Rig Veda 9.97.48: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 48
Sukta 9.97
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma seers
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
नू नस्त्वं रथिरो देव सोम परि स्रव चम्वोः पूयमानः । अप्सु स्वादिष्ठो मधुमाँ ऋतावा देवो न यः सविता सत्यमन्मा ॥
nū́ nás tvaṃ rathiró deva soma pári srava camvóḥ pūyámānaḥ | apsú svādiṣṭhó mádhumāṃ ṛtā́vā devó ná yáḥ savitā́ satyá-manmā ||
अब सोम हमारे लिए बह रहा है। रथों की तरह तेज़ हो के पास आता है। बर्तन में गिर रहा है और खुद को साफ करता है। पानी में वो बहुत मीठा है, जैसे शहद। वो सच का जानकार है। भगवान सवित्र की तरह सच सोचता है और हमारे मन में सच जगाता है।
Word by Word
- नू
- now, indeedIndeclinableअव्यय (काल/निश्चयार्थे)Root नू (अव्यय)
- नः
- of us / for usPronounषष्ठी (gen.), बहुवचनRole Sampradāna (हित/सम्बन्ध) संदर्भेRoot अस्मद्
- त्वम्
- youPronounप्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot युष्मद्
- रथिरः
- charioteering, mounted on a chariotAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole Kartā (त्वम्-विशेषणम्)Root रथि- (प्रातिपदिक) / रथिन्-
- देव
- O godNoun (vocative)सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRoot देव-
- सोम
- O SomaNoun (vocative)सम्बोधन, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRoot सोम-
- परि
- around, all aboutIndeclinableअव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गार्थेRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- स्रव
- flow!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole Kriyā (आज्ञा)Root स्रु (स्रवति)
- चम्वोः
- of/at the two bowls (pressing-vessels)Nounषष्ठी/सप्तमी द्विवचन (वेदे रूपसाम्य); स्त्रीलिङ्गRole Adhikaraṇa (स्थान/परिसर) संदर्भेRoot चमू-
- पूयमानः
- being purifiedParticiple (present passive) / Adjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि (पूयते) शानच्Role Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्; ‘being purified’)Root पू (पूयते) + शानच्
- अप्सु
- in the watersNounसप्तमी, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole AdhikaraṇaRoot अप्-
- स्वादिष्ठः
- sweetest, most deliciousAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (तमप्-प्रत्ययार्थः)Role Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root स्वादु- (superlative: स्वादिष्ठ-)
- मधुमान्
- honeyed, full of sweetnessAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root मधु- + मतुप् (मधुमत्)
- ऋतावा
- possessing ṛta (truth/order), righteousAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (वेदिक रूप: ऋतावा < ऋतावान्)Role Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root ऋतावन्-
- देवः
- the godNounप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole Kartā (यः…)Root देव-
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक-अव्ययRoot न (अव्यय)
- यः
- whoPronounप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole KartāRoot यद् (relative pronoun)
- सविता
- Savitar (the impeller)Nounप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole Kartā (उपमान-सम्बन्धे)Root सवितृ-
- सत्यमन्मा
- of true thought/true-mindedAdjectiveप्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्गRole Kartā (सविता-विशेषणम्; ततः सोमस्य स्तुत्यर्थे)Root सत्य- + मन्मन्- (बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय समास)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-splitting): नू नस्त्वं → नू | नः | त्वम्. रथिरो → रथिरः (visarga in pada). सोम॒ परि॑ → सोम | परि. च॒म्वो॑: → चम्वोः (dual gen./loc form). पू॒यमा॑नः kept as kṛdanta. अप्सु unchanged. मधु॑माँ → मधुमान् (stem मधुमत् with nom.sg.m. -ān). ऋ॒तावा॑ is Vedic nom.sg.m. for ऋतावान्. दे॒वो → देवः (pada visarga). न यः → न | यः. स॑वि॒ता unchanged. स॒त्यम॑न्मा → सत्यमन्मा (compound: सत्य + मन्मन्). Accents are not marked in the pada list
- they follow the Saṃhitā text
The meaning
Outer meaning
O divine Soma, chariot-moving, flow around into the bowls, purifying yourself. In the waters you are sweetest, honey-full, a knower of ṛta; like Savitṛ, of true intention, you awaken truth-mind in us.
