Rig Veda 9.68.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 68, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.68
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
वि यो ममे यम्या संयती मदः साकंवृधा पयसा पिन्वदक्षिता । मही अपारे रजसी विवेविददभिव्रजन्नक्षितं पाज आ ददे ॥
ví yó mamé yamyā́ saṃyatī́ mádaḥ sākáṃvṛdhā́ páyasā pinvád ákṣitā | mahī́ apāré rájasī vívevidad abhívrájan ákṣitaṃ pā́ja ā́ dade ||
かの者は、対にして轭（くびき）された二つの世界をひろげ、はかり定める——その恍惚（mada）はともに増し、充溢の乳（páyas）によってふくらみ、尽きることがない。彼は境界なき広大な二つの空間を見いだし、進み出でて、尽きぬ光の力（pā́jas）を自らに取り取る。
Word by Word
- वि
- apart, forth (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot वि (उपसर्ग)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ममे
- has roared / resoundedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KartāRoot मम् (धातु, ‘मम्/मम’ = शब्दाय/हर्षे; परस्मै)
- यम्याः
- of Yamī / of the Yamī (sister of Yama)Noun (proper/epithet)स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root यम्या (प्रातिपदिक; ‘यम्य’ = यम-सम्बन्धिनी/यमस्य भगिनी इति वैदिक-नाम)
- संयती
- striving together, contendingParticiple/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root सम्-यत् (धातु) → संयती (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/स्त्री)
- मदः
- intoxication, exhilarationNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot मद (प्रातिपदिक)
- साकम्
- togetherIndeclinableअव्ययRoot साकम् (अव्यय)
- वृधा
- abundantly, mightilyIndeclinableअव्ययRoot वृधा (अव्यय)
- पयसा
- with milk / with sapNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पिन्वत्
- makes swell, invigoratesVerbलट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KartāRoot पिव्/पि (धातु; वैदिक ‘पिन्व’ = पिन्वति ‘to swell, make abound, invigorate’)
- अक्षितः
- unperishing, undecayingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root अ-क्षि (उपसर्ग-निषेध + √क्षि ‘to perish’) → अक्षित (कृदन्त)
- मही
- the great (one); great power/earthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot मही (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपारे
- in the boundlessAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, द्विवचन (रजसी इति द्विवचनस्य विशेषणम्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot अ-पार (प्रातिपदिक) → अपार (विशेषण)
- रजसी
- in the two regions/realms (heaven & earth)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, द्विवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot रजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, widely (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot वि (उपसर्ग)
- वेवितत्
- has found out, has discoveredVerbलिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (वैदिक परफेक्ट)Role KartāRoot वि-विद् (धातु) → वेवित (लिट्-रूप/परफेक्ट-स्टेम) + त्
- अभिव्रजन्
- moving toward, advancingParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वर्तमान-कर्तरि कृदन्त)Role KartāRoot अभि-√व्रज् (धातु) → अभिव्रजत् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
- अक्षितम्
- imperishableAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अ-क्षि → अक्षित (कृदन्त)
- पाजः
- strength, vigor, mightNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पाजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- unto, toward (prefix)Indeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग)
- ददे
- has given, has placedVerbलिट्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KartāRoot दा (धातु; परस्मै) → ददे (लिट्)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): वि | यः | ममे | यम्याः | संयती | मदः | साकम्-वृधा | पयसा | पिन्वत् | अक्षितः || मही | अपारे | रजसी | वि | वेवितत् | अभिव्रजन् | अक्षितम् | पाजः | आ | ददे । 1) साकंवृधा = साकम् + वृधा (अं + व् → ंव्). 2) विवेविददभिव्रजन् = वि + वेवितत् + अभिव्रजन्
- त् + अ- (अभि...) संधौ ‘द’/द्वित्व-प्रवृत्त्या संहितायां ‘...दभि...’ इव दृश्यते (पदपाठे पृथक्). 3) पिन्वदक्षिता इति संहितापाठ-लेखने पिन्वत् + अक्षितः (त् + अ → द्/त्-लोपादि वैदिक-संहिता-प्रभाव) इति ग्रहणम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
He measures out the twin yoked worlds; his exhilaration grows together, swelling with inexhaustible milk. He finds the vast two spaces without boundary; moving forth, he takes unfailing strength/brightness.
