्य | ईयर्ति | वाचम् | अरिते इव → अरितेव | नावम् || देवः | देवानाम् | गुह्यानि | नामानि (पाठे ‘नामा’ = नामानि) | आविष्कृणोति | बर्हिषि | प्रवाचे । ‘ऋतस्येयर्ति’ = ‘ऋतस्य’ + ‘ईयर्ति’ (अ + ई → ए)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The tawny Soma, being released, sets in motion the path of Ṛta; he impels the Word like a rower drives a boat. The god makes manifest on the sacred seat the secret names of the gods for the forward utterance.
Inner meaning
As Soma is freed, it activates the ‘pathway of Ṛta’—the right current along which consciousness can move without distortion. It drives Vāc (the Word) forward like a skilled oarsman: speech becomes guided, rhythmic, and effective, not drifting. In the clarified field of offering (barhiṣ: the inner seat of receptivity), Soma reveals the ‘secret names’ of the gods—direct experiential knowledge of the powers within (illumination, will, harmony, force). These names become available for pravāca: forward utterance, i.e., mantra that leads consciousness onward and opens further realizations.
Universal truth
When delight and purity enter the system, truth-order becomes a navigable path; speech turns into a force of progress, and deeper meanings of life-powers disclose themselves in a prepared inner space.
Themes
revelation of secret names, mantra as vehicle, guidance across inner waters
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.95
Family tradition
This is a classic seer’s statement on mantric revelation: Soma enables ṛta-path and unveils hidden divine meanings for effective utterance.
Significance
Connects Soma directly with the revelation of Vāc and the ‘secret names’—a key Aurobindonian theme: mantra as disclosure of inner powers and their true operations.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Hari, Deva, Pavamāna
- Related deities
- Vāc/Sarasvatī, Bṛhaspati (lord of the word), Indra (illumined mind)
Cosmic role
Opens ṛta’s pathway and empowers revelatory speech; mediator who unveils divine functions.
Inner power
Turns speech into a guided force; reveals inner deities’ true names (experiential knowledge).
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pavamāna recitation during pressing; also relevant to stotra/pravacana (forward recitation).
हरि॑: सृजा॒नः प॒थ्या॑मृ॒तस्येय॑र्ति॒ वाच॑मरि॒तेव॒ नाव॑म् । दे॒वो दे॒वानां॒ गुह्या॑नि॒ नामा॒विष्कृ॑णोति ब॒र्हिषि॑ प्र॒वाचे॑ ॥
हरिः॑ । सृ॒जा॒नः । प॒थ्या॑म् । ऋ॒तस्य॑ । इय॑र्ति । वाच॑म् । अ॒रि॒ताऽइ॑व । नाव॑म् । दे॒वः । दे॒वाना॑म् । गुह्या॑नि । नाम॑ । आ॒विः । कृ॒णो॒ति॒ । ब॒र्हिषि॑ । प्र॒ऽवाचे॑ ॥
hariḥ | sṛjānaḥ | pathyām | ṛtasya | iyarti | vācam | aritā-iva | nāvam | devaḥ | devānām | guhyāni | nāma | āviḥ | kṛṇoti | barhiṣi | pra-vāce
44
4 pādas (approx. 11 syllables each)
Smooth, navigational flow; the simile ‘ariteva nāvam’ gives a rowing cadence.
Creates a sense of guided movement and clarity in speech; supports mantra-japa and inspired articulation.
- पथ्याम् ऋतस्य (pathyām ṛtasyā)
- Literal: the path of Ṛta. Symbolic: right channel of consciousness; lawful progression of realization
- वाचम् (vācam)
- Literal: speech/word. Symbolic: mantric power; expressive consciousness
- अरिता इव नावम् (aritā iva nāvam)
- Literal: like a rower [moves] a boat. Symbolic: disciplined guidance of speech and mind through inner waters
- गुह्यानि नाम (guhyāni nāma)
- Literal: secret names. Symbolic: esoteric realities/true functions of inner divine powers
- बर्हिषि (barhiṣi)
- Literal: on the sacred grass/seat. Symbolic: inner altar of receptivity; purified foundation of consciousness
- प्रवाचे (pravāce)
- Literal: for forward utterance. Symbolic: speech that advances consciousness; revelatory expression
Links Soma purification with revelation of mantra and divine ‘names’ at the barhis (ritual seat), aligning speech with ṛta.
When Soma is flowing and the chant-lead (udgātṛ) drives the stotra forward; invoked for correct utterance and revelation.
Chant on the barhis/altar setting; align breath with steady ‘rowing’ rhythm.
Use before public speaking, teaching, or mantra practice to align speech with ṛta and to speak from deeper truth rather than ego.
ṛta from √ṛ ‘to fit, move rightly’ (semantic field of order/truth). √īr (iyarti) ‘to set in motion’. vāc from √vac ‘to speak’ (PIE *wekʷ- ‘to speak’). nāu/nāva ‘boat’ (PIE *néh₂us ‘ship’; cf. Latin nāvis). guhyá from √guh ‘to hide’ → secret/occult. āviḥ ‘manifest’ contrasts with guhya ‘hidden’.
Ṛta as path, Vāc (creative word), nāman (name) as essence/power
Explicit: Soma sets in motion the path of ṛta—order as a lived channel.
Secret names revealed are satya-realities behind appearances.
The Word as a creative mover; revelation discloses the divine architecture of consciousness.
Mantra-vidyā orientation; bridges to Upaniṣadic vāc/brahman insight.
Boat/river = mind moving through life; rower = disciplined will guiding speech; altar seat = prepared inner ground for revelation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘boat guided by a rower’ is the mythologem of crossing: Vāc is the vessel through the waters of becoming, and Soma is the pilot who aligns that crossing with ṛta. The ‘secret names of the gods’ evoke the revelation myth—true naming as access to divine powers.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vā́c- continues PIE *wekʷ- ‘speak’ (cf. Latin vox, English voice). nā́va- ‘boat’ continues PIE *neh₂u- (cf. Latin nāvis). The inherited IE motif of efficacious speech is linguistically anchored in the centrality of √vac forms and the performative pra-vāc- ‘forth-speak’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Soma does not merely receive praise; he empowers the rishi’s speech by setting Vāc in motion on ṛta’s path, and he discloses the hidden divine essences (‘names’) upon the prepared offering-field. The rishi’s forward utterance becomes possible because Soma reveals and pilots.
Rest attention in the ‘inner altar’ (heart-space) and let speech arise from ṛta; contemplate one ‘secret name’—a divine quality within (e.g., courage, clarity)—and feel its true function.
Vishuddha (vāc) and Anahata (inner altar)
Equal breathing (sama vṛtti) 4-4 or 6-6; mentally time the mantra like rowing strokes.
Aligned flow; speech and thought guided by inner order.
Chant, then sit silently and ask: ‘What is the true name (function) of the force moving in me right now?’ Wait for a simple, clear word-quality to surface; act from that alignment.
Vedic accents not provided; keep steady, rowing-like pulse; lift slightly on ṛtasya and vācam.
Make the simile clear: slight pause before ariteva nāvam; emphasize guhyāni nāma.
(pathyām): aspirate th, long ā, (ṛtasya): vocalic ṛ clear, (iyarti): glide i-ya smoothly, (aritā): short a, long ā, (āviṣ kṛṇoti): separate āviṣ + kṛṇoti; retroflex ṣ, (barhiṣi): h audible, ṣ retroflex
Even, guided, articulate; avoid rushing consonant clusters.
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