Rig Veda 10.94.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 94, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.94
- Devata
- Grāvāṇaḥ in service of Indra/Soma
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
एते वदन्ति शतवत्सहस्रवदभि क्रन्दन्ति हरितेभिरासभिः । विष्ट्वी ग्रावाणः सुकृतः सुकृत्यया होतुश्चित्पूर्वे हविरद्यमाशत ॥
etḗ vadanti śatávat sahásravat abhí krandanti háritebhir ā́sabhiḥ | viṣṭvī́ grā́vāṇaḥ su-kṛ́taḥ su-kṛ́tyayā hótuś cit pū́rve havíradyam āśata ||
Ci mówią w setkach i w tysiącach; krzyczą wokół z żółtymi ustami. Kamienie tłoczące, dobrze wykonane, swoim prawym działaniem osiągnęły nawet ofiarę starożytnego Hotara, która ma być spożyta.
Word by Word
- एते
- these (ones)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot एतद् (sarvanāma-prātipadika)
- वदन्ति
- they speak / utterVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot √वद् (वदति)
- शतवत्
- as if by hundredsAdjective (indeclinable-like in -वत् used adverbially)अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः (तुल्यभावे)Role विशेषणम् (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root शत + वत् (taddhita -वत्)
- सहस्रवत्
- as if by thousandsAdjective (indeclinable-like in -वत् used adverbially)अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणवत् प्रयोगः (तुल्यभावे)Role विशेषणम् (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root सहस्र + वत् (taddhita -वत्)
- अभि
- towards, against, uponIndeclinableउपसर्गःRole क्रियाविशेषणम्Root अभि (upasarga/preverb)
- क्रन्दन्ति
- they cry out / resoundVerbलट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot √क्रन्द् (क्रन्दति)
- हरितेभिः
- with the tawny (horses)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot हरित (prātipadika)
- आसभिः
- with their mouthsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot आस (prātipadika)
- विष्ट्वी
- having entered / having taken positionVerbal indeclinable (gerund)क्त्वान्त/त्वी-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययम् (पूर्वकाले)Role क्रियाविशेषणम्Root √विष्/√विष्ट् (kṛdanta: absolutive/gerund in -त्वी)
- ग्रावाणः
- press-stonesNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot ग्रावन् (prātipadika)
- सुकृतः
- well-made / well-fashionedAdjective (PPP)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role विशेषणम् (कर्तृविशेषणम्)Root सु + √कृ (kṛdanta: past passive participle ‘सुकृत’)
- सुकृत्यया
- by (their) good workmanship / skillNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, एकवचनम्Role करणRoot सुकृत्या (prātipadika)
- होतुः
- of the Hotṛ-priestNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root होतृ (prātipadika)
- चित्
- evenIndeclinableनिपातः (अवधारण/अपि-अर्थे)Role सम्बन्धक/निपातRoot चित् (particle)
- पूर्वे
- the former ones / those of oldAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot पूर्व (prātipadika)
- हविः
- oblationNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role कर्मRoot हविस् (prātipadika)
- अद्यम्
- today, nowIndeclinable (adverb)कालवाचक-अव्ययम्Role क्रियाविशेषणम् (काल)Root अद्य (avyaya) → adverbial accusative form ‘अद्यम्’
- आशत
- they attained / reachedVerbलिट्/लुङ्-प्रयोगः (वैदिक), प्रथमपुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्Role क्रियाRoot √अश् (अश्नोति/अश्नाति) ‘to attain, reach’
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (sandhi-resolved): एते | वदन्ति | शतवत् | सहस्रवत् | अभि | क्रन्दन्ति | हरितेभिः | आसभिः | विष्ट्वी | ग्रावाणः | सुकृतः | सुकृत्यया | होतुः | चित् | पूर्वे | हविः | अद्यम् | आशत । मुख्य-सन्धयः: (1) हरितेभिरा॒सभिः → हरितेभिः + आसभिः (विसर्ग/रुत्व-प्रभावः)
- (2) होतुश्चित्पूर्वे → होतुः + चित् + पूर्वे (विसर्गः + च् → श्च)
- (3) हविरद्य॑माशत → हविः + अद्यम् + आशत (विसर्ग-सन्धिः; ‘हविर्’ रूपम्)
The meaning
Outer meaning
These speak in hundreds and thousands; they cry out around with tawny mouths. The well-made pressing-stones, by their right working, have attained even the ancient Hotar’s offering that is to be eaten.
