Rig Veda 10.16.8: Mandala 10, Sukta 16, Mantra 8
Sukta 10.16
- Rishi
- RV 10.16 funerary seer
- Devata
- Agni
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इममग्ने चमसं मा वि जिह्वरः प्रियो देवानामुत सोम्यानाम् । एष यश्चमसो देवपानस्तस्मिन्देवा अमृता मादयन्ते ॥
imám agne camasáṃ mā́ ví jihvaraḥ priyó devā́nām utá sómyānām | eṣá yáś camasó devapā́nas tásmin devā́ amṛ́tā mādayante ||
Wahai Agni, jangan terbalikkan cawan ini; ia dikasihi para dewa dan dikasihi kuasa-kuasa Soma. Inilah piala minuman ilahi; di dalamnya para dewa yang abadi bersuka ria.
Word by Word
- इमम्
- this (him/it)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अग्ने
- O AgniNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
- चमसम्
- cup; ladle (soma-cup)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot चमस (प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableनिषेध (prohibitive particle), लोट्/विधिलिङ्-प्रयोगेषुRoot मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- वि
- apart; asunderIndeclinableउपसर्ग (separative/distributive)Root वि (उपसर्ग)
- जिह्वरः
- (one) that licks with the tongue / tongue-hurting (epithet)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot जिह्वर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘जिह्वरा’/‘जिह्वर’ = जिह्वा-सम्बद्धः, ‘tongue-destroying/licking’ इत्यर्थे वैदिक-विशेषण)
- प्रियः
- dear; belovedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/अपि-अर्थेRoot उत (अव्यय)
- सोम्यानाम्
- of the soma-ones (those connected with Soma)Adjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRoot सोम्य (प्रातिपदिक; सोम-सम्बद्ध)
- एषः
- thisPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- यः
- who/whichPronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot यद् (संबन्ध-सर्वनाम)
- चमसः
- the cupNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot चमस (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवपानः
- (the) gods’ drinking-(cup); from which the gods drinkAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot देवपान (प्रातिपदिक; देव + पान ‘drinking’ → ‘for gods’ drinking/that from which gods drink’)
- तस्मिन्
- in that (in it)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- देवाः
- the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot देव (प्रातिपदिक)
- अमृताः
- immortalAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
- मादयन्ते
- they rejoice; become exhilaratedVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √मद् (मदँ हर्षे/प्रमोदे)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (pada-splitting): इ॒मम॑ग्ने → इमम् + अग्ने (m + a → ma)
- चम॒सं मा → चमसम् + मा (anusvāra before m)
- वि जि॑ह्वरः unchanged (upasarga + adjective)
- प्रि॒यो दे॒वाना॑म् → प्रियः + देवानाम् (o + d, visarga in pada)
- उ॒त सो॒म्याना॑म् → उत + सोम्यानाम्
- ए॒ष यश्च॑म॒सो → एषः + यः + चमसः (ś + y sandhi; then independent word boundary)
- दे॑व॒पान॒स्तस्मि॑न् → देवपानः + तस्मिन् (visarga before t)
- दे॒वा अ॒मृता॑ → देवाः + अमृताः (visarga before vowel; often realized as o/avagraha in saṃhitā)
- मादयन्ते unchanged
The meaning
Outer meaning
Agni is asked not to overturn the cup (camasā); it is dear to the gods and to the Soma-powers. This cup is for divine drinking; in it the immortal gods rejoice.
Inner meaning
The ‘chalice’ is the prepared inner vessel—mind/heart made fit to hold Soma, the nectar of bliss and immortalizing delight. Agni (will) must not disturb or spill this subtle formation through excess heat, impatience, or restless force; rather he guards the vessel so the gods (higher powers) and somyāḥ (Soma-natures: delight-forces) may drink and become active within the being. The mantra teaches containment: bliss must be held steadily, not wasted by agitation.
Universal truth
Spiritual delight requires a stable vessel. Purifying fire must be balanced with receptivity; otherwise the very force that prepares transformation can spill the gained nectar.
Themes
vessel symbolism, divine drinking, maintaining receptivity, immortal delight
The seer
- Rishi
- Traditional attribution for RV 10.16 varies (funerary seers; Anukramaṇī traditions differ)
- Other hymns
- RV 10.16 (funerary hymn cluster), RV 9 (Soma mandala; thematic resonance with ‘devapāna’)
Family tradition
Placed in the funeral liturgy stream where Agni and Soma motifs intertwine: purification (Agni) and immortalizing delight (Soma).
Significance
The seer emphasizes right balance: the transformative fire must protect the bliss-vessel so the immortals ‘drink’—i.e., higher consciousness can inhabit and act.
The deity
- Devata
- Agni (as guardian of the vessel) with Soma-powers and the Devas
- Epithets
- Priyaḥ devānām (dear to the gods—applied to the cup), Guardian/Holder (functional)
- Related deities
- Soma, Aśvins (healers of the vessel, thematic), Bṛhaspati (keeper of sacred formulation, thematic)
Cosmic role
Agni prepares and protects the offering so it becomes fit for the gods; Soma is the delight-content that sustains divine action.
Inner power
Capacity to keep tapas (fire) from becoming disruptive; to seal and stabilize the inner receptacle of bliss.
