Rig Veda 9.101.9: Mandala 9, Sukta 101, Mantra 9
Sukta 9.101
- Rishi
- Bhṛgu-line seer
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
य ओजिष्ठस्तमा भर पवमान श्रवाय्यम् । यः पञ्च चर्षणीरभि रयिं येन वनामहै ॥
yá ójiṣṭhas támā bhara pávamāna śravā́yyam | yáḥ páñca carṣaṇī́r abhí rayím yéna vánāmahai ||
ഹേ പവമാന സോമാ! ഏറ്റവും ഓജസ്വിയും ശ്രവണയോഗ്യവും (ശ്രവായ്യ) ആയ അതിനെ ഞങ്ങളിലേക്കു കൊണ്ടുവരിക; അതിലൂടെ ഞങ്ങൾ അഞ്ചു ചർഷണികളെ (പഞ്ച-ചർഷണി) വ്യാപിച്ചു താങ്ങുന്ന റയി—സമൃദ്ധി—നേടട്ടെ.
Word by Word
- यः
- who, he whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य-निर्देश (यः = ‘he who’)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ओजिष्ठः
- most powerfulAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (यः … ओजिष्ठः)Root ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्ठ (तमप्-प्रत्यय, अतिशय)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (भर ‘bring’ का)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- hither, forthIndeclinableउपसर्गः (गत्यर्थ/समन्तात्-आगमन)Role क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्ग (भर के साथ)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- भर
- bring!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot √भृ (भरणे)
- पवमान
- O Pavamāna (self-purifying Soma)Participle (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, सम्बोधन, एकवचनम्Role सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root √पू (पवने/शोधने) → पवमान (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय, वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- श्रवाय्यम्
- worthy of fame, to be famedAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म/विशेष्य (तम् … श्रवाय्यम् = ‘him, worthy of fame’)Root श्रवस्/श्रव (प्रातिपदिक) + आय्य (यत्/अणीय-सम्बद्ध ‘worthy of’)
- यः
- whoPronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य-निर्देशRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पञ्च
- fiveNumeralअव्ययवत् (सर्वविभक्तिषु समानरूप), ‘five’Role विशेषणम् (चर्षणीनाम्)Root पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- चर्षणीन्
- peoples, tribesNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (अभि के साथ: ‘towards/over the five peoples’)Root चर्षणि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘men/peoples’)
- अभि
- towards, overIndeclinableउपसर्ग/पूर्वपद-निपातः (अभिमुख्य/अतिक्रम)Role क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्ग (वाक्य में ‘towards/over’)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- रयिम्
- wealth, bountyNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (वना महै ‘we win’ का)Root रयि (प्रातिपदिक)
- येन
- by whom, wherebyPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करण (instrumental: ‘by whom/whereby’)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वना॑महै
- we win, we gainVerbलट् (वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम्Role क्रियाRoot √वन् (वनोति/वनते ‘to win, gain’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (resolved): यः | ओजिष्ठः | तम् | आ | भर | पवमान | श्रवाय्यम् | यः | पञ्च | चर्षणीन् | अभि | रयिम् | येन | वनामहै । मुख्य सन्धि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) ‘ओजि॑ष्ठ॒स्तमा’ = ओजिष्ठः + तम् + आ (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ḥ + t → st; ततः ‘तम् आ’ में संधि-प्रवाह). (2) ‘चर्ष॒णीर॒भि’ = चर्षणीन् + अभि (न् + अ → न् अ; संहिता में दीर्घ/स्वर-समायोजन). (3) ‘येन् वना॑महै’ = येन + वनामहै (सामान्य संहिता-सन्धि). वैदिक स्वर (उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित) पाठानुसार है
- पद-रूप यहाँ पदच्छेद के बाद मूल रूपों में दिए गए हैं।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Bring to us, O Pavamāna, that most powerful and worthy of fame, by which we may win the wealth that reaches the five peoples.
Inner meaning
Call for the strongest force of purified Soma—ananda turned into effective power (ojiṣṭha). ‘Worthy of hearing’ (śravāyya) implies a vibration that the higher planes accept: a mantra-force. With it we win rayi, the plenitude that can support and harmonize the ‘fivefold peoples’—the full complexity of our nature (often read as five sense-natures / five life-powers / fivefold human formation) so that all parts are gathered into the divine order.
Universal truth
Spiritual power must be sufficient to include the whole being: the highest experience is proven by its capacity to organize and uplift every layer of life.
Themes
Boon-request, Fivefold human nature, Soma-strength, Inspirational hearing (śrava)
The seer
- Rishi
- Bhṛgu-line seer(s) (general Pavamāna attribution)
- Lineage
- Bhṛgu
- Other hymns
- RV 9.101 (same sūkta), RV 1.127 (Bhṛgu/Agni lines of force and aspiration—traditional resonance)
Family tradition
Bhṛgu tradition emphasizes effective force (ojas) and the crafting of inner order—apt for ‘bring the strongest’.
Significance
The seer speaks as a guide of integral transformation: not only ecstasy, but power that can carry the whole fivefold nature.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Pavamāna (purifying), Ojiṣṭha (most powerful), Śravāyya (worthy of hearing)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Bṛhaspati
Cosmic role
Soma as purifier and giver of effective strength and plenitude; a force that supports the collective human formation (pañca).