Inner meaning
Soma-consciousness is the power that ‘measures’ and harmonizes the paired worlds (yamya saṃyatī): inner/outer, mind/life, heaven/earth—bringing them into a yoked unity. As this harmony increases, the ecstasy (madaḥ) grows and is nourished by payas (milk = plenitude of luminous substance), inexhaustible (akṣitā). The being discovers the two vast realms (rajasi) beyond limits—higher and lower wideness—and, advancing, takes to itself akṣitam pājaḥ: unfailing light-strength, the stable radiance needed for sustained realization.
Universal truth
When consciousness harmonizes its polarities, joy grows and becomes self-sustaining; then one discovers a larger, boundaryless field and gains enduring strength of light.
Themes
Cosmic ordering, Soma as measurer and discoverer, Inexhaustible energy, Light-force (pājas)
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.68
Significance
The seer describes an integral realization: reconciling dualities, widening into the boundless, and securing an inexhaustible light-force—core motifs of inner Vedic yoga.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- mada (giver of ecstasy), akṣita (inexhaustible, by attribute), pavamāna
- Related deities
- Mitra-Varuṇa (harmony and vast order), Indra (illumined mind), Aditi (boundless)
Cosmic role
Mediator between worlds: Soma links heaven and earth, and by purification makes their harmony fruitful.
Inner power
Integrative Ananda that harmonizes polarities and opens wideness, granting enduring luminous strength.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification hymn in Soma yajña; celebrates Soma’s cosmic function of linking realms.
वि यो म॒मे य॒म्या॑ संय॒ती मद॑: साकं॒वृधा॒ पय॑सा पिन्व॒दक्षि॑ता । म॒ही अ॑पा॒रे रज॑सी वि॒वेवि॑ददभि॒व्रज॒न्नक्षि॑तं॒ पाज॒ आ द॑दे ॥
वि । यः । म॒मे । य॒म्या॑ । सं॒य॒ती इति॑ स॒म्ऽय॒ती । मदः॑ । सा॒का॒म्ऽवृधा॑ । पय॑सा । पिन्व॑त् । अक्षि॑ता । म॒ही इति॑ । अ॒पा॒रे इति॑ । रज॑सी॒ इति॑ । वि॒ऽवेवि॑दत् । अ॒भि॒ऽव्रज॑न् । अक्षि॑तम् । पाजः॑ । आ । द॒दे॒ ॥
vi | yaḥ | mame | yamyā | saṃyatī itisam-yatī | madaḥ | sākām-vṛdhā | payasā | pinvat | akṣitā | mahī iti | apāre iti | rajasī iti | vi-vevidat | abhi-vrajan | akṣitam | pājaḥ | ā | dade
44
4 × ~11
Measured and expansive—fits the theme of ‘measuring’ and wideness.
Stabilizes and widens the listener; supports integration of inner polarities with a calm joy.
- mame
- Literal: measures. Symbolic: establishes right proportion and harmony; orders the being
- yamya saṃyatī
- Literal: the twin yoked (worlds). Symbolic: paired planes/polarities brought into unity (inner/outer; mind/vital)
- madaḥ
- Literal: ecstasy/intoxication. Symbolic: spiritual rapture and uplift produced by Soma
- sākaṃvṛdhā
- Literal: growing together. Symbolic: integral growth of the parts of the being in harmony
- payas
- Literal: milk. Symbolic: plenitude, nourishing luminous substance
- akṣitā
- Literal: inexhaustible. Symbolic: self-renewing inner source
- mahī apāre
- Literal: vast, without boundary. Symbolic: wideness of consciousness beyond ego-limits
- rajasi (two)
- Literal: the two spaces/regions. Symbolic: higher and lower realms of consciousness; heaven/earth within
- abhivrajan
- Literal: moving forth, advancing. Symbolic: progressive manifestation; outward-inward expansion
- pājaḥ
- Literal: strength/brightness. Symbolic: light-force, luminous vigor that sustains the path
Middle of the Pavamāna run: Soma’s purification is linked to cosmic ordering (measuring the realms) and the acquisition of imperishable pājas (luminous force) for the sacrificer.