Inner meaning
The delight-force, swift and carrying (rathira), is invited to circulate through the inner receptacles (camū—holding capacities of mind/heart), cleansing them. In the clarified waters of consciousness it becomes supremely sweet—ananda that knows ṛta (right rhythm). Compared to Savitṛ, Soma acts as the true impulsion that illumines and ‘sets in motion’ satyamanas: the truth-mind, the luminous mentality that naturally chooses the right.
Universal truth
When consciousness is purified, delight becomes guidance: bliss is not escapism but a truth-impulse that awakens right discernment and authentic intention.
Themes
Invocation, Truth-mind awakening, Soma sweetness (ānanda)
The seer
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma seers (generic attribution)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97.45-46 (adjacent purification motifs), RV 9.97.52-54 (continuation of ‘abhi/arṣa’ flow-invocations)
Family tradition
Soma Maṇḍala transmission emphasizes experiential ‘flow’ language; the seer-function here is to call Soma into the inner vessels and awaken satyamanas.
Significance
The r̥ṣi-voice models a yogic method: invite the descending/ascending delight to fill the inner cups, so intention becomes truth-born rather than desire-driven.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (likened to Savitṛ)
- Epithets
- Deva Soma, Rathira, Svādiṣṭha, Madhumān, Ṛtāvā, Satyamanmā
- Related deities
- Savitṛ, Āpas, Indra (illumined mind, often recipient of Soma)
Cosmic role
Soma as the circulating essence that sweetens the waters and establishes ṛta; Savitṛ-like awakener of inner dawn of truth-intelligence.
Inner power
Ananda that becomes luminous discernment; delight transforming into truth-will.
In ritual
Where it is used
Pavamāna chanting during Soma filtration into vessels (camū)
नू न॒स्त्वं र॑थि॒रो दे॑व सोम॒ परि॑ स्रव च॒म्वो॑: पू॒यमा॑नः । अ॒प्सु स्वादि॑ष्ठो॒ मधु॑माँ ऋ॒तावा॑ दे॒वो न यः स॑वि॒ता स॒त्यम॑न्मा ॥
नु । नः॒ । त्वम् । र॒थि॒रः । दे॒व॒ । सो॒म॒ । परि॑ । स्र॒व॒ । च॒म्वोः॑ । पू॒यमा॑नः । अ॒प्ऽसु । स्वादि॑ष्ठः । मधु॑ऽमान् । ऋ॒तऽवा॑ । दे॒वः । न । यः । स॒वि॒ता । स॒त्यऽम॑न्मा ॥
nu | naḥ | tvam | rathiraḥ | deva | soma | pari | srava | camvoḥ | pūyamānaḥ | ap-su | svādiṣṭhaḥ | madhu-mān | ṛta-vā | devaḥ | na | yaḥ | savitā | satya-manmā
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4 × 12 syllables (with possible Vedic substitutions)
Forward-driving, spacious; supports ‘rathira’ and ‘pari srava’ circulation.
Energizes and then clarifies—first a mobilizing wave, then a sweet settling into rightness.
