Rig Veda 9.72.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 72, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.72
- Rishi
- Soma-Pavamāna tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Likely Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
नृबाहुभ्यां चोदितो धारया सुतोऽनुष्वधं पवते सोम इन्द्र ते । आप्राः क्रतून्त्समजैरध्वरे मतीर्वेर्न द्रुषच्चम्वोरासदद्धरिः ॥
nṛbā́hubhyāṃ coditó dhā́rayā sutó ’nu-svadháṃ pavate sóma indra te | āprā́ḥ kratū́n sám ajair adhvaré matī́r vēr ná druṣác camvór ā́ asadat dháriḥ ||
ຖືກຊຸກຍູ້ໂດຍແຂນຂອງມະນຸດ, ຖືກບີບໃນສາຍນ້ຳ, ໂສມະໄຫຼຕາມກົດໝາຍແຫ່ງຄວາມພໍໃຈຂອງຕົນເພື່ອເຈົ້າ, ອິນທຣະ. ເຈົ້າໄດ້ເຕີມ ແລະ ຜູກມັດພະລັງແຫ່ງຄວາມປະສົງໃນພິທີບູຊາ; ຄືນົກທີ່ບິນຫາບ່ອນພັກຜ່ອນ, ຜູ້ມີສີຄຳໄດ້ມານັ່ງບົ່ງບານສຳລັບນ້ຳ.
Word by Word
- नृबाहुभ्याम्
- with (the help of) the men’s armsNoun (compound)नपुंसकलिङ्ग? (समासान्त-भ्याम्) / actually instrumental-dual: बाहु (पुं) with नृ- as first member; तृतीया-द्विवचनम्Role करणRoot नृ-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
- चोदितः
- impelled, urgedParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (सुतः/सोमः के प्रति विशेषणम्)Role (कर्तृविशेषणम्)Root √चुद् (प्रेरणे) → चोदित (क्त)
- धारया
- by/with the streamNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-एकवचनम्Role करणRoot धारा (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतः
- pressed (Soma)Participle used as nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्ताRoot √सु (अभिषवे) → सुत (क्त)
- अनुष्वधम्
- according to svadhā; in due/accustomed mannerIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root अनु-स्वधा (अव्ययीभाव) / स्वधा (indecl.)
- पवते
- purifies/flowsVerbलट्, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √पू (पवने/शोधने) → पवते
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्ताRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्र
- O IndraNoun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-एकवचनम्Role (सम्बोधन)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- for you / of youPronounषष्ठी-एकवचनम् (enclitic)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root त्वद् (सर्वनाम)
- आप्नाः
- reaching, attainingParticiple/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (सोमः के प्रति)Role (कर्तृविशेषणम्)Root √आप् (व्याप्तौ/प्राप्तौ) → आप्न (कृदन्त, present participle) / or adjective stem आप्न-
- क्रतून्
- powers of will; ritual skillsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
- समजैः
- you drove/impelled togetherVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (Vedic ending -ऐः)Role (क्रिया)Root सम् + √अज् (गत्यर्थ/प्रेरणे) → समज (aorist stem) + ऐः
- अध्वरे
- in the sacrificeNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
- मतीः
- thoughts; hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot मति (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेः
- you pursue/seekVerbलट्/लिट्? (Vedic injunctive-like), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root √वे (वेग/वायने?; in RV also ‘to strive/seek’) → वेः
- न
- likeIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (उपमानसूचक)Root न (अव्यय)
- द्रुषत्
- wooden/firm (pressing-vat)Adjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (चम्वोः के विशेषणम्)Role (विशेषणम्)Root द्रुषद् (प्रातिपदिक) / from √द्रुṣ? ‘stone/wooden’ as adjective
- चम्वोः
- of the two cups/vesselsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-द्विवचनम्Role सम्बन्धRoot चमू (प्रातिपदिक)
- आसदत्
- sat down upon; came to sitVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root आ + √सद् (उपवेशने/आसादने) → आसदत्
- हरिः
- the tawny one (Indra’s steed / tawny Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनम्Role कर्ताRoot हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (मुख्य): नृ-बाहुभ्याम् चोदितः धारया सुतः अनु-स्वधम् पवते सोमः इन्द्र ते । आप्नाः क्रतून् सम्-अजैः अध्वरे मतीः वेः न द्रुषत् चम्वोः आसदत् हरिः ॥ सन्धि: सुतःऽनुष्वधम् = सुतः + अनु-स्वधम् (अः + अ → ऽ)
- चम्वो३रासदत् = चम्वोः + आसदत् (ः + आ → र् आ, Vedic sandhi)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Urged by men’s arms and expressed in the stream, Soma flows according to his own law of sweetness for Indra. Indra has filled and yoked the powers of will in the sacrifice; like a bird to its resting place, the tawny one comes to sit on the bowls.
