Rig Veda 9.96.15: Mandala 9, Sukta 96, Mantra 15
Sukta 9.96
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
एष स्य सोमो मतिभिः पुनानोऽत्यो न वाजी तरतीदरातीः । पयो न दुग्धमदितेरिषिरमुर्विव गातुः सुयमो न वोळ्हा ॥
eṣa sya somo matíbhiḥ punāno ’tyo na vājī taratīd arātīḥ | payo na dugdham aditer iṣiram urv iva gātuḥ su-yamo na voḷhā ||
Ten Soma, oczyszczony naszymi przebudzonymi myślami, przekracza siły niedostatku i wrogości jak szybki rumień bogaty w siłę. Jak mleko wydojone, daje pędzący, pożywny przepływ Aditi, szeroki jak otwarta ścieżka, dobrze prowadzony, pewny nosiciel, który nas niesie naprzód.
Word by Word
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → एष-
- स्यः
- he/that (very one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (वैदिक-रूपम्)Role Kartā (एषः इत्यस्य सह-निर्देशः)Root स (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → स्य- (वैदिकः)
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- मतिभिः
- with thoughts / with hymnic intentionsNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot मति (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुनानः
- purifying (himself/being purified)Participleवर्तमानकाले, आत्मनेपदीयः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गःRole Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root पू (धातु) + शानच् (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
- अत्यः
- a steedNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमा-कर्तृ)Root अत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययम्Root न (अव्यय)
- वाजी
- prize-winning / swiftNoun/Adjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (अत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- तरति
- crosses overVerbलट् (वर्तमानः), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root तॄ (धातु)
- इदरा॑तीः
- hostile powers / obstructersNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role KarmaRoot इदरा॑ति (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक-समास/व्युत्पत्तिः: इद् + राति ‘दान/उपहार’ → ‘इदं-राति’ प्रकारः; अर्थतः ‘विघ्न/शत्रु-दानव’)
- पयः
- milkNounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमा-कर्तृ)Root पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययम्Root न (अव्यय)
- दुग्धम्
- milked (milk)Participle (used adjectivally/substantively)भूतकाले (कृदन्तः), नपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Kartā/कर्म (सन्दर्भानुसार उपमा-पद)Root दुह् (धातु) + क्त (भूतकृदन्त)
- अदितेः
- of AditiNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (genitive)Root अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषिरम्
- fresh/strong, invigoratingAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गः, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role Viśeṣaṇa (पयः/दुग्धम् इत्यस्य)Root इषिर (प्रातिपदिक)
- उर्विव
- as if wide/broadAdjective + Indeclinableउरु- (नपुंसक/विशेषण-प्रयोगः) + इवRoot उरु (प्रातिपदिक) + इव (अव्यय) → उर्वि-व (वैदिक संधि)
- गातुः
- of the path / courseNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Role Sambandha (genitive)Root गातु (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुयमः
- well-guided / well-reinedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण सोमस्य)Root सु- + यम (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- likeIndeclinableउपमा-अव्ययम्Root न (अव्यय)
- वोळ्हा
- a carrier/driver (one who conveys)Agent noun (participle-like)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role Kartā (उपमा-कर्तृ)Root वह् (धातु) + तृच्/तृ (कर्तरि-कृदन्त; वैदिक रूप: वोळ्हा < वोढा)
Sandhi Notes
- संधि-विच्छेदः (मुख्याः): (1) पुना॒नोऽत्यो॒ = पुनानः + अत्यः (अः + अ → ओऽ)
- (2) उ॒र्वि॑व = उरु + इव (उरु + इव → उर्विव्; वैदिक-रूपेण)
- (3) वोळ्हा = वोढा (वह्-धातोः कर्तरि-कृदन्तस्य वैदिक-ध्वन्यन्तरम्: ढ/ळ्ह)
- अन्ये पदाः प्रायः पदपाठानुसारं असन्धिताः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
This Soma, purified by thoughts, crosses beyond poverty/hostility like a swift strong steed. Like milk drawn, he yields the impetuous nourishing flow of Aditi, wide as a path, well-guided, a sure bearer.
