Rig Veda 9.76.2: Mandala 9, Sukta 76, Mantra 2
Sukta 9.76
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
शूरो न धत्त आयुधा गभस्त्योः स्वः सिषासन्रथिरो गविष्टिषु । इन्द्रस्य शुष्ममीरयन्नपस्युभिरिन्दुर्हिन्वानो अज्यते मनीषिभिः ॥
śū́ro na dhatte ā́yudhā gabhastyóḥ svàḥ sisāsan rathiró gaviṣṭíṣu | índrasya śúṣmam ī́rayan apasyúbhir índur hinvānáḥ ajyate manīṣíbhiḥ ||
ດັ່ງວີລະບຸດ ພຣະອົງຖືອາວຸດໃນມື; ປາຖະຫາດອານາຈັກສະຫວ່າງ, ທັນທີໃນການຂັບລົດເພື່ອຊອກຫາແສງສະຫວ່າງ. ຍົກຍ່ອງພະລັງອັນຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່ຂອງອິນທຣະໂດຍການກະທຳຂອງສະໝິ, ຢາດນ້ຳຖືກຂັບໄປຂ້າງໜ້າ, ຖືກອົດເສັ້ນໂດຍຄວາມຄິດຂອງຮິຕີ.
Word by Word
- शूरः
- hero, valiant oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot शूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableनिपातRoot न
- धत्ते
- places on, puts on, assumesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot धा (धातु)
- आयुधा
- weaponsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
- गभस्त्योः
- of the two hands/forearmsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गभस्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वः
- heaven, the skyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (अव्ययवत्), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot स्वर्/स्वः (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिषासन
- seeking to rule/command, desiring to directVerbवर्तमान कृदन्त (इच्छार्थ/देशिदेरिवेटिव), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot शास् (धातु) → सिषास् (इच्छार्थ-देशिदेरिवेटिव)
- रथिरः
- charioteer-like; mounted on a chariot; swiftAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot रथिर (प्रातिपदिक)
- गविष्टिषु
- in the battles/contests for cows (booty)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot गविष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- शुष्मम्
- might, vigor, impetuous powerNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शुष्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- ईरयन्
- impelling, setting in motion, raisingVerbशतृ (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot ईरय्/ईर् (धातु)
- अपस्युभिः
- with the active/workful ones; with helpers/priestsNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अपस्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्दुः
- the Soma dropNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
- हिन्वानः
- being impelled; speeding on; urged onVerbशानच् (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot हिन्व् (धातु)
- अज्यते
- is anointed, is smeared (with ghee); is preparedVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot अञ्ज् (धातु)
- मनीषिभिः
- by the wise/poet-seersNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धिविच्छेद): शूरः | न | धत्ते | आयुधा | गभस्त्योः | स्वः | सिषासन् | रथिरः | गविष्टिषु | इन्द्रस्य | शुष्मम् | ईरयन् | अपस्युभिः | इन्दुः | हिन्वानः | अज्यते | मनीषिभिः । मुख्य सन्धि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) गभस्त्योः = गभस्ति- (षष्ठी द्विवचन)
- (2) सिषासन्रथि-रो इति संहितायां: सिषासन् + रथिरः → सिषासन्रथिरः (न् + र → न्र)
- (3) इन्दुर्हिन्वानः: इन्दुः + हिन्वानः → इन्दुर्हिन्वानः (विसर्गस्य ‘र्’ आदेशः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Soma-drop, like a warrior, takes up weapons in his hands; longing for the bright heaven, steady on the chariot-path in the quest for cows. Stirring up Indra’s force by deeds, the driven Indu is anointed by the seers.
Inner meaning
The purified Soma-consciousness (Indu) is seized by the soul like a hero taking up inner instruments (āyudha) in the grasp of disciplined powers (gabhastī). It aspires to svar (the illumined plane) and moves firmly in the chariot-course—symbol of ordered dynamic practice—while seeking the “cows” as rays of knowledge. By will-works (apasyu-bhiḥ) it awakens Indra’s śuṣma (luminous dynamism of the illumined mind). When the seeker’s manīṣā (intuitive thought) consecrates it, the Soma-current is ‘anointed’—stabilized and made efficacious for inner victory.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires both aspiration for higher consciousness (svar) and disciplined action (apas). When delight and clarity (Soma) are consciously cultivated and offered to the illumined intelligence (Indra), the mind’s true power awakens and knowledge-radiance becomes attainable.
Themes
quest for light (cows), empowerment of Indra, consecration through thought
The seer
- Rishi
- Ascribed to the Soma Pavamāna seers of the Ninth Maṇḍala (exact r̥ṣi uncertain)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.76, Rig Veda 9.77
Significance
In the Aurobindonian reading, the Ninth Maṇḍala voices experiential psychology of purification: the r̥ṣi is the inner witness of Soma’s ascent, mapping how delight-consciousness becomes a force that empowers Indra (illumined mind) to win the rays (go).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (in energizing relation to Indra’s śuṣma)
- Epithets
- Indu (the drop), Pavamāna (self-purifying), Go-viṣṭiṣu rathira (firm in the chariot-course of the ray-quest)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Sūrya
Cosmic role
Purifying flow that links earth-life to svar; it feeds Indra and makes illumination effective in the human system.
