Rig Veda 9.79.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 79, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.79
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Raudra (fury) and Vira (heroism)
उत स्वस्या अरात्या अरिर्हि ष उतान्यस्या अरात्या वृको हि षः । धन्वन्न तृष्णा समरीत ताँ अभि सोम जहि पवमान दुराध्यः ॥
utá svásyā arā́tyā arír hí ṣá utā́nyasyā arā́tyā vṛ́ko hí ṣáḥ | dhánvann ná tṛ́ṣṇā sám arīta tā́n abhí soma jahí pavamāna durā́dhyaḥ ||
I własne wstrzymanie staje się wrogiem; cudze wstrzymanie staje się wilkiem. Jak pragnienie biegnące przez suchą ziemię, rozprzestrzeniają się razem, poraż ich, o Somo, gdy się oczyszczasz, te trudne do opanowania siły.
Word by Word
- उत
- and; alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय/पुनरुक्ति-अव्यय (also, and, moreover)Root उत
- स्वस्याः
- of one’s own (of him/its own)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (genitive relation)Root स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अरात्याः
- of hostility; of enmityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
- अरिः
- the enemyNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अरि (प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeed; forIndeclinableनिपात (emphatic/causal: indeed, for)Root हि
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (coreferential)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableसमुच्चय-अव्ययRoot उत
- अन्यस्याः
- of anotherPronoun/Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अन्य (सर्वनाम/विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
- अरात्याः
- of hostility; of enmityNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अराति (प्रातिपदिक)
- वृकः
- the wolfNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
- हि
- indeedIndeclinableनिपातRoot हि
- सः
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (coreferential)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- धन्वन्
- (over) the desert; the wasteNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Vedic usage), प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; here adverbial accusativeRole अधिकरण (adverbial: in/over the waste)Root धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like; asIndeclinableउपमान-निपात (like, as)Root न
- तृष्णा
- thirstNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot तृष्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
- सम्
- together; whollyPreverbउपसर्ग (with √ऋ/ईर)Root सम्
- अरीत
- has rushed; has movedVerbलुङ् (aorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, एकवचन; Vedic injunctive/aorist formRole क्रियाRoot √ऋ (ईर्/ऋ- ‘to go, set in motion’)
- तान्
- those (ones)Pronounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole कर्मRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अभि
- against; towardsIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्यय (towards, against)Root अभि
- सोम
- O SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- जहि
- slay; strike downVerbलोट् (imperative), परस्मैपद, 2 पुरुष, एकवचनRole क्रियाRoot √हन् (to strike, slay)
- पवमान
- O purifying (one)Adjective (participle)पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय (middle pres. ptcp.)Role सम्बोधनRoot √पू (पवते ‘to purify’) → पवमान (present participle)
- दुराध्यः
- the ill-disposed; hard-to-ward-off (evil ones)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (collective sense possible)Role कर्तृ/कर्म (contextual: the evil-minded/ill-intentioned as targets)Root दुराध्य (प्रातिपदिक; दुḥ + आध्य/आधि)
Sandhi Notes
- Resolved Vedic sandhi/pada-division: स्वस्या॒ अरा॑त्या → स्वस्याः अरात्याः (a + a → ā; gen.sg.f.)
- अ॒रिर्हि → अरिः हि (visarga before h)
- ष उ॒ता → सः उत (Vedic ṣ for s; sandhi separation)
- उ॒तान्यस्या॒ → उत अन्यस्याः (t + a hiatus resolved in saṃhitā)
- अरा॑त्या॒ वृको॒ → अरात्याः वृकः (ā + v no change; final -o in saṃhitā corresponds to -aḥ in pada)
- हि षः → हि सः
- धन्व॒न्न → धन्वन् (final -n retained; used adverbially)
- सम॑रीत → सम् अरीत (preverb sam + aorist of √ऋ/ईर)
- ताँ → तान् (acc.pl.)
- सोम॑ ज॒हि → सोम जहि (voc. + imp.)
The meaning
Outer meaning
One’s own withholding becomes an enemy; another’s withholding becomes a wolf. Like thirst spreading over dry land, they run together—smite them, O Soma, as you purify yourself, these hard-to-master forces.
Inner meaning
The mantra diagnoses two forms of obstruction in sādhanā: (1) one’s own ‘arāti’—inner stinginess, refusal, inertia, self-sabotage—turns into the near enemy; (2) external or alien ‘arāti’ becomes predatory (wolf)—hostile suggestions, envy, collective darkness. These spread like thirst over a dry field (the unillumined vital/nervous nature). The seer calls Soma in purification to strike down (jahi) these durādhyaḥ—forces difficult to govern—so the delight-current can rehydrate and reclaim the inner terrain.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress is blocked less by lack of power than by withholding—inner refusal and outer hostility. When consciousness brings a purifying joy, it can dissolve these patterns at the root.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Battle against obstruction, Ethic of giving, Inner drought vs delight
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.79.2 (riches and protected gain), RV 9.79.5 (carry us through level to level)
Family tradition
Soma Pavamāna seer-traditions emphasize purification as an inner battle against obstruction; this verse is a classic ‘hostile-force’ motif within RV 9.
Significance
The seer frames purification as ethical-psychological combat: the enemy is first the inner withholding; Soma’s delight becomes a weapon of clarity and release.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Pavamāna (purifying), Soma (delight-essence)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
Cleansing stream that removes obstruction and restores right circulation of life and mind.
