Rig Veda 9.97.52: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 52
Sukta 9.97
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma seers
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अया पवा पवस्वैना वसूनि माँश्चत्व इन्दो सरसि प्र धन्व । ब्रध्नश्चिदत्र वातो न जूतः पुरुमेधश्चित्तकवे नरं दात् ॥
ayā́ pavā pavasv énā vásūni māṃścátve índo sárasi prá dhanva | bradhnáś cid átra vā́to ná jūtáḥ puru-médhaś cit tákave náraṃ dāt ||
この浄めの道によって、インドゥ（Indu）よ、みずからを浄めよ。これによって存在の湖において、これらの富を前へと駆り立てよ。ここでは輝ける者さえ、迅き風のごとく走る。プルメーダ（Purumēdha）さえ、工匠に英雄の力を与える——澄みわたる歓喜より、霊感ある技がその男らしき力を受け取らんことを。
Word by Word
- अया
- by this (way/means)Pronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole करणRoot इदम् (प्रातिपदिक: अय- < इ-)
- पवा
- purify/flow!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (वैदिक रूप)Role (क्रिया)Root पू (धातु; पवते ‘to purify/flow’)
- पवस्व
- purify thyself, flow on!Verbलोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया)Root पू (धातु; पवते)
- एना
- thesePronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot इदम् (एना- सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वसूनि
- goods, richesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- माम्
- mePronoun(अहम्), द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- च
- andIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot च
- त्वे
- in/for theePronounसप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot युष्मद् (सर्वनाम)
- इन्दो
- O Indu (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सरसि
- in the lake/poolNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinable (preverb)उपसर्ग/निपातRole (क्रियाविशेषण)Root प्र
- धन्व
- swiftly, along the courseIndeclinable/Adverbialअव्यय (वैदिक)Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root धन्व्/धन्वा (वैदिक क्रियाविशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘swift course/track’)
- ब्रध्नः
- of the bright one / of the ruddy (sun)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot ब्रध्न (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्यय (अवधारण)Role (निपात)Root चित्
- अत्र
- hereIndeclinableअव्ययRole अधिकरणRoot अत्र
- वातः
- windNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot वात (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableअव्यय (उपमा)Role (उपमान-निपात)Root न
- जूतः
- sped, swiftAdjective/Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) ‘sped/impelled’Role (विशेषण)Root जूत (कृदन्त; √जु/जव् ‘to speed, impel’)
- पुरुमेधः
- the much-wise oneNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot पुरुमेध (प्रातिपदिक; ‘much-wisdom/many-devices’)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableअव्यय (अवधारण)Role (निपात)Root चित्
- तकवे
- to Takva (a seer/person)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot तकव (प्रातिपदिक)
- नरम्
- a manNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot नर (प्रातिपदिक)
- दात्
- gave / may giveVerbलुङ् (आोरिस्ट/इंजंक्टिव वैदिक), तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root दा (धातु)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): अया | पवा | पवस्व | एना | वसूनि | माम् | च | त्वे | इन्दो | सरसि | प्र | धन्व । ब्रध्नः | चित् | अत्र | वातः | न | जूतः । पुरुमेधः | चित् | तकवे | नरम् | दात् ॥ 1) ‘माँश्चत्व’ पाठ में संधि/पाठभेद प्रतीत होता है
- यहाँ ‘माम् च त्वे’ (माम् + च + त्वे) के रूप में ग्रहण किया गया। 2) ‘पवा’ वैदिक लोट्-रूप (मध्यम-एकवचन) के रूप में
- साथ में ‘पवस्व’ भी लोट् (आत्मनेपद) है—द्विरुक्ति/अनुशासनात्मक प्रयोग। 3) ‘प्र धन्व’ में ‘धन्व’ को वैदिक क्रियाविशेषण (मार्गे/शीघ्रम्) माना गया। 4) ‘दात्’ वैदिक लुङ्/इंजंक्टिव (aorist injunctive) 3sg: ‘gave / may give’
The meaning
Outer meaning
O Indu (purifying Soma), by this way of purification purify yourself; drive forth the riches in the lake. Here the bright one moves like a swift wind; and Purumēdha gives the hero-force to the artisan.
