Rig Veda 9.97.1: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 1
Sukta 9.97
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
अस्य प्रेषा हेमना पूयमानो देवो देवेभिः समपृक्त रसम् । सुतः पवित्रं पर्येति रेभन्मितेव सद्म पशुमान्ति होता ॥
asya preṣā hemanā pūyamāno devo devebhiḥ sam apṛkta rasaṃ | sutaḥ pavitraṃ pary eti rebhan mitā́-iva sadma paśu-mā́nti hotā́ ||
ಅವನ ಪ್ರೇರಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸುವರ್ಣ ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ದೇವ ಸೋಮನು ಶುದ್ಧನಾಗುತ್ತಾ ದೇವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ತನ್ನ ಆನಂದಮಯ ರಸವನ್ನು ಬೆರೆಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಪೀಡಿತನಾಗಿ (ಸುತ) ಅವನು ಪವಿತ್ರ (ಛಾನಣಿ)ಯ ಸುತ್ತ ಗಾನಮಾಡುತ್ತಾ ಸಂಚರಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ; ಅಳೆಯಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಂತೆ ದೃಢನಾಗಿ, ಪಶುಸಂಪತ್ತಿನಿಂದ ಸಮೃದ್ಧವಾದ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಯ ಸದನಕ್ಕೆ ಪ್ರವೇಶಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ—ಅಂತರ್ಯಜ್ಞದ ಹೋತಾ (ಯಾಜಕ) ಅವನೇ.
Word by Word
- अस्य
- of this (Soma)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक ‘अस्/इ’)
- प्रेषाः
- impulses, sendings forthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ/भाव (subject: impulses/dispatches)Root प्रेषा (प्रातिपदिक; √इष्/√प्रि? ‘to send/impel’ से ‘प्रेष’ भाव) अथवा ‘प्रेषा’ = प्रेरणा/प्रेषण
- हेमना
- with gold / in a golden mannerNoun (used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करण (means/manner)Root हेमन् (प्रातिपदिक) / हेमन्- (instrumental of ‘gold’; also used adverbially ‘with/like gold, goldenly’)
- पूयमानः
- being purifiedParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (agreeing with ‘देवः’)Root √पू (पूञ्) ‘to purify, cleanse’
- देवः
- the god (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवेभिः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole सह/करण (with/by the gods)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinable (preverb)Root सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- अपृक्त
- has mixed/has unitedVerb (finite)लुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, एकवचनRole क्रिया (predicate)Root √पृच् (पृञ्च्) ‘to mix, unite’ + उपसर्ग सम् (सम्+√पृच्)
- रसम्
- the juice, sapNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रस (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतः
- pressedParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (agreeing with Soma)Root √सु (सुनोति) ‘to press (Soma)’
- पवित्रम्
- the filter (strainer)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (object of ‘पर्येति’)Root पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- परि
- around, throughIndeclinable (preverb)Root परि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- एति
- goes, passesVerb (finite)लट् (present), परस्मैपद, 3rd person, एकवचनRole क्रिया (predicate)Root √इ (एति) ‘to go’ + उपसर्ग परि
- रेभन्
- the singer/praiser (chanting one)Noun (used as epithet) / Adjectival nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (apposition to Soma)Root रेभ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘singer, praiser’; also ‘roaring/chanting’)
- मिते
- in the measured (bounded) [place]Adjective (used in simile) / Participleपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (locative in -e)Role अधिकरण (in/within the measured [space])Root मित (प्रातिपदिक; √मा ‘to measure’ → ‘measured, fixed’)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableRoot इव (निपात)
- सद्म
- abode, dwellingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (here with ‘इव’ as in a simile; syntactically ‘in a fixed abode’)Role अधिकरण (place notion with ‘मिते’)Root सद्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) ‘seat, abode, house’
- पशुमान्
- cattle-rich, wealthyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ-विशेषण (of ‘होता’)Root पशुमन्त् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘possessing cattle/wealth’)
- इति
- thus (quotative/marker)IndeclinableRoot इति (निपात)
- होता
- the Hotṛ-priest (invoker)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (apposition/role-name of Soma as Hotṛ)Root होतृ (प्रातिपदिक; from √हु ‘to sacrifice’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): अस्य | प्रेषाः | हेमना | पूयमानः | देवः | देवेभिः | सम् | अपृक्त | रसम् || सुतः | पवित्रम् | परि | एति | रेभन् | मिते | इव | सद्म | पशुमान् | इति | होता || Notable: देवेभिः + समपृक्त → देवेभिः सम् अपृक्त (preverb ‘सम्’ separated)
- पवित्रं पर्येति → पवित्रम् परि एति (anusvāra before y; preverb separated)
- मितेव → मिते इव (vowel sandhi e+i → e with glide v in saṃhitā)
- पशुमान्ति → पशुमान् इति (final -n + initial i → -nti in saṃhitā)
The meaning
Outer meaning
By his impulsion and golden force, Soma being purified blends his rasa with the Gods. Pressed, he moves around the filter chanting; measured, he enters the dwelling rich in herds—he, the priest.
