Rig Veda 9.74.1: Mandala 9, Sukta 74, Mantra 1
Sukta 9.74
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
शिशुर्न जातोऽव चक्रदद्वने स्वर्यद्वाज्यरुषः सिषासति । दिवो रेतसा सचते पयोवृधा तमीमहे सुमती शर्म सप्रथः ॥
śíśur ná jātó ’vá cakradad vánē svàr yád vājī́ aruṣáḥ sisāsati | divó rétasā sacate payovṛ́dhā tám īmahe sumatī́ śárma sapráthaḥ ||
Seperti bayi yang baru lahir dia menangis di rimba, ketika yang kemerah-merahan, pembawa daya, menginginkan cahaya. Dia bersatu dengan benih langit, menambah susu kelimpahan; dialah yang kami seru demi damai yang luas dan budi yang bercahaya, lurus.
Word by Word
- शिशुः
- the child / young oneNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot शिशु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableअव्ययम्Root न (निपात)
- जातः
- bornParticipleभूतकृदन्तः (क्त), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root √जन् (जनि) → जात (कृदन्त)
- अव
- down, forthIndeclinableअव्ययम् (उपसर्गार्थे)Root अव (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- चक्रदत्
- he has made / fashionedVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √कृ (करोति) → चक्रदत् (वेदिक-लुङ्/अोरिस्ट रूप)
- वने
- in the wood / in the forestNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role अधिकरणRoot वन- (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्वः
- heaven, the sky-worldNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (वेदिक रूप: स्वः = स्वर्गम्)Role कर्मRoot स्वर्/स्वः (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्म (सम्बन्धक)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- वाज्यः
- prize-winning, bringing strengthAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root वाज्य- (प्रातिपदिक; वाज ‘प्राइज/strength’)
- अरुषः
- ruddy, tawnyAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root अरुष- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सिषासति
- he desires / seeksVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √सन्/सिषास् (इच्छार्थे; desiderative of √सा/√सन्)
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root दिव्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- रेतसा
- with seed / semen (generative fluid)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करणRoot रेतस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सचते
- he accompanies / joinsVerbलट्, आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √सच् (सचते)
- पयः-वृधा
- milk-increasing / growing by milkAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (बहुव्रीहिः/कर्मधारयः: ‘पयसा वर्धमानः/वर्धयिता’)Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root पयस्- + वृध- (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
- तम्
- himPronounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम)
- ईमहे
- we seek / we imploreVerbलट्, आत्मनेपदम्, उत्तमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्Role क्रियाRoot √यम्/ई (वेदिक: ईमहे ‘we seek/implore’)
- सुमतिः
- good thought, favorNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ/हेतुः (आशीर्वचनार्थे)Root सु- + मति- (प्रातिपदिक)
- शर्म
- shelter, protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot शर्मन्/शर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
- सप्रथः
- widely extended, far-spreadingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (विशेषणम्)Root सु- + प्रथ- (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: शिशुः | न | जातः | अव | चक्रदत् | वने | स्वः | यत् | वाज्यः | अरुषः | सिषासति | दिवः | रेतसा | सचते | पयः-वृधा | तम् | ईमहे | सुमतिः | शर्म | सप्रथः || 1) जातोऽव = जातः + अव (विसर्ग-लोपः, अवग्रहः)
- 2) स्व१॒॑र्यद् = स्वः + यत् (विसर्गः → र्, ‘स्वर्’/‘स्वः’ वैदिक-रूप; संधौ ‘स्वर्यत्’)
- 3) वाज्य॑रु॒षः = वाज्यः + अरुषः (विसर्ग-लोपः)
- 4) पयो॒वृधा = पयः + वृधा (विसर्ग-लोपः; समास/पदसंयोगः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The purifying Soma is compared to a newborn crying in the forest; the ruddy, force-bearing one seeks the light (svar). He unites with the seed of heaven and increases the milk of abundance; he is invoked for wide peace and clear right-mindedness.
