Rig Veda 9.97.54: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 54
Sukta 9.97
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma seers
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
महीमे अस्य वृषनाम शूषे माँश्चत्वे वा पृशने वा वधत्रे । अस्वापयन्निगुतः स्नेहयच्चापामित्राँ अपाचितो अचेतः ॥
mahī́me asyá vṛ́ṣanā́ma śūṣé māṃścátve vā́ pṛ́śane vā́ vádhatre | asvā́payann nigutáḥ snéhayać cā́pā́mitrā́n apā́cito acetáḥ ||
Wielkie zaiste są te potężne moce jego siły, czy to w Māṃścatva, czy w Pṛśana, czy w Vadhatra. On uśpienia to, co ukryte, i czyni to uległym; a odpędza wrogów, te niepostrzegające, nierozmyślające ruchy, wyrzucając ich od nas.
Word by Word
- महीमे
- greatness, greatness (as object)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot मही (प्रातिपदिक) / मह् (वृद्धौ) (निरुक्त-सम्बन्ध)
- अस्य
- of him/itPronounपुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृष्णाम
- of the bulls (i.e., of the strong ones)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- शूषे
- in/for strength, vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot शूष (प्रातिपदिक)
- माम्
- mePronounद्वितीया; एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- चत्वे
- in praise/at the hymnNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot चत्व (प्रातिपदिक; ‘स्तुति/प्रशंसा’ इत्यर्थे वैदिक)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक अव्ययRoot वा
- पृशने
- in/at Pṛśana (name/epithet)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot पृशन (प्रातिपदिक; वैदिक विशेषण/नाम)
- वा
- orIndeclinableविकल्पार्थक अव्ययRoot वा
- वधत्रे
- in/at the slaying (place/act), for the killingNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी; एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot वधत्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘वध/हनन-सम्बन्धी’ वैदिक)
- अस्वापयन्
- they kept (them) awake / made (them) sleeplessVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; बहुवचन; णिच् (कारण) — ‘अस्वापयन्’ = caused (them) not to sleep / kept awakeRole KartāRoot स्वप् (निद्रायाम्) + अ (निषेध/प्रवर्तक-उपसर्गः; causative)
- निगुतः
- hidden, concealedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root निगुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; नि-गु (गोपने) क्त)
- स्नेहयत्
- he/it made (them) cling; caused to be sticky/affectionateVerbलङ् (इम्पर्फेक्ट्); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन (पदपाठ-रूपेण) / वैदिक प्रयोगे समुच्चयार्थंRole KartāRoot स्निह् (स्नेहे) (णिच्)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च
- अपाम्
- of the watersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; बहुवचनRole Sambandha (Genitive)Root अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मित्रान्
- friends, alliesNounपुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; बहुवचनRole KarmaRoot मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपाचितः
- unhonoured, disregardedAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root अपाचित (कृदन्त; अप-चि (चयन/चितीकरणे) क्त)
- अचेतः
- unthinking, senselessAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (विशेषण)Root अ-चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक; नञ् + चेतस्)
Sandhi Notes
- सम्भाव्य पदच्छेदः: महीमे | अस्य | वृष्णाम् | शूषे | माम् | चत्वे | वा | पृशने | वा | वधत्रे || अस्वापयन् | निगुतः | स्नेहयत् | च | अपाम् | मित्रान् | अपाचितः | अचेतः || 1) ‘मही॒मे’ = महीमे (मही + मे इति न; अत्र ‘मही’ प्रातिपदिकस्य द्वितीया-एकवचनम्) 2) ‘माँश्च॑त्वे’ → माम् + चत्वे (अनुस्वार/नासिक्य-समायोजन) 3) ‘स्ने॒हय॒च्चापा॒मित्राँ॒’ → स्नेहयत् + च + अपाम् + मित्रान् (त् + च → च्च; च + अपाम् → चापाम्) 4) ‘अपा॒चितो॑ अचे॒तः’ → अपाचितः + अचेतः (विसर्ग-लोप/सन्धि-प्रयोगः पदसंहितायाम्)
- वैदिकस्वराः (उदात्त/अनुदात्त/स्वरित) संहितापाठानुसारं, पदच्छेदे सामान्यतः न दर्शिताः।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Great are the mighty powers of his force—whether in Māṃścatva or in Pṛśana or in Vadhatra. He puts to sleep what is hidden and makes it pliant; and he drives away the enemies, the unperceiving, unthinking ones.
