Rig Veda 9.94.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 94, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.94
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
श्रिये जातः श्रिय आ निरियाय श्रियं वयो जरितृभ्यो दधाति । श्रियं वसाना अमृतत्वमायन्भवन्ति सत्या समिथा मितद्रौ ॥
śríye jātáḥ śríya ā́ nír iyāya śríyaṃ váyo jaritṛ́-bhyo dadhāti | śríyaṃ vásānā amṛtatvám ā́yan bhávanti satyā́ sam-íthā mita-drāu ||
Dilahirkan untuk seri kemuliaan, ia melangkah ke dalam kemuliaan; sebagai kemuliaan ia mengurniakan daya-hidup yang mengangkat—laksana burung—kepada para pemuji. Bersalut kemuliaan, sampai kepada keabadian, mereka menjadi benar; dinyalakan bersama dalam keteguhan yang terukur, wahai Mitadraú.
Word by Word
- श्रिये
- for/unto prosperity, for gloryNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-एकवचन (दत्तिव) — ‘श्रिये’Role सम्प्रदान (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन) / निमित्तRoot श्री (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक) / √श्रि (धातु, ‘आश्रय/सेवा/शोभा’)
- जातः
- bornAdjective (participial)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) — ‘born’Role कर्तृ-विशेषण (कर्ता का विशेषण)Root √जन् (जायते) → जात (कृदन्त)
- श्रिये
- for prosperityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजनRoot श्री (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- forth, towards, untoIndeclinableउपसर्ग (गत्यर्थे/समन्तात्) — क्रियाविशेषकRoot आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- निरियाय
- went forth, issuedVerbलिट् (परोक्ष/परफेक्ट); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद — ‘went forth/issued out’Role क्रिया (मुख्य क्रिया); कर्ता = (सः/सोमः) निहितRoot नि + √या (इयाय = परोक्ष-लिट्)
- श्रियम्
- prosperity, gloryNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्मRoot श्री (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक)
- वयः
- vital strength, vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचन (वेदे ‘वयः’ = acc.sg.)Role कर्म (श्रियम् के साथ समन्वित द्विकर्मक-भाव) / दत्तव्य-वस्तुRoot वयस् (नपुं. प्रातिपदिक)
- जरितृभ्यः
- to the singers/praisersNounपुंलिङ्ग; चतुर्थी-बहुवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot जरितृ (पुं. प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्तुतिकर्तृ’)
- दधाति
- places, bestowsVerbलट् (वर्तमान); प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया; कर्ता = (सः/सोमः) निहितRoot √धा (दधाति)
- श्रियम्
- prosperityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्मRoot श्री (स्त्री. प्रातिपदिक)
- वसानाः
- wearing, clothed inAdjective (participial)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन; वर्तमान कृदन्त — ‘wearing/clothing oneself with’Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot √वस् (आच्छादने) → वसान (शतृ/शानच् कृदन्त; आत्मनेपदी)
- अमृतत्वम्
- immortalityNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्म (आयन्/आ-या के साथ प्राप्तव्य)Root अमृतत्व (नपुं. प्रातिपदिक; अमृत + त्व)
- आयन्
- they came/attainedVerbलुङ् (अनद्यतन भूत/इम्पर्फेक्ट); प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया; कर्ता = (ते) निहितRoot आ + √या (इ) → आयन् (लुङ्/इम्पर्फेक्ट; वैदिक रूप)
- भवन्ति
- they becomeVerbलट्; प्रथम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (वाक्य-समापन); कर्ता = (ते) निहितRoot √भू (भवति)
- सत्याः
- true, genuineAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (कर्तरि) — ‘true/real’Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot सत्य (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- समिथा
- together, in concert / in the kindling-riteIndeclinableक्रियाविशेषण (रीत्या/सहभावे)Root समिथा (अव्यय; ‘समिधा/समेत्य’ प्रकारेण — वैदिक)
- मितद्रौ
- of measured course/steady-running (epithet)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचन (वैदिक -औ बहुवचन-प्रथमा) — ‘mita-drau’Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot मितद्रु (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक; ‘मित’ + ‘द्रु/द्रव्’ व्युत्पत्ति-सम्भाव्य; वैदिक नाम/विशेषण)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): श्रिये | जातः | श्रिये | आ | निरियाय | श्रियम् | वयः | जरितृभ्यः | दधाति || श्रियम् | वसानाः | अमृतत्वम् | आयन् | भवन्ति | सत्याः | समिथा | मितद्रौ || 1) ‘आ निरियाय’ = उपसर्ग ‘आ’ + ‘निरियाय’ (नि+√या, लिट् 3sg)
- 2) ‘जरितृभ्यो’ → ‘जरितृभ्यः’ (पदपाठानुसारः)
- 3) ‘अमृतत्वमा॑यन्’ = ‘अमृतत्वम्’ + ‘आयन्’ (आ+√या, लुङ् 3pl)
- 4) ‘स॒त्या स॑मि॒था’ = ‘सत्याः’ + ‘समिथा’ (अव्यय)
- 5) ‘मि॒तद्रौ’ वैदिक प्रथमा-बहुवचन -औ अन्त (विशेषण/उपनाम)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Born for splendor, he goes forth into splendor; he gives splendor as the uplift (vayaḥ) to the singers. Clothed in splendor, arriving at immortality, they become true—kindled together in measured steadiness.
