Rig Veda 9.98.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 98, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.98
- Devata
- Soma
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
वयं ते अस्य वृत्रहन्वसो वस्वः पुरुस्पृहः । नि नेदिष्ठतमा इषः स्याम सुम्नस्याध्रिगो ॥
vayáṃ te asyá vṛtra-han vaso vásvaḥ puru-spṛ́haḥ | ní nediṣṭha-tamā iṣáḥ syā́ma sumnásyā-dhrigo ||
ഹേ വൃത്രഹൻ, ഹേ വസു! നിന്റെ അനവധി ധനങ്ങളെ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ഞങ്ങൾ നിന്റെ ഈ (സോമ)ത്തിന്റെ ആശ്രിതരാണ്. പ്രേരണയുടെ പ്രവാഹങ്ങളോടു ഏറ്റവും അടുത്തായി ഞങ്ങളെ സ്ഥാപിക്കേണമേ; ഹേ അധ്രിഗോ, നിന്റെ സുമ്ന (കൃപ)യുടെ ധാരകരായി ഞങ്ങൾ അഖണ്ഡമായ ധൈര്യസ്ഥൈര്യത്തോടെ ഇരിക്കട്ടെ.
Word by Word
- वयम्
- wePronounप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- ते
- to youPronounचतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन (दत्तिव/सम्प्रदान)Role सम्प्रदानRoot त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्य
- of this (one), of himPronounषष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम्/अयम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृत्रहन्
- O Vṛtra-slayerNoun (epithet)सम्बोधन/प्रथमा एकवचन (वैदिक प्रयोग; संबोधनार्थक)Role सम्बोधनRoot वृत्रहन् (प्रातिपदिक; वृत्र + हन्)
- वसो
- O good one / O wealthy oneNoun (epithet)सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- वसवः
- (we) would be the good/wealthy onesNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्याम के साथ) / विधेयRoot वसु (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुरुस्पृहः
- much-desiring, eager for many (boons)Adjectiveप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचनRole विशेषण (वसवः का)Root पुरुस्पृह (प्रातिपदिक; पुरु + स्पृह ‘desire’)
- नि
- down; fully; indeedIndeclinableअव्ययRole (क्रियाविशेषण; स्याम के अर्थ को बल देता है)Root नि (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- नेदिष्ठतमाः
- the very nearestAdjective (superlative)प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग (इषः के साथ)Role विशेषण (इषः का)Root नेदिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; ‘nearest’) + तम (अतिशय)
- इषः
- refreshments, invigorations, boonsNounप्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्गRole विधेय/सम्बन्ध (स्याम के साथ)Root इष्/इषा (प्रातिपदिक; ‘refreshment, impulse, nourishment’)
- स्याम
- may we beVerbविधिलिङ् (optative), उत्तम पुरुष, बहुवचनRole क्रियाRoot अस् (धातु)
- सुम्नस्य
- of favor, of graceNounषष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्गRole सम्बन्ध (अध्रिगो का)Root सुम्न (प्रातिपदिक; ‘favor, grace’)
- अध्रिगो
- O steadfast one / O unshaken oneAdjective (epithet)प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग (सम्बोधनार्थे/विधेय; स्तोत्र-सम्बोधन)Role सम्बोधन/विधेयRoot अध्रिगु (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक विशेषण)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (resolved): वयम् | ते | अस्य | वृत्रहन् | वसो | वसवः | पुरुस्पृहः | नि | नेदिष्ठतमाः | इषः | स्याम | सुम्नस्य | अध्रिगो । मुख्य संधि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) ‘वृत्रह॒न्वसो॒’ = ‘वृत्रहन् वसो’ (न् + व → न्व्, वैदिक संधि-लेखन)
- (2) ‘नेदि॑ष्ठतमा’ = ‘नेदिष्ठतमाः’ (पादान्त/स्वर-चिह्नों के कारण visarga/ः का पाठ-भेद; अर्थतः प्रथमा बहुवचन स्त्री)
- (3) ‘सुम्नस्या॑ध्रिगो’ = ‘सुम्नस्य अध्रिगो’ (अ + अ → आ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
We, longing for your many riches, O Vasu, O slayer of Vṛtra, wish to be placed nearest to the impulses/refreshments (iṣaḥ); may we be holders of your grace, unbroken/steadfast.
Inner meaning
Soma here bears an Indraic force: as Vṛtrahan he breaks the inner obstruction that blocks the free flow of inspiration and energy (iṣ). The seekers ask not merely for gifts but to be set ‘nearest’ to the very streams of impulsion—closest to the source where delight becomes dynamic power. ‘Adhrigu’ signals an unbroken poise: a steadfast vessel that can hold Soma’s grace without relapse into inertia or desire.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress requires proximity to the source of right impulsion and the breaking of inner coverings; grace is retained by steadiness and integrity of bearing.
Themes
Vṛtra-slaying (inner), Grace and impulsion, Aspiration for proximity, Soma as obstacle-breaker
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.98.1-11
Significance
The mantra shows the interchangeability of Soma and Indra functions in the inner sense: Delight becomes a warrior-force against obstruction, placing the seeker near the true impulsions (iṣaḥ) that lead the yoga.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma (Indu) with Vṛtrahan aspect
- Epithets
- vasu, vṛtrahan
- Related deities
- Indra, Maruts, Agni
Cosmic role
As purified Soma, he empowers the gods and the sacrificer; as Vṛtrahan, he releases blocked waters/energies and restores the flow of inspiration.
