Rig Veda 9.76.1: Mandala 9, Sukta 76, Mantra 1
Sukta 9.76
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
धर्ता दिवः पवते कृत्व्यो रसो दक्षो देवानामनुमाद्यो नृभिः । हरिः सृजानो अत्यो न सत्वभिर्वृथा पाजांसि कृणुते नदीष्वा ॥
dhartā diváḥ pavate kṛ́tvyo ráso dákṣo devā́nām anumā́dyo nṛ́bhiḥ | háriḥ sṛjānáḥ átyo na sátvabhir vṛ́thā pā́jāṃsi kṛṇute nadī́ṣv ā́ ||
दिवाचा धारक पुनीत होत प्रवाहित होतो—कृत्यशील रस, देवांचे दक्षत्व, जे नृशक्तींनी आस्वादावे. हरिवर्ण सोम मुक्त होऊन, बलवान अश्वासारखा, नद्यांत (प्रवाहमार्गांत) शिरत, आपली महाशक्ती ‘पाजांसि’ स्वच्छंद घडवितो.
Word by Word
- धर्ता
- the supporter, sustainerNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot धर्तृ (√धृ ‘धारणे’)
- दिवः
- of heaven, of the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः); षष्ठी एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक ‘दिव्/द्यौ’)
- पवते
- purifies/flows (as Soma)Verbलट्; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √पू (पवते; ‘शुद्धौ/पवने’)
- कृत्व्यः
- to be accomplished; effectiveAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (धर्ता/रसः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root कृत्व्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘to be done/fit to be done’, from √कृ)
- रसः
- the sap/juice (Soma-essence)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (धर्ता इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्)Root रस (प्रातिपदिक)
- दक्षः
- the able one; skill/powerNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (रसः इत्यस्य समानाधिकरणम्)Root दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनुमाद्यः
- gladdening/filling with exhilaration (after/along with)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन (दक्षः/रसः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अनु-माद्य (कृदन्त; from √मद् ‘हर्षे/मादे’ with अनु-)
- नृभिः
- with/by men (heroes, priests)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole Karaṇa/सह (instrumental: ‘with/by men’)Root नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- हरिः
- the tawny one (Soma/steed-like)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole KartāRoot हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सृजानः
- being released/streaming forthParticipleपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचन; वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त (आत्मनेपदभावः)Role Kartā (सहायकक्रिया/विशेषण)Root √सृज् (वर्तमान कृदन्त ‘सृजान’)
- अत्यः
- a steed, racerNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा एकवचनRole Kartā (उपमानपद)Root अत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-निपातRoot न (अव्यय)
- सत्वभिः
- with powers/energiesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया बहुवचनRole Karaṇa (instrumental: ‘with strengths/forces’)Root सत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृथा
- in vain; aimlesslyIndeclinableक्रियाविशेषणRoot वृथा (अव्यय)
- पाजांसि
- strengths, mightsNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot पाजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृणुते
- makes, producesVerbलट्; आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचनRole Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)Root √कृ (कृणुते)
- नदीषु
- in the rivers/streamsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी बहुवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot नदी (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- towards, into (intensifier/particle)Indeclinableउपसर्ग (गत्यर्थ/समन्तात्-भाव)Root आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (sandhi-resolved): धर्ता | दिवः | पवते | कृत्व्यः | रसः | दक्षः | देवानाम् | अनुमाद्यः | नृभिः | हरिः | सृजानः | अत्यः | न | सत्वभिः | वृथा | पाजांसि | कृणुते | नदीषु | आ । प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) दे॒वाना॑म् + अनु॒माद्यो॒ → देवानामनुमाद्यः (अ + अ → अ; पदसंयोग)
- (2) न॒दीष्वा → नदीषु + आ (उ + आ → वा; ‘षु’ + ‘आ’ संधौ ‘ष्वा’ रूपम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Soma, the upholder of heaven, streams in purification—an effective essence, the skill of the gods, to be enjoyed by men. The tawny one, released like a steed with strengths, freely fashions his mighty energies as he enters the rivers.