Inner power
Ananda-current that, when clarified, becomes will-joy: it heightens aspiration, strengthens luminous intelligence, and consecrates action.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification chants (Pavamāna-stotra context)
शूरो॒ न ध॑त्त॒ आयु॑धा॒ गभ॑स्त्यो॒: स्व१॒॑: सिषा॑सन्रथि॒रो गवि॑ष्टिषु । इन्द्र॑स्य॒ शुष्म॑मी॒रय॑न्नप॒स्युभि॒रिन्दु॑र्हिन्वा॒नो अ॑ज्यते मनी॒षिभि॑: ॥
शूरः॑ । न । ध॒त्ते॒ । आयु॑धा । गभ॑स्त्योः । स्वरिति॑ स्वः॑ । सिसा॑सन् । र॒थि॒रः । गोऽइ॑ष्टिषु । इन्द्र॑स्य । शुष्म॑म् । ई॒रय॑न् । अ॒प॒स्युऽभिः॑ । इन्दुः॑ । हि॒न्वा॒नः । अ॒ज्य॒ते॒ । म॒नी॒षिऽभिः॑ ॥
śūraḥ | na | dhatte | āyudhā | gabhastyoḥ | svar iti svaḥ | sisāsan | rathiraḥ | go-iṣṭiṣu | indrasya | śuṣmam | īrayan | apasyu-bhiḥ | induḥ | hinvānaḥ | ajyate | manīṣi-bhiḥ
Likely Jagatī (common in Soma Pavamāna hymns; 4×12 syllables)
48
4 pādas of ~12 syllables each
Forward-driving, expansive cadence suited to movement and ascent
Builds energizing momentum; supports a feeling of ‘taking up arms’ inwardly and pressing onward toward illumination.
- शूरः (śūraḥ)
- Literal: hero, warrior. Symbolic: courageous soul-force taking up sādhanā
- आयुधा (āyudhā)
- Literal: weapons. Symbolic: inner instruments: discernment, will, concentrated effort
- गभस्त्योः (gabhastyoḥ)
- Literal: in the hands/grasp; also rays. Symbolic: grasp of conscious powers; controlled channels of energy
- स्वः (svaḥ/svar)
- Literal: luminous heaven. Symbolic: plane of illumination, higher mind
- गोइष्टिषु (go-iṣṭiṣu)
- Literal: in the quest for cows. Symbolic: seeking rays of knowledge/illumination
- शुष्म (śuṣma)
- Literal: force, vigor. Symbolic: Indra’s dynamic luminous might that breaks obstruction
- अपस्युभिः (apasyubhiḥ)
- Literal: by workers, by works. Symbolic: acts of will and tapas in the inner yajña
- इन्दुः (induḥ)
- Literal: drop (of Soma). Symbolic: stream of delight-consciousness in purification
- अज्यते (ajyate)
- Literal: is anointed. Symbolic: consecrated and made potent by inner offering
- मनीषिभिः (manīṣibhiḥ)
- Literal: by seers/thinkers. Symbolic: by intuitive intelligence that directs the sacrifice
Soma’s consecration and offering that increases Indra’s strength; corresponds to moments where Soma is prepared and 'anointed' for the deity’s empowerment.
During Soma-yajña while Soma is filtered/clarified and offered, especially to Indra
Chanting to accompany pressing, filtering, and anointing/flow of Soma
Use as a mantra for ‘inner consecration of effort’: before meditation or work, invoke purified delight to empower clarity and steady striving.
√dhā 'place/put/hold' → dhatte. gabhasti (hand/ray) reflects Vedic polysemy: physical grasp and luminous beam. go in gaviṣṭi commonly functions as 'ray/light/knowledge' (root √gā 'to go' → go as 'that which moves/extends', hence ray). √īr 'raise, set in motion' → īrayan. apas 'work' (sacrificial/psychic action) → apasyu-bhiḥ. √hi 'impel' → hinvānaḥ. √añj 'anoint' → ajyate; consecration of the flow by manīṣā (inspired cognition).
svaḥ (luminous plane), apas (effective will-works), manīṣā (inspired cognition)
The ‘rathira’ steadiness suggests movement according to r̥ta—ordered progress rather than impulsive force.
Manīṣā (seer-thought) aligns the offering with satya—true perception.
Ascent from mixed vitality to illumined mind through purification of delight.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral yogic psychology (Aurobindo-Kashyap interpretive line)
Soma’s flowing clarity becomes inner armament; the chariot is disciplined practice; cows are recoveries of light-knowledge; svar is awakened higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The heroic arming and chariot-advance in the gaviṣṭi (quest for the cows/rays): an inner battle-journey where Soma, urged on, raises Indra’s śuṣma to win the luminous riches.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhā (place/put) continues PIE *dheh₁-. The martial/heroic formula (śūra-, āyudha-) aligns with common IE poetic diction of arming for victory. The anointing verb √añj has Indo-European parallels in sacral 'smearing/anointing' practices.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seers’ manīṣā and apas (inspired thought and effective works) actively 'anoint' and propel Soma; Soma in turn heightens Indra’s might—revealing a reciprocity where human tapas/work prepares the divine force for decisive illumination.
Consecrate delight (Soma) into disciplined will; invoke illumined mind (Indra) to seek the rays of knowledge.
Manipura (will/fire of effort) harmonized with Ajna (illumined intelligence)
Moderate ujjayi or counted breathing (e.g., 4-4-6) while feeling an upward, clarifying flow
Energized concentration moving toward luminous clarity
Begin with a brief inner ‘arming’: recall your highest aim (svar), then offer your effort (apas) into a current of calm joy (Soma). End by resting in manīṣā—quiet intuitive seeing.
Use Vedic tri-svara (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as marked; key lifts often on deity/force words (Indra, śuṣma, indu).
Sustain udātta clearly; let svarita fall-glide; keep anudātta unforced to preserve the ‘pressing’ cadence.
śūro: pronounce long ū; retroflex ṣ in śuṣma, gabhastyoḥ: aspirate bh; keep -yoḥ as a smooth diphthong, go-iṣṭiṣu: separate go + iṣṭiṣu lightly, manīṣibhiḥ: long ī; visarga as soft breath at end
Bright, steady, slightly forceful (vira) without strain
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