Inner meaning
Human effort (nṛbāhubhyām) initiates the release of Soma, but its movement follows its own inner law of delight (anu-svadhām): the Ananda-force knows its right rhythm when the being is prepared. Indra, the illumined mind, ‘fills’ and yokes the kratus—our will-powers—so they work together in the adhvara (the progressive, non-injuring inner journey). The tawny force (hariḥ)—Indra’s dynamic energy of luminous action—settles into the cups (camū) of receptivity: the prepared parts of the being that can hold and distribute the clarified delight.
Universal truth
Transformation needs both effort and surrender: disciplined action releases the higher joy, but the joy moves by its own true law. When the higher intelligence yokes the will-powers into harmony, energy naturally finds its right seat and becomes stable, usable, and renewing.
Themes
Soma-flow, self-law of delight, yoking of will, settling into the vessel
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.72.4, Rig Veda 9.72.6
Significance
The verse reveals a key Vedic psychology: higher forces are invoked through effort but operate by their own svadhā; the illumined mind’s task is to yoke disparate will-forces into one sacrifice.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (for Indra) with Indra’s Hari invoked implicitly
- Epithets
- Pavamāna, Suta (pressed), Anu-svadhā (moving by its own law of delight)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Agni
Cosmic role
Soma’s flow empowers Indra; Indra organizes the kratus in the yajña, enabling victorious movement of light and effective action.
Inner power
Soma: clarified Ananda-current; Indra: integrating illumination; Hari: swift executive force that stabilizes in receptive instruments.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing/straining and offering to Indra; imagery of bowls indicates collection vessels in Soma rite.
नृबा॒हुभ्यां॑ चोदि॒तो धार॑या सु॒तो॑ऽनुष्व॒धं प॑वते॒ सोम॑ इन्द्र ते । आप्रा॒: क्रतू॒न्त्सम॑जैरध्व॒रे म॒तीर्वेर्न द्रु॒षच्च॒म्वो॒३॒॑रास॑द॒द्धरि॑: ॥
नृबा॒हुऽभ्या॑म् । चो॒दि॒तः । धार॑या । सु॒तः । अ॒नु॒ऽस्व॒धम् । प॒व॒ते॒ । सोमः॑ । इ॒न्द्र॒ । ते॒ । आ । अ॒प्राः॒ । क्रतू॑न् । सम् । अ॒जैः॒ । अ॒ध्व॒रे । म॒तीः । वेः । न । द्रु॒ऽसत् । च॒म्वोः॑ । आ । अ॒स॒द॒त् । हरिः॑ ॥
nṛbāhu-bhyām | coditaḥ | dhārayā | sutaḥ | anu-svadham | pavate | somaḥ | indra | te | ā | aprāḥ | kratūn | sam | ajaiḥ | adhvare | matīḥ | veḥ | na | druṣat | camvoḥ | ā | asadat | hariḥ
44
4 × ~11
Energetic and kinetic, with a ‘yoking’ feel—phrases bind and release like harnessing.
Elicits vigor and coordination; supports a sense of forces gathering into one directed movement.
