Rig Veda 9.97.55: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 55
Sukta 9.97
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सं त्री पवित्रा विततान्येष्यन्वेकं धावसि पूयमानः । असि भगो असि दात्रस्य दातासि मघवा मघवद्भ्य इन्दो ॥
saṃ trī pavitrā vi-tatāny eṣy anv ekaṃ dhāvasi pūyamānaḥ | asi bhágo asi dātrásya dātāsi maghávā maghávadbhya indo ||
Przechodząc przez trzy rozpostarte sita, biegniesz jedną ścieżką, o Somo, będąc oczyszczanym. Jesteś Bhagą, mocą rozkoszy i rozdawnictwa; jesteś dawcą daru, bogatą siłą, która obdarza bogatych, o Indu.
Word by Word
- सम्
- together, completelyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- त्रीणि
- threeAdjective (Numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (with विततानि) / ViśeṣaṇaRoot त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- पवित्राणि
- filters, strainers (purifying sieves)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचनRole Karma (with विततानि)Root पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- विततानि
- spread outParticiple/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भूतकृत् (PPP) ‘spread out’Role Karma (object-state) / Viśeṣaṇa of पवित्राणिRoot वि-√तन् (तन्, ‘to stretch/spread’) → वितत (कृदन्त)
- एषि
- you goVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √इ (गमन) + (प्रे.)
- अनु
- along, followingIndeclinableअव्यय (पूर्वपद/उपसर्गार्थ) ‘along, after’Root अनु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- एकम्
- one (single stream/goal)Adjective (Numeral)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole Karma (with धावसि)Root एक (प्रातिपदिक)
- धावसि
- you run, you rush/flowVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √धाव् (धावति, ‘to run/flow’)
- पूयमानः
- being purifiedParticipleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपद-भावRole Kartā (of एषि/धावसि) / ViśeṣaṇaRoot √पू (पूयते, ‘to be purified’) → पूयमान (कृदन्त)
- असि
- you areVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √अस् (भू, ‘to be’)
- भगः
- Bhaga; fortune, distributor of sharesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā/Predicative nominative (of असि)Root भग (प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- you areVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √अस्
- दात्रस्य
- of the giver / of givingNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (genitive relation with दाता)Root दात्र (प्रातिपदिक; ‘giver’/‘gift’; also ‘sickle’ in later usage)
- दाता
- giverNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā/Predicative nominative (of असि)Root √दा (to give) → दातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- असि
- you areVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRole KriyāRoot √अस्
- मघवा
- bountiful one, generous lordNoun (epithet)पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (वेद. प्रथमा एकवचन -वा)Role Sambोधन/Predicative (address to Soma/Indu)Root मघवन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- मघवद्भ्यः
- to the bountiful onesAdjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, बहुवचनRole Sampradāna (recipient)Root मघवत् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘bountiful’)
- इन्दो
- O Indu (Soma)Noun (vocative)पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन, एकवचनRole Sambodhana (address)Root इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सन्धि-निरसन): सं त्री पवित्रा विततानि एषि अनु एकं धावसि पूयमानः । असि भगः असि दात्रस्य दाता असि मघवा मघवद्भ्यः इन्दो । मुख्य सन्धयः: (1) विततान्ये॒षि = विततानि + एषि (इ/ए-स्वर-सन्धि; ‘इ’ + ‘ए’ → ‘ये’)
- (2) एष्यन्वेकं = एषि + अनु + एकम् (पदसंयोग; अनु + एकम् → अन्वेकम्, ‘उ’→‘व्’ before vowel)
- (3) पूयमानः असि → पूयमानोऽसि (पदपाठे पृथक्)
- (4) दातासि = दाता + असि (आ + अ → आ; संयोगलेखन)
- (5) मघवद्भ्य इन्दो = मघवद्भ्यः + इन्दो (विसर्ग-लोप/वेदिक संहिता-प्रयोग)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Passing through the three outspread strainers, you run along the one path, O Soma, being purified. You are Bhaga; you are giver of the gift; you are the opulent one who gives to the opulent, O Indu.
Inner meaning
Soma moves through the three pavitrāṇi—threefold purification in the human instrument (body-life-mind, or the triple lower nature) and yet follows one inner channel (ekaṃ…path): the central movement toward unity. As he is purified, he reveals himself as Bhaga: the divine distributor of delight and right enjoyment. He becomes dātrasya dātā: the giver of the very capacity to give—granting not only gifts but the inner power and wideness to receive and to bestow. To the maghavats (those who are ‘rich’ in aspiration and offering), he gives more abundance: spiritual wealth increases by conscious generosity and surrender.
Universal truth
True purification is not fragmentation but a unified movement through all parts of life. When joy is clarified, it becomes wise distribution—granting both resources and the capacity to share them. Abundance follows aligned aspiration.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Purification, Bestowal of abundance, Rita-path
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97.55-56 (paired purification-kingship theme), RV 9.73 (Soma through filters)
Family tradition
Book 9 Soma liturgical-seer tradition; likely linked to a Soma-singer line where the ‘three filters’ doctrine is prominent.
Significance
This is a succinct yogic formula: triple purification + one path + emergence of Bhaga (right delight). It encodes a practical inner method.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (Indu)
- Epithets
- Pūyamāna, Bhaga, Maghavā, Indu
- Related deities
- Bhaga (as Āditya aspect), Varuṇa/Mitra (right order in distribution), Agni (inner sacrifice leader)
Cosmic role
Refines the essence of life and distributes divine enjoyment; sustains reciprocity between offering and grace.