In ritual
Where it is used
Antyeṣṭi context; also Soma-symbolism within offerings (camasā as ritual cup)
इ॒मम॑ग्ने चम॒सं मा वि जि॑ह्वरः प्रि॒यो दे॒वाना॑मु॒त सो॒म्याना॑म् । ए॒ष यश्च॑म॒सो दे॑व॒पान॒स्तस्मि॑न्दे॒वा अ॒मृता॑ मादयन्ते ॥
इ॒मम् । अ॒ग्ने॒ । च॒म॒सम् । मा । वि । जि॒ह्व॒रः॒ । प्रि॒यः । दे॒वाना॑म् । उ॒त । सो॒म्याना॑म् । ए॒षः । यः । च॒म॒सः । दे॒व॒ऽपानः॑ । तस्मि॑न् । दे॒वाः । अ॒मृताः॑ । मा॒द॒य॒न्ते॒ ॥
imam | agne | camasam | mā | vi | jihvaraḥ | priyaḥ | devānām | uta | somyānām | eṣaḥ | yaḥ | camasaḥ | deva-pānaḥ | tasmin | devāḥ | amṛtāḥ | mādayante
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4 × ~11 syllables; Vedic cadence with a clear lift on key imperatives (mā vi jihvaraḥ).
Balanced, containing rhythm—less martial, more ‘holding’ and devotional.
Encourages steadiness and careful receptivity; supports a meditative ‘holding’ of inner sweetness without spillover.
- चमसम् (camasam)
- Literal: cup, chalice. Symbolic: Inner vessel of consciousness (heart-mind) capable of holding Soma/bliss
- मा वि जिह्वरः (mā vi jihvaraḥ)
- Literal: do not overturn/spill. Symbolic: Do not let will/energy become disruptive; maintain steady containment
- सोम्यानाम् (somyānām)
- Literal: of the Soma-ones/powers. Symbolic: Forces of delight, harmony, luminous enjoyment in consciousness
- देवपानः (devapānaḥ)
- Literal: divine drinking. Symbolic: Reception/assimilation of higher consciousness and bliss
- अमृताः (amṛtāḥ)
- Literal: immortal (gods). Symbolic: Deathless powers of the soul-nature; enduring luminous states
- मादयन्ते (mādayante)
- Literal: rejoice, are exhilarated. Symbolic: Higher powers become dynamically present through delight (ānanda)
Ritual safeguarding of the offering vessel (outer: cup in rite; inner: steadiness of receptacle for divine delight).
During funeral sequences where offerings and protective invocations are made; also broadly applicable to Soma-offering imagery
Protect the ritual vessel/offerings from disturbance; affirm that the gods delight in the prepared cup
Before meditation or after a strong energetic practice: silently ‘steady the cup’—keep the gained peace/bliss from spilling into restlessness or speech.
camasá ‘cup’ becomes an inner symbol: the receptacle of offering-consciousness. √mad ‘rejoice, be exhilarated’ is the soma-delight root. The prohibition ‘mā vi jihvaraḥ’ safeguards the vessel—psychologically, maintain the steady receptivity so the immortal forces can ‘drink’ the offering of consciousness.
receptacle of consciousness (camasá), ānanda (mād) as divine delight, stability of offering
Ṛta appears as measure: the cup must not be overturned; delight must be held in right order.
Truth is that higher states are sustained by stability, not excitement.
The ‘vessel’ motif echoes creation as a forming of receptacles for consciousness and delight.
Integral-Vedic psychology: gods ‘drink’ as higher faculties assimilating delight in the human vessel.
Fire = will; cup = heart-mind container; Soma/Moon = cooling bliss and luminous delight; drinking = assimilation of higher consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The chalice of immortality: a vessel in which the gods drink and rejoice—symbolizing the human receptacle made fit for divine delight.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mad ‘rejoice/intoxicate’ has Indo-Iranian continuity (Avestan cognates in the semantic field of exhilaration). The ritual lexicon of vessel and drinking preserves archaic sacrificial poetics shared across IE traditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi asks Agni to preserve the integrity of the receptacle so the gods may partake—divine action depends on stable human/ritual containment.
Hold the ‘Soma-cup’ in the heart: cool sweetness + luminous clarity; let Agni guard without agitation.
anahata
Slow inhalation as ‘filling the cup’, longer exhalation to ‘steady’ it; minimal breath retention if calm.
Receptive, cool, contained delight (ānanda held in equanimity).
After any peak experience, practice containment: reduce speech, soften gaze, feel a golden cup at the heart; invoke Agni as gentle guardian so bliss becomes stable realization.
Rigvedic accenting: keep clear udātta on vocatives/imperatives (agné, mā, etc.); avoid dragging ‘camasam’.
Mark pāda pauses; keep ‘mā vi jihvaraḥ’ crisp and directive; soften tone on ‘amṛtā mādayante’.
camasam: ‘ca’ palatal, short vowels clean, jihvaraḥ: aspirate lightly; do not turn into ‘jiv-’, somyānām: ‘myā’ glide clear, devapānaḥ: long ‘ā’ in pānaḥ, mādayante: ‘d’ dental, ‘y’ glide gentle
Cooling, steady, devotional; avoid sharpness to preserve ‘Soma’ mood.
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