Inner meaning
The clarified Delight (Soma) is urged to move by the established inner method (ayā…enā) of purification—through disciplined aspiration and discernment—so that it may press forward the soul’s riches (vasūni) into the inner lake (sarasi: the still, luminous consciousness). The ‘bright one’ (bradhnaḥ) is the illumined energy that begins to move freely, swift as wind (vātaḥ), when obstruction is cleared. ‘Purumēdha’ (many-wised fullness of intelligence) bestows naraṃ (hero-force, manly power) to the takavá (the shaper/craftsman): the yogic will and skill in sadhana receive effective force from purified bliss.
Universal truth
When consciousness is purified, bliss becomes a dynamic power: it releases hidden capacities, accelerates inner movement, and turns knowledge into effective action. True ‘wealth’ is the descent of luminous force into the still depth of being, enabling skillful, courageous living.
Themes
Method of purification, Bestowal of power to skill, Ritual geography/onomastics
The seer
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma seers (Anukramaṇī: generic)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97 (entire sūkta, Pavamāna Soma), RV 9.96, RV 9.98
Family tradition
Soma-Pavamāna mandala tradition (Book 9), associated with multiple seer-families transmitting the mystic doctrine of purification and delight.
Significance
The ‘Pavamāna’ vision is a school of inner alchemy: Soma as bliss-consciousness is pressed, filtered, and made fit to become king in the human instrument. The anonymity indicates a collective lineage of yogic experience rather than a single household poet.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (Indu)
- Epithets
- Indu (bright drop), Pavamāna (self-purifying), Madhu (honeyed), Rājā (king, implicit in the sūkta context)
- Related deities
- Agni, Indra, Uṣas, Sūrya, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
The cosmic delight that pervades and sustains becoming; by purification it becomes a sovereign power that releases the waters/lights and strengthens the gods (divine faculties).
Inner power
Ānanda as dynamic force: it clarifies mind, energizes life, and gives heroic efficacy to the will and intelligence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification (pavamāna) within Soma-yajña
अ॒या प॒वा प॑वस्वै॒ना वसू॑नि माँश्च॒त्व इ॑न्दो॒ सर॑सि॒ प्र ध॑न्व । ब्र॒ध्नश्चि॒दत्र॒ वातो॒ न जू॒तः पु॑रु॒मेध॑श्चि॒त्तक॑वे॒ नरं॑ दात् ॥
अ॒या । प॒वा । प॒व॒स्व॒ । ए॒ना । वसू॑नि । माँ॒श्च॒त्वे । इ॒न्दो॒ इति॑ । सर॑सि । प्र । ध॒न्व॒ । ब्र॒ध्नः । चि॒त् । अत्र॑ । वातः॑ । न । जू॒तः । पु॒रु॒ऽमेधः॑ । चि॒त् । तक॑वे । नर॑म् । दा॒त् ॥
ayā | pavā | pavasva | enā | vasūni | māṃścatve | indo iti | sarasi | pra | dhanva | bradhnaḥ | cit | atra | vātaḥ | na | jūtaḥ | puru-medhaḥ | cit | takave | naram | dāt
48
4 pādas × 12 syllables (probable; consistent with 9.97 Jagatī run)
Long, forward-driving cadence suited to ‘streaming’ imagery and progressive movement.
Creates a sense of continuous flow and expansion; supports meditation on a current of clarity moving through the being.