Inner meaning
Soma is called ‘upholder of heaven’: the sustaining delight that keeps the higher consciousness firm and present. As purified essence (rasa) he becomes kṛtvya—effective, capable of accomplishing; he is the divine skill (dakṣa) operating in us and is to be enjoyed/assimilated by the human powers (nṛbhiḥ). Released, Soma is a tawny steed (hariḥ…atyaḥ): vital energy made luminous by Ananda. Entering the ‘rivers’ (nadīḥ)—the flowing channels of consciousness and life-force—he shapes vast energies (pājāṃsi) spontaneously (vṛthā: freely, unforced), meaning the right power begins to act naturally when the essence is purified.
Universal truth
Joy is not a luxury but a support of higher life: when purified, it becomes effective power and skill. Once released into the channels of our being, it organizes energy naturally, without strain.
Themes
Soma as sustaining power, flow and release, inner channels (nadī) symbolism
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.75.3–9.76.6 (nearby pavamāna verses with vessel/flow/channel imagery)
Family tradition
Part of the Soma purification book where the ‘seer’ voice is the experiential tradition of Soma-yoga encoded in ritual language.
Significance
Defines Soma not merely as ecstasy but as the effective essence and divine skill that sustains higher consciousness and organizes energy in the inner channels.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- dhartā divaḥ (upholder of heaven), kṛtvyaḥ rasaḥ (effective essence), dakṣaḥ devānām (skill of the gods), hariḥ (tawny), atyaḥ (steed-like)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Sūrya
Cosmic role
Sustains the luminous heaven and distributes divine effectiveness into the moving streams of life.
Inner power
Purified Ananda as competent force: it becomes skill, stamina, and spontaneous right action in the channels of being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification; pouring into streams/vessels; praise of Soma’s potency
ध॒र्ता दि॒वः प॑वते॒ कृत्व्यो॒ रसो॒ दक्षो॑ दे॒वाना॑मनु॒माद्यो॒ नृभि॑: । हरि॑: सृजा॒नो अत्यो॒ न सत्व॑भि॒र्वृथा॒ पाजां॑सि कृणुते न॒दीष्वा ॥
ध॒र्ता । दि॒वः । प॒व॒ते॒ । कृत्व्यः॑ । रसः॑ । दक्षः॑ । दे॒वाना॑म् । अ॒नु॒ऽमाद्यः॑ । नृऽभिः॑ । हरिः॑ । सृ॒जा॒नः । अत्यः॑ । न । सत्व॑ऽभिः । वृथा॑ । पाजां॑सि । कृ॒णु॒ते॒ । न॒दीषु॑ । आ ॥
dhartā | divaḥ | pavate | kṛtvyaḥ | rasaḥ | dakṣaḥ | devānām | anu-mādyaḥ | nṛ-bhiḥ | hariḥ | sṛjānaḥ | atyaḥ | na | satva-bhiḥ | vṛthā | pājāṃsi | kṛṇute | nadīṣu | ā
Not securely determined from provided metadata
Fast, kinetic imagery (steed, rivers) suggests a driving cadence even when chanted moderately.
Activates energy while keeping it luminous; supports the feeling of power entering and arranging inner currents.
- dhartā divaḥ
- Literal: upholder of heaven. Symbolic: that which sustains higher consciousness and its law
- pavate
- Literal: purifies/flows. Symbolic: clarified awareness moving as a current
- kṛtvyaḥ rasaḥ
- Literal: effective essence. Symbolic: Ananda-essence that accomplishes transformation
- dakṣa
- Literal: skill, capacity. Symbolic: divine intelligence-in-action within the being
- devānām
- Literal: of the gods. Symbolic: belonging to higher powers of consciousness
- anumādyaḥ
- Literal: to be enjoyed/assimilated. Symbolic: to be inwardly tasted and made part of the nature
- hariḥ
- Literal: tawny, golden. Symbolic: luminous vital force; energized consciousness
- atyaḥ
- Literal: steed. Symbolic: dynamic life-force harnessed for the journey
- satvabhiḥ
- Literal: with strengths. Symbolic: with inherent powers/energies of the soul-nature
- pājāṃsi
- Literal: mighty energies, strengths. Symbolic: organized powers of action and realization
- nadīṣu
- Literal: in the rivers. Symbolic: in the flowing channels (nāḍī-like) of consciousness and prāṇa
Pavamāna stotra/śastra environment: Soma’s filtering and running into the collecting vessels, aligned with ‘rivers’ as channels leading to offering.
