Rig Veda 9.97.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.97
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
इन्दुर्देवानामुप सख्यमायन्त्सहस्रधारः पवते मदाय । नृभिः स्तवानो अनु धाम पूर्वमगन्निन्द्रं महते सौभगाय ॥
índur devā́nām úpa sakhyám ā́yan sahásra-dhāraḥ pavate mádāya | nṛ́bhiḥ stávāno ánu dhā́ma pū́rvam ágann índraṃ mahaté saúbhagāya ||
ଇନ୍ଦୁ ଦେବମାନଙ୍କ ସଖ୍ୟତାକୁ ଆସେ; ସହସ୍ରଧାରୀ ସେ ମଦ ପାଇଁ ନିଜକୁ ପବିତ୍ର କରେ। ନରମାନଙ୍କ ଦ୍ୱାରା ସ୍ତୁତ ହୋଇ, ପୂର୍ବତନ ଧାମମାନଙ୍କୁ ଅନୁସରି, ମହା ସୌଭାଗ୍ୟ ପାଇଁ ଇନ୍ଦ୍ରଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚେ।
Word by Word
- इन्दुः
- Soma (the drop)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot इन्दु- (प्रातिपदिक) < √इन्द्/इन्दु (रस/सोम)
- देवानाम्
- of the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root देव- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उप
- towards, nearIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपपद/क्रियाविशेषणRoot उप (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- सख्यम्
- friendshipNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot सख्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- to, hitherIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपसर्गRoot आ (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- यन्
- going, comingVerbशतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण इन्दोः)Root √या (गत्यर्थ) वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त
- सहस्रधारः
- having a thousand streamsAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (इन्दोः विशेषणम्)Root सहस्र- + धार- (प्रातिपदिक; बहुव्रीहि/कर्मधारय)
- पवते
- is purified, flows (as purified)Verbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपदRole क्रियाRoot √पू (पवने/शोधने) आत्मनेपद
- मदाय
- for exhilaration (intoxication/rapture)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot मद- (प्रातिपदिक)
- नृभिः
- by/with men (worshippers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot नृ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- स्तवानः
- being praisedVerbशानच्-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद-भावRole कर्तृ (विशेषणरूपेण इन्दोः)Root √स्तु (स्तुतौ) वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त
- अनु
- after, followingIndeclinableअव्ययRole उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषणRoot अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- धाम
- abode, station, ordinanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: धाम < धामन्)Role कर्मRoot धामन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- पूर्वम्
- former, earlierAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)Role कर्म-विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषणRoot पूर्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अगन्
- went, has goneVerbलुङ् (अorist; वैदिक injunctive/अग्मत्-प्रकार), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √गम् (गत्यर्थ) परोक्षभूत/आर्ष
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- महते
- for the great (one)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदान (इन्द्रस्य विशेषणम्)Root महत्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सौभगाय
- for good fortune, prosperityNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानRoot सौभग्य- (प्रातिपदिक; सौ- + भग्य)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: इन्दुः देवानाम् उप सख्यम् आ यन् सहस्रधारः पवते मदाय । नृभिः स्तवानः अनु धाम पूर्वम् अगन् इन्द्रम् महते सौभगाय ॥ 1) आयन् = आ + यन् (√या शतृ)
- 2) सहस्रधारः: समास (सहस्र + धार), प्रथमा एकवचन
- 3) धाम = धामन्- (वैदिक नपुंसक, acc. sg.)
- 4) अगन्: √गम् लुङ्/वैदिक injunctive-प्रयोग (अगन् < अगमत्-प्रकार), ‘went’
- 5) महते सौभगाय: चतुर्थी-द्वयम् ‘for the great (Indra), for prosperity’
The meaning
Outer meaning
The bright drop (Soma) comes to the friendship of the Gods; thousand-streamed, he purifies himself for intoxication/ecstasy. Praised by men, he follows the ancient stations and reaches Indra for great good fortune.
Inner meaning
The illumined essence (indu) seeks alliance with the higher powers in us—mind, will, intuition—forming ‘friendship’ (sakhya) rather than conflict. As ‘thousand-streamed’, bliss multiplies into many currents feeding diverse parts of the being, producing madāya: not dull intoxication, but divine ecstasy that lifts and energizes. Moving by the ‘ancient stations’ (dhāma pūrvam) indicates the established inner law of ascent—Soma rises through graded levels until it reaches Indra, the illumined Mind, to create great felicity (saubhaga).
Universal truth
When delight allies with the highest in us and follows the true order of growth, it becomes a many-channeled power that culminates in illumination and lasting good fortune.
Themes
Indra-Soma synergy, ecstasy and power, ṛta-following movement
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97 (same), RV 9.86 (Soma to Indra motifs), RV 1.80–1.81 (Indra-Soma ecstasy themes)
Significance
The verse is a compact map of integral yoga in Vedic form: alliance with devas, multiplication of currents, ascent by established stages, culminating in Indra’s illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (in relation to Indra)
- Epithets
- indu (bright drop), sahasradhāra (thousand-streamed), pavamāna (purifying)
- Related deities
- Indra, Viśve Devāḥ, Maruts (often ‘strong ones’ aiding Indra; implicit resonance with nṛbhiḥ)
Cosmic role
Brings the immortal essence to the gods; empowers Indra for victory over obscurity; spreads rapture through the worlds.
