Rig Veda 9.97.41: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 41
Sukta 9.97
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
महत्तत्सोमो महिषश्चकारापां यद्गर्भोऽवृणीत देवान् । अदधादिन्द्रे पवमान ओजोऽजनयत्सूर्ये ज्योतिरिन्दुः ॥
mahát tát sómo mahiṣáś cakārāpā́ṃ yád gárbho ’vṛṇīta devā́n | ádadhād índre pávamāna ójo ’jánayat sū́rye jyótir índuḥ ||
ໂສມຜູ້ທີ່ເຂັ້ມແຂງໄດ້ກະທຳສິ່ງຍິ່ງໃຫຍ່: ໃນຖານະເປັນອັນຕາຂອງນໍ້າ ພຣະອົງໄດ້ເລືອກພະເຈົ້າ. ຜູ້ຊຳລະໄດ້ວາງພະລັງໃນພະອິນທະ; ອິນທູໄດ້ນຳພາແສງສະຫວ່າງໃນດວງອາທິດ.
Word by Word
- महत्
- great, mightyAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (विशेषणरूपेण)Role Karma (अन्तर्निहितं ‘चकार’ इत्यस्य) / विधेयविशेषणRoot महत् (प्रातिपदिक) < मह् (वृद्धौ) / PIE *megʰ-
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (चकार इत्यस्य) / निर्देश्यRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमः
- Soma (the pressed/flowing sacred drink; deified Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- महिषः
- the bull, mighty oneNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्) / समनाधिकरणRoot महिष (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot च
- चकार
- has made, fashionedVerbलिट् (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot कृ (करणे)
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive) — ‘of the waters’Root अप्/आप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- which, that whichPronoun (relative)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध/अन्वय (यद्…तत्) — ‘that which’Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- गर्भः
- embryo, germ; inner essenceNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अवृणीत् इत्यस्य)Root गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अवृणीत
- chose, selectedVerbलुङ् (आगमयुक्त-अorist), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः ‘अव-’Role क्रियाRoot वृ (वरणे)
- देवान्
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदधात्
- placed, set, bestowedVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; उपसर्गः ‘अ-’ (अगमः)Role क्रियाRoot धा (धारणे/स्थापने)
- इन्द्रे
- in IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (लोके/आश्रये) — ‘in/into Indra’Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- पवमानः
- purifying, flowing (Soma)Participle (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अदधात्/अजनयत् इत्यस्य; सोमस्य विशेषणम्) / समनाधिकरणRoot पवमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < पू (पवने/शोधने) + शानच्
- ओजः
- strength, vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (अदधात् इत्यस्य)Root ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अजनयत्
- generated, producedVerbलुङ् (causative aorist: जनय-), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot जन् (जनने)
- सूर्ये
- in the SunNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole Adhikaraṇa (आश्रय/स्थाने) — ‘in the sun’Root सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- ज्योतिः
- light, radianceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (अजनयत् इत्यस्य)Root ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्दुः
- Indu (Soma, the bright drop)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (अजनयत् इत्यस्य; सोमस्य नाम) / समनाधिकरणRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: महत् तत् सोमः महिषः च चकार | अपाम् यत् गर्भः अवृणीत देवान् | अदधात् इन्द्रे पवमानः ओजः | अजनयत् सूर्ये ज्योतिः इन्दुः || 1) महत्तत् = महत् + तत् (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: त् + त् → त्त्). 2) गर्भोऽवृणीत = गर्भः + अवृणीत (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अ-स्वरे परे ‘ः’ → ‘ोऽ’). 3) ओजोऽजनयत् = ओजः + अजनयत् (विसर्ग-सन्धि: अ-स्वरे परे ‘ः’ → ‘ोऽ’). 4) तृतीयपादे ‘इन्द्रे’ सप्तमी-एकवचनः
- ‘अदधात् … ओजः’ इत्यत्र ओजः कर्मरूपेण (द्वितीया) गृह्यते
- मन्त्रपाठे रूपं ‘ओजो’ इति सन्ध्यन्तम्।
The meaning
Outer meaning
A great deed Soma the mighty did: as the embryo of the waters he chose the gods. The purifying one placed strength in Indra; Indu generated light in the Sun.
Inner meaning
Soma as the ‘embryo of the waters’ (apāṃ garbhaḥ) is delight latent in the deep life-substance—hidden within the flowing currents of existence. When it awakens and purifies, it ‘chooses the gods’: it selects and organizes the higher powers in us, calling them forward as active principles rather than distant ideals. Soma then ‘places ojas in Indra’: purified delight strengthens the illumined mind (Indra), giving it victorious energy to overcome coverings. Finally, Indu ‘brings forth light in the Sun’: delight consummates in a solar illumination—clarity becomes self-luminous, stable, and generative.
Universal truth
Delight is the seed-power within life; when purified it summons higher faculties, empowers illumination, and culminates in stable inner light.
Themes
Cosmogony and the waters, Indra empowerment, Solar illumination, Soma as origin-force
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97.39-40 (growth, cosmic advance), RV 1.80-1.83 (Indra strengthened by Soma, thematic)
Significance
This mantra is a compact psychology of transformation: latent delight → psychic choice of higher powers → empowerment of illumined mind → birth of solar light. The ‘seer’ here is the one who witnesses this inner causal sequence.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- mahiṣa (mighty), apāṃ garbha (embryo of waters), pavamāna (purifying), indu (luminous essence)
- Related deities
- Indra, Sūrya, Agni, Āpas (Waters)
Cosmic role
Seed within the waters of existence; awakener of the gods; giver of strength to Indra; generator of solar light.
