Rig Veda 9.97.22: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 22
Sukta 9.97
- Rishi
- Soma Pavamāna seers
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
तक्षद्यदी मनसो वेनतो वाग्ज्येष्ठस्य वा धर्मणि क्षोरनीके । आदीमायन्वरमा वावशाना जुष्टं पतिं कलशे गाव इन्दुम् ॥
tákṣad yádī manáso vénato vā́g jyéṣṭhasya vā dhármaṇi kṣór anī́ke | ā́d īm ā́yan váram ā́ vāvaśānā́ juṣṭáṃ pátiṃ kalaśé gā́va índum ||
जब मन की इच्छा से शब्द उसको बनाता है, जब दूध चमकता है, तब वो शक्तियाँ आती हैं। वो आस रखती हैं कि कुछ मिलेगा। किरण जैसी गाय, वो प्यारे इंदु को पात्रे में ले लेती हैं।
Word by Word
- तक्षत्
- fashioned, formedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्), परस्मैपद, 3पुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root तक्ष् (धातु)
- यत्
- when/that whichIndeclinableसम्बन्ध/यदा-तदा प्रकारेण अव्यय (relative)Role (सम्बन्धक)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ई
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपातः (वेदिक-प्रयोगः, बलार्थ/पूरक)Role (निपात)Root ई (निपात) / इति-प्रकारः
- मनसः
- of the mindNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) / अधिकरण-सम्बन्धःRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेनतः
- of the inspired/seer-like (one)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वेदिक-रूप) अथवा विशेषण-रूपेणRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root वेन (प्रातिपदिक) / वेनत् (वेदिक-रूप)
- वाक्
- speechNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
- ज्येष्ठस्य
- of the eldest/foremostAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root ज्येष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक-निपातःRole (निपात)Root वा (निपात)
- धर्मणि
- in the law/ordinance, in the established orderNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot धर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षोरनीके
- in the bright-faced/razor-edged (place/condition)Noun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (स्थाने/अधिकरणे)Role अधिकरणRoot क्षोरनीक (प्रातिपदिक; वेदिक-समास)
- आत्
- then, thereafterIndeclinableनिपातः (ततः/अथ)Role (सम्बन्धक)Root आ (उपसर्ग) + त् (निपात) → आत्
- ईम्
- him/itPronounद्वितीया, एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक) अथवा सर्वनाम-प्रयोगःRole कर्मRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम) → ईम् (वेदिक-एन्क्लिटिक)
- आयन्
- they came/approachedVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्), परस्मैपद, 3पुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root इ (धातु) + आ (उपसर्ग) → आ-इ
- वरम्
- the choice boon / the bestNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वर (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातः (समन्तात्/अभिमुखम्)Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- वावशाना
- desiring, eagerParticipleवर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्) / सहकर्तृRoot वाश्/ववश् (धातु; वेदिक) → वावशान (कृदन्त)
- जुष्टम्
- pleasing, welcomedParticiple/Adjectiveभूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (विशेषणम्)Role कर्म-विशेषणRoot जुष् (धातु) → जुष्ट (कृदन्त)
- पतिम्
- lord, masterNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पति (प्रातिपदिक)
- कलशे
- in the vessel (soma-jar)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
- गावः
- the cows (i.e., milk/streams; also literal cows)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्दुम्
- the Soma-drop, InduNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): वाग्ज्येष्ठस्य → वाक् + ज्येष्ठस्य (final k → g before voiced j). आदीमायन्व… → आत् + ईम् + आयन् + … (Vedic enclitic ईम्). Other words largely already in pada-form
- accents retained from Saṃhitā but not re-marked per pada here
The meaning
Outer meaning
When the Word, urged by the desiring mind, shapes Soma according to the highest law in the shining face of milk, then the seekers come desiring the boon; the cows (rays) in the vessel take the beloved lord Indu into the jar.