Inner meaning
The awakened Soma-consciousness, newly born in the seeker, cries out from within the ‘wood’ of the embodied nature (the tangle of habits and impulses). The red-gold energy (aruṣa), full of impetus (vājī), strains toward svar—inner luminous clarity. When this aspiring force joins the ‘seed of heaven’ (divo retaḥ: descending inspiration from the higher mind), it increases the inner ‘milk’ (payaḥ)—nourishing plenitude of delight and strength. The mantra asks that this Soma bring sumati (right-minded luminous discernment) and śarma (peace/secure delight) that is saprathaḥ—broad, expansive, stable.
Universal truth
Every true spiritual beginning feels fragile yet urgent; when aspiration unites with higher inspiration, consciousness is nourished from within, yielding peace and right understanding that naturally widen life.
Themes
Awakening of the divine child, Seeking the Light, Nourishment and growth, Peace and right mind
The seer
- Rishi
- As per Anukramaṇī: Soma Pavamāna hymn-seer tradition of Maṇḍala 9 (specific name varies by recension; often listed under Pavitra/Āṅgirasa-groupings for adjacent hymns)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.73, Rig Veda 9.75, Rig Veda 9.76
Family tradition
Ninth Maṇḍala is largely a specialized Soma-Pavamāna corpus transmitted by multiple seer-families; this hymn’s precise ṛṣi assignment is not uniform across recensions.
Significance
The ‘seer’ here is the collective Soma-vision: the experience of purification where delight (ānanda) becomes the agent that turns aspiration toward svar and establishes wide peace.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- pavamāna (self-purifying), aṃśu (ray), indu (bright drop), madhu (honeyed sweetness), vājī (force-bearing)
- Related deities
- Agni (inner fire leading the sacrifice), Indra (illumined mind receiving Soma), Uṣas (dawn/illumination), Aditi (infinite wideness)
Cosmic role
Purifier and increaser: Soma circulates as the luminous essence that links heaven and earth, converting raw life into clarified delight and power.
Inner power
Ananda-force that purifies mind and life, awakens aspiration, and widens consciousness into peace and right perception (sumati).
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification (Pavamāna-stotra sequences)
शिशु॒र्न जा॒तोऽव॑ चक्रद॒द्वने॒ स्व१॒॑र्यद्वा॒ज्य॑रु॒षः सिषा॑सति । दि॒वो रेत॑सा सचते पयो॒वृधा॒ तमी॑महे सुम॒ती शर्म॑ स॒प्रथ॑: ॥
शिशुः॑ । न । जा॒तः । अव॑ । च॒क्र॒द॒त् । वने॑ । स्वः॑ । यत् । वा॒जी । अ॒रु॒षः । सिसा॑सति । दि॒वः । रेत॑सा । स॒च॒ते॒ । प॒यः॒ऽवृधा॑ । तम् । ई॒म॒हे॒ । सु॒ऽम॒ती । शर्म॑ । स॒ऽप्रथः॑ ॥
śiśuḥ | na | jātaḥ | ava | cakradat | vane | svaḥ | yat | vājī | aruṣaḥ | sisāsati | divaḥ | retasā | sacate | payaḥ-vṛdhā | tam | īmahe | su-matī | śarma | sa-prathaḥ
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4 pādas of ~12 syllables each (Jagatī cadence)
Long, forward-driving sweep with room for expansive images (wood → light → heaven’s seed → wide peace).
Builds a sense of widening aspiration; the listener feels a gradual opening from constriction to broad śarma.
- śiśuḥ
- Literal: newborn child. Symbolic: newly awakened soul-force / nascent spiritual consciousness
- vane
- Literal: in the wood/forest. Symbolic: the dense growth of embodied nature; the subconscient-vital complexity
- svar
- Literal: sunlight/heavenly light. Symbolic: illumined consciousness; higher mind’s clarity
- vājī
- Literal: force-bearing, winner of the prize. Symbolic: dynamic aspiration; victorious energy of progress
- aruṣaḥ
- Literal: ruddy/red-golden. Symbolic: dawn-like inner fire/energy pushing toward illumination
- divo retaḥ
- Literal: seed of heaven. Symbolic: descending higher inspiration; supramental/overmental impulsion
- payaḥ-vṛdhā
- Literal: increasing the milk. Symbolic: growing inner nourishment—delight, strength, clarity
- sumati
- Literal: good/right thought. Symbolic: luminous discernment; right-mindedness aligned to ṛta
- śarma
- Literal: peace, shelter, bliss. Symbolic: secure inner rest in the Divine
- saprathaḥ
- Literal: wide-spreading. Symbolic: expansive peace-consciousness
Soma hymn at the transition into Sukta 9.74; used in Soma rite; inner sense highlights newborn awakening of force seeking light
During Soma-yajña, especially while Soma is filtered and offered; also recited in Pavamāna contexts of purification.