- rathiraḥ
- Literal: chariot-moving, riding. Symbolic: the force that carries consciousness forward; delight as a vehicle of progress
- pari srava
- Literal: flow around, stream fully. Symbolic: pervade the whole system; circulate through all parts of the being
- camvoḥ
- Literal: into the bowls/vessels. Symbolic: inner receptacles—mind, heart, vital; capacities to hold experience consciously
- pūyamānaḥ
- Literal: being purified. Symbolic: clarified delight removing mixture, inertia, and obscurity
- apsu
- Literal: in the waters. Symbolic: in the subtle flow of awareness and wideness
- svādiṣṭhaḥ
- Literal: most sweet. Symbolic: pure ananda as the natural taste of truth-consciousness
- madhumān
- Literal: honeyed, full of sweetness. Symbolic: delight that nourishes and unifies
- ṛtāvā
- Literal: possessing/knowing ṛta. Symbolic: right-order intelligence inherent in purified delight
- savitā
- Literal: Savitṛ, the impeller/awakener. Symbolic: the truth-impulsion that initiates illumination and right movement
- satyamanmā
- Literal: of true mind/true intention. Symbolic: truth-mind awakened in the seeker; authentic will aligned with Satya
Invocation for Soma to flow into camū (bowls) during pressing; emphasizes sweetness and ṛta
As Soma is collected into bowls for offering; also in stotra sequences for Soma.
Invoking Soma to flow, be strained, collected, and offered; praising its sweetness and ṛta-nature.
Use before focused work or decision-making: chant to ‘awaken satyamanas’—true intention and clear discernment.
pari-√sru ‘flow around/fully’ (imperative srava). svādiṣṭha superlative of svādu ‘sweet’. madhu ‘honey/sweetness’ as bliss-substance. ṛtā́vā from ṛta + -vā ‘possessing’. savitṛ from √sū/√su ‘to impel, set in motion’ (Savitṛ as impeller). manman/manmā from √man ‘think’ → ‘thought, intention’; satya-manmā ‘truth-minded’.
ṛta (right order), satya (truth), Savitṛ as awakener/impeller
Purified Soma is explicitly ṛtāvā: right order becomes a felt sweetness rather than a moral burden.
satyamanmā indicates the mind becomes truth-formed; intention aligns with reality.
Flow into vessels mirrors manifestation: essence pours into forms; consciousness fills capacities.
Integral Vedic psychology: delight and truth are mutually reinforcing powers in evolution of consciousness.
morning (Savitṛ association)
Waters = awareness; honey = ananda; sun-impulse = awakening of truth-intention; chariot = forward movement of sādhanā.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as Savitṛ-like awakener: the purified nectar is not only offered but ‘impels’ true thought. Mythically, the god-drink enters the vessels; psychologically, delight entering the life-waters awakens a truth-intention (satya-manman) governed by ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sru ‘flow’ continues PIE *sreu- (wide IE reflexes). √man ‘think’ continues PIE *men- (Lat mens, Eng mind). This verse fuses the IE ‘flow’ lexicon with the IE ‘mind’ lexicon to express a distinctive Vedic idea: cognition as a substance/stream of truth.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer asks Soma to pervade ‘for us’—the rite becomes inner yoga: Soma’s sweetness is asked to become a stable ṛta-bearing power that turns human thought into satya-manmā (truth-intention), as Savitṛ turns night into dawn.
Invite a circulating sweetness through the ‘inner cups’ (heart, throat, brow); let delight clarify intention.
Vishuddha (purification/clarity) and Ajna (truth-mind)
4-4-6 breathing (inhale-hold-exhale) with attention on a ‘flow’ down and up the central channel; keep it gentle.
Brightened clarity with honeyed calm—lucid ananda.
Chant 3–9 times, then sit and ask: ‘What is the truest intention here?’ Let the answer arise as a quiet, sweet certitude rather than mental debate.
Maintain Vedic accent discipline; emphasize udatta peaks on key verbs (srava) and epithets (svādiṣṭha, ṛtāvā) as marked in recitation tradition.
Keep ‘pari srava camvoḥ’ tightly connected; slight pause after each pāda only.
‘nū nas’ keep long ū in nū., ‘rathiraḥ’ pronounce ra-thi-raḥ (clear dental th)., ‘madhumān’ nasalization on -mān., ‘satyamanmā’ articulate sat-ya-man-mā (geminate n+m junction).
Bright, clear, slightly uplifting; end with a calm downward settling on final syllables.
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