Rig Veda 5.43.4: Mandala 5, Sukta 43, Mantra 4
Sukta 5.43
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Soma
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh/Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
दश क्षिपो युञ्जते बाहू अद्रिं सोमस्य या शमितारा सुहस्ता । मध्वो रसं सुगभस्तिर्गिरिष्ठां चनिश्चदद्दुदुहे शुक्रमंशुः ॥
dáśa kṣípo yuñjate bāhū́ ádrim sómasya yā́ śamitā́rā suhástā | mádhvo rásaṃ sugábhastir giriṣṭhā́ṃ cániścadad duduhe śukrám aṃśúḥ ||
സോമത്തിന്റെ അദ്രി (പീഷണശില)യിലേക്കു പത്തു വേഗവാന്മാർ തങ്ങളുടെ ഭുജങ്ങളെ ചേർക്കുന്നു—കൗശലമുള്ള, സുഹസ്ത ശമിതാരർ. മധുമയ രസത്തിൽ നിന്ന് സുഗഭസ്തിയായ അംശു, ഗിരിഷ്ഠമായ ഉറവിടത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ദീപ്തമായ ധാരയെ ദോഹിച്ച് പുറത്തെടുക്കുന്നു; അത് ഒഴുകി തന്റെ പഥത്തിൽ പതിയുന്നു.
Word by Word
- दश
- tenNoun (Numeral)अव्ययवत् (संख्याशब्दः), here used as numeral ‘ten’Role विशेषण (संख्या-विशेषण) of क्षिपःRoot दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- क्षिपः
- hands/armsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (वैदिक), प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role Kartā (with युञ्जते)Root क्षिप् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘hand/arm’ in Vedic usage)
- युञ्जते
- they yoke / they set to workVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनम्Role Kriyā (predicate)Root युज्
- बाहू
- the two armsNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया द्विवचनम्Role Karma (object of युञ्जते)Root बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अद्रिम्
- the stone (press-stone)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role Karma (object understood with ‘grasp/press’; linked with सोम-pressing)Root अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive: of Soma)Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- याः
- who/which (fem. pl.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role Kartā (relative pronoun referring to क्षिपः/हस्ताः)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- शमितारः
- the preparers / arrangersNoun (agent)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role Kartā-apposition (to याः / क्षिपः)Root शमितृ (प्रातिपदिक; agent noun from √शम्/√शम् ‘to quiet/prepare’; Vedic: ‘preparers, arrangers’)
- सुहस्ताः
- having good hands, deft-handedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role विशेषण (of शमितारः / the hands/agents)Root सु-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; su + hasta)
- मध्वः
- of sweetness / of honeyNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (वैदिक), षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (genitive: of honey/sweetness)Root मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
- रसम्
- juice, sapNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role Karma (object of दुहे)Root रस (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुगभस्तिः
- with good grasp/hand, strong-handedAdjective (substantival)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role Kartā (subject of दुहे; epithet of अंशुः)Root सु-गभस्ति (प्रातिपदिक; su + gabhasti ‘hand/forearm, grasp’)
- गिरिष्ठाम्
- mountain-standing, mountain-dwellingAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role Karma (object/goal with चनिश्चदत्: ‘reached the mountain-dwelling [one/thing]’)Root गिरि-स्था (प्रातिपदिक; ‘standing on the mountain’)
- चनिश्चदत्
- he reached / he came toVerbलङ्/इञ्ज्-प्रायः (वैदिक भूत/आओरिस्ट-प्रयोग), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनम्Role Kriyā (with subject सुगभस्तिः/अंशुः)Root चनि-√सद् (Vedic compound verb; ‘to settle upon, reach, come to’)
- दुदुहे
- he milked out / drew forthVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनम्Role Kriyā (main: ‘milked out’)Root दुह्
- शुक्रम्
- bright, pureAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role Karma (qualifier/object with implied ‘juice’: bright/pure)Root शुक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अंशुः
- the Soma-stalk / the ray (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role Kartā (subject of चनिश्चदत्, दुदुहे)Root अंशु (प्रातिपदिक; ‘ray; Soma-stalk/pressed Soma’)
Sandhi Notes
- पाठे ‘दश॒ क्षिपो॑’ इति क्षिपः (प्रथमा बहु.)। ‘बा॒हू’ द्वितीया-द्विवचनम् कर्म। ‘सोम॑स्य॒ या’ = सोमस्य + याः (सन्धौ विसर्ग-लोपः/स्वर-समायोजनम्)। ‘मध्वो॒ रसं॑’ = मध्वः + रसम् (ओ-आदेशः: मधु-षष्ठी एक. मध्वः)। ‘सुगभ॑स्तिर्गिरि॒ष्ठां’ = सुगभस्तिः + गिरिष्ठाम् (इति पदसीमा)। ‘चनिश्चदद्दुदुहे’ = चनिश्चदत् + दुदुहे (त् + द् → द्द् संधिः)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Ten swift workers set their arms to the Soma-pressing stone; skilled, good-handed shapers press out the honeyed juice. A bright Soma-stream is “milked” from the mountain-held source and made to flow into its channel.
