Rig Veda 2.37.4: Mandala 2, Sukta 37, Mantra 4
Sukta 2.37
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Devata
- Draviṇodāḥ
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
अपाद्धोत्रादुत पोत्रादमत्तोत नेष्ट्रादजुषत प्रयो हितम् । तुरीयं पात्रममृक्तममर्त्यं द्रविणोदाः पिबतु द्राविणोदसः ॥
apā́d hotrā́d utá potrā́d amattóta neṣṭrā́d ajuṣata práyo hitám | turī́yaṃ pā́tram amṛ́ktam amártyaṃ draviṇodā́ḥ píbatū drāviṇodásaḥ ||
ഹോതൃയിൽ നിന്നു അവൻ പാനം ചെയ്തു; പോതൃയിൽ നിന്നു അവൻ ആനന്ദിച്ചു; നേഷ്ടൃയിൽ നിന്നു സ്ഥാപിതമായ ഹിതപ്രയോജിത ഹവിസ്സ് അവൻ സ്വീകരിച്ചു. ദ്രവിണോദാഃ നാലാം പാത്രം പാനം ചെയ്യട്ടെ—അമിശ്രിതം, അമൃതം, അമർത്ത്യം; സമൃദ്ധി നല്കുന്ന ദ്രവിണോദസഃയും പാനം ചെയ്യട്ടെ.
Word by Word
- अपात्
- he ate/drank (consumed)Verbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3rd person singularRole (क्रिया)Root अप (उपसर्ग) + √अद् (अत्ति)
- होत्रात्
- from the Hotṛ’s (cup/office)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (ablative), एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot होतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and/alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक निपातRole (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)Root उत
- पोत्रात्
- from the Potṛ’sNounपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot पोतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमत्त
- he became exhilarated/was gladdenedVerbलुङ् (aorist), आत्मनेपद, 3rd person singularRole (क्रिया)Root √मद् (मदति)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक निपातRole (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)Root उत
- नेष्ट्रात्
- from the Neṣṭṛ’sNounपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचनRole ApādānaRoot नेष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अजुषत
- they enjoyed/acceptedVerbलुङ् (aorist), आत्मनेपद, 3rd person pluralRole (क्रिया)Root √जुष् (जुषते)
- प्रयः
- the offering/refreshmentNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot प्रयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- हितम्
- placed/set (forth)Adjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (प्रयः-विशेषण)Role (कर्म-विशेषण)Root √धा (हित = धातु-निष्पन्न क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
- तुरीयम्
- the fourthAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तुरीय (प्रातिपदिक)
- पात्रम्
- cup/vesselNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमृक्तम्
- un-wiped/uncleansed (i.e., not yet wiped)Adjective/Participleनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पात्रम्-विशेषण)Role (कर्म-विशेषण)Root अ- + मृक्त (√मृज्/√मृक्ष् ‘to wipe/clean’; क्त)
- अमर्त्यम्
- immortal/undyingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पात्रम्-विशेषण)Role (कर्म-विशेषण)Root अ- + मर्त्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्रविणोदाः
- the wealth-giver (Druviṇodā)Noun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot द्रविणोदा (द्रविण + √दा ‘to give’; बहुव्रीहि/तत्पुरुष-समास प्रातिपदिक)
- पिबतु
- let him drinkVerbलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 3rd person singularRole (क्रिया)Root √पा (पिबति)
- द्राविणोदसः
- of the wealth-giver (Druviṇodas)Noun/Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (genitive), एकवचनRole (सम्बन्ध)Root द्राविणोदस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘wealth-giving’)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): अपा॑द्धो॒त्रादु॒त पो॒त्राद॑मत्तो॒त ने॒ष्ट्राद॑जुषत॒ प्रयो॑ हि॒तम् । तु॒रीयं॒ पात्र॒ममृ॑क्त॒मम॑र्त्यं द्रविणो॒दाः पि॑बतु द्राविणोद॒सः ॥ → अपात् | होत्रात् | उत | पोत्रात् | अमत्त | उत | नेष्ट्रात् | अजुषत | प्रयः | हितम् | तुरीयम् | पात्रम् | अमृक्तम् | अमर्त्यम् | द्रविणोदाः | पिबतु | द्राविणोदसः । Key sandhis: अपात्+होत्रात्→अपाद्धोत्रात् (त् + ह → द्ध)
- होत्रात्+उत→होत्रादुत (त् + उ → द् उ)
- पोत्रात्+अमत्त→पोत्रादमत्त (त् + अ → द)
- अमत्त+उत→अमत्तोत (अ + उ → ओ)
- नेष्ट्रात्+अजुषत→नेष्ट्रादजुषत (त् + अ → द)
- पात्रम्+अमृक्तम्→पात्रममृक्तम् (म् + अ)
- अमृक्तम्+अमर्त्यम्→अमृक्तममर्त्यम् (म् + अ). Accents retained as in saṃhitā
- pada forms shown without accent marks
The meaning
Outer meaning
Draviṇodāḥ has drunk from the Hotṛ; from the Potṛ he is gladdened; from the Neṣṭṛ he accepts the placed offering. Let him drink the fourth vessel—unmixed, immortal; let the givers of riches drink.