Inner meaning
Soma is generated for śrī—luminous harmony and beauty of being—and moves into that same radiance as it purifies. It bestows on the jaritṛ (the one who sings/praises) ‘vayaḥ’: upward-winging life-force, a soaring prāṇa that supports mantra and aspiration. When seekers are ‘clothed’ in śrī (their nature suffused with luminous order), they approach amṛtatva (deathless consciousness) and become satyāḥ—truth-formed in thought, speech, and act—because the inner fire is kindled together (samithā) with measure and steadfastness (mitadrau: controlled firmness rather than violent intensity).
Universal truth
True splendor is not ornament but a state of ordered luminosity. When life-energy is uplifted and disciplined, consciousness moves toward immortality—enduring truth, not temporary excitement.
Themes
transfiguration by splendor, immortality attainment, truth-becoming, collective kindling
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.94
Family tradition
Pavamāna hymns often function as mantric psychology for purification; the seer here speaks from the standpoint of an initiated experience of śrī and amṛta.
Significance
The anonymity emphasizes the archetypal journey: from splendor to splendor, from vital uplift to truth-being, culminating in amṛtatva.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Śrī-prada (giver of splendor), Amṛta (immortal essence), Pavamāna (purifier), Indu (luminous drop)
- Related deities
- Agni (inner fire), Uṣas (illumination), Sarasvatī (inspired word)
Cosmic role
Ananda-essence that purifies and beautifies the worlds; it converts aspiration into enduring truth and immortality.
Inner power
Bestows śrī (harmonious luminosity) and elevates prāṇa (vayaḥ) so that mantra and tapas become stable and true.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification chants during pressing/filtration; invoked for śrī and amṛta in the yajña.
श्रि॒ये जा॒तः श्रि॒य आ निरि॑याय॒ श्रियं॒ वयो॑ जरि॒तृभ्यो॑ दधाति । श्रियं॒ वसा॑ना अमृत॒त्वमा॑य॒न्भव॑न्ति स॒त्या स॑मि॒था मि॒तद्रौ॑ ॥
श्रि॒ये । जा॒तः । श्रि॒ये । आ । निः । इ॒या॒य॒ । श्रिय॑म् । वयः॑ । ज॒रि॒तृऽभ्यः॑ । द॒धा॒ति॒ । श्रिय॑म् । वसा॑नाः । अ॒मृ॒त॒ऽत्वम् । आ॒य॒न् । भव॑न्ति । स॒त्या । स॒म्ऽइ॒था । मि॒तऽद्रौ॑ ॥
śriye | jātaḥ | śriye | ā | niḥ | iyāya | śriyam | vayaḥ | jaritṛ-bhyaḥ | dadhāti | śriyam | vasānāḥ | amṛta-tvam | āyan | bhavanti | satyā | sam-ithā | mita-drau
44
4 pādas (approx. 11 syllables each)
Bright, ascending cadence; repeated ‘śriye/śriyam’ creates a luminous refrain-effect.
Builds an inner feeling of auspiciousness and upward lift; stabilizes the mind into measured steadiness (mitadrau).