Inner meaning
The “ten swift ones” are the ten powers of the embodied being (five senses + five prāṇic/vital currents) yoked to the inner discipline (yoga) that presses out Soma—Ananda/immortal delight—from the firm foundation (adri, the “stone” of concentrated will). The “beam” (aṃśu) is the concentrated ray of consciousness that draws out the luminous essence from the hidden height (giriṣṭhāṃ: the soul’s summit), and sets it into a steady movement (caniścadat) within the nature.
Universal truth
When the whole instrument of the human being is unified and skillfully applied, the hidden delight of existence can be extracted from the ‘mountain’ of experience and made to flow as a stable, luminous current that nourishes life and mind.
Themes
Soma-pressing, Transformation, Release of delight, Symbolic alchemy
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- RV 5.43 (whole hymn), RV 5.44, RV 5.45, RV 5.46
Family tradition
Atri and the Atris: seers of inner fire and luminous order; hymns often move from sacrificial images to psychological realizations (Agni/Soma/Indra as inner powers).
Significance
Atri’s vision frequently emphasizes the crafting of the inner sacrifice—skill (dakṣa), right arrangement, and the extraction of Soma (Ananda) through concentrated will and illumined action.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma
- Epithets
- madhu (honeyed), śukra (bright), aṃśu (ray/beam), rasa (essence)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Aśvins
Cosmic role
Soma is the delight-principle that sustains gods and worlds; the immortalizing nectar that empowers illumination and right action.
Inner power
Ananda that clarifies mind, uplifts vital nature, and makes the inner sacrifice effective; a luminous sweetness that stabilizes aspiration.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing (Soma-yajña) imagery; invocation within a multi-deity hymn sequence
दश॒ क्षिपो॑ युञ्जते बा॒हू अद्रिं॒ सोम॑स्य॒ या श॑मि॒तारा॑ सु॒हस्ता॑ । मध्वो॒ रसं॑ सु॒गभ॑स्तिर्गिरि॒ष्ठां चनि॑श्चदद्दुदुहे शु॒क्रमं॒शुः ॥
दश॑ । क्षिपः॑ । यु॒ञ्ज॒ते॒ । बा॒हू इति॑ । अद्रि॑म् । सोम॑स्य । या । श॒मि॒तारा॑ । सु॒ऽहस्ता॑ । मध्वः॑ । रस॑म् । सु॒ऽगभ॑स्तिः । गि॒रि॒ऽस्थाम् । चनि॑श्चदत् । दु॒दु॒हे॒ । शु॒क्रम् । अं॒शुः ॥
daśa | kṣipaḥ | yuñjate | bāhū iti | adrim | somasya | yā | śamitārā | su-hastā | madhvaḥ | rasam | su-gabhastiḥ | giri-sthām | caniścadat | duduhe | śukram | aṃśuḥ
44
4 pādas of ~11 syllables (with Vedic variations)
Driving, work-like cadence suited to dynamic inner effort and extraction of essence.
Energizes disciplined concentration; supports a sense of ‘pressing through’ resistance to release a bright current of Ananda.