Chanting while Soma flows through the filter; invocation for increase of payas (plenitude) and auspicious peace.
Use as a purification-and-clarity mantra before meditation: invoke widening peace (śarma) and right-mindedness (sumati) when beginning a new inner practice.
śiśu ‘child’ (newly born power). aruṣá ‘ruddy’ (dawn/fire hue). vājín ‘possessing vāja’ from vāja (force/plenitude/prize) linked to √vaj/√vah notions of strength and driving; here ‘plenitude of force’. rétas ‘seed’ from √ri ‘flow’/semantic ‘semen, essence’. payas ‘milk’ (nourishment) + √vṛdh ‘grow’ (payovṛdhā).
svar (luminous consciousness), descent of heavenly essence (retas), increase of inner nourishment (payas), sumati (right-mindedness)
Sumati is the mental alignment with ṛta; Soma’s purification is the means.
Truth manifests as clear perception (svar) when aspiration unites with higher seed.
‘Birth’ of the divine child within nature; descent-ascent interchange (heaven’s seed → earthly increase).
Proto-Vedāntic / integral-psychological reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): ascent to svar through Soma-Ananda.
Dawn (implied by aruṣa and seeking svar)
From the ‘forest’ of the lower nature arises a new psychic call; dawn-like energy seeks illumination; inspiration descends as ‘seed’; delight-nourishment increases as inner milk.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘divine child’ mythologem: a newly born power in the forest of manifestation cries out and strives for svar (light). Joined with heavenly seed, it increases the milk of plenitude—an image of inner growth where higher essence fertilizes and nourishes the being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The fertility lexicon (retas/seed, payas/milk) is a common IE symbolic register for creative power and nourishment. √vṛdh ‘grow’ is an old IE root (cf. English ‘grow’ is Germanic, not direct cognate, but the semantic field of increase is pervasive). The ‘child’ as emergent divine force parallels IE poetic personifications of dawn/fire/new power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks not outer gain but inner conditions: sumati (right mind) and śarma (peace/shelter) that are ‘wide’ (sapráthaḥ). The Devatā is approached as a growing force that, when joined to heaven’s essence, can nourish and stabilize the aspirant.
Unite aspiration (vājī) with descending inspiration (divo retaḥ) to awaken inner light (svar) and stable peace (śarma).
Ājñā (clarity/sumati) with Sahasrāra (descent of ‘heaven’s seed’)
Gentle nāḍī-śodhana for 6–9 rounds, then chant on long exhalations to ‘widen’ (saprathaḥ).
From active seeking to luminous calm—quiet, wide awareness with a subtle delight-current.
Begin practice by sensing the ‘newborn’ aspiration in the heart; on each repetition, imagine it turning sunward (svar) and being fed by a descending light-seed, until peace spreads wide.
Default Rigvedic accenting: udatta on marked syllables, anudatta in unmarked, svarita following udatta; consult śākhā-specific pada-svara for exact melody.
Keep the natural Jagatī flow: sustain vowels on udatta; do not over-stress consonants; allow pāda-end to release softly into the next.
śiśur: palatal ś, short i; ‘r’ lightly tapped, aruṣaḥ: ṣ is retroflex; final ḥ visarga audible but soft, retasā: dental t; long ā in -sā, saprathaḥ: pr cluster clear; visarga at end
Clear, bright, slightly forward resonance (as if ‘seeking svar’), ending in a calm widened tone.
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