Inner meaning
Vāk (inspired speech/vision) moved by the aspiring mind (venata manas) forms the Soma-experience in the dharma of the Highest—within the luminous ‘milk’ (clarified nourishing substance of consciousness). Then the seeker-powers approach for the boon: the gāvaḥ are rays of knowledge that gather and hold the beloved Indu (sparkling delight) in the kalaśa (the prepared inner vessel/body-mind) so it can be offered and assimilated.
Universal truth
True formation of spiritual experience happens when aspiration and inspired word align with the supreme law; then knowledge-rays collect the delight-essence into a stable vessel for transformation.
Themes
formation of divine force by speech, Soma enthronement in the vessel, knowledge-symbolism of cows, aspiration (venataḥ, vāvaśānāḥ)
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma Pavamāna seers (Pavamāna-maṇḍala collective)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97.23-25 (same sūkta progression), RV 9.95-99 (Pavamāna cluster)
Family tradition
A shared Soma-yoga tradition: the seers describe stages of purification, formation, and offering as inner processes mirrored by ritual.
Significance
The rishi-voice here highlights Vāk as a creative shakti: revelation is not commentary but a formative power that builds the inner Soma.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- indu, juṣṭa (beloved/accepted), pati (lord)
- Related deities
- Vāk, Sarasvatī (by affinity of inspired word), Indra (receiver of Soma)
Cosmic role
Essence of delight that is shaped by truth-law and carried into the offering-vessel; nourishes gods and establishes luminous order.
Inner power
Ananda organized by Vāk into a stable force; becomes a ‘lord’ within the vessel, guiding transformation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma filtration and collection into kalaśa/graha vessels
तक्ष॒द्यदी॒ मन॑सो॒ वेन॑तो॒ वाग्ज्येष्ठ॑स्य वा॒ धर्म॑णि॒ क्षोरनी॑के । आदी॑माय॒न्वर॒मा वा॑वशा॒ना जुष्टं॒ पतिं॑ क॒लशे॒ गाव॒ इन्दु॑म् ॥
तक्ष॑त् । यदि॑ । मन॑सः । वेन॑तः । वाक् । ज्येष्ठ॑स्य । वा॒ । धर्म॑णि । क्षोः । अनी॑के । आत् । ई॒म् । आ॒य॒न् । वर॑म् । आ । वा॒व॒शा॒नाः । जुष्ट॑म् । पति॑म् । क॒लशे॑ । गावः॑ । इन्दु॑म् ॥
takṣat | yadi | manasaḥ | venataḥ | vāk | jyeṣṭhasya | vā | dharmaṇi | kṣoḥ | anīke | āt | īm | āyan | varam | ā | vāvaśānāḥ | juṣṭam | patim | kalaśe | gāvaḥ | indum
48
4 × 12 syllables
Measured, crafting rhythm—fits imagery of ‘fashioning’ (takṣ) and gathering into a vessel.
Supports contemplative formation: mind feels ‘shaped’ into clarity, then drawn inward to collect the essence.
- वाक् (vāk)
- Literal: speech, word. Symbolic: inspired revelation-force shaping experience
- मनसः वेनतः (manaso venataḥ)
- Literal: from the desiring/longing mind. Symbolic: aspiration that calls down higher formation
- तक्षत् (takṣat)
- Literal: fashions, carpenters. Symbolic: conscious formation/organization of the inner substance
- ज्येष्ठस्य धर्मणि (jyeṣṭhasya dharmaṇi)
- Literal: in the law of the eldest/supreme. Symbolic: alignment with the highest truth-order (R̥ta-Satya)
- क्षोः अनीके (kṣoḥ anīke)
- Literal: in the shining face of milk. Symbolic: luminous field of nourishing clarity (purified mind-substance) where Soma is shaped
- वरम् (varam)
- Literal: boon. Symbolic: the descent of a needed power—joy, light, wideness
- गावः (gāvaḥ)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge that ‘milk’ truth
- क॒लशे (kalaśe)
- Literal: jar, vessel. Symbolic: the prepared receptacle: purified body-mind or heart-vessel
- इन्दुम् (indum)
- Literal: sparkling drop. Symbolic: concentrated delight-consciousness, beloved of the gods
Soma placed in the kalaśa (jar) after filtering; ritual speech and pressing acts ‘form’ the offering
During/around the moment Soma is received into jars after passing through the filter; stotra to accompany collection and offering.
