Rig Veda 9.74.8: Mandala 9, Sukta 74, Mantra 8
Sukta 9.74
- Rishi
- Soma-pavamāna seer tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अध श्वेतं कलशं गोभिरक्तं कार्ष्मन्ना वाज्यक्रमीत्ससवान् । आ हिन्विरे मनसा देवयन्तः कक्षीवते शतहिमाय गोनाम् ॥
ádha śvetáṃ kalaśáṃ góbhir aktáṃ kārṣmánnā vājí akramīt sasavā́n | ā́ hinvire mánasā deva-yántaḥ kakṣī́vate śatá-himāya gónām ||
ಅನಂತರ ಗೋಗಳ ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಅಭಿಷಿಕ್ತವಾದ ಶ್ವೇತ ಕಲಶವನ್ನು ಜಯಶಾಲಿ ಬಲವು ಏರಿ, ಒತ್ತುತ್ತಾ ಮುಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಸಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ದೇವರನ್ನು ಬಯಸುವವರು ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ಪ್ರೇರೇಪಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ—ಕಕ್ಷೀವಾನ್ ಕಡೆಗೆ, ಗೋಗಳ (ಕಿರಣಗಳು/ಜ್ಞಾನಕಿರಣಗಳು) ಶತ-ಹಿಮ (ನೂರು ಚಳಿಗಾಲಗಳ) ಸಮೃದ್ಧಿಗಾಗಿ.
Word by Word
- अध
- then, nowIndeclinableअव्यय (निपात)Root अध (avyaya)
- श्वेतम्
- white, brightAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (कलशम् इति सह)Role KarmaRoot श्वेत (प्रातिपदिक)
- कलशम्
- vessel, jar (Soma-vat)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचनRole KarmaRoot कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोभिः
- with cows; with milk (ritual sense)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- अक्तम्
- smeared, anointedParticiple/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया एकवचन (कलशम् इति विशेषणम्)Role KarmaRoot अञ्ज् (धातु) → अक्त (कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय)
- कार्ष्मन्ना
- by pulling/strain; with force (as by pressing/straining)Noun (instrumental) / Adverbial-instr.नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचन (अव्ययीभाववत्: ‘कार्ष्मन्ना’ = खींचने/तनाव से, बलात्)Role KaraṇaRoot कार्ष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘कर्षण/कर्ष्मन्’ से, ‘खींचना/तनाव’ भाव)
- वाज्यक्रमीत्
- strode/stepped forth swiftly (as a prize-winning/strong one)Verbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट); प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; परस्मैपदRoot क्रम् (धातु) + वाज्य (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद-विशेषण ‘वाजिन्/वाज्य’ = वेगवान्/बलवान्)
- ससवान्
- impelled/pressed; invigorated (the Soma)Participle (perfect-like) / Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (कर्तृ-विशेषणम्; सोमः)Role KartāRoot सव्/सू (धातु; ‘प्रेरणे/सवने’) → ससवान् (कृदन्त, वान्-प्रत्यय; परिपूर्ण/परिणत भाव)
- आ
- towards, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपातRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- हिन्विरे
- they impel, set in motionVerbलट्; प्रथमपुरुष बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदRoot हिन्/हिन्व् (धातु ‘प्रेरणे’)
- मनसा
- with mind, by intentionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवयन्तः
- seeking the gods; god-ward (worshipping)Participleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देवय् (धातु/denom. ‘देवान् इच्छति/देवेषु प्रवृत्तः’) → देवयन्त् (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
- कक्षीवते
- to Kakṣīvat (the seer)Noun (proper)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot कक्षीवत् (ऋषि-नाम; प्रातिपदिक)
- शतहिमाय
- to the ‘hundred-wintered’ (very aged/venerable)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी एकवचन (कक्षीवते इति सह)Role SampradānaRoot शतहिम (प्रातिपदिक; शत + हिम)
- गोनाम्
- of cows; of cattle (i.e., wealth)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचनRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (Vedic sandhi resolution): अध | श्वेतम् | कलशम् | गोभिः | अक्तम् | कार्ष्मन्ना | वाज्यक्रमीत् (= वाज्य + अक्रमीत्) | ससवान् | आ | हिन्विरे | मनसा | देवयन्तः | कक्षीवते | शतहिमाय | गोनाम् । मुख्य संधि: (1) वाज्य + अक्रमीत् → वाज्यक्रमीत् (अ-लोप/स्वर-संधि)
- अन्यत्र स्पष्ट पदसीमा।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Then the white jar, anointed with the cows (rays), is mounted/ascended by the victorious force as it presses on. The god-seeking ones urge it forward by the mind—toward Kakṣīvān, for the hundred-wintered abundance of cows.
