Rig Veda 9.71.1 — Mandala 9, Sukta 71, Mantra 1

Sukta 9.71

Rishi: Traditionally attributed in Book 9 to Soma-Pavamāna seers; specific r̥ṣi for 9.71 varies by Anukramaṇī tradition (often listed under Pavitra/Āṅgirasa lineages).

Devata: Soma Pavamāna (the self-purifying Soma), with associated powers of Dakṣiṇā and Brahman (mantric force).

Chandas: Likely Jagatī (common in Soma Pavamāna hymns), pending pada-count verification for this specific mantra.

Samhita Patha (Devanagari)

आ दक्षिणा सृज्यते शुष्म्यासदं वेति द्रुहो रक्षसः पाति जागृविः । हरिरोपशं कृणुते नभस्पय उपस्तिरे चम्वोर्ब्रह्म निर्णिजे ॥

Transliteration

ā dakṣiṇā sṛjyate śuṣmyā̀sadaṁ veti druho rakṣásaḥ pāti jā́gṛviḥ | háriropáśaṁ kṛṇute nábhaspáya upastíre camvór bráhma nirṇíje ||

Translation

The Dakṣiṇā, the power of right discernment and effective offering, is released into movement; the mighty one comes to the seat of fulfilment. Awake and vigilant, it guards from the forces of distortion and the hostile darkness. The tawny Soma makes his luminous adornment; as a covering he spreads the milk of the wide firmament, and for the two cups he lays down the mantra-force (brahman) as a purifying robe.

Word by Word

• आ: forth; towards
• आ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) / ā (preverb)

• दक्षिणा: the gift (dakṣiṇā); sacrificial fee
• दक्षिणा: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)

• सृज्यते: is released/let loose; is sent forth
• सृज्यते: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज्

• शुष्म्या: with/through the mighty (one); by the vigorous one
• शुष्म्या: Karaṇa
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुष्मिन् (प्रातिपदिक) < शुष्म

• सदम्: to the seat; to the session/assembly (as a place)
• सदम्: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद (प्रातिपदिक)

• वेति: goes; moves forth
• वेति: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (एति/इति) + वि- (उपसर्ग) → वेति (वैदिक रूप)

• द्रुहः: of deceit/hostility; of the injuring power
• द्रुहः: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रुह् (प्रातिपदिक: द्रुह्/द्रुह्- ‘injurer, hostile power’)

• रक्षसः: of the demon (rakṣas); of evil spirit(s)
• रक्षसः: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)

• पाति: protects; guards
• पाति: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (पालने)

• जागृविः: the wakeful one; the vigilant (one)
• जागृविः: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जागृवस् (प्रातिपदिक; परिपूर्ण/कृदन्ताधारित ‘wakeful’)

• हरिः: the tawny one (Soma/steed); the golden/tawny (one)
• हरिः: Kartā
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)

• रोपशम्: a halter/strap
• रोपशम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोपश (प्रातिपदिक; ‘strap/halter’)

• कृणुते: makes; fashions
• कृणुते: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ

• नभस्पयः: the sky-roaming/atmospheric (one)
• नभस्पयः: Kartā
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नभस्पय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘cloudy/sky-going’)

• उपस्तिरे: has spread/laid down (as a covering)
• उपस्तिरे: —
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तृ (स्तरणे) + उप- (उपसर्ग)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• चम्वोः: of/in the two cups (pressing bowls)
• चम्वोः: Adhikaraṇa
• Type: Noun
• Root: चमू (प्रातिपदिक)

• ब्रह्म: sacred formulation; hymn/prayer
• ब्रह्म: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)

• निर्णिजे: for the bright garment/covering; for adornment
• निर्णिजे: Sampradāna
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्णिज्/निर्णिज् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘covering/garment, bright adornment’)