Inner meaning
Soma is purified not only by ritual strainers but by ‘matibhiḥ’—awakened thoughts and right discernments. Thus refined, he becomes a swift ‘horse’ (ātya) of vital force and a ‘vājī’ of effective power, carrying the seeker beyond ‘arātīḥ’—states of want, incapacity, and hostile limitation. The ‘milk’ image signifies a natural outflow of nourishment when the inner cow of light is rightly ‘milked’: the being yields a steady stream of sustaining joy and force. ‘Aditi’ here is the infinite, the unbounded consciousness; Soma expresses her ‘iṣiram’—impetuous, forward-driving energy—yet ‘urv iva gātuḥ’ it opens a wide path, not a narrow struggle. ‘Suyama’ and ‘voḻhā’ indicate that this force is well-governed and reliably carries the consciousness onward in the journey of yoga.
Universal truth
When joy is refined by awakened understanding, it becomes a reliable power that overcomes scarcity and hostility, opening a wide, well-guided path of growth rooted in the Infinite.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Purification, Inner victory over obstruction, Aditi-Infinite, Transformation of desire into delight
The seer
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma seer-tradition; specific rishi not securely identified for this verse in common metadata.
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.96
Significance
Highlights the Aurobindonian key: purification by ‘mati’ (conscious thought/vision) transforms Soma into a guided carrier on the wide path of the Infinite (Aditi).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- punānaḥ (purifying), vājī (forceful), suyamaḥ (well-guided), voḻhā (bearer)
- Related deities
- Aditi, Indra, Aśvins (journey/steed associations)
Cosmic role
Gives sustaining essence and victorious force; opens the path and carries the journey of consciousness.
Inner power
Ananda as a disciplined, guided energy that overcomes scarcity and limitation.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification chants during pressing
ए॒ष स्य सोमो॑ म॒तिभि॑: पुना॒नोऽत्यो॒ न वा॒जी तर॒तीदरा॑तीः । पयो॒ न दु॒ग्धमदि॑तेरिषि॒रमु॒र्वि॑व गा॒तुः सु॒यमो॒ न वोळ्हा॑ ॥
ए॒षः । स्यः । सोमः॑ । म॒तिऽभिः॑ । पु॒ना॒नः । अत्यः॑ । न । वा॒जी । तर॑ति । इत् । अरा॑तीः । पयः॑ । न । दु॒ग्धम् । अदि॑तेः । इ॒षि॒रम् । उ॒रुऽइ॑व । गा॒तुः । सु॒ऽयमः॑ । न । वोळ्हा॑ ॥
eṣaḥ | syaḥ | somaḥ | mati-bhiḥ | punānaḥ | atyaḥ | na | vājī | tarati | it | arātīḥ | payaḥ | na | dugdham | aditeḥ | iṣiram | uru-iva | gātuḥ | su-yamaḥ | na | voḷhā
44
4×11 (approx.)
Quick, galloping imagery; strong forward momentum with widening release in the second half.
Energizes and encourages; turns anxiety of lack into confident forward movement.
- matibhiḥ punānaḥ
- Literal: purified by thoughts. Symbolic: refined by awakened discernment and aspiration
- ātyaḥ / aśva
- Literal: steed. Symbolic: vital energy harnessed for the soul’s journey
- vājī
- Literal: strong, winner of vāja. Symbolic: effective force for accomplishment
- arātīḥ
- Literal: wants, hostilities. Symbolic: inner poverty: doubt, weakness, obstruction, adverse forces
- payo… dugdham
- Literal: milk drawn. Symbolic: nourishing outflow of light/joy from the inner source
- Aditi
- Literal: the Infinite, unbound. Symbolic: limitless consciousness; vast mother-principle
- iṣiram
- Literal: impetuous, swift. Symbolic: dynamic spiritual energy (śakti-like impetus)
- uru gātuḥ
- Literal: wide path. Symbolic: vast inner way; freedom from cramped ego-movement
- suyamaḥ
- Literal: well-guided. Symbolic: governed force; disciplined energy
- voḻhā
- Literal: carrier, bearer. Symbolic: supporting power that transports the seeker across difficulties
Soma Pavitrī-stotra context: verses for the flowing/filtered Soma in the Soma sacrifice (pressed, purified through wool/strainers, led to the vats). Used in the broader Soma-yajña sequence (e.g., Agniṣṭoma framework) as praise accompanying purification and offering.
During the flow of Soma, especially when invoking vāja (force) and victory over obstruction.
Chant to ‘carry’ the rite forward; align the offering with Aditi’s wideness.
Use when facing fatigue or scarcity-thinking; recite to shift into wide, guided momentum.
