Rig Veda 9.71.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 71, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.71
- Rishi
- Soma-Pavamāna tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Likely Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shringara (love) and Shanta (peace)
परि द्युक्षं सहसः पर्वतावृधं मध्वः सिञ्चन्ति हर्म्यस्य सक्षणिम् । आ यस्मिन्गावः सुहुताद ऊधनि मूर्धञ्छ्रीणन्त्यग्रियं वरीमभिः ॥
pári dyukṣáṁ sáhasaḥ parvatā́vṛdhaṁ mádhvaḥ siñcanti hármyasya sakṣáṇim | ā yásmin gā́vaḥ suhútāda ū́dhani mūrdhán śrīṇanty agriyáṁ várīmabhiḥ ||
ದ್ಯುಕ್ಷ—ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನನ ಸುತ್ತ, ಸಹಸ—ಶಕ್ತಿಯ ಪರ್ವತ-ಬಲದಿಂದ ವೃದ್ಧನಾದವನಿಗೆ, ಮಧು—ಮಧುರ ರಸವನ್ನು ಅವರು ಹರ್ಮ್ಯ—ಗೃಹದ ಧಾರಕ ಸ್ಥಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಸುರಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಅವನಲ್ಲಿ ಗಾವಃ—ಕಿರಣ-ಗೋವುಗಳು, ಸುಹುತ—ಸುಅರ್ಪಿತ ಪಾನವನ್ನು ಕುಡಿಯುವವು, ಊಧನಿ—ಸ್ತನದಲ್ಲಿ; ಮೂರ್ಧನ ಮೇಲೆ ಅಗ್ರಿಯ—ಅಗ್ರತಮ ಐಶ್ವರ್ಯವನ್ನು ವರೀಮಭಿಃ—ಪ್ರಚುರ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಗಳಿಂದ ಕಲಸುತ್ತವೆ.
Word by Word
- परि
- around, all aroundIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- द्युक्षम्
- the shining one / radiant (Soma)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot द्युक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; ‘द्युक्ष’)
- सहसः
- of might, of strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot सहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पर्वतावृधम्
- mountain-swelling / mountain-nourishingAdjective (compound)पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (पर्वतान्/पर्वतं वर्धयति इति) प्रयोगतः ‘mountain-swelling/ mountain-nourishing’Role Karma (विशेषणम् द्युक्षम्)Root पर्वत + वृध (वृध् ‘to grow/increase’)
- मध्वः
- of sweetness / of honey (mead)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: मध्वः = मधुनः)Root मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिञ्चन्ति
- they pour, they sprinkleVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot सिच् (धातु)
- हर्म्यस्य
- of the house / mansionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot हर्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- सक्षणिम्
- the companion / attendant (one who is with)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सक्षणि (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यस्मिन्
- in whom / in whichPronounपुं/नपुंसक, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गावः
- cowsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुहुतात्
- from the well-offered (oblation)Adjective (kṛdanta used substantively)पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (अभ्यस्त प्रयोग: ‘from the well-offered (oblation)’)Role ApādānaRoot सु + हु (हु ‘to sacrifice/offer’) → सुहुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- उधनि
- in the udderNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot ऊधन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मूर्धन्
- the head, the topNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- श्रीणन्ति
- they mix/strain/prepareVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRoot श्री (धातु; वैदिक ‘to mix/strain/prepare’)
- अग्रियम्
- foremost, pre-eminentAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (विशेषणम् मूर्धन्)Root अग्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
- वरीमभिः
- with broad expanses / with wide (means)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot वरीमन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘breadth/expanse’, also ‘wide spaces’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (major): पर्वता॒वृधम् → पर्वतावृधम् (आ + वृधम्)
- मध्व॑: → मध्वः (वैदिक षष्ठी एकवचन of मधु)
- यस्मि॒न्गाव॑: → यस्मिन् गावः (न् + ग)
- सुहु॒ताद॒ ऊध॑नि → सुहुतात् उधनि (द् + उ → द उ; पदान्त त्)
- मू॒र्धञ्छ्री॒णन्ति → मूर्धन् श्रीणन्ति (न् + श्; छ्-लेखनं संहितायाम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Around the shining one, strengthened by the mountain, they pour honeyed sweetness into the home’s sustaining place. In him the cows, drinking the well-offered in the udder, mix on the head the foremost riches with abundant measures.