Inner power
Concentrated ananda-power that can descend into life and harmonize all parts of the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering prayers for strength and prosperity (rayi)
य ओजि॑ष्ठ॒स्तमा भ॑र॒ पव॑मान श्र॒वाय्य॑म् । यः पञ्च॑ चर्ष॒णीर॒भि र॒यिं येन॒ वना॑महै ॥
यः । ओजि॑ष्ठः । तम् । आ । भ॒र॒ । पव॑मान । श्र॒वाय्य॑म् । यः । पञ्च॑ । च॒र्ष॒णीः । अ॒भि । र॒यिम् । येन॑ । वना॑महै ॥
yaḥ | ojiṣṭhaḥ | tam | ā | bhara | pavamāna | śravāyyam | yaḥ | pañca | carṣaṇīḥ | abhi | rayim | yena | vanāmahai
48
4 x ~12 syllables
Imperative and force-bearing; strong opening command, then purposeful aim (winning rayi).
Elicits resolve and descent of power; good for invocation when energy is low or scattered.
- ओजिष्ठः (ojiṣṭhaḥ)
- Literal: most forceful. Symbolic: highest spiritual efficacy; concentrated power of realization
- आ भर (ā bhara)
- Literal: bring here. Symbolic: draw down/bring into embodied consciousness
- श्रवाय्यम् (śravāyyam)
- Literal: worthy to be heard/praised. Symbolic: mantra-worthy vibration—truth that resonates with higher consciousness
- रयिम् (rayim)
- Literal: wealth. Symbolic: plenitude of being, powers, and right enjoyment
- पञ्च चर्षणीः (pañca carṣaṇīḥ)
- Literal: five peoples/tribes. Symbolic: fivefold parts of the human system to be supported and unified
- वना॑महै (vanāmahai)
- Literal: may we win. Symbolic: attain by inner conquest and consent to the divine movement
Invocatory verse during Soma filtration/pressing, requesting the strongest, most ‘audible’ (inspirational) Soma for communal and inner prosperity
During Soma flow/offerings when seeking boons of strength and plenitude
Invocatory chant asking Soma to bring the strongest essence
Use as a ‘draw-down’ mantra: before difficult work or inner change, ask for the most effective clarity/joy to enter and organize the whole life.
ojas (in ojiṣṭha): from √uj/√vaj? (Vedic ojas as ‘vital force, vigor’, distinct from bala); superlative -iṣṭha indicates maximal potency. śravāyya: from √śru ‘hear’ with desiderative/gerundive sense ‘to be heard, renowned’; in inner sense, that which is fit to be received by the soul’s hearing (śruti). rayi: semantic range ‘wealth, abundance’; from √rā/√rai ‘to give, bestow, shine’ (poetic polyvalence supports ‘plenitude’). vanāmahai: from √van ‘to win, desire, love’; often used for ‘winning’ boons through right aspiration.
Pañcajana (fivefold human/world formation), Rayi (plenitude as spiritual wealth), Ojas (force enabling victory in the inner battle)
The ‘five’ must be brought under a single right order—ṛta as integration.
Śravāyya implies truth that is accepted by the gods—speech aligned with satya.
Transformation of the many (fivefold) by descent of a single purified power.
Integral yoga reading: descent of force to transform the whole being.
A descending current of strength that permeates the five layers/functions, making the whole system coherent.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as the bearer of supreme ojas who enables the ‘winning’ (√van) of rayi for the pañca-carṣaṇīḥ. Mythically this is the distribution of divine plenitude to the fivefold human collectivity; psychologically it is the empowerment of all layers of the being by clarified delight-force.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √śru ‘hear’ is PIE *ḱleu- ‘hear, be famed’ (cf. Greek klúō, ‘fame’ kleos). The gerundive śravāyya continues the ‘worthy of hearing/fame’ complex central to Indo-European poetics. √kṛ/√bhṛ ‘bring’ (bhara) corresponds to PIE *bher- ‘carry’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi asks Soma to ‘bring’ a specific grade of power—‘most forceful’ and ‘worthy to be heard’—suggesting discernment of inner offerings. The reciprocity is functional: Soma gives ojas/rayi; the human collective (fivefold nature) becomes capable of right victory and reception.
Invoke the strongest purified delight as a descending force; let it pervade and harmonize the fivefold nature.
Maṇipūra (ojas/force) integrating upward with Ājñā (clarity)
Power-breath with restraint: inhale 4, hold 2 (feel ojas), exhale 6; repeat gently 6–12 rounds.
Collected strength and integral steadiness.
1) On ‘ā bhara’ feel a descent into the body. 2) On ‘ojiṣṭha’ concentrate force at the navel/solar plexus. 3) Offer that force upward; then spread it through senses, mind, heart, life, body (your ‘five’).
Keep the imperative ‘ā bhara’ crisp; respect udātta on ojiṣṭha and pavamāna as per text tradition.
Make ‘ojiṣṭhas’ the peak of force; soften slightly on ‘śravāyyam’ to convey ‘worthy hearing’.
ojiṣṭhaḥ: retroflex ṣṭh cluster; do not simplify, pavamāna: v as soft ‘va’, long ā, śravāyyam: palatal ś; double y glide, carṣaṇīḥ: retroflex ṣ; long īḥ
Firm, centered, slightly deeper tone; end with calm assurance.
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