Inner meaning
The ‘white jar’ (kalaśa) is the purified vessel of consciousness in which Soma gathers. ‘Anointed with go’ means suffused with rays of knowledge, not cattle: illumination coats and consecrates the vessel. The vājin (victorious energy) ascends it—vital force becomes an instrument of the higher when it is yoked to Soma’s purity. The seekers (devayantaḥ) drive it by manas: concentrated mind-intent propels the ascent. Kakṣīvān stands as a figure of the seer-receiver: the inspired consciousness that can hold the ‘hundred-wintered’ (mature, long-cultivated) abundance of luminous herds—stable riches of knowledge.
Universal truth
When the mind aspires and the life-force consents, the purified vessel of the being can be lifted into illumination; mature knowledge is not seized but steadily accumulated through sustained aspiration.
Themes
vessel of Soma, rays as cows (knowledge), progressive ascent, seer-reception
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma-pavamāna seer tradition; Kakṣīvān Dairghatamasa referenced as recipient-figure
- Lineage
- Āṅgirasa (commonly associated with Kakṣīvān in later tradition)
- Other hymns
- RV 1.18 (Kakṣīvān), RV 1.126 (Kakṣīvān), RV 9.74
Family tradition
Kakṣīvān is a famed seer of inspired hymns; here he functions as the archetype of the ‘receiver’ of luminous herds (illumined knowledges).
Significance
Invokes the lineage of inspired receptivity: the ascent of the purified vessel culminates in a seer-capacity that can sustain long-term illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (in the kalaśa)
- Epithets
- Śveta-kalaśa (white-vessel), Go-aktá (anointed with rays), Vājī-sah (borne by victorious force)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Bṛhaspati (as opener of light)
Cosmic role
Collects the purified essence into a vessel and enables ascent toward the seer-consciousness.
Inner power
Ananda that organizes the being into a luminous container and converts vital force into victorious progress.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma collection in vessels (kalaśa) after filtration
अध॑ श्वे॒तं क॒लशं॒ गोभि॑र॒क्तं कार्ष्म॒न्ना वा॒ज्य॑क्रमीत्सस॒वान् । आ हि॑न्विरे॒ मन॑सा देव॒यन्त॑: क॒क्षीव॑ते श॒तहि॑माय॒ गोना॑म् ॥
अध॑ । श्वे॒तम् । क॒लश॑म् । गोभिः॑ । अ॒क्तम् । कार्ष्म॑न् । आ । वा॒जी । अ॒क्र॒मी॒त् । स॒स॒ऽवान् । आ । हि॒न्वि॒रे॒ । मन॑सा । दे॒व॒ऽयन्तः॑ । क॒क्षीव॑ते । श॒तऽहि॑माय । गोना॑म् ॥
adha | śvetam | kalaśam | gobhiḥ | aktam | kārṣman | ā | vājī | akramīt | sasa-vān | ā | hinvire | manasā | deva-yantaḥ | kakṣīvate | śata-himāya | gonām
48
4×12 (approx.)
Upward-driving movement with spacious cadence
Energizes aspiration while keeping a broad, controlled rhythm—useful for ‘lifting’ meditations.