Inner meaning
The ‘shining one’ is Soma as clarified consciousness. ‘Mountain-strengthened’ (parvatāvṛdham) points to the firm mass of aspiration and tapas—inner stability that gives the flow its power. The honeyed delight (madhvaḥ) is poured into the ‘home’ (harmya) and its sustaining place (sakṣaṇi): the settled inner temple where the being is supported. The ‘cows’ are rays of knowledge (go), nourished by the well-offered (suhuta) essence in the udder—symbol of the yielding source of light within. They ‘mix on the head’ (mūrdhan) the foremost richness: illumination culminates in the crown of consciousness, where abundant measures of light assemble into a higher plenitude.
Universal truth
When aspiration is firm, delight can be established in the inner temple; then the rays of knowledge gather and crown the being with a foremost richness—abundance of light becomes stable possession.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Rays/cows symbolism, Wideness and delight, Consecrated nourishment
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma-Pavamāna seer tradition (Book 9)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.71.1, RV 9.71.2, RV 9.71.3
Family tradition
Transmission within Soma purification hymns; imagery of cows/rays and head/crown is common in the illuminative Soma tradition.
Significance
A compact culmination-verse: Soma established in the inner home; rays gather and crown the consciousness—an image of stabilized illumination and ananda.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- dyukṣa (shining), parvatāvṛdha (mountain-strengthened), madhu (honeyed)
- Related deities
- Uṣas (illumination), Indra (crown of illumined mind), Bṛhaspati (release of rays/knowledge)
Cosmic role
Brings delight into the inner abode and releases rays of knowledge that crown the being with plenitude.
Inner power
Ananda that becomes stable support; luminous knowledge assembling into higher richness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering/flow into vessels; celebratory praise of Soma’s richness
परि॑ द्यु॒क्षं सह॑सः पर्वता॒वृधं॒ मध्व॑: सिञ्चन्ति ह॒र्म्यस्य॑ स॒क्षणि॑म् । आ यस्मि॒न्गाव॑: सुहु॒ताद॒ ऊध॑नि मू॒र्धञ्छ्री॒णन्त्य॑ग्रि॒यं वरी॑मभिः ॥
परि॑ । द्यु॒क्षम् । सह॑सः । प॒र्व॒त॒ऽवृध॑म् । मध्वः॑ । सि॒ञ्च॒न्ति॒ । ह॒र्म्यस्य॑ । स॒क्षणि॑म् । आ । यस्मि॑न् । गावः॑ । सु॒हु॒त॒ऽआदः॑ । ऊध॑नि । मू॒र्धन् । श्री॒णन्ति॑ । अ॒ग्रि॒यम् । वरी॑मऽभिः ॥
pari | dyukṣam | sahasaḥ | parvata-vṛdham | madhvaḥ | siñcanti | harmyasya | sakṣaṇim | ā | yasmin | gāvaḥ | suhuta-ādaḥ | ūdhani | mūrdhan | śrīṇanti | agriyam | varīma-bhiḥ
48
4 × 12 (probable)
Rich, circling ‘pari…’ movement; a pouring cadence that culminates upward at ‘mūrdhan’.
Gives a sense of gathering and crowning—good for concluding a meditation or offering.