Inner meaning
The verse maps a graded inner reception of Soma-Ananda through distinct functions of consciousness. Hotṛ = the invoking will/voice that calls the gods (aspiration); Potṛ = the purifying discernment that removes mixture (clears the offering); Neṣṭṛ = the harmonizer who leads and distributes rightly (integration). When these are active, the ‘fourth vessel’ appears: a deeper, unmixed delight (amṛktam) no longer compounded with desire, excitement, or inertia. ‘Amartya’ indicates a delight that is not subject to decay—Ananda as a stable consciousness-substance. The plural ‘drāviṇodasaḥ’ suggests that once this state is established, many powers in us become givers of plenitude: thoughts, emotions, and actions begin to yield abundance rather than loss.
Universal truth
Joy becomes immortal in experience when aspiration, purification, and integration cooperate. The highest delight is ‘unmixed’: it is not dependent on outer stimulus and therefore does not fade into reaction.
Themes
graded Soma drinking, priestly channels, turīya (fourth) symbolism, immortal essence
The seer
- Rishi
- Vasiṣṭha
- Lineage
- Vasiṣṭha (Maitrāvaruṇa)
- Other hymns
- RV 7.87 (Varuṇa: purification and release), RV 7.88 (truth-order and inner wideness), RV 7.89 (confession and cleansing toward rightness)
Family tradition
Vasiṣṭha hymns often articulate ordered processes—steps of inner rite, protection, and right distribution of powers under ṛta.
Significance
This mantra is a concise psychology of sādhanā: aspiration (Hotṛ), purification (Potṛ), integration (Neṣṭṛ), culminating in unmixed Ananda (fourth vessel).
The deity
- Devata
- Draviṇodāḥ (Giver of plenitude)
- Epithets
- Draviṇodāḥ, Drāviṇodasaḥ (plural givers), Amartya (immortal, as the vessel’s quality)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni (as Hotṛ principle), Pūṣan/Savitṛ (as guiders and distributors)
Cosmic role
A distributing power of abundance—prosperity, substance, and effective force—released through Soma.
Inner power
Capacity of consciousness to convert delight into enduring strength, clarity, and harmonious action; the ‘wealth’ is spiritual substance.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma rite: drinking/acceptance of offerings associated with Hotṛ, Potṛ, Neṣṭṛ; mention of a ‘fourth vessel’.
अपा॑द्धो॒त्रादु॒त पो॒त्राद॑मत्तो॒त ने॒ष्ट्राद॑जुषत॒ प्रयो॑ हि॒तम् । तु॒रीयं॒ पात्र॒ममृ॑क्त॒मम॑र्त्यं द्रविणो॒दाः पि॑बतु द्राविणोद॒सः ॥
अपा॑त् । हो॒त्रात् । उ॒त । पो॒त्रात् । अ॒म॒त्त॒ । उ॒त । ने॒ष्ट्रात् । अ॒जु॒ष॒त॒ । प्रयः॑ । हि॒तम् । तु॒रीय॑म् । पात्र॑म् । अमृ॑क्तम् । अम॑र्त्यम् । द्र॒वि॒णः॒ऽदाः॒ । पि॒ब॒तु॒ । द्रा॒वि॒णो॒द॒सः ॥
apāt | hotrāt | uta | potrāt | amatta | uta | neṣṭrāt | ajuṣata | prayaḥ | hitam | turīyam | pātram | amṛktam | amartyam | draviṇaḥ-dāḥ | pibatu | drāviṇodasaḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Declarative then imperative; the final command has a strong cadence suitable for culmination (‘pibatu’).
Builds a sense of completion and ascent: from prior stages to the ‘fourth’ consummation.