Inner meaning
When the disciplines become perfected (‘well-made’), their utterance multiplies—many movements of consciousness begin to proclaim the Truth (hundreds/thousands = abundant formations). The ‘tawny mouths’ suggest the heat-color of tapas and the golden hue of awakened prāṇa. By sukṛtyā (right, skillful working in harmony with ṛta), the instruments reach the ‘ancient Hotar’s’ portion: the primal offering of the soul’s priest-power—Soma/Ananda meant to be ‘eaten’ (assimilated) by the being. The mantra describes not mere noise but the spontaneous many-voiced affirmation arising from integrated practice.
Universal truth
Right practice creates a self-multiplying momentum: many parts of the nature begin to participate, and the original soul-offering becomes available again for direct assimilation.
Themes
instrument-personification, sound-as-power, right-action, Soma-extraction
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 10.94.1-5
Significance
The seer’s focus is on transformation of instruments: how right workmanship (sukṛtyā) turns effort into a many-voiced mantra and restores the ‘ancient’ soul-offering.
The deity
- Devata
- Grāvāṇaḥ (pressing stones) in service of Indra/Soma
- Epithets
- sukṛta (well-fashioned), vadant (speaking)
- Related deities
- Indra, Soma, Agni (as inner priest)
Cosmic role
Operational powers that extract Soma from the hidden; they generate the resonant field for Indra’s receiving.
Inner power
Disciplined repetition, precision, and rhythmic pressure that releases delight from dense experience.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing praise of implements; affirmation of correct performance (sukṛtyā)
ए॒ते व॑दन्ति श॒तव॑त्स॒हस्र॑वद॒भि क्र॑न्दन्ति॒ हरि॑तेभिरा॒सभि॑: । वि॒ष्ट्वी ग्रावा॑णः सु॒कृत॑: सुकृ॒त्यया॒ होतु॑श्चि॒त्पूर्वे॑ हवि॒रद्य॑माशत ॥
ए॒ते । व॒द॒न्ति॒ । श॒तऽव॑त् । स॒हस्र॑ऽवत् । अ॒भि । क्र॒न्द॒न्ति॒ । हरि॑तेभिः । आ॒सऽभिः॑ । वि॒ष्ट्वी । ग्रावा॑णः । सु॒ऽकृतः॑ । सु॒ऽकृ॒त्यया॑ । होतुः॑ । चि॒त् । पूर्वे॑ । ह॒विः॒ऽअद्य॑म् । आ॒श॒त॒ ॥
ete | vadanti | śata-vat | sahasra-vat | abhi | krandanti | haritebhiḥ | āsa-bhi ḥ | viṣṭavī | grāvāṇaḥ | su-kṛtaḥ | su-kṛtyayā | hotuḥ | cit | pūrve | haviḥ-adyam | āśata
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4 × ~11; energetic mid-line stresses support ‘hundreds and thousands’ expansion.
Rolling, multiplicative, with strong consonantal clusters (krand-) giving percussive surge.
Builds a field of vibration; listeners feel surrounded by mantra-force and uplifted energy.
