Rig Veda 9.10.1: Mandala 9, Sukta 10, Mantra 1
Sukta 9.10
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
प्र स्वानासो रथा इवार्वन्तो न श्रवस्यवः । सोमासो राये अक्रमुः ॥
prá svānā́so ráthā iva árvanto ná śravasyávaḥ | sómāso rāyé akramuḥ ||
Wysuwają się naprzód, samonapędzane, jak rydwany, jak rumaki pragnące natchnionego słuchania; moce Somy kroczą ku pełni bytu.
Word by Word
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्ग/निपात (अव्यय)Root प्र (upasarga) प्रत्यय-रहित अव्यय
- स्वानासः
- the sounding/roaring ones (Soma drops)Noun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot स्वान (प्रातिपदिक; √स्वन् ‘to sound, resound’ से)
- रथाः
- chariotsNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-भाग) / उपमेय-सम्बन्धRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- इव
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा-सूचक अव्ययRoot इव (निपात)
- अर्वन्तः
- swift ones; (esp.) horsesNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-भाग) / उपमेय-सम्बन्धRoot अर्वन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमा/तुलना-सूचक अव्यय (न…इव/न…यथा-प्रयोग)Root न (निपात)
- श्रवस्यवः
- fame-seeking, glory-seeking (men)Adjective (substantivized)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole Kartā (उपमान-भाग) / उपमेय-सम्बन्धRoot श्रवस्यु (प्रातिपदिक; श्रवस् ‘fame’ से, इच्छार्थक -यु)
- सोमासः
- the Soma (juices/drops)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole KartāRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- राये
- for wealth, for bountyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग (वैदिक), चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole Sampradāna (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन: ‘for wealth’)Root राय्/रायि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘wealth, bounty’)
- अक्रमुः
- they strode/advanced, they set forthVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √क्रम् (क्रमुँ पादविक्षेपे)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (वैदिक): प्र | स्वानासः | रथाः इव | अर्वन्तः न | श्रवस्यवः | सोमासः | राये | अक्रमुः । Sandhi: (1) रथा॑ इ॒व → रथाः इव (विसर्ग-सन्धि; अः + इ → अ इ, पदपाठ में विसर्ग) । (2) इ॒वार्व॑न्तो॒ → इव अर्वन्तः (अ + अ संधि; संहिता में इव + अर्वन्तः → इवार्वन्तः) । (3) श्र॑व॒स्यव॑: → श्रवस्यवः (विसर्ग का पदपाठ-रूप) । Accent note (संहिता-चिह्न): स्वा॒नासो॒, रथा॑, अर्व॑न्तो॒, श्र॑व॒स्यव॑:, सोमा॑सो, रा॒ये, अ॑क्रमुः — उदात्त/स्वरित चिह्न संहिता-पाठानुसार
The meaning
Outer meaning
The Soma streams move forth self-impelled like chariots, like steeds eager for fame; they stride toward wealth/plenty (rāyī).
Inner meaning
The Soma-powers, once awakened, move by their own inner impulsion (svānāsaḥ): dynamic carriers (rathāḥ) and swift life-forces (arvantaḥ) that yearn for inspired revelation (śravasyavaḥ). They advance toward rāyī—not mere riches, but plenitude of being: wideness, joy, force, and luminous capacity.
Universal truth
When the delight-force is released and aligned, it becomes self-propelling: it carries the seeker forward, increasing receptivity to truth and expanding life into a richer, more integral fullness.
Themes
Soma as dynamic movement, Ascent towards plenitude, Mantric inspiration
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.10.2, Rig Veda 9.10.3, Rig Veda 9.10.4
Significance
The seer here is primarily a ‘witness of movement’: the yoga of Soma is described as a progressive dynamism—inner energies becoming self-driven toward plenitude.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Soma (the pressed delight), Pavamāna (purifying flow)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Maruts
Cosmic role
Sets the evolutionary motion of consciousness: a streaming power that strengthens the gods (higher faculties) and advances the sacrifice (inner work).
Inner power
A self-propelling ananda-current that converts aspiration into forward movement and expands the being into rāyī (plenitude).