- होत्रात् (hotrāt)
- Literal: from the Hotṛ. Symbolic: from the invoking flame of aspiration and true speech
- पोत्रात् (potrāt)
- Literal: from the Potṛ. Symbolic: from the purifier faculty that strains out mixture and error
- नेष्ट्रात् (neṣṭrāt)
- Literal: from the Neṣṭṛ. Symbolic: from the inner leader who harmonizes and distributes the force rightly
- प्रयः हितम् (prayaḥ hitam)
- Literal: the offering placed. Symbolic: the prepared psychic substance set in the right place in consciousness
- तुरीयं पात्रम् (turīyaṃ pātram)
- Literal: the fourth vessel. Symbolic: a deeper plane of reception—pure Ananda beyond ordinary triad of mind-life-body mixtures
- अमृक्तम् (amṛktam)
- Literal: unmixed. Symbolic: pure delight free from desire-impurity and restless excitation
- अमर्त्यम् (amartyam)
- Literal: immortal. Symbolic: stable Ananda not subject to fluctuation and fatigue
Soma distribution across priestly channels culminating in a ‘fourth vessel’; emphasizes graded assimilation and a culminating pure draught
At a climactic point in Soma distribution/consumption where distinct priestly functions are ritually acknowledged.
Offering and drinking of Soma cups; affirmation of purity (unmixed) and immortality-quality.
A meditation ‘ladder’ mantra: (1) kindle aspiration, (2) purify motives, (3) integrate parts, (4) rest in unmixed joy.
turī́ya ‘fourth’ signals a symbolic surpassing of the triad, often implying a higher integrative state. amṛ́kta ‘unmixed’ (a- + mṛj/related ‘to mix/defile’ in later usage) conveys purity; amártya ‘deathless’ (a- + mṛtyu) marks immortal consciousness. √juṣ and √mad again show acceptance and exhilaration as ritual-psychological processes.
fourth (turīya) as integrative transcendence over the triad, immortality (amṛta/amartya) as deathless consciousness, purity (amṛkta) as unadulterated essence
Implicit in the staged sequence and the rightful placing (hitam) of the offering.
‘Unmixed’ points to truth of substance—Ananda not adulterated by ego-reaction.
From differentiated functions to a higher synthesis (‘fourth’)—a Vedic anticipation of ascending planes of consciousness.
Integral/Upaniṣadic bridge: graded consciousness culminating in stable Ananda (amṛta).
Pressed Soma = distilled joy; straining = purification; vessel = capacity of consciousness; ‘fourth’ = deeper level beyond ordinary mixture.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- A graded sequence of Soma assimilation through three priestly channels culminates in the ‘fourth vessel’—pure and immortal. Mythically and psychologically, the ascent through ordered functions reaches a higher integrative state (turīya) where the essence is unmingled and deathless.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- amártya ‘immortal’ uses the productive IE privative *n̥-/a- plus ‘mortal’ notion (mṛtyu). The structural use of ordinals (turīya) and ritual distribution reflects an inherited Indo-Iranian tendency to encode metaphysics through liturgical number-symbolism.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi maps the devatā’s satisfaction across successive mediations (invocation–purification–guidance), then offers the culminating ‘fourth’ pure draught; the devatā, as giver of plenitude, drinks and thereby authorizes the final bestowal of draviṇa—fullness of being and immortalizing force.
Move through four steps: invoke (Hotṛ), purify (Potṛ), integrate (Neṣṭṛ), then rest in ‘unmixed’ Ananda (turīyaṃ pātram).
Viśuddha (mantric word/Hotṛ), Ājñā (discernment/Potṛ), Anāhata (integration/Neṣṭṛ), Sahasrāra (unmixed Ananda as descent).
4-part breathing (equal inhale/hold/exhale/hold) to mirror the ‘fourth vessel’ culmination, kept gentle.
Quiet wonder with stable sweetness; non-reactive joy.
On each priest-term, pause briefly: (Hotṛ) ‘I call upward’, (Potṛ) ‘I remove mixture’, (Neṣṭṛ) ‘I harmonize’, then (turīyam) ‘I receive pure delight’.
Chant with Vedic accents as marked (e.g.,,, ); keep udātta elevated; avoid smoothing into song.
Give clear breaks after each priest-source (… | … | …). Emphasize ‘ ’ as the climax.
Maintain consonant clusters: ‘hotrāt’, ‘potrāt’, ‘neṣṭrāt’ without extra vowels, Pronounce ‘amṛktam’ with vocalic ṛ; do not say ‘amritam’ here, Keep retroflex ṭ in (neṣṭrāt) crisp
Clear, slightly solemn, culminating in a brighter tone on ‘amartyaṃ’.
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