Key terms: (1) punānaḥ: present middle participle of √pū ‘to purify, cleanse’; in Soma hymns denotes the self-purifying current through the filter (pavitra). (2) vājī: from vāja-, a polyvalent RV term—‘strength, victorious plenitude, prize’; connected with energic fullness rather than material food alone. (3) tarati: √tṛ ‘to cross over’; frequently marks victory by passage beyond obstruction. (4) arātīḥ: arāti- ‘hostility, niggardliness, want’; opposed to rā́ti ‘giving’; hence psychological sense ‘withholding powers’. (5) payaḥ/dugdham: payas ‘milk/essence’ + dugdha ‘milked’; image of extracted nourishing essence; inner reading: released delight/knowledge-sap. (6) aditeḥ: gen. of Aditi, ‘the unbound/infinite’ (a-diti ‘non-division’), source of wideness (uru) and right law. (7) su-yamaḥ: su- ‘good’ + yama ‘reining, guiding, order’ (√yam ‘to restrain, govern’): rightly governed movement; also resonance with ‘yama’ as law/order.
Aditi (Infinity/undividedness), crossing beyond obstruction (inner victory), wideness (uru) as expansion of consciousness, right guidance/order (su-yama) akin to ṛta as regulated movement
‘Suyama’ implies right-guided movement—ṛta in action.
Purification by mati supports truth-seeing that defeats arātī (false limitation).
Outflow from the Infinite as nourishing stream; widening of the path as manifestation principle.
Vedic psychology tending toward Vedāntic Infinity (Aditi) and yogic transformation of vital force.
Horse = harnessed prāṇa/vital dynamism; milk = nourishing light/essence; wide path = inner freedom; flow = continuous support of practice.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The mythologem is the ‘purified Soma as the victorious racer’ who *crosses* (tarati) hostile powers (arātīḥ). The outer image is the Soma stream rushing through purification like a prize-winning steed; the inner action is the delight-force, clarified by inspired thought (matíbhiḥ), traversing beyond the withholding movements of the lower nature and opening a wide passage (uru iva gātuḥ) toward the Infinite (Aditi).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Several lexemes align with inherited Indo-European poetic diction: √tṛ ‘cross over’ (tarati) corresponds to PIE *terh₁- ‘to cross, pass over’ (cf. English ‘through’, Latin trans- as semantic parallel). √vah ‘to carry’ (voḷhā < vah-) continues PIE *weǵh- ‘to convey, transport’ (cf. English ‘weigh’ is different root; but Slavic *vezti ‘to carry’ is cognate). The horse-racer imagery (atya-) participates in the Indo-European poetic complex of speed/horse as victorious force, while vāja- (‘victorious strength/prize’) reflects an inherited nexus of ‘force/booty/prize’ common to archaic IE warrior-sacral registers.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s side is expressed through matí- (inspired mental formations): the human vessel offers clarified intention and invocation, which ‘purifies’ Soma by giving it a conscious channel. Soma reciprocates by becoming su-yamaḥ—rightly guided power—and by ‘carrying’ (voḷhā) the practitioner across arātī (withholding/hostile limitation) into the wideness of Aditi. The exchange is thus: concentrated thought and aspiration refine the divine current; the refined current returns as victorious passage and nourishment of the inner being.
Purify joy through clear intention and insight; feel it as a guided force carrying you across limitation into wideness.
Maṇipūra (vital force) guided by Ājñā (discernment) opening to Sahasrāra/Aditi-wideness
Brisk-leaning coherent breathing (e.g., 5–6 breaths/min) while visualizing a luminous steed moving on a wide path; keep mind ‘holding the reins’.
Dynamic equanimity—speed without agitation.
When obstacles arise, return to ‘mati’ (clear seeing), then let the purified joy move you forward; choose one concrete action as the ‘next step on the wide path’.
Observe Vedic accents; give a slightly quicker lift in the ‘horse’ segment (ātyo na vājī…) while keeping pitch discipline.
Do not rush consonant clusters: taratīd arātīḥ; keep long vowels in aditer, gātuḥ.
eṣa sya—separate vowels cleanly, punāno—long ā, ātyo—long ā, palatal ty, arātīḥ—long īḥ, aditeḥ—short eḥ ending with visarga, voḻhā—retroflex ḻ; if unavailable, approximate with ‘l’ but keep length of ā
Energizing, forward, but controlled (well-guided)
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