Inner power
Ananda acting as force: joy that becomes courage, clarity, and victorious momentum against inertia.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification/pressing; invoking Soma’s power to release and empower
व॒यं ते॑ अ॒स्य वृ॑त्रह॒न्वसो॒ वस्व॑: पुरु॒स्पृह॑: । नि नेदि॑ष्ठतमा इ॒षः स्याम॑ सु॒म्नस्या॑ध्रिगो ॥
व॒यम् । ते॒ । अ॒स्य । वृ॒त्र॒ऽह॒न् । वसो॒ इति॑ । वस्वः॑ । पु॒रु॒ऽस्पृहः॑ । नि । नेदि॑ष्ठऽतमाः । इ॒षः । स्याम॑ । सु॒म्नस्य॑ । अ॒ध्रि॒गो॒ इत्य॑ध्रिऽगो ॥
vayam | te | asya | vṛtra-han | vaso iti | vasvaḥ | puru-spṛhaḥ | ni | nediṣṭha-tamāḥ | iṣaḥ | syāma | sumnasya | adhrigo ity adhri-go
44
4 × ~11 (probable)
Martial yet supple; suited to aspiration and victory over obstruction.
Energizes will and confidence; evokes a sense of drawing nearer to a living current of guidance.
- वृत्रहन् (vṛtrahan)
- Literal: slayer of Vṛtra. Symbolic: power that breaks the Coverer: subconscious resistance, inertia, obscurity
- वसो/वसु (vaso/vasu)
- Literal: Vasu, good/wealth-giver. Symbolic: the luminous power that supports right increase and inner riches
- पुरुस्पृहः (puruspṛhaḥ)
- Literal: desiring many things. Symbolic: intense aspiration for manifold inner riches (not scattered desire when purified)
- इषः (iṣaḥ)
- Literal: refreshments, impulses, energizing currents. Symbolic: streams of inspiration and dynamic force guiding right action
- नेदिष्ठतमाः (nediṣṭhatamāḥ)
- Literal: most nearest. Symbolic: intimacy with the source-plane of inspiration; closeness to the divine current
- सुम्न (sumná)
- Literal: grace, favor. Symbolic: divine consent that stabilizes progress
- अध्रिगो (adhrigo)
- Literal: unbroken, not slipping/unstumbling. Symbolic: steadfast holding capacity; unwavering inner posture
Petition for closeness to iṣ (impulsions) and sumná (grace) through Soma; vṛtrahan links Soma’s ecstasy to Indra-like obstruction-breaking in the inner battle.
In Pavamāna sequences during Soma flow and praise
Petition for riches and placement near ‘iṣaḥ’; affirmation of Soma’s vṛtrahan potency
Chant when facing lethargy, doubt, or blockage; use as a prayer to be aligned with right impulses rather than reactive drives.
vṛtra-han: vṛtra ‘covering/obstruction’ from √vṛ ‘cover’ + han ‘strike, slay’ → inner: destroyer of ignorance-cover. iṣ- ‘impulsion/nourishment’ is a key RV term for dynamic force and sustenance. adhri-go is obscure; often linked to ‘not held back / not broken’; philologically uncertain, kept as a steadfastness epithet.
battle of light vs covering (Vṛtra as ignorance), grace (sumná) as enabling power, establishment near the source of impulsion (iṣ)
Being ‘nearest to iṣaḥ’ implies alignment with ṛta-moving currents rather than ego-impulses.
Sumná (grace) supports truth-holding; adhrigu indicates fidelity to the attained light.
Release of the waters/energies from the Coverer—creation as liberation of blocked delight and force.
Integral psychological Vedism: transformation of desire into aspiration, obstruction into release.
Vṛtra is the inner knot; the released waters are liberated energies and inspirations; Soma is the delight-force that accomplishes the release.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Vṛtra-slaying transposed: Soma is invoked as breaker of the covering, not as a thunder-god but as delight-power that dissolves obstruction. The request is not for external victory but for nearness to iṣ—continuous inner impulsion sustained by grace.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √han ‘slay’ reflects PIE *gʷhen- ‘strike, kill’ (cf. Greek -phonos, Sanskrit han-). vṛ- ‘cover’ resonates with IE ‘covering’ roots; the obstruction-as-covering metaphor is archaic and widespread in IE poetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi asks to be ‘set down nearest’ to Soma’s streams of force (iṣ), implying disciplined receptivity. Soma’s side of the pact is to break coverings (vṛtra) and grant sumná (grace) so the aspirant can remain steadfast (adhri-go) in the sustained movement.
Invoke Soma as the force that breaks inner resistance and seats you near right impulsion.
Manipura (victorious force) moving upward to Ajna (right direction/impulsion)
Brisk-energetic 3–6 rounds of kapalabhati (if appropriate), then settle into slow breathing while repeating the mantra.
Dynamic clarity: energized, directed, and steady.
Name the ‘coverer’ (habit, fear, inertia). On each repetition, feel it crack; then feel a clean current (iṣ) moving from navel to forehead, guiding action without haste.
Mixed udatta/anudatta/svarita; śākhā-specific svara marks needed for precision.
Emphasize vṛtrahan, nediṣṭhatamāḥ, iṣaḥ, sumnasya, adhrigo; keep compound boundaries clear (puru-spṛhaḥ).
vṛtrahan: vocalic ṛ and clear aspirate h, puruspṛhaḥ: keep spṛh with vocalic ṛ; do not insert extra vowel, nediṣṭhatamāḥ: retroflex ṣṭh cluster—articulate carefully, adhrigo: dh + r cluster; keep ‘go’ as long o? with clear g
Steady and forceful, without harshness; end with firmness on adhrigo.
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