Inner power
Ananda as evolutionary catalyst: it calls higher faculties, energizes illumination, and manifests stable truth-light.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pavamāna praise within Soma-yajña
म॒हत्तत्सोमो॑ महि॒षश्च॑कारा॒पां यद्गर्भोऽवृ॑णीत दे॒वान् । अद॑धा॒दिन्द्रे॒ पव॑मान॒ ओजोऽज॑नय॒त्सूर्ये॒ ज्योति॒रिन्दु॑: ॥
म॒हत् । तत् । सोमः॑ । म॒हि॒षः । च॒का॒र॒ । अ॒पाम् । यत् । गर्भः॑ । अवृ॑णीत । दे॒वान् । अद॑धात् । इन्द्रे॑ । पव॑मानः । ओजः॑ । अज॑नयत् । सूर्ये॑ । ज्योतिः॑ । इन्दुः॑ ॥
mahat | tat | somaḥ | mahiṣaḥ | cakāra | apām | yat | garbhaḥ | avṛṇīta | devān | adadhāt | indre | pavamānaḥ | ojaḥ | ajanayat | sūrye | jyotiḥ | induḥ
44
4×11 (approx.)
Declarative and climactic; each pāda advances a step in the ‘great deed’.
Felt as progressive intensification—seed → choice → strength → light—supporting a meditative ascent during recitation.
- महत् (mahat)
- Literal: great. Symbolic: a decisive evolutionary leap in consciousness
- महिṣ (mahiṣa)
- Literal: mighty, great bull. Symbolic: sovereign strength of ananda-force
- अपाम् गर्भः (apāṃ garbhaḥ)
- Literal: embryo of the waters. Symbolic: latent ananda within life-flux; seed of divine delight in the vital
- अवृणीत देवान् (avṛṇīta devān)
- Literal: chose the gods. Symbolic: selects/evokes higher powers; psychic choice of the divine principles
- पवमान (pavamāna)
- Literal: purifying. Symbolic: self-clarifying movement of consciousness
- ओजः (ojaḥ)
- Literal: strength, vigor. Symbolic: effective spiritual energy; capacity for victory and action
- इन्द्रे (indre)
- Literal: in Indra. Symbolic: in the illumined mind-power
- सूर्ये ज्योतिः (sūrye jyotiḥ)
- Literal: light in the Sun. Symbolic: truth-illumination established in the solar consciousness
- इन्दु (indu)
- Literal: bright drop, Soma. Symbolic: luminous essence of delight become light-bearing
Cosmic praise within Soma purification: Soma empowers Indra (for victory) and establishes solar light—used to support offerings for strength and illumination.
During purification and offering, especially when invoking Indra’s strength and solar light.
Filtering Soma; offering portions to Indra and others; affirming Soma as source of ojas and jyotis.
Chant to awaken latent joy, strengthen mental clarity and courage (Indra), and stabilize insight (solar light) before important work or decision-making.
mahiṣa 'great/mighty' from √mah 'to be great'. garbha 'embryo' from √gṛbh/√grabh 'seize, contain' → that which is held/contained. avṛṇīta from √vṛ 'choose'. ojas 'strength' from √uj/ojas semantic field 'vigour'. ajanayat from √jan 'beget'.
embryonic consciousness in the waters, election/choice of the gods (alignment with higher powers), ojas as spiritual force
Implicit: choosing the gods and empowering Indra establishes right order of powers in the being.
Light in the Sun = satya’s luminous self-manifestation.
Explicit generativity: seed in waters giving rise to gods’ action and solar light.
Integral Vedānta: ananda as causal seed; devas as functional powers; illumination as culmination.
sunrise/noon (solar culmination)
Waters = vital flow; embryo = latent divine possibility; Indra = illumined mind; Sun/light = stable truth-consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The 'embryo in the waters' cosmogony joined to empowerment of Indra and birth of solar light: Soma is the hidden seed in life-waters that chooses divine allies, strengthens the warrior-light (Indra), and manifests illumination (Surya-jyotis).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √jan 'beget' is a clear PIE inheritance (*ǵenh₁-; cf. 'generate'). The waters-as-origin motif is widely Indo-European; garbha as 'contained seed' expresses archaic container metaphors for genesis.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi contemplates Soma not merely as offering but as origin-power: by invoking Soma’s primal act, the practitioner seeks the same inner alignment—selection of divine forces, strengthening of Indra within, and awakening of solar light in consciousness.
Awaken the ‘seed of delight’ in the vital; let it choose higher movements; empower illumined mind; rest in solar clarity.
Maṇipūra (ojas) → Ājñā (illumination) → Sahasrāra (solar stability)
Inhale feeling ‘apāṃ garbhaḥ’ (seed in waters) in the navel; hold gently on ‘avṛṇīta devān’ (inner choice); exhale on ‘adadhād indre ojo’ (strength to mind). Sit silently on ‘sūrye jyotiḥ’.
Energized clarity; luminous steadiness.
Use 7 or 12 repetitions. After chanting, make a quiet inner ‘choice of the gods’: select one higher quality (truthfulness, courage, harmony) and commit to one concrete action today—this is how Soma’s treasure becomes embodied.
Follow Saṃhitā accents; let each pāda land firmly—especially on mahat, pavamāna, ojaḥ, jyotiḥ.
Clear segmentation: mahat tat somo | apāṃ yad garbhaḥ | adadhād indre pavamāna ojaḥ | ajanayat sūrye jyotiḥ induḥ.
mahiṣaś: retroflex ṣ, final ś before c, garbho ’vṛṇīta: observe avagraha; keep vowel junction smooth, ojaḥ: visarga lightly aspirated, jyotiḥ: ‘jyo’ as consonant cluster, final visarga soft
Climactic and luminous; begin deep, end bright; keep steadiness over intensity.
7
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