Inner meaning
Soma’s ‘impulsion’ (preṣā) is the inner push of aspiration; ‘golden force’ (hemanā) is luminous energy that refines consciousness. Purified delight unites its essence (rasa) with the divine powers—meaning our joy becomes compatible with higher workings (not ego-pleasure). Circling the filter (pavitra) indicates repeated discrimination and refinement; the chant (rebhan) is the vibrating affirmation that maintains ṛta. ‘Measured’ (mitā iva) points to disciplined, exact movement—yogic regulation—by which Soma enters the ‘home rich in herds’: the illumined inner house where rays of knowledge (paśu/herds as powers) abound. Soma becomes hotā, the priest of the inner offering: delight itself conducts the sacrifice by carrying our energies to the gods.
Universal truth
When joy is purified and disciplined, it becomes a priestly power: it unites human life with higher consciousness and brings a wealth of inner energies under luminous order.
Themes
Soma-ritual, purification, union with the gods, inner offering, ṛta as measure
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.97.1-30 (sūkta context)
Significance
A programmatic verse: it states the whole inner Soma-process—aspiration, luminous purification, union with gods, disciplined filtering, and establishment in the psychic home.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Deva (divine), Suta (pressed), Pūyamāna (being purified), Hotā (as function)
- Related deities
- Agni (hotā archetype), Indra (receiver of Soma for illumination), Viśve Devāḥ
Cosmic role
Mediator of worlds: Soma carries essence to the gods and returns their powers as abundance in the sacrificer.
Inner power
Purified Ananda as organizing priest-power that regulates, refines, and unites the being with higher consciousness.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing (savana) and purification around the pavitra; invocation as Soma approaches offering
अ॒स्य प्रे॒षा हे॒मना॑ पू॒यमा॑नो दे॒वो दे॒वेभि॒: सम॑पृक्त॒ रस॑म् । सु॒तः प॒वित्रं॒ पर्ये॑ति॒ रेभ॑न्मि॒तेव॒ सद्म॑ पशु॒मान्ति॒ होता॑ ॥
अ॒स्य । प्रे॒षा । हे॒मना॑ । पू॒यमा॑नः । दे॒वः । दे॒वेभिः॑ । सम् । अ॒पृ॒क्त॒ । रस॑म् । सु॒तः । प॒वित्र॑म् । परि॑ । ए॒ति॒ । रेभ॑न् । मि॒ताऽइव । सद्म॑ । प॒शु॒ऽमन्ति॑ । होता॑ ॥
asya | preṣā | hemanā | pūyamānaḥ | devaḥ | devebhiḥ | sam | apṛkta | rasam | sutaḥ | pavitram | pari | eti | rebhan | mitā-iva | sadma | paśu-manti | hotā
Likely Jagatī (common for RV 9.97 openings), uncertain
48
4×~12
Processional and ‘measured’—strong caesurae support the idea of regulated movement
Encourages steadiness, discipline, and luminous aspiration; suitable for centering before meditation.
- प्रेषा (preṣā)
- Literal: impulsion, sending forth. Symbolic: psychic urge/aspiration directing the yoga
- हेमना (hemanā)
- Literal: with gold, golden force. Symbolic: luminous energy; clarified consciousness-power
- पूयमानः (pūyamānaḥ)
- Literal: being purified. Symbolic: refinement of delight from mixture with desire/ego
- देवो देवेभिः (devo devebhiḥ)
- Literal: the god with the gods. Symbolic: divine element in us joining divine powers
- रसम् (rasam)
- Literal: sap, essence, taste. Symbolic: essential delight (ānanda) as substance of experience
- पवित्रम् (pavitram)
- Literal: filter, purifier. Symbolic: discriminating consciousness; inner sieve of truth
- रेभन् (rebhan)
- Literal: chanting, praising. Symbolic: mantric vibration maintaining right rhythm
- मिता इव (mitā iva)
- Literal: as if measured. Symbolic: disciplined, exact yogic movement; regulated force
- सद्म (sadma)
- Literal: dwelling, home. Symbolic: inner luminous station/psychic home
- पशुमन्ति (paśumanti)
- Literal: rich in herds. Symbolic: abundant in powers/energies and rays of knowledge
- होता (hotā)
- Literal: invoking priest. Symbolic: the inner officiant that offers and mediates between human and divine
Soma-pavitra purification sequence in Soma sacrifice (e.g., Agniṣṭoma and related Soma-yāgas): the expressed Soma is filtered (pavitra) and offered, uniting with the gods and especially empowering the Indra-force.