Inner power
Ananda as dynamic force that feeds illumination; ecstasy that strengthens mind and will.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing/filtration; offering to Indra
इन्दु॑र्दे॒वाना॒मुप॑ स॒ख्यमा॒यन्त्स॒हस्र॑धारः पवते॒ मदा॑य । नृभि॒: स्तवा॑नो॒ अनु॒ धाम॒ पूर्व॒मग॒न्निन्द्रं॑ मह॒ते सौभ॑गाय ॥
इन्दुः॑ । दे॒वाना॑म् । उप॑ । स॒ख्यम् । आ॒यन् । स॒हस्र॑ऽधारः । प॒व॒ते॒ । मदा॑य । नृऽभिः॑ । स्तवा॑नः । अनु॑ । धाम॑ । पूर्व॑म् । अग॑न् । इन्द्र॑म् । म॒ह॒ते । सौभ॑गाय ॥
induḥ | devānām | upa | sakhyam | āyan | sahasra-dhāraḥ | pavate | madāya | nṛ-bhiḥ | stavānaḥ | anu | dhāma | pūrvam | agan | indram | mahate | saubhagāya
48
4 x 12 (approx.)
Surging and many-channeled; supports ‘sahasradhāra’ imagery.
Builds a rising exhilaration that resolves in a bright meeting with Indra (illumination).
- इन्दुः
- Literal: bright drop. Symbolic: Concentrated essence of Ananda/illumined delight
- देवानाम् उप सख्यम्
- Literal: to the friendship of the Gods. Symbolic: Harmonious integration with higher faculties (devas)
- सहस्रधारः
- Literal: thousand-streamed. Symbolic: Multiple currents of joy/force pervading the being
- पवते
- Literal: purifies/flows. Symbolic: Self-purifying movement; progressive refinement
- मदाय
- Literal: for rapture, intoxication. Symbolic: Divine ecstasy that energizes and widens consciousness
- नृभिः स्तवानः
- Literal: praised by men/strong ones. Symbolic: Supported by awakened human powers—aspiration, courage, disciplined faculties
- अनु धाम पूर्वम्
- Literal: according to the ancient stations. Symbolic: Following the perennial inner path/law (ṛta) of ascent
- इन्द्रम्
- Literal: Indra. Symbolic: Divine Mind/illumination receiving Soma
- सौभागाय
- Literal: for great felicity. Symbolic: Stable fortunate harmony—luminous well-being
Soma offered to Indra (Indra-savana context within Soma sacrifice); hymn underscores Soma’s approach to Indra to generate mada (ecstatic power) and saubhaga (felicity).
When Soma is prepared and offered, especially in Indra-focused sequences
Chant while Soma flows and is praised; mental ‘sending’ of Soma to Indra
Use when seeking clarity and strength: chant to align joy with higher faculties, then sit for insight (Indra) to arise.
indu ‘drop’ is Vedic Soma epithet; dhārā from √dhṛ ‘to hold/flow as a stream’ (semantic extension). mada from √mad ‘to rejoice, be exhilarated’—psychologically intensification/rapture. sakhya from sakhā ‘friend’ (PIE *sekw-? debated; but Indo-Iranian social-ritual lexicon). dhāman from √dhā ‘to place/establish’: ‘stations’ as established laws/planes.
mada as divine intensification, ṛta as ‘ancient stations’ (dhāma pūrvam), friendship/alliance of powers (sakhya)
‘Anu dhāma pūrvam’ explicitly suggests movement according to primordial order.
Reaching Indra implies arriving at truth-illumination as the consummation of purified delight.
Ascent of essence through graded worlds (dhāma) toward the luminous Mind.
Integral Vedism: graded ascent and cooperative powers; Indra as illumined mentality.
Drop = concentrated bliss; thousand streams = differentiated energies of joy; reaching Indra = joy transmuted into luminous intelligence.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma’s approach to the gods’ friendship and specifically his reaching Indra to generate mada: the classic Indra–Soma alliance where purified delight empowers the victorious force. Inner sense: clarified delight feeds the illumined will (Indra) producing great felicity (saubhaga).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √mad ‘rejoice/intoxicate’ continues PIE *med- ‘be excited/measure?;’ often linked with ‘mead’ (Germanic *meduz) as a cultural parallel of intoxicating sacred drink (not a direct etymological identity for Soma, but a strong Indo-European poetic-cultural cognate field). √dhā in dhāman reflects PIE *dʰeh₁- ‘to put, set’ (Greek títhēmi, Latin faciō is different; but *dʰeh₁- is well attested).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi (and the nṛ/strong faculties) praise Soma so he may move along the primordial order and reach Indra. The reciprocity: human praise stabilizes the channel; Soma carries the offering-force; Indra returns ‘great saubhaga’—a victorious, fortunate condition of the being.
Let joy become many-streamed and rise through inner levels to illumined mind.
Ajna (Indra/illumination) with support from Anahata (joy as fuel)
Bhastrikā-light or energizing kapalabhati (if suitable) followed by quiet sitting; pair with chanting to evoke ‘madāya’ as spiritual rapture.
Exhilarated clarity; luminous strength.
Chant 3–9 times; visualize a bright drop at the heart splitting into many upward streams; offer the surge to a clear light at the brow (Indra), then rest in silent illumination.
Observe accents (e.g., इन्दु॑र्दे॒वाना॒मुप॑, स॒हस्र॑धारः, पवते॒, मदा॑य).
Give a buoyant lift to ‘induḥ’ and ‘sahasradhāraḥ’; keep ‘anu dhāma pūrvam’ steady and processional; brighten on ‘indram’.
induḥ: final ḥ lightly aspirated, sakhyam: clear khy cluster, sahasradhāraḥ: articulate dh as voiced aspirate, saubhagāya: ‘sau’ diphthong clean; bh voiced aspirate
Energized, resonant, upward-driving; end with a clear, bright tone on ‘indram’.
9
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