- śatavat sahasravat
- Literal: in hundreds, in thousands. Symbolic: abundant, manifold movements of awakened consciousness
- abhi krandanti
- Literal: cry out around. Symbolic: encircling vibration that besieges and breaks resistance
- haritebhir āsabhiḥ
- Literal: with tawny mouths. Symbolic: golden-prāṇic heat; tapas-charged instruments of expression
- grāvāṇaḥ sukṛtaḥ
- Literal: well-made stones. Symbolic: perfected disciplines/instruments (body-breath-voice-attention)
- sukṛtyayā
- Literal: by right working. Symbolic: action in harmony with ṛta—skill, exactness, sincerity
- hotuḥ pūrve
- Literal: of the ancient Hotar. Symbolic: the timeless soul-priest within; original aspiration and offering
- haviradyam
- Literal: oblation to be eaten. Symbolic: assimilable delight/force—Soma made fit for inner digestion
Abhiṣava: describes the sound and efficacy of the pressing stones; supports the priestly action of extracting Soma for the deity.
During pressing cycles; also as celebratory verse when rite is ‘well done’
Sounding/striking stones; reciting to empower extraction and offering
For habit-change: repeat while doing a disciplined practice (breath/japa) to cultivate ‘right workmanship’ and many-part participation.
śata/sahasra: ‘hundred/thousand’ as intensifiers of multiplicity. √krand: ‘roar/cry’ (cf. Germanic sound-imitative parallels). harit: ‘tawny/greenish-yellow’ frequently linked with Indra’s horses and Soma’s vivid force—psychologically, energized life-force turned luminous. su-kṛta/su-kṛti: √kṛ (PIE *kwer- ‘do, make’)—right formation and right doing. hotṛ: from √hu ‘invoke’ (PIE *gʰeuH- ‘pour/invoke’ debated); archetypal invoker within.
su-kṛti (right action) as the law of effective manifestation, archetypal priest (hotṛ) as inner invoking faculty
sukṛtyā = action aligned to ṛta; correct rhythm unlocks results.
The ‘ancient Hotar’ symbolizes perennial truth in the soul; recovered through right working.
From multiplicity of sounds to recovered essence—many forms serving one delight.
Vedic tapas psychology; anticipates yoga’s abhyāsa producing spontaneous continuity.
Golden mouths = energized prāṇa; stones = body/physical discipline; circling cries = protective/mantric enclosure.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The many-voiced stones whose ‘mouths’ cry out and thereby attain the offering: the mythologem of awakened instruments whose right formation (su-kṛta) and right operation (su-kṛti) make the oblation reachable—inner faculties become articulate and effective.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- su-kṛta/su-kṛti from √kṛ aligns with PIE *kwer- ‘make/do’ (cf. Greek prássō not cognate; but general IE ‘do’ roots). The semantic pairing ‘well-made’ + ‘right doing’ is an IE formula of craftsmanship-as-order, applied here to sacred action.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi validates the stones as semi-divine agents: by praising their su-kṛti, he strengthens their efficacy. The Devata (Indra/Soma complex) is served through this efficacy; the ‘ancient Hotar’ indicates continuity between primordial and present invocation.
Transform repetition into living speech: let many parts of the psyche ‘speak’ the mantra until it becomes continuous.
vishuddha (expression) and manipura (tapas)
Kapalabhati-light or rhythmic exhale pulses (gentle) to mimic ‘pressing’; then settle into smooth chanting.
Dynamic concentration with joyful heat; sense of inner ‘attainment.’
Set a steady rhythm; aim for sukṛtyā—accuracy over strain. Notice when the mantra begins to repeat itself in the background: that is ‘hundreds and thousands’ speaking.
Keep udatta on ete and key verbs (vadanti, krandanti); maintain crisp svarita fall on conjunct-heavy words.
Punch krandanti and sukṛtaḥ; soften into āśata at cadence for ‘attained.’
śatavat / sahasravat: clear ‘ś’ vs ‘s’; keep ‘v’ light, haritebhir: ‘ri’ short; ‘bhir’ rolled lightly, viṣṭvī: retroflex ṣṭ; long ī, sukṛtyayā: ṛ vocalic; keep yā long, hotuś cit: ś + c cluster; do not insert extra vowel, havi-radyam: split havir + adyam in sense; keep sandhi smooth
Percussive on consonants, warm resonance on long vowels; let the sound feel surrounding.
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