Rig Veda 9.25.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 25, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.25
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
अरुषो जनयन्गिरः सोमः पवत आयुषक् । इन्द्रं गच्छन्कविक्रतुः ॥
aruṣó janáyan gíraḥ sómaḥ pavate āyuṣák | índraṃ gácchan kavíkratuḥ ||
അരുഷ (ചുവപ്പ്-സ്വർണ്ണ) സോമൻ പവിത്രനായി ഒഴുകുന്നു; പ്രചോദിത വാക്കുകളായ ഗിരഃ ജനിപ്പിക്കുന്നു; ആയുസ്സുനൽകുന്നവനായി, കവി-ക്രതു (ഋഷിയുടെ സംകല്പമുള്ളവൻ) ഇന്ദ്രനിലേക്കു പോകുന്നു.
Word by Word
- अरुषः
- ruddy, tawnyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root अरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
- जनयन्
- generating, producingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्तः (शतृ), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सोमः)Root जन् (धातु) → जनयति (णिच्)
- गिरः
- songs, hymnsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्म (जनयन् किम्?)Root गिर् (प्रातिपदिक) स्त्री.
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (पवत इत्यस्य)Root सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पवते
- purifies/flows (as purified)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root पू (धातु) / पव् (वैदिक प्रयोग) → पवते
- आयुषक्
- for (long) lifeIndeclinable (Vedic form)अव्ययम् (वैदिक रूप)Role प्रयोजन/अधिकारण-भावः (उद्देश्य/हितार्थे: ‘आयुषे’)Root आयुष् (प्रातिपदिक) + क् (वैदिक अव्यय/प्रत्ययात्मक रूप; ‘for life/long life’ अर्थे)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNoun (proper)पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (गच्छन् कं?)Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- गच्छन्
- going, approachingVerb (participle)वर्तमान कृदन्तः (शतृ), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सोमः; ‘going to’)Root गम् (धातु) → गच्छति
- कविक्रतुः
- whose resolve is that of a seer / seer-willedNoun/Adjective (compound epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root कवि (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक) (बहुव्रीहिः)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्यः): अरुषः | जनयन् | गिरः | सोमः | पवते | आयुषक् | इन्द्रम् | गच्छन् | कविक्रतुः || 1) जनयन् + गिरः: अन्त्य-न् परे ग्
- संहितायां ‘न्ग्’ लेखनम् (जनयन्गिरः) — न् + ग → ङ्ग् (अनुस्वार/परसवर्ण). 2) गच्छन् + कविक्रतुः: अन्त्य-न् परे क्
- संहितायां ‘न्क्’ (गच्छन्कविक्रतुः) — न् + क → ङ्क् (परसवर्ण). 3) ‘आयुषक्’ वैदिकपाठे विशेषरूपम्
- सामान्यतः ‘आयुषे/आयुषम्’ इत्यर्थे प्रयुज्यते. 4) स्वरचिह्नाः (उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित) संहितापाठानुसारं
- पदविश्लेषणे मूलरूपाणि प्रदर्शितानि
The meaning
Outer meaning
The ruddy Soma flows, bringing forth inspired utterances; life-giving, he goes to Indra—he whose will is that of the seer.
Inner meaning
The ‘aruṣa’ (ruddy-golden) Soma signifies the luminous delight-force in dynamic movement. As it flows, it generates giraḥ—mantric inspirations, true speech from the illumined depths. This purified ananda moves toward Indra, the divine Mind, to empower the slaying of darkness; Soma’s intention is ‘kavi-kratuḥ’—a will guided by vision, not impulse.
Universal truth
When joy becomes luminous and disciplined by insight, it gives birth to true speech and strengthens the mind’s power to conquer ignorance.
Themes
Soma-to-Indra, inspiration, life-force, seer-will
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.25.1-6
Significance
This verse reflects the Soma-yoga principle: inspiration (giraḥ) is born when delight is purified and offered to the illumined mind (Indra), making will visionary rather than reactive.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (moving toward Indra)
- Epithets
- aruṣa (ruddy-golden), āyuṣak (life-giving), kavi-kratu (seer-willed)
- Related deities
- Indra, Sarasvatī/Vāc (inspired speech, thematic), Agni (inspiration and offering)
Cosmic role
Generator of inspiration and sustainer of life-force; empowers Indra’s victorious illumination.