- नृबाहुभ्याम् (nṛbāhubhyām)
- Literal: by the arms of men. Symbolic: human striving; applied effort and practice
- चोदितः (coditaḥ)
- Literal: impelled. Symbolic: stirred by aspiration; awakened force
- धारया (dhārayā)
- Literal: in the stream. Symbolic: continuous current of consciousness/Ananda
- अनुस्वधम् (anu-svadhām)
- Literal: according to its own sweetness/law. Symbolic: intrinsic rhythm of delight; self-law of the soul-nature
- क्रतून् (kratūn)
- Literal: wills, powers of resolve. Symbolic: executive soul-forces; capacities to act rightly
- सम् अजैः (sam ajaiḥ)
- Literal: thou hast yoked together. Symbolic: integration of faculties under higher guidance
- अध्वरे (adhvare)
- Literal: in the sacrifice. Symbolic: the inner path-work; progressive offering without violence
- मतीः (matīḥ)
- Literal: thoughts/intentions. Symbolic: formations of inspired mind
- हरिः (hariḥ)
- Literal: the tawny one (Indra’s steed/force). Symbolic: dynamic luminous energy; swift power of action
- चम्वोः (camvoḥ)
- Literal: on the bowls. Symbolic: vessels of receptivity in the being (mind/heart/life)
Pavamāna sequence during Soma filtration and filling of vessels (camū); describes Soma’s movement into cups for offering.
During the flow into camū (cups) and preparation for Indra’s portion.
Pressing, channeling into streams, filling bowls; offering while invoking Indra’s organizing power over kratu.
Chant before disciplined work: align intentions (matīḥ) and will-forces (kratu) so energy ‘sits’ steadily in the right instrument (body/breath/mind).
√cud ‘impel’ (causative semantics); dhārā from √dhṛ ‘to hold’ → ‘held flow’; svadhā ‘one’s own placing/power’ (sva ‘own’ + √dhā ‘place’) → inherent law/auto-energy; √aj ‘drive’ (PIE *h₂eǵ- ‘drive’ debated; Indo-Aryan well-attested); √sad ‘sit’ (PIE *sed-). The bird simile marks effortless attraction: the clarified force naturally settles into the offering-vessels (receptacles of consciousness).
Svadhā (inherent self-law/power), Kratu (coordinated will-powers), Adhvara (unbroken inner rite/journey)
Yoking kratus ‘together’ implies alignment with ṛta—right coordination rather than scattered impulse.
Stability of Hari ‘sitting’ in the bowls suggests truth taking a seat in prepared forms.
Order emerges when delight and will are harmonized by illumination; this renews the adhvara (the journey of becoming).
Integral-psychological Vedic reading: svadhā as inner law of consciousness-force.
Stream = continuous awareness; bird resting = stabilization of energy; tawny = dynamic prāṇa-force illumined; bowls = prepared faculties capable of holding higher influx.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma, urged by human effort, follows svadhā and comes to rest in the cups: inwardly, disciplined aspiration releases a self-acting delight-law that organizes the will-powers (kratūn) and settles the clarified force into prepared receptacles of consciousness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sad ‘sit’ is a clear PIE inheritance (*sed-), and the ‘sitting in the cups’ preserves a very old sacral idiom of the deity/essence taking a seat. svadhā as ‘self-law’ is an Indo-Aryan theological development built from inherited morphemes (sva-, √dhā).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi stresses co-agency: humans impel and press, but Soma moves by svadhā—its own divine autonomy. The successful rite is where human arms prepare the channel and the god-force naturally ‘sits’ within the vessels, ready to empower Indra in the seeker.
Coordinate will and thought under a higher, quiet illumination; let joy become a steady current that supports action.
Maṇipūra (kratu/will) harmonized toward Ājñā (Indra/illumination)
Box-breath 4-4-4-4 for ‘yoking’ kratu; then allow a smooth exhale as ‘dhārā’ (stream).
Collected dynamism—quiet power ready for right action.
Feel effort awaken the current; then release control and let the current move by its own svadhā. Offer scattered intentions into one inner fire; sense a tawny, swift energy settling calmly into the heart-mind as a stable capacity.
Maintain Vedic udātta rises on marked syllables (e.g., nṛbā́hubhyām, códítaḥ, sóma); keep svarita as a controlled fall to preserve ‘yoked’ steadiness.
Avoid rushing the caesura after ‘pavate soma indra te’; let it land like Hari ‘sitting’ on the bowls.
nṛbāhubhyām: clear bhy cluster; long ā in bāhu, anuṣvadham: keep retroflex ṣ; avoid inserting extra vowel, kratūn: long ū; dental t, adhvare: dh voiced aspirate; v soft, druṣac: retroflex ṣ; final c unaspirated, camvoḥ: pronounce mv smoothly; visarga-like ḥ at end in pause
Bright, forceful, well-articulated; end-lines slightly grounded to convey ‘settling’.
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