- dyukṣa (द्युक्ष)
- Literal: shining, radiant. Symbolic: luminous clarified consciousness
- parvata (पर्वत)
- Literal: mountain. Symbolic: firm tapas/aspiration; stable foundation of yoga
- madhvaḥ (मध्वः)
- Literal: honey, sweetness. Symbolic: ananda-delight, nectar of consciousness
- harmya (हर्म्य)
- Literal: home, mansion. Symbolic: inner temple/psychic home where the divine is housed
- sakṣaṇi (सक्षणि)
- Literal: supporting place, seat. Symbolic: stable base of inner fulfilment
- go/gāvaḥ (गावः)
- Literal: cows. Symbolic: rays of light/knowledge
- suhuta (सुहुत)
- Literal: well-offered. Symbolic: rightly directed aspiration and offering of energies
- ūdhan (ऊधन)
- Literal: udder. Symbolic: source that yields nourishment—inner fount of light
- mūrdhan (मूर्धन्)
- Literal: head. Symbolic: crown of consciousness; higher mind opening
- agriya (अग्रिय)
- Literal: foremost. Symbolic: highest attainment/leading richness
- varīma (वरीम)
- Literal: breadth, abundance. Symbolic: wide measures of light and plenitude
Pouring Soma and mixing with milk; filling the ‘home’/vessel, aligning with preparation of Soma with sweet admixtures.
During or after Soma purification as it is directed to the offering seat; often in sequences emphasizing abundance and illumination.
Chanted while Soma is poured/collected; affirms the arrival of honeyed essence and the increase of rays (go).
Use as a mantra for ‘establishing sweetness’ in the heart-home and inviting clarity to rise to the crown.
go- ‘cow’ frequently denotes ‘ray/light’ in RV; thus gāvaḥ as illuminations that ‘drink’ the offering. varīman (from √vṛ/√var semantic of widening/covering): ‘wideness’ as spiritual amplitude. parvata: ‘mountain’ as concentrated height/firmness; inwardly the compressed power that increases Soma’s might.
Wideness (varīman) as spiritual amplitude, Rays of knowledge (gāvaḥ) nourished by right offering, Summit (mūrdhan) as higher consciousness
The circling ‘pari’ and stable ‘seat’ suggest right arrangement of forces in the inner sacrifice.
Cows as rays of knowledge point to Satya’s illumination crowning consciousness.
From firm foundation (mountain) arises a descent of delight (honey) and an ascent of knowledge (rays) culminating in a crown—double movement of creation.
Integral symbolism: descent of ananda into psychic home + ascent of illumination to higher centers.
Mountain = steadfast aspiration; honey = ananda; home = psychic being; cows = rays; crown = higher opening and integration.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘milking/feeding of light’ myth: the gāvaḥ (rays) drink the well-offered and mix the foremost richness at the summit. It is the classic RV movement where illuminations are nourished by the offering and establish abundance in the higher consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- madhu ‘honey’ is a clear Indo-European heritage (PIE *médʰu; cf. Greek méthu ‘wine’, English ‘mead’). This shared poetic substance-term supports comparative Indo-European ritual poetics of sweetness/intoxicant as divine delight.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi presents Soma as the dwelling-place where the rays (gāvaḥ) can operate: by right offering they ‘drink’ and then prepare the highest richness. Soma is thus the medium through which knowledge-forces become effective at the crown of being.
Feel a sweet, luminous essence settling in the heart as ‘home’; then invite rays of insight to rise and crown the head with quiet abundance.
anāhata (inner home) and sahasrāra (crown)
Slow breathing with a ‘descending sweetness’ on inhale to the heart and ‘ascending rays’ on exhale to the crown; 9 cycles.
Sweet fullness, integrated uplift.
After chanting, place attention in the heart-center as a temple; then gently lift awareness to the crown without strain, allowing insights to ‘mix’ and settle as a stable richness.
Maintain Vedic accents; give a gentle circling emphasis to ‘pári’ and a subtle lift toward ‘mūrdhán’ (crown word).
Shape the verse as a pouring arc: begin rounded/encircling, deepen on ‘madhvaḥ siñcanti’, then brighten upward at ‘mūrdhan’.
‘dyukṣaṃ’ keep dy- cluster clear; do not separate into di-yu., ‘parvatāvṛdham’ articulate vṛ with short ṛ; keep compound smooth., ‘śrīṇanti’ with clear long ī; avoid ‘shri-nanti’ flattening., ‘varīmabhiḥ’ lengthen ī; bh aspiration clear.
Warm, sweet, and resonant, with a gentle upward finish.
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