In ritual
Where it is used
Pavamāna Soma chants during purification/flow
प्र स्वा॒नासो॒ रथा॑ इ॒वार्व॑न्तो॒ न श्र॑व॒स्यव॑: । सोमा॑सो रा॒ये अ॑क्रमुः ॥
प्र । स्वा॒नासः॑ । रथाः॑ऽइव । अर्व॑न्तः । न । श्र॒व॒स्यवः॑ । सोमा॑सः । रा॒ये । अ॒क्र॒मुः॒ ॥
pra | svānāsaḥ | rathāḥ-iva | arvantaḥ | na | śravasyavaḥ | somāsaḥ | rāye | akramuḥ
Two pādas displayed
Propulsive and marching—many consonant clusters create a ‘stride’ (akramuḥ).
Elicits forward drive and inner momentum; good for overcoming inertia and tamas.
- pra
- Literal: forth, forward. Symbolic: the outward/ascending movement of consciousness
- svānāsaḥ
- Literal: self-sounding/self-impelled. Symbolic: autonomous inner drive once the psychic energy is awakened
- rathāḥ
- Literal: chariots. Symbolic: organized powers that carry the being—disciplined instruments
- arvantaḥ
- Literal: steeds. Symbolic: swift vital energies eager for the goal
- śravasyavaḥ
- Literal: desiring śravas (fame/hearing). Symbolic: aspiration for inspired hearing—truth-reception
- rāye (rāyī)
- Literal: to wealth, abundance. Symbolic: plenitude of being—integral prosperity of consciousness
Opening movement of a pavamāna hymn: describes the streaming Soma as advancing powers, aligned with the rite’s forward flow and inwardly with progressive ascent.
At the time of Soma flowing and being directed toward offering; part of stotra/śastra sequences in Soma rites.
Chanted to accompany the moving current—‘pra’ mirrors the forward flow and offering.
A mantra for initiating action: before work, practice, travel, or a new life phase—invoking self-impelled progress toward fullness.
akramuḥ from √kram ‘step/stride’ (PIE *krem- ‘step’ cf. Latin cremor? uncertain; but Indo-Iranian √kram is stable). rāyī from √rā ‘give’/noun rayi ‘wealth, abundance’—inwardly plenitude. śravasyu from śravas (√śru) + desiderative/possessive -yu ‘seeking’. svāna from √swan/svan ‘sound’ (onomatopoetic; also ‘self-impelled’ by extension).
Rayi (plenitude of being), Śravas (revelation through hearing), Progression/ascent (kram)
The ‘stride’ (akramuḥ) suggests ordered advance—ṛta as right progression rather than chaotic impulse.
Śravas as inner audition of satya; aspiration aligned to truth increases true guidance.
Evolution by streaming forces: consciousness advances through currents that become organized vehicles (ratha) and swift energies (arvant).
Integral Vedic psychology (Aurobindo): dynamism of ananda leading to wideness and plenitude.
The inner Soma-current behaves like a convoy of forces—organized and swift—carrying consciousness forward toward wideness (rāyī).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Soma-advance’ mythologem: Soma streams are personified as chariots/steeds that surge forward toward rāyī—symbolizing the forward stride of purified consciousness toward fullness.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The fame/hearing complex śravas parallels Greek kleos (both from PIE *ḱleu̯-). The motion-verb √kram ‘stride’ belongs to a widespread IE motif of ‘stepping forth’ as manifestation and conquest.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi does not merely praise; he rides the movement: by voicing the forward surge, he synchronizes inner aspiration with Soma’s self-driven advance, seeking rāyī as spiritual plenitude rather than material gain.
Invite a self-sustaining upward movement; feel inner energies organize and advance toward wideness.
Maṇipūra (drive) harmonized with Ājñā (direction) so momentum serves illumination.
Brisk-energetic but controlled breathing: 4-count inhale, 4-count exhale for 12 cycles, then chant once per exhale.
Dynamic aspiration—lucid, forward-moving, expansive.
While chanting, visualize a stream of bright drops becoming ‘vehicles’ that carry you beyond hesitation; after chanting, sit and sense where life-energy wants to move in right order (ṛta).
Follow Saṃhitā accents as marked; emphasize the forward impulse on ‘pra’ and keep ‘akramuḥ’ as a clean, decisive cadence.
Let the phrase ‘rathā ivārvanto’ roll like wheels—smooth linkage, no breaks; keep ‘śravasyavaḥ’ slightly lifted.
pra: crisp ‘pr’, svānāsaḥ: long ā; final ḥ lightly aspirated, rathā: dental ‘th’ aspirated, ivārvantaḥ: merge iva+arvantaḥ with gentle sandhi flow, śravasyavaḥ: ‘śra’ palatal; ‘sy’ clear, akramuḥ: ‘kr’ cluster clean; final ḥ soft
Bright, forward-leaning, rhythmic; avoid heaviness.
9
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