- दश (daśa)
- Literal: ten. Symbolic: totality of embodied powers; the full human instrument brought into harmony
- क्षिपः (kṣipaḥ)
- Literal: swift ones. Symbolic: quick energies—senses/prāṇas—mobilized for inner work
- युञ्जते (yuñjate)
- Literal: they yoke, join. Symbolic: yoga: unification and disciplined application of faculties
- अद्रि (adri)
- Literal: stone, pressing-stone. Symbolic: firm will/concentration; the stable base that can ‘press’ essence from experience
- सोम (soma)
- Literal: Soma-juice. Symbolic: divine Ananda/bliss; immortalizing delight
- शमितारः (śamitāraḥ)
- Literal: shapers/arrangers, skilled operators. Symbolic: right discernment and perfected inner craftsmanship (dakṣa) guiding the process
- मधु (madhu) / मध्वः (madhvaḥ)
- Literal: honey, sweetness. Symbolic: sweet Ananda; the savor of truth-consciousness
- रस (rasa)
- Literal: sap, essence. Symbolic: quintessence of experience transmuted into spiritual nourishment
- अंशु (aṃśu)
- Literal: beam, ray (of Soma). Symbolic: ray of awakened consciousness drawing out delight
- गिरिष्ठाम् (giriṣṭhām)
- Literal: standing on/in the mountain. Symbolic: source in the higher being; delight held in the ‘summit’ of consciousness
Soma pressing description (abhisava): evokes the coordinated priestly actions and the release of soma-rasa; used in Soma ritual recitation contexts.
During Soma pressing/libations; hymnic recitation accompanying extraction and offering
Pressing Soma, filtering, libation to deities
Use as a contemplation on integrating senses/prāṇa into a single yogic effort to ‘extract’ calm joy from life’s pressures.
√yuj ‘yoke’ (joining forces) indicates disciplined integration. adrí ‘stone’ is the press; innerly the firm will/pressure that releases essence. √duh ‘milk’ is central to Vedic imagery: extracting luminous essence from concealed source. aṃśú ‘ray/strand’ bridges plant and light: Soma as both pressed juice and luminous beam. giri-stha ‘mountain-held’ suggests the higher plane where delight is stored before descent.
Extraction of essence (rasa), Discipline/integration (yuj), Light as aṃśu (ray)
The image of the stream ‘settling into its course’ suggests delight must be guided into right order (ṛta) rather than scattered.
Luminous (śukra) essence indicates truth-substance revealed when the being is rightly worked upon.
Hidden sweetness drawn from the ‘mountain’ evokes manifestation of delight from concealed higher planes into active life.
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-psychological reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): gods as powers of consciousness.
Mountain = higher consciousness; stone = concentrated will; stream = continuous experience of Ananda; honey = sweetness of truth-consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The milking/pressing of Soma from the mountain-held source: the concealed delight/light is released by disciplined action. Innerly, concentrated will (adri) and coordinated energies (ten ‘swift ones’) extract the bright essence for illumination.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yuj is PIE *yeug- ‘yoke’ (cf. Lat. iungō, Eng. yoke). √duh ‘milk’ has IE parallels in milking/extraction semantics (exact cognates are limited but the pastoral-poetic motif is pan-IE).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer witnesses and verbalizes the rite as an inner technology: by naming the process, he aligns human action with Soma’s luminous emergence, turning ritual pressing into a psychological extraction of essence.
Unify the tenfold instrument (senses+prāṇa) and ‘press’ experience with steady attention to release calm joy.
Ājñā (focus/beam) and Sahasrāra (mountain-source)
Nadi-śodhana or slow equal breathing (sama-vṛtti) while sustaining a single-pointed will (adri).
Collected, luminous, quietly blissful (Ananda-current).
Begin with sensing scattered energies; gather them into one intention. On each exhale, ‘press’ gently into the heart/brain stillness; on inhale, receive a bright sweetness, letting it settle into a steady inner flow.
Follow Śākala śākhā accenting as marked (udātta/anudātta/svarita); key lifts often fall on action-verbs (yuñjate, duduhe) and luminous terms (śukram).
Keep udātta clear and slightly raised; avoid flattening svarita; maintain pāda pauses after ‘suhastā’ and at verse end.
kṣ in kṣipo: crisp conjunct (k + ṣ), adriṃ: nasalized ‘ṃ’ before pause, duduhe: repeat ‘du’ lightly, not heavy, aṃśuḥ: anusvāra before ś, and final visarga audible but soft
Bright, steady, ‘pressed’ clarity—firm but not harsh.
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