Rig Veda 9.66.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 66, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.66
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shringara (love)
पवस्व जनयन्निषोऽभि विश्वानि वार्या । सखा सखिभ्य ऊतये ॥
pávasva janáyan níṣo ’bhí viśvā́ni vā́ryā | sakhā́ sákhibhya ūtáye ||
Oczyść się, wydając na świat impulsy rozkoszy; paruj naprzód ku wszystkim pożądanym rzeczom. Jako towarzysz, przyjdź z pomocą dla towarzyszy.
Word by Word
- पवस्व
- Purify yourself / flow forth (O Soma).VerbLoṭ (imperative), 2nd person, singular; parasmaipadaRole (finite verb)Root √पू (पूञ्) / √पु (पुनाति) ‘to purify, flow (as Soma)’
- जनयन्
- producing, generatingVerbPresent active participle (śatṛ), nominative singular masculine (agreeing with implied ‘त्वम्/सोमः’)Role Kartā (agent, concomitant action of Soma)Root √जन् (जनयति) ‘to beget, produce’
- इषः
- refreshments, invigorations (nourishing powers)NounFeminine, accusative plural (Vedic form: इषः = इषस् < इषस्-; later: इषः/इषाः)Role Karma (object of ‘जनयन्’)Root इष् (f.) ‘refreshment, strength, nourishment; impulse’
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableUpasarga/avyaya governing sense ‘towards, upon, over’Root अभि (preverb/preposition)
- विश्वानि
- all (things)Adjective (used substantively)Neuter, accusative pluralRole Karma (object with implied verb of reaching/covering; dependent on अभि)Root विश्व (sarva-) ‘all’
- वार्या
- desirable treasures / choice boonsNounNeuter, accusative plural (Vedic: वार्या = वार्याणि)Role Karma (in apposition to ‘विश्वानि’)Root वार्य (n.) ‘choice goods, valuables, desirable things’ (< √वृ ‘to choose’)
- सखा
- (as) a friendNounMasculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (subject, Soma as ‘friend’)Root सखि/सखा (m.) ‘friend, companion’
- सखिभ्यः
- to/for (his) friendsNounMasculine, dative pluralRole Sampradāna (recipient/beneficiary)Root सखि (m.) ‘friend’
- ऊतये
- for help / for protectionNounFeminine, dative singularRole Prayojana/artha-dative (purpose: ‘for aid’)Root ऊति (f.) ‘help, aid, protection’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution: जनयन्निषोऽभि → जनयन् + इषः + अभि (final -न् of participle before vowel; इषः is Vedic acc.pl. of इष्; ’ऽ’ marks avagraha after loss of initial अ- in अभि). विश्वानि वार्या: no internal sandhi
- वार्या is Vedic acc.pl. neuter (for later वार्याणि)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Purify yourself, generating impulses (iṣaḥ); press toward all desirable boons. As a friend, come to help the friends.
Inner meaning
Soma’s purification releases iṣaḥ—inner impulsions of inspired energy and delight that move the sadhaka forward. The ‘desirable things’ (vāryā) are not outer gains but soul-values: clarity, strength, wideness, joy. Soma is sakhā: the intimate ally within, the companion-force of bliss that supports fellow seekers and the allied powers in us (aspirations, faculties).
Universal truth
When the core joy of consciousness is purified, it naturally generates right impulses and supportive fellowship; true progress is both aspirational and compassionate—helping the ‘companions’ within and without.
Themes
Soma-ritual, aid to companions, generation of inner energies, attainment of the desirable
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.66 (Soma Pavamāna), RV 9.25 (Soma as helper and friend motif appears across Book 9)
Significance
The verse frames Soma not as remote sacrificial substance but as an inner companion-power—central to Aurobindonian psychology of the Veda (the divine Friend aiding the inner yajña).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- pavamāna, sakhā (friend)
- Related deities
- Agni (leader of inner sacrifice), Mitra (friendship/harmony aspect), Indra (receives Soma to act)
Cosmic role
The delight-force that quickens aspiration (iṣ), attracts true boons, and supports the community of divine powers.
Inner power
Generative joy: it births right impulses, harmonizes parts of the being, and provides protective aid.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification and offering; also suitable as an invocation for assistance in the rite
पव॑स्व ज॒नय॒न्निषो॒ऽभि विश्वा॑नि॒ वार्या॑ । सखा॒ सखि॑भ्य ऊ॒तये॑ ॥
पव॑स्व । ज॒नय॑न् । इषः॑ । अ॒भि । विश्वा॑नि । वार्या॑ । सखा॑ । सखि॑ऽभ्यः । ऊ॒तये॑ ॥
pavasva | janayan | iṣaḥ | abhi | viśvāni | vāryā | sakhā | sakhi-bhyaḥ | ūtaye
Likely Jagatī or Triṣṭubh (Book 9 often alternates; exact requires syllable count per pāda)
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4 pādas of ~12 syllables if Jagatī
Imperative and propulsive (‘pavasva…abhi’), with a warm closing (‘sakhā…ūtaye’).
