Rig Veda 9.62.17: Mandala 9, Sukta 62, Mantra 17
Sukta 9.62
- Rishi
- Traditionally attributed to a Soma-Pavamāna seer-family
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Gāyatrī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
तं त्रिपृष्ठे त्रिवन्धुरे रथे युञ्जन्ति यातवे । ऋषीणां सप्त धीतिभिः ॥
táṃ tri-pṛ́ṣṭhe tri-vandhúre ráthe yuñjanti yā́tave | ṛ́ṣīṇāṃ saptá dhī́ti-bhiḥ ||
അവനെ യാത്രയ്ക്കായി ത്രിപൃഷ്ഠ, ത്രിവന്ധുര രഥത്തിൽ യോജിപ്പിക്കുന്നു—ഋഷികളുടെ സപ്ത ധീതികളാൽ; ഇങ്ങനെ സോമൻ ക്രമബദ്ധമായ ചേതനാതലങ്ങളിലൂടെ ആരോഹണത്തിന്റെ വാഹനമാകുന്നു.
Word by Word
- तम्
- him / that onePronounपुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- त्रिपृष्ठे
- on/at the three-backed (chariot)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकारणRoot त्रिपृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + पृष्ठ)
- त्रिवन्धुरे
- on/at the three-seated (chariot)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकारणRoot त्रिवन्धुर (प्रातिपदिक; त्रि + वन्धुर)
- रथे
- on the chariotNounपुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role अधिकारणRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- युञ्जन्ति
- they yoke / harnessVerbलट् (वर्तमाने) परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः बहुवचनम्Root युज् (धातु; युजँ योगे)
- यातवे
- to go / for goingInfinitive (Vedic dative-infinitive)दातिव-रूपम् (चतुर्थी-एकवचन-प्रायः) ‘यातवे’ = ‘गन्तुम्/यात्रायै’Role प्रयोजन (उद्देश्य) / समप्रदान-भावःRoot या (धातु; या गतौ) → यातु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) / यातृ-भावः
- ऋषीणाम्
- of the seersNounपुंलिङ्गे षष्ठी बहुवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सप्त
- sevenNumeralअव्ययवत् (रूपं न परिवर्तते); ‘सप्त’ = ‘seven’Role विशेषण (संख्या-विशेषण)Root सप्तन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- धीतिभिः
- with thoughts / with hymnic insightsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot धीति (प्रातिपदिक; √धी ‘to think/understand’ से)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: तम् | त्रिपृष्ठे | त्रिवन्धुरे | रथे | युञ्जन्ति | यातवे | ऋषीणाम् | सप्त | धीतिभिः ।
- ‘यातवे’ वैदिक-प्रयोगे दातिव-इन्फिनिटिवः (√या) ‘गन्तुम्/यात्रायै’ इत्यर्थे। ‘त्रिपृष्ठे त्रिवन्धुरे रथे’ इति सप्तमी-समुच्चयः अधिकारण-भावे (यत्र/यस्मिन् रथे) ।
The meaning
Outer meaning
They yoke him for the journey on a three-backed, three-banded chariot—by the seven thought-powers of the seers.
Inner meaning
Soma, the delight-force, becomes a vehicle of ascent when harnessed to a structured movement (ratha). ‘Three-backed/three-banded’ indicates a triple framework—often read as the three worlds (physical-vital-mental) or three planes of our instrument, bound into one progressive motion. The ‘seven dhītis’ are the seers’ sevenfold inspired intelligences (seven rays of thought) that yoke delight to an upward journey rather than letting it disperse into pleasure.
Universal truth
Joy becomes a path when guided by ordered intelligence; the ascent of consciousness needs both ecstasy (Soma) and a many-rayed discernment (seven dhītis).
Themes
ascent, seer cognition, ritual as inner journey, symbolic chariot
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.62.1-20
Significance
The mantra foregrounds ṛṣihood as ‘sapta dhīti’: seership is a coordinated many-rayed intelligence capable of yoking delight to transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- pavamāna, yāyin (implied: traveler)
- Related deities
- Aśvins (journey/vehicle symbolism), Indra (illumined guidance)
Cosmic role
The moving delight that becomes the carrier of the sacrifice across planes; mediator of ascent.