- श्रि (śrī/śriye/śriyam)
- Literal: splendor, beauty, prosperity. Symbolic: luminous harmony; integrality and auspicious order in the being
- वयः (vayaḥ)
- Literal: bird, vigor, vital power. Symbolic: uplifted life-force that can ‘fly’ upward toward higher consciousness
- जरितृभ्यः (jaritṛbhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the singers/praisers. Symbolic: aspirants who shape consciousness by mantra and gratitude
- वसानाः (vasānāḥ)
- Literal: wearing, clothed. Symbolic: nature suffused/covered by luminous qualities
- अमृतत्वम् (amṛtatvam)
- Literal: immortality. Symbolic: deathless consciousness; stable delight beyond decay
- सत्या (satyā)
- Literal: true, truth-formed. Symbolic: aligned with Satya/Ṛta in perception and action
- समिथा (samithā)
- Literal: kindled together. Symbolic: collective integration of inner fires—mind, life, body—into one aspiration
- मितद्रौ (mitadrau)
- Literal: with measured firmness/steadfastness. Symbolic: disciplined tapas; controlled intensity that sustains realization
Soma rite as acquisition of śrī (splendor) and amṛta (immortality); supports the sacrificer’s transformation into satya.
During Pavamāna sequences; also suitable for auspicious commencements.
Chant while offering Soma/clarified intention; emphasize purity and right measure.
Chant as a ‘śrī-sādhana’ for harmonizing life-force: before meditation, creative work, or when seeking steadiness and truthfulness.
śrī from √śri ‘to lean on, rest on; to prosper, be radiant’ → splendor grounded in harmony. vayaḥ is multivalent: ‘vigor, life-force’ and also ‘bird’ (from √vi/√vā ‘to move’ traditions vary); RV often exploits the ‘bird’ as symbol of soaring life. satya from sat ‘being’ (present participle of √as ‘to be’) → truth as authentic being. amṛtatva as ‘state of non-death’ (√mṛ).
Satya (truth of being), Amṛta (immortality), Śrī (harmonious plenitude)
Measured kindling (mitadrau) implies tapas under ṛta—right proportion and right rhythm.
They ‘become satyāḥ’: truth-substance, not merely truth-speaking.
Beauty/splendor as a formative power that clothes and transforms the being into immortality.
Integral Vedism: transformation by ānanda into satya and amṛta through disciplined tapas.
dawn (suggested by ‘splendor’ and arising)
Light = illumined consciousness; bird-flight = upward prāṇa; kindling = awakening of inner fire in measured discipline.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is ‘investiture with splendor leading to immortality’: Soma is born as śrī and moves into śrī; those who receive him become clothed in that radiance and arrive at amṛta. It is an initiation/transfiguration pattern rather than a combat narrative.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- satya derives from the ‘being’ root √as (PIE *h₁es- ‘to be’), showing an ancient equation of truth with being. amṛta continues the negated ‘death’ root √mṛ (PIE *mer-). The abstract -tva in amṛtatva is a productive Indo-Aryan formation for ‘-ness/state’.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The singers (jaritṛ) receive śrī and vayaḥ from Soma; the exchange is transformative: praise/aspiration is met by Soma’s gift that makes them satya and establishes them in the immortal poise. Soma is the agent of inner ‘clothing’—a stable state, not a momentary ecstasy.
Invoke śrī as inner harmony; feel Soma-bliss clothing the mind and life, leading to satya (truth-being).
Anahata (harmony/śrī) and Vishuddha (truth in speech)
Slow coherent breathing (5–6 breaths/min) while mentally repeating ‘śriyam… amṛtatvam’.
Quiet luminous poise; gentle uplift of prāṇa without restlessness.
After chanting, sit 5 minutes: sense a ‘robe of light’ around the body-mind; resolve one truthful action for the day (satyā) done with measure (mitadrau).
Vedic accents not provided; keep a luminous, even tone; gently lift pitch on repeated ‘śriye/śriyam’.
Mark the refrain-like returns: śriye… śriya… śriyaṃ; pause after dadhāti and after āyan.
(śriye): cluster śr- clear, short e, (nir iyāya): separate nir + iyāya lightly, (jaritṛbhyaḥ): retroflex ṛ, bhyaḥ soft visarga, (amṛtatvam): dental t, short a, (mitadrau): d + r conjunct, keep ‘au’ diphthong
Softly radiant, sustained vowels; minimal force.
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