- śvetaṃ kalaśam
- Literal: white jar/vessel. Symbolic: purified inner receptacle (mind-heart complex) fit to hold Ananda
- gobhir aktam
- Literal: anointed with cows. Symbolic: suffused with rays of light/knowledge (go = illumination)
- vājy (vājin)
- Literal: victorious, forceful (steed-power). Symbolic: converted vital energy that carries the yoga forward
- akramīt
- Literal: stepped/ascended. Symbolic: inner ascent—raising the vessel of consciousness
- hinvire manasā
- Literal: they impel with the mind. Symbolic: directed intention/mental force guiding the movement
- devayantaḥ
- Literal: god-seeking. Symbolic: aspirants oriented to the divine consciousness
- kakṣīvate
- Literal: to/for Kakṣīvān. Symbolic: to the seer-state capable of receiving and holding the gift
- śatahimāya
- Literal: hundred-wintered. Symbolic: matured, time-tested fullness; enduring attainment
- gonām
- Literal: of cows. Symbolic: of rays/illumined knowledges
Directly tied to Soma collected in the kalaśa and urged onward by officiants/chanters; the ‘go’ anointing evokes the brightened Soma in the vessel
When Soma is gathered/raised for offering and distribution
Consecration of the vessel; urging forward of the flow toward the recipient/priests
As a practice-verse for ‘making the mind a vessel’: recite before study, mantra-japa, or creative insight work.
kalaśa: vessel/jar used in Soma rite. go: ‘cow’ also ‘ray’ in RV diction; inner sense justified by frequent pairing with light/knowledge recovery motifs. √añj (aktam): anoint/smear → suffusion. vāja/vājī: from √vaj ‘to be strong, drive’ → plenitude/force, not merely ‘food/prize’. √kram: step/stride → progressive ascent. deva-yanta: deva + √yam/√i ‘to go toward’ → divine-seeking movement.
aspiration (deva-yantaḥ), enduring plenitude (śata-himā), vāja as force-fullness
The ascent (akramīt) is right-ordered progress when mind and vital align to the higher flow.
White vessel + rays indicate truth-purity and truth-knowledge uniting.
Formation of a luminous container in manifestation; transmission of light-herds to the seer.
Aurobindonian: go as rays of knowledge; vājin as transformed vital energy.
Vessel = inner receptivity; anointing = consecration by illumination; herds = multiple rays/knowledges gathered and stabilized.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ascent/advancing of the white Soma-vessel anointed with rays: the myth of the prepared receptacle being lifted into efficacy, urged by divine-seeking minds, resulting in enduring ‘herds’ of light (go) for the seer.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √kram ‘step/stride’ is a classic Indo-European motion root (cf. Germanic *hram- ‘stride’ type parallels are debated, but the ‘stride’ semantic is archaic). √hi ‘impel’ and √vaj ‘be strong’ show the Indo-Iranian preference for dynamic force-verbs in ritual-poetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The devatā (Soma) is not distant; it is carried and urged by the aspirant community’s manas. Kakṣīvān stands as the inspired receiver: when the vessel is lifted and propelled rightly, the seer obtains stable abundance of illuminations (gonām) across time (śata-himā).
Build the ‘white vessel’: quiet the mind, invite rays of insight, then feel the whole being lifted by a purified life-force.
Maṇipūra (converted vital force) rising toward Ājñā (illumined mind)
Ujjāyī (gentle) or 3-part breath; on inhale feel ‘ascent’, on exhale feel ‘stabilization in whiteness’
Aspiring, uplifted, concentrated receptivity
Begin with aspiration (devayantaḥ), then consecrate with light (go), then allow the vital to serve as vājin—victorious but disciplined.
Chant with standard Vedic udatta/anudatta/svarita; emphasize udātta on śvétam, kálaśam, góbhis, vā́jī, mánasā, devayántaḥ (as marked by recension).
Make pāda 1–2 feel like ‘consecration + ascent’; pāda 3–4 like ‘impulsion + destination’.
kalaśam: retroflex ṣ? (here ś) keep palatal ś, gobhir: hard g; bh aspirated, akramīt: long ī; crisp t, devayantaḥ: keep ‘ya’ clear; final ḥ light, śatahimāya: aspirate h; long āya
Uplifted, firm, forward-moving
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