During pavamāna chants as Soma is released and led through filtering/flowing processes
Chant accompanying the release/flow of Soma; invocation of effectiveness and divine skill
Use before pranayama or focused work: invite ‘effective essence’ to enter inner channels and make action spontaneous and true.
√dhṛ 'to hold' → dhartā: Soma as sustainer of the luminous (div). √pū/√pav 'purify' → pavate. √kṛ 'do' → kṛtvyaḥ, kṛṇute: efficacy and formation. rasa (sap/essence) as distilled consciousness-juice. dákṣa from √dakṣ 'be able/skillful' (Vedic: discerning competence). anu+√mad → anumādyaḥ: delight that follows upon right preparation. √sṛj 'release/emit' → sṛjānaḥ. satva 'strength of being' (not merely 'animal'). pājas 'vigour/ardour'. nadī 'river' as symbolic flow-lines of inner experience.
dakṣa (divine skill/discernment), rasa (essence as experiential delight), support of the luminous plane (div)
Effectiveness (kṛtvya) implies alignment with Ṛta—right action arising from right essence.
Heaven upheld indicates stable truth-consciousness as a foundation for life.
Distribution of the divine essence into the streams of manifestation; organization of energies from within.
Yoga of Ananda and dynamic force: bliss as the basis of effective transformation (Aurobindonian emphasis).
Rivers = nāḍī-like channels; horse = vital dynamism; gold/tawny = illumined prāṇa; heaven = higher mind/supramental openness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as the heavenly sustainer who, once released, runs like a steed into the rivers: a mythic image of the divine essence descending into the manifold streams of manifestation, generating pājas (ardours) without obstruction.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √dhṛ (hold) is a classic PIE root (*dher-). √kṛ (do/make) continues PIE *kwer-/ *ker- type 'make/do' in Indo-Iranian distribution. The horse/steed metaphor (átya-) resonates with widespread IE poetics where speed/force is equated with divine potency.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- Humans (nṛbhiḥ) are not passive recipients: they are the enjoyers/participants (anumādyaḥ) who prepare and receive Soma’s rasa; Soma in turn supplies dakṣa and pājas—capacities needed for the seeker’s effective inner action.
Sense a cool luminous ‘rasa’ descending from above the head, upholding the inner sky; then let it run through subtle channels down the spine and into the limbs.
Sahasrāra (descent) / Suṣumṇā focus
Alternate-nostril (nāḍī-śodhana) gently, then chant once; feel Soma entering ‘rivers’ (channels).
Uplifted, empowered, fluid—spontaneous right action.
When effort becomes strained, return to ‘rasa’: cultivate sweetness/clarity first; then act—let energies organize themselves from that essence.
If precise svara is unavailable, keep a strong lift on dhartā, kṛtvyaḥ, dakṣaḥ, hariḥ, atyo, nadīṣu; land calmly at pāda ends.
Articulate consonant clusters cleanly: kṛtvyaḥ; anumādyaḥ; satvabhiḥ; nadīṣv ā.
dhartā: aspirate dh; retroflex ṭ not present here—keep ‘rt’ crisp, kṛtvyaḥ: vocalic ṛ; ‘tvya’ conjunct, anumādyaḥ: long ā; ‘dya’ conjunct, pājāṃsi: long ā; nasal ‘ṃ’ before s, nadīṣv ā: lengthen ī; ṣ retroflex; separate ‘svā’ smoothly
Bright, energized, steady; avoid shouting—aim for ‘luminous strength’.
14
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