Energizes aspiration while keeping a friendly, supportive tone—good for group chanting.
- पवस्व (pavasva)
- Literal: purify/flow clear (imperative). Symbolic: let bliss-consciousness cleanse the nature now—active inner clarification
- इषः (iṣaḥ)
- Literal: impulsions, refreshments, vigour. Symbolic: uplifting urges of the soul: inspired energies that feed progress
- वार्या (vāryā)
- Literal: desirable things/boons. Symbolic: soul-boons: truth-joy, wideness, harmony, luminous force
- सखा (sakhā)
- Literal: friend, comrade. Symbolic: the intimate Presence of ānanda as inner ally
- ऊतये (ūtaye)
- Literal: for help, for protection. Symbolic: supporting grace that sustains practice and inner battle
Pavāmāna stotra/recitation accompanying Soma’s straining; invoked to generate iṣaḥ (impulsions) and secure vārya (chosen boons) for the yajamāna and his band.
During the active flow/pressing; also as a supportive verse in sequences invoking Soma’s aid
Chanted to ‘set’ Soma’s purifying action and invite boons/help
Use before collaborative practice or sangha: invoke inner joy to generate right impulses and mutual support.
iṣ- (f. iṣáḥ): from √iṣ 'to seek, impel, set in motion' → impulse/energy; in inner sense the directed force of aspiration. vā́rya-: from √vṛ 'to choose' → 'choice, desirable, excellent'; hence not mere wealth but what the soul chooses as true attainment. ūtí-: from √av 'to help, protect, favor' (semantic overlap with √ū 'aid' in Vedic usage) → saving assistance. sakhā: from sakhi- 'friend' (PIE *sokʷ-? debated), culturally marking reciprocal alliance—Soma as intimate power aiding the inner workers.
aspiration as dynamic force (iṣ), chosen fulfilments aligned with ṛta (vārya as 'worthy of choice'), divine friendship and mutual aid (sakhā)
Right impulses (iṣaḥ) are r̥ta-impulses when born from purification rather than desire.
The ‘desirable’ becomes satya-aligned when sought as soul-values.
From purified essence arises force (iṣ) and harmonious collectivity (sakhā-sakhi).
Yoga of works (karma) supported by delight (ānanda) and right will.
Flow = cleansing attention; nourishment = prāṇic-mental refreshment; friendship = inner cohesion among faculties.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as the divine ally who, once purified, 'begets' the forces of aspiration (iṣaḥ) and leads the community of seekers to the vārya—true desirable attainments. Mythic action is communal: the god-friend strengthens the band for conquest of light/fulfilment.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vā́rya from √vṛ 'choose' reflects PIE *welh₁- 'to choose, wish' (cf. English 'will', though via Germanic developments; semantic proximity). The imperative pávasva from √pū relates to PIE *pewh₁- 'to cleanse/purify' (cognate patterns seen across Indo-Iranian ritual vocabulary).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi speaks as part of a collective of sakhis (companions). Soma is invoked not as distant deity but as sakhā—an inwardly present power whose purification yields practical inner results: awakened impulses (iṣaḥ) and protective help (ūtí) enabling the seekers’ advance.
Invoke purified joy to generate right impulses: ‘Let the next action arise from clarity and delight, not compulsion.’
Maṇipūra (right impulse/energy) supported by Anāhata (friendship/heart)
Energizing but smooth: 6–6 breathing; on inhale feel ‘iṣ’ rising, on exhale offer it toward ‘vāryā’ (soul-boons).
Dynamic concentration—enthused, cooperative inner movement.
Repeat when lethargy or isolation appears. After chanting, list one ‘vārya’ quality to embody today (clarity, patience, courage) and take one small aligned action.
Recite in steady Vedic tone; emphasize imperatives with clarity rather than volume.
Keep ‘pavasva’ crisp; pause slightly after each pāda to let the imperative settle.
pavasva: v as soft ‘v’, not ‘w’, janayan: dental n; avoid nasalizing vowels, iṣaḥ: vocalic ‘ṣ’ retroflex; final ḥ light, abhi: bh aspirated, vāryā: long ā; ry conjunct clear, sakhā: kh aspirated; final ā long, ūtaye: long ū
Bright, encouraging, and steady; avoid harshness.
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