Rig Veda 9.69.10: Mandala 9, Sukta 69, Mantra 10
Sukta 9.69
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्दविन्द्राय बृहते पवस्व सुमृळीको अनवद्यो रिशादाः । भरा चन्द्राणि गृणते वसूनि देवैर्द्यावापृथिवी प्रावतं नः ॥
índav índrāya bṛhaté pavasva su-mṛḷī́ko anavadyó riśā́dāḥ | bhárā candrā́ṇi gṛṇaté vásūni deváir dyā́vā-pṛthivī prá avataṃ naḥ ||
Wahai titisan Soma, sucikanlah dirimu untuk Indra Yang Mahabesar—yang pemurah, tanpa cela, pemusnah bahaya. Bawalah kepada penyanyi kekayaan yang bercahaya; dan kamu, Langit dan Bumi bersama para dewa, majukanlah serta lindungilah kami.
Word by Word
- इन्दु
- Soma (the drop)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्दु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्राय
- for IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- बृहते
- to the greatAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-एकवचन (इन्द्राय विशेषणम्)Role सम्प्रदानRoot बृहन्त्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पवस्व
- purify/flow (forth)!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे); मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपदRole (क्रिया)Root पू (पवते) धातु
- सुमृळीकः
- very gracious, kindlyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (इन्दोः विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot सु-मृळीक- (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहिः/कर्मधारयः)
- अनवद्यः
- blamelessAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (इन्दोः विशेषणम्)Role कर्तृRoot अनवद्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- रिशादाः
- devourer of harmers; destroyer of foesAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन (इन्दोः विशेषणम्; वैदिके -आः प्रथमा-एकवचनः)Role कर्तृRoot रिशादस्- (प्रातिपदिक; ‘रिश’+‘अद्’)
- भर
- bring!Verbलोट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root भृ (भरति) धातु
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययRole (सम्बन्ध)Root च (अव्यय)
- चन्द्राणि
- bright (things), splendorsNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot चन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- गृणते
- to the singer/praiser (who praises)Verb (participle-like finite form)लट्; तृतीय-पुरुष; एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (दत्तिवाचकः: ‘to the praiser’ इत्यर्थे दत्त-सम्बन्धः)Role सम्प्रदानRoot गृ (गृणाति/गृणते) धातु
- वसूनि
- goods, richesNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot वसु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- देवैः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया-बहुवचनRole करणRoot देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- द्यावापृथिवी
- Heaven-and-EarthNoun (dual compound)स्त्रीलिङ्ग-द्विवचन (द्वन्द्वे); प्रथमा- द्विवचनRole कर्तृRoot द्यावा-पृथिवी (द्वन्द्व-समास; प्रातिपदिक)
- प्रावताम्
- let (them) protect/aidVerbलोट्; तृतीय-पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root अव् (अवति) धातु + प्र-
- नः
- us/ourPronounषष्ठी/द्वितीया-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक); अत्र ‘अस्माकम्/अस्मान्’—प्रायः ‘us/our’Role कर्म/सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: इन्दु | इन्द्राय | बृहते | पवस्व | सुमृळीकः | अनवद्यः | रिशादाः | भर | च | चन्द्राणि | गृणते | वसूनि | देवैः | द्यावापृथिवी | प्रावताम् | नः । 1) इन्दविन्द्राय = इन्दु + इन्द्राय (उकारस्य वकारादेशः/संयोगः)। 2) रिशादा: = रिशादाः (विसर्ग/आः-चिह्नः पदान्ते)। 3) दे॒वैर्द्या॑वापृथिवी = देवैः + द्यावापृथिवी (विसर्गस्य रुत्व/रेफः)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
A Soma-drop is urged to purify itself for Indra, described as vast and beneficent; it is asked to bring shining riches to the singer, while Heaven and Earth together with the gods are invoked to protect.