Inner power
Ananda as a dynamo for inner journey—when harnessed, it lifts the whole being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma procession/flow and offering sequences in Soma rite
तं त्रि॑पृ॒ष्ठे त्रि॑वन्धु॒रे रथे॑ युञ्जन्ति॒ यात॑वे । ऋषी॑णां स॒प्त धी॒तिभि॑: ॥
तम् । त्रि॒ऽपृ॒ष्ठे । त्रि॒ऽब॒न्धु॒रे । रथे॑ । यु॒ञ्ज॒न्ति॒ । यात॑वे । ऋषी॑णाम् । स॒प्त । धी॒तिऽभिः॑ ॥
tam | tri-pṛṣṭhe | tri-bandhure | rathe | yuñjanti | yātave | ṛṣīṇām | sapta | dhīti-bhiḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Processional, ‘journey’ rhythm with strong yoking verbs
Elicits upward momentum and inner alignment; supports disciplined aspiration.
- ratha
- Literal: chariot. Symbolic: organized movement of consciousness; a yogic vehicle
- tri-pṛṣṭha
- Literal: three-backed. Symbolic: triple world/threefold instrument supporting ascent
- tri-bandhura
- Literal: three-banded/three-yoked. Symbolic: triple binding/discipline integrating the parts of nature
- yuñjanti
- Literal: they yoke. Symbolic: apply method; harness force to purpose
- yātave
- Literal: to go, for the journey. Symbolic: inner progression, ascent, pilgrimage of consciousness
- sapta dhīti
- Literal: seven thoughts. Symbolic: seven rays/powers of inspired intelligence guiding the movement
- ṛṣīṇām
- Literal: of the seers. Symbolic: of awakened faculties in us that perceive truth directly
Chariot-yoking imagery accompanies Soma’s movement in the rite; symbolically aligns Soma’s flow with guided ascent by seer-thought.
When Soma is prepared to ‘go’ to the gods (offering movement)
Chant to accompany the directed flow of Soma toward offering points
A mantra for ‘harnessing’ meditation joy to purposeful inner growth (avoid drifting into mere pleasantness).
√yuj ‘yoke’ (PIE *yeug-; cf. Latin iungō). √yā ‘go’ (PIE *h₁ey- ‘go’). dhīti from √dhī ‘think/understand’ (related to √dhā ‘place’ in Vedic conceptuality: thought as a placing). tri- compounds encode a threefold cosmology (often earth–mid–heaven or body–life–mind). sapta ‘seven’ is inherited IE sacral number (PIE *septm̥).
sevenfold inspired thought (sapta dhīti), threefold world/structure (tri-)
The chariot is R̥ta’s structure—right arrangement enabling safe passage across worlds.
Seven dhītis are truth-powers that steer the movement.
Ascent through triple worlds via the force of delight guided by seer-intelligence.
Sapta-ray psychology (Aurobindo): multiple thought-powers integrating the being
Chariot = integrated body-life-mind; journey = progressive widening; reins = attention/discernment; seven dhītis = spectrum of insight.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma yoked on a threefold chariot by the seers’ seven insights: the mythic vehicle motif where divine delight becomes the means of travel/ascent across planes, guided by inspired cognition.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- yuñjanti (√yuj) is a transparent reflex of PIE *yeug- ‘yoke’ (Latin iungō, English yoke). sapta reflects PIE *septm̥ (Latin septem, Greek heptá). The verse exemplifies inherited IE poetic numerology and chariot diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seers do not merely praise; their dhīti functions as harnessing power. Soma becomes effective as a ‘vehicle’ only when yoked by disciplined inspired thought—showing reciprocity: deity provides force; rishi provides form and direction.
Yoke delight to a structured ascent through the threefold nature using sevenfold discernment.
Rhythmic breathing with a gentle internal ‘lift’ on inhale (ascent) and steadying on exhale (yoking)
Aspiring, aligned, upward-moving
Visualize a chariot with three levels (body, vital, mind). On each repetition, feel the ‘reins’ as attentive thought aligning these levels; let joy become the motive power for steady ascent.
Accent pattern not fully derivable here; keep a strong udātta lift on yuñjanti and a forward cadence on yātave; maintain triadic emphasis on tri-pṛṣṭhe/tri-bandhure.
Mark the ‘tri-’ phrases with clear articulation; let ‘sapta dhītibhiḥ’ ring as a concluding seal.
tri-pṛṣṭhe: retroflex ṣṭh cluster—pronounce distinctly, tri-bandhure: dh as aspirated; keep ‘u’ clear, yuñjanti: ñj cluster nasal+affricate, ṛṣīṇām: retroflex ṣ; long ī, dhītibhiḥ: long ī; bh aspirated
Bright, forward, slightly elevated pitch to evoke journey
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