Inner meaning
The seer affirms the vastness of Soma’s vṛṣan power (forceful, fertilizing might) in multiple ‘stations’—names that can be read as inner domains or levels of the being. Soma acts on the niguta (hidden, covert) movements: he ‘puts them to sleep’ (asvāpayan)—quieting subconscient agitation—and ‘softens/makes them pliant’ (snehayat), turning rigid resistance into workable substance. Then he expels the amitrāḥ: hostile formations of ignorance—acitaḥ/acetaḥ, the unperceiving and unthinking habits—casting them out of our field.
Universal truth
Transformation requires both pacification and conversion: first quiet the hidden turbulence, then make the nature malleable, and finally remove persistent patterns of ignorance. Bliss is not indulgence; it is a purifying power that re-educates the subconscient.
Themes
Protection and exorcism (inner), Subconscient pacification, Victory over hostile forces
The seer
- Rishi
- Pavamāna Soma seers (Anukramaṇī: generic)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97.1-10 (Soma’s cleansing force), RV 9.86 (Soma drives away evil)
Family tradition
Collective Soma-seer tradition emphasizing inner purification as conquest of hidden resistance.
Significance
This verse expresses a key Aurobindonian theme: the subconscient (niguta) must be quieted and plasticized; only then can higher forces establish themselves.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Vṛṣan (Bull, mighty), Pavamāna, Indu
- Related deities
- Agni (burning purification), Indra (slayer of coverers), Rudra (healing/clearing)
Cosmic role
Purifier and healer of worlds; he subdues hidden disorder and restores right functioning.
Inner power
Ananda-Śakti that pacifies, softens, and rejects hostile formations; a therapeutic divine force.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma purification and protective invocation within Soma-yajña
मही॒मे अ॑स्य॒ वृष॒नाम॑ शू॒षे माँश्च॑त्वे वा॒ पृश॑ने वा॒ वध॑त्रे । अस्वा॑पयन्नि॒गुत॑: स्ने॒हय॒च्चापा॒मित्राँ॒ अपा॒चितो॑ अचे॒तः ॥
महि॑ । इ॒मे इति॑ । अ॒स्य॒ । वृष॒नाम॑ । शू॒षे इति॑ । माँश्च॑त्वे । वा॒ । पृश॑ने । वा॒ । वध॑त्रे॒ इति॑ । अस्वा॑पयत् । नि॒ऽगुतः॑ । स्ने॒हय॑त् । च॒ । अप॑ । अ॒मित्रा॑न् । अप॑ । अ॒चितः॑ । अ॒च॒ । इ॒तः ॥
mahi | ime iti | asya | vṛṣanāma | śūṣe iti | māṃścatve | vā | pṛśane | vā | vadhatreiti | asvāpayat | ni-gutaḥ | snehayat | ca | apa | amitrān | apa | acitaḥ | aca | itaḥ
48
4 × 12 syllables (probable)
Weighty and emphatic; suitable for declaring greatness and for the ‘driving away’ motion.
Gives a firm, cleansing pressure; helpful for inner rejection of intrusive thoughts.