Inner meaning
Soma (the delight-principle) is called to become clear and refined for the “Vast Indra”—the illumined, expansive divine Mind. When delight is purified (freed from mixed desire and harm), it becomes a force that destroys inner injury (riśa) and brings luminous energies (candrāṇi vasūni) to the aspiring consciousness that chants/affirms the Truth. Dyāvā-Pṛthivī (higher and lower consciousness, mind and embodied nature) are asked to support the integration: the descent of light and the stability of realization in life.
Universal truth
When joy is purified by truth and aspiration, it becomes a protective power: it widens the mind, removes inner harm, and attracts luminous resources; spiritual realization must be upheld both above (vision) and below (life-nature).
Themes
Concluding benediction, Healing purification, Vastness and expansion, Cosmic support (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.69 (Pavamāna Soma sequence), Rig Veda 9.70 (continuation of the same thematic stream)
Significance
The seer-voice here is archetypal rather than personal: the sacrificer-consciousness calling for purified Ananda to serve the illumined Mind (Indra) and to stabilize the descent across Heaven-and-Earth (dyāvā-pṛthivī).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (with Indra; also Dyāvā-Pṛthivī invoked)
- Epithets
- indu, pavamāna, sumṛḻīka, anavadya, riśādāḥ, bṛhate (Indra as Vast)
- Related deities
- Indra, Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, Viśve Devāḥ (implied by devaiḥ)
Cosmic role
Soma as the purifier and carrier of delight that nourishes the gods; Indra as the wielder of luminous force; Heaven-and-Earth as the sustaining frame of manifestation.
Inner power
Purified delight that widens the mind (Indra) and protects the embodied journey (dyāvā-pṛthivī), turning joy into a truth-force that repels harm.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma Pavamāna chanting during Soma pressing and purification (pavamāna-stotra context)
इन्द॒विन्द्रा॑य बृह॒ते प॑वस्व सुमृळी॒को अ॑नव॒द्यो रि॒शादा॑: । भरा॑ च॒न्द्राणि॑ गृण॒ते वसू॑नि दे॒वैर्द्या॑वापृथिवी॒ प्राव॑तं नः ॥
इन्दो॒ इति॑ । इन्द्रा॑य । बृ॒ह॒ते । प॒व॒स्व॒ । सु॒ऽमृ॒ळी॒कः । अ॒न॒व॒द्यः । रि॒शादाः॑ । भर॑ । च॒न्द्राणि॑ । गृ॒ण॒ते । वसू॑नि । दे॒वैः । द्या॒वा॒पृ॒थि॒वी॒ इति॑ । प्र । अ॒व॒त॒म् । नः॒ ॥
indo iti | indrāya | bṛhate | pavasva | su-mṛḷīkaḥ | anavadyaḥ | riśādāḥ | bhara | candrāṇi | gṛṇate | vasūni | devaiḥ | dyāvāpṛthivī iti | pra | avatam | naḥ
Jagatī (probable for many RV 9 hymns; 4 padas of ~12 syllables)
48
4×12 (approx.)
Broad, forward-moving cadence suited to ‘vastness’ (bṛhat) and streaming purification.
Creates an expansive, steady uplift; supports a feeling of widening and protective clarity as the refrain-like invocations land at cadence points.
- इन्दु (indu)
- Literal: Soma drop. Symbolic: a concentrated drop of delight-consciousness prepared for ascent/descent
- पवस्व (pavasva)
- Literal: purify/flow clear. Symbolic: clarify the vital-emotional substance into a truth-bearing bliss
- इन्द्राय बृहते (indrāya bṛhate)
- Literal: for Indra the Vast. Symbolic: for the expansive illumined mind that can hold wide truth
- सुमृळीक (sumṛḻīka)
- Literal: benign, gracious. Symbolic: delight that heals and harmonizes the being
- अनवद्य (anavadya)
- Literal: blameless, faultless. Symbolic: purity beyond mixture of ego-desire
- रिशादाः (riśādāḥ)
- Literal: destroyer of harm. Symbolic: power that consumes inner wounding forces—fear, falsehood, hostile impulses
- चन्द्राणि वसूनि (candrāṇi vasūni)
- Literal: shining riches. Symbolic: luminous energies of consciousness: clarity, strength, inspiration, right joy
- गृणते (gṛṇate)
- Literal: to the singer/praiser. Symbolic: to the soul that affirms and gives voice to the inner sacrifice
- द्यावापृथिवी (dyāvāpṛthivī)
- Literal: Heaven and Earth. Symbolic: higher mind/ideal consciousness and embodied nature; the two poles to be reconciled
- प्रावतं नः (prāvataṃ naḥ)
- Literal: protect/further us. Symbolic: sustain the journey, guard the sadhana, carry realization into action
Concluding petition: Soma to purify for Indra; requests luminous riches for the chanter; invokes Heaven-Earth with gods for protection—typical closure integrating cosmic supports.