- पवस्व (pavasva)
- Literal: purify/stream. Symbolic: let consciousness stream in clarity; continuous inner cleansing
- इन्दु (indu)
- Literal: bright drop (Soma). Symbolic: clarified delight, luminous essence of awareness
- वसूनि (vasūni)
- Literal: riches, treasures. Symbolic: inner powers: light, joy, strength, capacities of the soul
- सरसि (sarasi)
- Literal: in the lake. Symbolic: the calm inner being (citta/ānanda-depth) that can hold the nectar
- ब्रध्नः (bradhnaḥ)
- Literal: the bright/gleaming one. Symbolic: illumined energy or solar mind-force awakened by Soma
- वातः (vātaḥ)
- Literal: wind. Symbolic: pranic movement; swift life-force when freed from inertia
- पुरुमेधः (purumedhaḥ)
- Literal: of much wisdom/intelligence. Symbolic: integral intelligence that distributes force rightly
- तकवे (takave)
- Literal: to the craftsman/poet-artisan. Symbolic: the shaping faculty (will + skill) that forms experience into realization
- नरम् (naram)
- Literal: man, hero-force. Symbolic: effective power of action; courageous soul-energy
Ritual instruction-like verse: Soma to purify and drive forth vasu in the saras (vat/container); includes references to named locales/personages typical of ritual memory
During pressing/straining sequences; sung/recited as Soma flows through filters
Invocation for Soma to purify and to bring ‘vasu’ (wealth/boons) to the sacrificer
Use as a mantra of inner purification before meditation: ‘let the delight stream clear; let inner riches arise in the lake of stillness’.
pavasva from √pū/√pav ‘purify’. saras ‘lake/pool’ as collecting place (also inner reservoir). √ju ‘hasten’ (jūta). √dā ‘give’ (dāt). bradhná- ‘shining/brown’ (often solar/fiery epithet). takṣ- ‘fashion, carpentry’ underlies takṣan ‘carpenter’; takave is dative of a related noun ‘craftsman’ (semantic field of forming). Proper names Māṃścatva, Purumēdha require onomastic handling; treat as ritual/toponymic and patronymic/donor or deity-epithet respectively.
purification as method (ayā ... pavasva), speed/impulsion (jūta), crafting of the being (takṣ- semantic field)
‘Ayā…enā’ implies the right path/method—alignment with ṛta—by which Soma becomes effective.
Purification reveals the ‘bright one’ and right distribution of force (purumedha).
Emergence of ordered movement (wind-swiftness) from the still depth (lake) once delight is clarified.
Proto-Vedāntic / Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: Soma as Ananda shaping mind and life toward divine life.
Lake = still consciousness; wind = liberated prāṇa; brightness = illumined mind; Soma-flow = descending bliss through the nerves and mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as the power that ‘drives forth’ riches into the collecting lake, and that empowers the fashioner (taká) with ‘nara’ (heroic potency). Inner myth: clarified delight becomes the force that both gathers in the reservoir of consciousness and gives the craftsman-soul the strength to shape life.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dā ‘give’ is a clear IE root (PIE *deh₃- ‘give’; cf. Gk didōmi, Lat dōnum). The craftsman semantic field links to PIE *tetḱ- ‘to fashion’ (Skt takṣ-, Lat texere ‘weave/build’), showing inherited Indo-European imagery of ‘making’ as a spiritual act.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer frames Soma as method and gift: the aspirant follows ‘this way’ of purification, and Soma responds by releasing fullness and empowering the inner craftsman to build the perfected instrument of life.
Feel a luminous current of delight streaming down a single inner channel into a still ‘lake’ in the heart-mind; let it convert insight into effective force.
Anāhata–Ājñā axis (heart as lake of being; brow as illumined distribution).
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana or slow exhale-focused breathing while sensing ‘flow’ (pavana) through the central channel.
Quiet, lucid receptivity with energized steadiness.
Begin with inner offering (Agni-will), then invoke Soma: allow joy to clarify thought; when clarity arises, act with ‘takavá’ skill—small, precise actions powered by calm courage (naraṃ).
Use Vedic udātta/anudātta/svarita as per śākhā; key lifts often on verb-impulses like pavasva and on deity name Indo (consult a pada-svara text for exact accents).
Keep udātta crisp and slightly raised; avoid flattening svarita—let it ‘fall-rise’ lightly without melodrama.
Maintain nasalization in ām̐ścatve (māṃścatve) with a light anusvāra before ‘śc’., Indo: short, clear ‘i’, dental ‘d’., bradhnaḥ: cluster ‘dhn’ articulated with dental ‘d’ and a clear aspirate-less ‘n’ release., takave: light ‘t’, open ‘a’, do not retroflex the ‘t’.
Clear, flowing, slightly bright tone as if ‘streaming’.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