Inner power
Ananda that becomes creative speech and right will; energizes mental clarity and courage.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering to Indra (Indra’s cups in Soma-yajña)
अ॒रु॒षो ज॒नय॒न्गिर॒: सोम॑: पवत आयु॒षक् । इन्द्रं॒ गच्छ॑न्क॒विक्र॑तुः ॥
अ॒रु॒षः । ज॒नय॑न् । गिरः॑ । सोमः॑ । प॒व॒ते॒ । आ॒यु॒षक् । इन्द्र॑म् । गच्छ॑न् । क॒विऽक्र॑तुः ॥
aruṣaḥ | janayan | giraḥ | somaḥ | pavate | āyuṣak | indram | gacchan | kavi-kratuḥ
48
4 x 12 (approx.)
Energetic flow with a rising ‘goes to Indra’ impetus.
Stimulates clarity and inspired expression; supports confident, bright articulation.
- अरुषः (aruṣaḥ)
- Literal: ruddy, golden-red. Symbolic: dawn-like luminous vitality of purified delight
- गिरः (giraḥ)
- Literal: songs/utterances. Symbolic: inspired speech, mantra, truth-words arising from inner seeing
- आयुषक् (āyuṣak)
- Literal: life-giving. Symbolic: increases inner life-force, longevity of consciousness (not merely bodily)
- इन्द्रम् (indram)
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: illumined mind, lord of luminous force; power of victorious intelligence
- कविक्रतुः (kavi-kratuḥ)
- Literal: whose will is seer-will. Symbolic: intentionality governed by insight; right decision-force (kratu) guided by vision (kavi)
Chanted in Soma pressing/filtration; functionally directs Soma toward Indra as recipient of the invigorating draught.
When Soma is directed toward Indra offerings; in sequences praising Soma’s flow and efficacy
Pressing/straining; libation to Indra; recitation to increase ‘indra-bala’
Chant before study, teaching, writing, or decisive action: invoke purified joy to generate true speech and align will with insight.
: from aruṣá ‘reddish, tawny’ (radiance marker in Soma/Agni diction). : from √gṛ/gar ‘to sing, praise’ (PIE *gwerH- ‘praise’ often adduced). : middle of √pū ‘purify’; specialized Soma semantics ‘flow while becoming pure’. : from √i ‘to go’ → ‘life as duration/going-on’; āyuṣak as ‘bestower of life-continuance’. : ‘effective resolve, power of will’ (often linked with √kṛ ‘do’ in semantic field of efficacy).
kratu (effective will), inspired speech (giras as revelation), āyus (life-force and continuance)
Kavi-kratu indicates will acting according to ṛta rather than desire.
Giraḥ born from Soma are carriers of satya—speech that reveals and effects truth.
Speech-creation: inspired utterance as a formative power in manifestation.
Mantra-śakti oriented Vedism; integral psychology of will, speech, and illumination.
dawn (implied by aruṣa)
A dawn-like inner joy rises and flows, awakening inspired speech and moving toward the illumined mind to empower victory over confusion.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma ‘generates the hymns’ and ‘goes to Indra’: the mythic circuit where Soma, once purified, becomes both the source of inspired speech and the draught that empowers Indra. Psychologically, the clarified delight-force awakens mantra (giraḥ) and then strengthens the indriya-like victorious mind (Indra) for conquest over obscurity.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The participial chain (janayan…gacchan) is a characteristic archaic Indo-European style of action-stacking. The semantic core ‘praise/song’ (giraḥ) has likely PIE connections in the praise/utterance domain; the ‘death/life’ polarity is invoked via āyus (life-continuance) against the background of Vedic pursuit of amṛtatva.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi’s speech is not merely about Soma; it is presented as produced by Soma (janayan giraḥ). The devatā becomes the inner generator of mantra, while the poet’s role is to give it form and direction—culminating in the offering-trajectory ‘to Indra’ where the illumined will (kavikratuḥ) becomes power in action.
Feel a ruddy-golden current of joy rising; listen inwardly for true speech (giraḥ) as subtle mantra; offer that current to the illumined mind (Indra) at the brow center.
Vishuddha (speech/inspiration) linked to Ajna (Indra/illumined mind)
Bhrāmarī (gentle humming) to awaken inner resonance, then silent japa on the exhale
From scattered speech to inspired, truthful articulation; will becomes clear and aligned.
Before speaking or deciding, pause; evoke the ‘kavi-kratu’—let insight lead will. Let speech arise from quiet luminous joy, not agitation.
Maintain clear udātta lifts on key nouns (sómaḥ, índram) as per recensional accents; keep flow through consonant clusters.
Do not rush ‘janayan giraḥ’; allow ‘giraḥ’ to ring—slightly lengthen vowel for clarity (without breaking meter).
: ‘aruṣo’ with retroflex ‘ṣ’, : dental ‘n’, clear ‘ya’ glide, : soft visarga, : split as kavi-kratuḥ; light visarga at end
Clear, bright, slightly ringing (speech-generating tone).
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