Rig Veda 9.97.44: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 44
Sukta 9.97
मध्वः सूदं पवस्व वस्व उत्सं वीरं च न आ पवस्वा भगं च । स्वदस्वेन्द्राय पवमान इन्दो रयिं च न आ पवस्वा समुद्रात् ॥
mádhvaḥ sū́daṃ pavasva vásva útsaṃ vīráṃ ca na ā́ pavasvā bhágaṃ ca | svadásv índrāya pávamāna indo rayíṃ ca na ā́ pavasvā samudrā́t ||
Oczyść dla nas słodkie wyciskanie, źródło bogactwa; oczyść dla nas siłę bohatera i także Bhagę, rozdzielającego błogość. Stań się słodki dla Indry, o oczyszczający Indu; i oczyść dla nas rayi, pełnię bytu, z głębi oceanu.
Concluding-type request in pavamāna set: Soma to yield sweetness for Indra and to bring vīra (heroic force), bhaga (fortunate share), and rayi (plenitude) to the sacrificer.
rayi as fullness of being, bhaga as rightful share (ṛta-based distribution), heroic energy for overcoming darkness
Bhaga implies right measure and distribution—wealth according to ṛta.
Sweetness must be ‘for Indra’—aligned with truth-illumination, not false desire.
Raising rayi from the ocean-depth: emergence of plenitude from the hidden infinite.
Integral Vedism: abundance as spiritual substance (not mere material gain) drawn from the depths of consciousness.
Sweetness = purified delight; spring = perennial inner source; ocean = subconscient depth/hidden infinite; hero = awakened force of the soul.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma drawn from the oceanic depth as sweet essence that empowers Indra and bestows the 'share' (Bhaga), heroic force, and rayi: the mythic economy of divine distribution grounded in a deep source of being.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- mádhu is a classic PIE lexeme (*médʰu). bhága reflects PIE *bʰag- 'apportion' with wide Indo-Iranian and Slavic parallels, showing an inherited concept of deity as distributor of portions/fate.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The Rishi asks Soma to become both power and gift: sweetening Indra (so victory is possible) and enriching the human with vīra (courage-force), bhaga (rightful joy-share), and rayi (plenitude). The reciprocity is aspiration/rite answered by inner abundance.
Invoke a ‘sweet clarity’—delight that brightens the mind (Indra) and strengthens resolve (vīra).
Maṇipūra (heroic force) harmonized by Anāhata (sweetness/joy).
Inhale imagining ‘madhu’ rising from the navel depth like warm nectar; exhale offering it upward to the brow (Indra).
Sweet, strong, abundant; grounded in depth.
Avoid excitement; seek a calm sweetness that empowers right action. End by feeling resources rising from the ‘ocean’ of silence within.
Vedic svara as per RV recitation; imperatives (pavasva, svadasva) typically carry clear melodic prominence—confirm with Śākala svara.
Differentiate pavasva (short a) vs svadasva (distinct sv- cluster). Keep ‘samudrāt’ with long ā and retroflex ṭ.
: madhvaḥ (dhv cluster), : ut-saṃ (clear ts), : sva-da-sva (no extra vowel between sv), : sa-mu-drāt (long ā; final t)
warm, nectar-like yet firm
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