During Pavamāna sequences as Soma is clarified and offered to deities who uphold cosmic order.
Recite to affirm harmonization and wideness; inwardly, offer divided parts of oneself into a unified aspiration.
Use in contemplative practice for integration (work-life, emotion-reason): chant, then reflect on one polarity and feel it yoked to its complement in a larger awareness.
√mā ‘measure’ (PIE *meh₁- ‘measure’) underlies cosmic ordering; here Soma’s action is to ‘measure out’ the paired realms (rājasi). mada from √mad ‘be exhilarated, intoxicated’ signifies uplifted consciousness. akṣita from √kṣi ‘perish’ (PIE *ksei- ‘waste away’) negated: inexhaustible. pājas ‘radiant strength’ is a key Vedic term for luminous potency.
Ṛta as measure and right formation (√mā), Bṛhat (vastness) as a mark of truth-consciousness, Akṣaya/imperishability as spiritual continuity
‘Measuring’ the twin worlds is ṛta as proportion and right relation between planes.
akṣitam (unfailing) suggests truth-force that does not diminish with use.
Cosmic integration: the One manifests as pairs; realization is to yoke them in harmony and wideness.
Integral Vedism: unity-in-duality, wideness, and Ananda as the driver of evolution.
Milk = plenitude; two spaces = higher/lower consciousness; vastness = aditi-like wideness beyond ego.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A cosmogonic mythologem: the measurer who sets out the paired worlds/spaces. Soma, by purification, assumes the role of a cosmic ordainer—measuring (mame) the twin realms and discovering the boundless expanses—then taking imperishable luminous strength (pājas) as his established power.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mā ‘measure’ (< PIE *meh₁-) is a classic IE cosmogonic verb (cf. measuring/ordering motifs across IE traditions). √vid ‘find/know’ (< PIE *weyd-) appears in an intensive form (vívevidat), matching the semantic bridge between ‘knowing’ and ‘finding’ characteristic of PIE *weyd-.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi presents Soma as the inner cosmic artisan: through Soma’s ecstasy (mada) and nourishment (payas), the consciousness in the human vessel can participate in ‘measuring’ and stabilizing the inner worlds, receiving akṣita pājas—enduring luminous strength—for the soul’s advance.
Unify two felt opposites in awareness (e.g., effort and surrender); let a sweet wideness hold both.
anāhata (integration) opening toward ājñā (widened vision)
alternate-nostril breathing (nāḍī-śodhana) for 3–6 rounds before chanting to support ‘yoking’ of polarities
wide, integrated, quietly joyful
After chanting, name the ‘two worlds’ you need to reconcile today; hold both in a single spacious attention and choose one action that serves harmony (ṛta).
Requires svara-marked recension for precise accents; chant with careful quantity (long/short vowels) and clear pāda breaks.
Keep compounds distinct: sākaṃvṛdhā (sā-kam-vṛ-dhā), vivevidat (vi-ve-vi-dat), abhivrajan (a-bhi-vra-jan).
yamya: palatal y, short a, saṃyatī: nasal ‘ṃ’ before y; long ī, akṣitā/akṣitam: kṣ conjunct; short/long endings as written, rajasi: j soft; i short, pājaḥ: long ā; visarga at end
spacious, even, slightly resonant in the chest to evoke wideness
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