At the start of a Pavamāna sequence; while Soma is pressed and begins purification
Pressing (suta), filtering (pavitra), circumambulating/flowing, offering to gods
A ‘pre-meditation’ mantra: align aspiration (preṣā), invoke luminous force (hemanā), and commit to disciplined purification (pavitra).
Key terms: (1) preṣā: from √preṣ ‘to send forth, impel’; denotes an originating push/dispatch—psychologically, the soul’s executive impulsion that sets the movement of purification. (2) hemanā: instrumental of heman ‘gold’ (cf. √hi/√hā?; lexically ‘golden’), used adjectivally for radiant substance; indicates a luminous energy rather than material gold. (3) pūyamānaḥ: present middle participle of √pū ‘to purify, cleanse’; middle voice marks self-effecting purification (the force clarifies itself in passage). (4) rasa: from √ras ‘to taste’; not merely liquid sap but the essential ‘taste’/delight—ananda as an experiential essence. (5) pavitra: from √pū ‘to purify’ with instrumental/agentive sense; the sieve is also the inner discriminative filter that separates truth from mixture. (6) mitā-iva: from √mā ‘to measure’; evokes ṛta as right measure and ordered movement. (7) paśu: from √paś ‘to see’ (semantic link: ‘what is seen/visible’ → ‘cattle’); in RV symbolism, ‘herds’ regularly function as recoverable riches of light/knowledge rather than animals.
Ṛta (right measure/order) via mitā-iva, Ananda/Delight (rasa), purification as inner discipline (√pū)
Mitā iva + rebhan indicates ṛta as right measure and right vibration.
Pavitra symbolizes the discernment that separates truth from mixture.
Divine essence blending with gods—participation of human in divine life; establishment of a luminous inner home.
Vedic yoga anticipating Upaniṣadic integration of ananda and knowledge.
Gold = luminous consciousness; filter = discrimination; circling = repeated refinement; dwelling = psychic station; herds = abundant energies/rays.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘purified Soma’ moving through the pavitra (filter) and joining the gods: a recurring Vedic action where the divine delight/essence is clarified, then made fit to enter the divine seat and empower the luminous powers. Inner sense: the delight-force (Soma) is refined by discernment and right process, then integrated with the higher faculties (devas) to establish a rich, ordered consciousness (sadma paśumant).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Several lexemes preserve archaic Indo-European patterns: √mā ‘measure’ (mitā-) aligns with PIE *meh₁- ‘to measure’ (cf. Greek métron, Latin mēnsus via metior). √pū ‘purify’ is Indo-Iranian (cf. Avestan pū- ‘cleanse’), showing shared ritual-ethical semantics. √ras ‘taste’ parallels PIE *reh₁s- / *res- ‘moisten/taste’ (comparanda are debated), but the semantic field ‘sap/essence’ is characteristically Indo-Iranian in ritual poetry.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The verse frames Soma as hotā, the priest-power itself, implying reciprocity: the human offering and aspiration are taken up by Soma’s own divine agency. The rishi’s role is to align with Soma’s preṣā (impulsion) and the mitā (measured, ṛta-governed) movement; in return Soma enters the ‘home’ of the practitioner rich in ‘herds’—i.e., an increase of luminous powers/knowledges and a stable inner seat for the gods.
Discipline the joy-current: let aspiration invoke Soma; filter thoughts; enter the ‘luminous home’ of steady awareness.
Maṇipūra (discipline/measure) to Anāhata (rasa/joy) to Ājñā (discernment/filter)
Box breathing (equal measure) for ‘mitā iva’; gentle humming/toning for ‘rebhan’
Collected, luminous, inwardly priest-led
Set intention (preṣā), visualize golden clarity washing the mind, then ‘circle the filter’: observe and release mixed motives; end by resting in the heart as the inner hotā offers all to the higher Presence.
Rigvedic accenting; keep ‘hemanā’ and ‘rasam’ bright; ‘mitā iva’ should feel rhythmically even
Maintain a measured cadence reflecting the text; slight pause after major compounds; keep flow continuous around ‘pavitram pary eti’.
preṣā: retroflex ṣ; long ā, hemanā: voiced h; short e; long ā, pūyamāno: long ū; nasal m; long ā, sam apṛkta: articulate ṛ; keep cluster clean, pavitram: crisp v; short i, rebhan: clear bh, hotā: long ā
steady, clear, priestly—more ‘measured’ than ecstatic
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