Chant as Soma is ‘made ready’—filtered, mixed, and placed in vessels; invocation of auspicious formation.
Use before meditation to ‘prepare the vessel’: align aspiration (manas), invoke inspired word (vāk), then collect scattered energies into one luminous center.
√takṣ ‘craft’ underlies the Vedic idea that vāk (speech) can ‘shape’ realities—poetic/ritual speech as formative consciousness. venataḥ from √van ‘desire/love’ indicates aspirational pressure. go (gāvaḥ) as ‘cow’ is a stable Vedic symbol for ‘ray/knowledge’: the root √gā ‘to go’ supports ‘that which moves/streams’ → rays; hence ‘cows in the vessel’ = gathered illuminations supporting Soma’s enthronement.
creative Word (vāk), dharman as higher law, rays/knowledges (gāvaḥ) gathered into the vessel
Soma is ‘fashioned’ only when aligned with the jyeṣṭhasya dharma—truth-order governs manifestation.
The ‘shining face’ indicates Satya’s clarity in which right formation occurs.
Cosmic crafting: word + aspiration shapes essence into form; rays gather it into a stable container.
Integral Vedic psychology: Vāk as shakti; gāvaḥ as knowledge-rays; kalaśa as inner receptacle.
Nourishing clarity (milk) = purified mind-substance; cows = rays of knowledge; jar = concentrated inner receptacle; crafting = deliberate yogic formation.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘fashioning and enthronement’ mythologem: vāk, driven by aspiring mind, shapes Soma according to the supreme law; then the ‘cows’ (rays/knowledges) bring the beloved lord into the kalaśa. The ritual act mirrors an inner installation of luminous sovereignty in the vessel of the being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √takṣ has IE cognates in the craft/construct domain (e.g., ‘text’ as woven/constructed speech parallels). vāk (speech) corresponds to PIE *wekʷ- ‘voice/speak’ (Lat. vox). go (cow) sits in an Indo-Iranian poetic system where cattle imagery encodes wealth/light; the semantic layering is a hallmark of IE poetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer presents the inner mechanics: aspiration in mind + formative word-power establishes Soma’s presence. The devatā is not distant; it is ‘made present’ by right law (dharman) and accepted as ‘juṣṭa’—a reciprocal intimacy between human speech and divine embodiment.
‘Fashioning the Soma’: let aspiration call revelation; gather knowledge-rays into the heart-vessel to hold delight steadily.
Viśuddha (Vāk/shuddhi) and Anāhata (vessel of joy)
4-4-6 breathing: inhale (aspire), hold (shape/collect), exhale (settle into vessel).
Luminous composure with a concentrated sweetness.
Silently set an intention (dharma of the highest), chant, then visualize rays drawing scattered thoughts into a bright jar at the heart; rest in the ‘beloved lord’ (indu) established there.
Standard udatta/anudatta/svarita; watch compound accents in longer words (e.g., vāg-jyeṣṭhasya).
Keep pāda breaks clean; avoid rushing the first pāda—let ‘takṣad…’ feel like deliberate crafting.
: ‘kṣ’ conjunct clear (tak-ṣat), : dental ‘t’, not retroflex, : long ‘oḥ’ with visarga, : ‘ś’ palatal, not ‘s’, : light ‘nd’ cluster, short ‘u’
Clear, slightly inward and ‘crafted’; articulate consonant clusters.
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