- वृषनाम (vṛṣanāma)
- Literal: of the Bull (mighty one). Symbolic: irresistible generative force of delight-consciousness
- शूषे (śūṣe)
- Literal: strength, might. Symbolic: effective spiritual energy (śakti) in action
- नि-गुतः (nigutaḥ)
- Literal: hidden, secreted. Symbolic: subconscient impressions and covert impulses
- अस्वापयत् (asvāpayat)
- Literal: made to sleep. Symbolic: quiets the restless lower nature; suspends compulsions
- स्नेहयत् (snehayat)
- Literal: makes oily/soft; renders pliant. Symbolic: softening of rigidity; making nature receptive to transformation
- अमित्रान् (amitrān)
- Literal: enemies. Symbolic: hostile forces: doubt, inertia, cravings, falsehood
- अचितः (acitaḥ)
- Literal: unperceiving. Symbolic: mechanical habits lacking awareness
- अचेतः (acetaḥ)
- Literal: unthinking, unconscious. Symbolic: inconscient automatisms
- अप (apa)
- Literal: away. Symbolic: rejection (apohana) of false movements
Celebrates Soma’s power to subdue hidden forces and expel enemies; fits protective/cleansing function of pavamāna in Soma rite
During the flow/straining; especially when seeking protection and removal of hostile influences
Praise of Soma’s might; apotropaic (warding) function—driving away enemies
Mantra for psychological cleansing: quiet compulsions, soften rigidity, and practice conscious rejection of unthinking patterns.
śūṣa ‘vigor, might’ (often Indra/Soma force). vṛṣan ‘bull, strong’ from √vṛṣ ‘to rain/sprinkle; be virile’ (semantic of overflowing power). asvāpayat causative of √svap ‘sleep’ → ‘put to sleep/subdue’. nigūta ‘hidden’ from ni-√guh ‘conceal’. √snih ‘be sticky/adhere; be affectionate’ → causative ‘soften/make pliant/bring to cohesion’. amitra ‘non-friend/enemy’. cit ‘perceive’ (acita ‘unperceiving’). Proper names Māṃścatva, Pṛśana, Vadhatra: onomastic/ritual loci; keep as named nodes.
removal of ignorance (acita, acetá), transformation of the hidden subconscient (nigūta), force aligned with purification (śūṣa of Soma)
Expelling acetaḥ restores ordered consciousness aligned with ṛta.
Moves from acita/aceta (non-perception) toward awakened seeing (cit).
From hidden inertia to plastic receptivity—precondition for new creation in the being.
Yoga of transformation (integral): subconscient work and rejection of hostile forces.
night (sleep motif)
Sleep = pacification of lower turmoil; oil/softness = psychic/vital plasticity; bull-force = irresistible spiritual energy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as purifier-exorcist: he subdues the hidden (nigūta) and expels enemies (amitra). Inner myth: the delight-force penetrates the subconscient, quiets its turbulence, makes it workable (pliable), and drives out ignorant, hostile movements.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √svap ‘sleep’ corresponds to PIE *swep- (Lat sopor, Eng sleep via Germanic *slēpan is related in the broader IE sleep field). √cit ‘perceive’ continues PIE *ḱei̯t-/ *ḱei̯d- ‘notice’ (cognate mapping debated, but the perception lexicon is clearly IE). The causative morphology (asvāpayat, snehayat) illustrates productive Indo-Aryan derivation used to express inner agency.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer relies on Soma’s purifying agency as inner protection: the human effort presses and filters; Soma then acts within—stilling concealed disturbances and removing unknowing adversaries—so the aspirant’s consciousness can remain clear and victorious.
Bring awareness to hidden impulses; let a cool luminous joy descend; allow it to quiet agitation, then soften resistance, then consciously reject intrusive formations.
Svādhiṣṭhāna/Manipūra (subconscient-vital patterns) with ascent to Ājñā (clear seeing).
Cooling breath (śītalī/śītkārī) gently, or slow diaphragmatic breathing; on exhale, mentally ‘apa’—release/expel.
Quiet strength; vigilant peace.
Do not fight the hidden movement first; pacify it (asvāpayan), make it plastic (snehayat), then reject (apa). Repeat over days—subconscient change is cumulative.
Follow Vedic accents; keep declarative phrases (‘mahīme…’) strong; let ‘apa’ be a crisp release.
Use a firm udātta on key praise-words; soften tone on asvāpayan/snehayat to mirror pacification.
mahīme: long ī; avoid ‘maheem’., vṛṣanāma: vocalic ṛ clear; ‘ṣ’ retroflex., nigutaḥ: hard ‘g’, short ‘u’., snehayat: ‘sn’ cluster clean; ‘h’ voiced lightly.
Steady, cooling, authoritative.
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.