Inner power
Ananda that disarms craving and predation; force of purification that enables mastery over difficult impulses.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification/pressing recitation within Soma-yajña
उ॒त स्वस्या॒ अरा॑त्या अ॒रिर्हि ष उ॒तान्यस्या॒ अरा॑त्या॒ वृको॒ हि षः । धन्व॒न्न तृष्णा॒ सम॑रीत॒ ताँ अ॒भि सोम॑ ज॒हि प॑वमान दुरा॒ध्य॑: ॥
उ॒त । स्वस्याः॑ । अरा॑त्याः । अ॒रिः । हि । सः । उ॒त । अ॒न्यस्याः॑ । अरा॑त्याः । वृकः॑ । हि । सः । धन्व॑न् । न । तृष्णा॑ । सम् । अ॒री॒त॒ । तान् । अ॒भि । सोम॑ । ज॒हि । प॒व॒मा॒न॒ । दुः॒ऽआ॒ध्यः॑ ॥
uta | svasyāḥ | arātyāḥ | ariḥ | hi | saḥ | uta | anyasyāḥ | arātyāḥ | vṛkaḥ | hi | saḥ | dhanvan | na | tṛṣṇā | sam | arīta | tān | abhi | soma | jahi | pavamāna | duḥ-ādhyaḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Firm, martial cadence appropriate to rejection and smiting of hostile forces.
Creates resolve and cleansing intensity; supports inner ‘no’ to craving and obstruction.
- अरा॑तिः (arāti)
- Literal: non-giving, withholding, grudgingness. Symbolic: inner refusal/ego-contraction; obstructing tendency against the sacrifice
- अरिः (ariḥ)
- Literal: enemy. Symbolic: the near-enemy arising from one’s own nature
- वृकः (vṛkaḥ)
- Literal: wolf. Symbolic: predatory hostile force; devouring tendency in the vital
- धन्वन् (dhanvan)
- Literal: dry land, desert. Symbolic: unwatered parts of nature lacking joy/light
- तृष्णा (tṛṣṇā)
- Literal: thirst. Symbolic: craving that spreads and consumes; restless desire
- सम् अरीत (sam arīta)
- Literal: they run together/spread. Symbolic: compounded momentum of inner and outer obstruction
- जहि (jahi)
- Literal: smite, strike down. Symbolic: decisive inner rejection (vāraṇa) aided by Soma’s force
- पवमान (pavamāna)
- Literal: self-purifying. Symbolic: consciousness cleansing itself as it flows
- दुराध्यः (durādhyaḥ)
- Literal: hard to master/overcome. Symbolic: stubborn subconscient habits and vital compulsions
Protective petition in Soma sequence: removal of inner/outer withholding and devouring forces that block the sacrifice’s gain
During Pavamāna sequences to ward off obstacles and ensure successful offering.
Chant accompanying straining/flow; apotropaic (protective) intention.
Protective mantra for meditation when facing compulsions, envy, self-sabotage, or addictive craving patterns; used as a ‘rejection’ formula with calm force.
arāti (withholding) becomes personified as ari (enemy) and vṛka (wolf), intensifying the psychological danger: denial and greed devour the inner wealth. tṛṣṇā ‘thirst’ is craving; its simile with dhanvan (dry land) signals a barren consciousness. durādhya (dur- + ādhya?) is ‘hard to manage/subdue’, marking these impulses as resistant formations.
Withholding vs giving (arāti vs rāti), Craving as inner drought (tṛṣṇā), Mastery over difficult forces (durādhya)
Arāti is a deviation from ṛta—non-giving blocks the cosmic exchange; Soma restores circulation.
Truth requires openness; withholding is falsehood in action.
Re-watering the dry field—restoring life-force so higher formation can arise.
Yoga-psychological hermeneutic (Aurobindo): enemies as inner resistances and hostile suggestions.
Dry land = unillumined vital/body; thirst = craving; wolf = devouring impulse/hostility; Soma = rehydrating delight and purification.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘wolf-enemy’ obstruction mythologem: withholding becomes a predatory force that spreads like thirst across the dry land. Soma is invoked as purifier and slayer to restore the flow of delight and generosity.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vṛka ‘wolf’ is an inherited Indo-European animal term (cf. wider IE *wĺ̥kʷos family), showing archaic shared lexicon. The predatory metaphor is pan-IE in heroic poetry; √han (smite) continues inherited strike/kill diction.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi identifies the inner ethical-psychological obstruction—arāti as thirst and wolf—and asks Soma to destroy it. The reciprocity is purification: as Soma clarifies, the seeker’s nature becomes capable of right giving and sustained inner nourishment.
Identify ‘withholding’ in oneself (fear, jealousy, laziness) and ‘predation’ from outside (suggestions); invoke a cool, luminous Soma-current to cleanse and cut them off.
Maṇipūra (mastery over craving) with support to Anāhata (opening/non-withholding)
Exhale with silent ‘jahi’ (inner rejection) while imagining thirst-heat leaving; inhale as cool Soma-flow returning.
Purified vigilance; calm strength without agitation.
Do not fight with emotional turbulence; let Soma’s clarity expose arāti, then reject it steadily; replace withholding with offering (inner giving) and thirst with contented wideness.
Three-tone Vedic chanting (udātta/anudātta/svarita); exact accents require a svara-notated source for RV 9.79.3.
Give weight to contrasts: svasyā / anyasyā; keep ‘jahi pavamāna’ crisp and decisive without shouting.
: long ā in -tyā; avoid flattening to -tia, : vocalic ṛ; keep k crisp, : retroflex ṣṇ cluster, : articulate m + r + ī cleanly, : du-rā-dhyaḥ, keep dhy cluster clear
Focused, cutting, steady; end with a cleansing, descending calm on ‘durādhyaḥ’.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