During Soma filtration/clarification and offering sequences
Chanted as Soma flows through the filter; invocation for purity, protection, and luminous wealth (vasu)
Use as a mantra for refining emotions into calm joy before meditation; recite when seeking protection from inner negativity and for widening of mind.
indu ‘drop’ emphasizes concentrated essence. bṛhat ‘vast’ (from √bṛh ‘to grow, expand’) indicates widened consciousness; thus Indra bṛhat is Indra as vastness-power. mṛḷ (in su-mṛḷīka) is graciousness/healing. riśa ‘harm’ + √ad ‘eat’ in riśādāḥ: ‘devourer of harm’, i.e., purifier that removes hostile vibrations. dyāvā-pṛthivī as cosmic pair also functions psychologically as higher and lower planes needing harmonization.
Bṛhat (vastness of consciousness), Protection and fostering (avat), Removal of harm (riśādāḥ)
Purification is an alignment of the life-force with Ṛta so that delight becomes a truth-power.
Anavadya indicates the movement toward unmixed truth in feeling and will.
Heaven-and-Earth uphold the manifestation; luminous riches descend when the inner offering is pure.
Proto-Vedānta / integral yogic reading (Aurobindo-Kashyap): Ananda and Vijnana-like illumination cooperating.
The ‘stream’ is the flow of refined delight through the mind’s discernment, establishing harmony between higher ideals and embodied life.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Purified Soma empowers Indra the Vast and becomes a healing force that devours harm; then the cosmic parents (Heaven-Earth) are invoked to protect. Mythically: the rite culminates in expansion (bṛhat) safeguarded by cosmic supports.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The dyadic invocation Heaven-and-Earth is a classic Indo-European formula (*Dyēus + Earth pairing). The epithet ‘harm-eater’ (riśādāḥ) reflects archaic agent-noun compounding typical of early IE poetics.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi’s song (gṛṇate) calls for luminous inner riches; Soma responds as purifier and healer, while Indra provides vastness-power and Heaven-Earth provide stable protection—an integrated reciprocity between aspiration, delight, expansion, and support.
Purify joy: feel a clear, cool delight rising and widening the mind; offer it to the inner Indra (illumined intelligence).
Ājñā (illumined mind) with support to Anāhata (purified joy)
Nadi-śodhana-like gentle alternate breathing; on exhale, imagine ‘pavasva’—clarifying flow; on inhale, widen (bṛhat).
Spacious, protected clarity; delight without grasping.
Chant slowly 9–27 times; after chanting, sit and sense two planes—above (quiet light) and below (steady body)—and let purified joy connect them.
Vedic accents as in Śākala tradition: observe udatta (raised), anudatta (lower), svarita (falling) per pada text; key lifts often on invocatory names (índu/índra).
Keep the main udatta clear on deity-words; avoid flattening compounds like dyāvāpṛthivī.
ṛ in bṛhate is vocalic ‘r’ (bṛ-ha-te), ḻ in sumṛḻīka is retroflex lateral (practice slowly), riśādāḥ: clear ś (palatal) and long ā, dyāvāpṛthivī: maintain long ā in dyā and pṛthivī’s ṛ
Clear, flowing, slightly resonant—like a stream becoming pure.
9
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