Inner power
Unifying flow that purifies the triple nature and establishes harmonious abundance (bhaga).
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma straining through three filters (pavitra)
सं त्री प॒वित्रा॒ वित॑तान्ये॒ष्यन्वेकं॑ धावसि पू॒यमा॑नः । असि॒ भगो॒ असि॑ दा॒त्रस्य॑ दा॒तासि॑ म॒घवा॑ म॒घव॑द्भ्य इन्दो ॥
सम् । त्री । प॒अवित्रा॑ । विऽत॑तानि । ए॒षि॒ । अनु॑ । एक॑म् । धा॒व॒सि॒ । पू॒यमा॑नः । असि॑ । भगः॑ । असि॑ । दा॒त्रस्य॑ । दा॒ता । असि॑ । म॒घऽवा॑ । म॒घव॑त्ऽभ्यः । इ॒न्दो॒ इति॑ ॥
sam | trī | pavitrā | vi-tatāni | eṣi | anu | ekam | dhāvasi | pūyamānaḥ | asi | bhagaḥ | asi | dātrasya | dātā | asi | magha-vā | maghavat-bhyaḥ | indo iti
48
4 × 12 syllables (probable)
Swift, streamlined movement matching ‘dhāvasi’; balanced declaratives in the second half (‘asi…asi…asi’).
First half induces a felt ‘flow’; second half implants affirmations of abundance and generosity.
- त्री पवित्रा (trī pavitrā)
- Literal: three strainers/filters. Symbolic: threefold purification of body, life, mind (or physical-vital-mental)
- विततानि (vitatāni)
- Literal: outspread. Symbolic: expanded means/processes; openness of the instrument
- एकम् (ekam)
- Literal: one. Symbolic: single path of unity; central channel of consciousness
- धावसि (dhāvasi)
- Literal: you run/stream swiftly. Symbolic: unimpeded flow of delight-force
- पूयमानः (pūyamānaḥ)
- Literal: being purified. Symbolic: progressive refinement of consciousness
- भगः (bhagaḥ)
- Literal: Bhaga (fortune/distributor). Symbolic: divine enjoyment and right apportioning of delight
- दात्रस्य दाता (dātrasya dātā)
- Literal: giver of the gift. Symbolic: source of both grace and capacity
- मघवा (maghavā)
- Literal: bountiful/opulent. Symbolic: abundant force; inner richness
- मघवत्भ्यः (maghavadbhyaḥ)
- Literal: to the opulent. Symbolic: to those rich in offering/aspiration
Soma purification (pavamāna) during Soma sacrifice; streaming through strainers into the collecting vessel (graha), energizing the offering for Indra and the gods.
At the purification/filtration moment; also suitable as a ‘phala-śruti’ style boon-invocation
Soma is strained through wool; priests chant to consecrate Soma as giver of gifts
A daily ‘triple purification’ mantra: cleanse body (breath), life (emotion), mind (thought) and then affirm right delight and generosity.
Key terms: pavitra- ‘purifier/strainer’ from √pū ‘cleanse, clarify’ → inner sense: clarification of mixed consciousness. vi-tatāni from vi-√tan ‘stretch out, arrange’ → ordered planes/instruments. dhāvasi from √dhāv ‘run, rush’ → streaming of force. pūyamānaḥ (present middle participle) indicates self-effected purification. bhaga- (PIE *bʰag- ‘share, apportion’) → ‘distributor of delight/fortune’. dātra- from √dā ‘give’ (also ‘gift/instrument of giving’). maghá- ‘gift, bounty’ → maghavān ‘bountiful’.
Ṛta (right order) as the ‘one path’, inner purification/clarification of consciousness, Bhaga as distributive felicity
Bhaga signifies ṛta in enjoyment—right measure, right share, right timing.
Purification produces a truthful delight, not mixed with lower impulses.
Unity (one path) emerging from triple processing—integrating the worlds in the human.
Integral/Vedāntic psychology: purification of the triple instrument to manifest Ananda.
Filters = discriminative refinement; wool = soft receptive mind-stuff; flow = unobstructed prāṇa and joy current.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘purified Soma’ mythologem: the luminous essence (Indu) passes through triple purifiers and becomes fit to distribute delight and plenitude. The outer rite (filtering) encodes an inner action: consciousness is strained through successive clarifications until it runs in the single line of Ṛta.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- bhága- aligns with PIE *bʰag- ‘to share/apportion’ (cf. Slavic bogŭ ‘god/fortune’ as a semantic relative via ‘giver of fortune’), supporting the sense of distributive felicity. √dā ‘give’ is a classic PIE root (*deh₃-) with wide Indo-European cognacy; here dātrásya dātā intensifies the giver-function (gift + giver).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The verse frames Soma as an inner operative power rather than a distant god: ‘you are Bhaga… giver… maghavān’. The reciprocity is implicit—when the human vessel offers and strains the Soma (discipline/purification), Soma reciprocates by distributing ‘maghá’ (bounty) to those who can embody it (‘maghavat-bhyaḥ’), i.e., the prepared aspirants.
Visualize Soma as a white-gold current passing through three inner ‘filters’: (1) breath/body, (2) emotions/vital, (3) thoughts/mind—then entering a single central stream of unity. Conclude with the affirmation: ‘You are Bhaga in me.’
Iḍā–Piṅgalā harmonization into Suṣumṇā (ekaṃ path), culminating at Ājñā/Sahasrāra as unified flow.
Three rounds: (1) body scan with slow exhale, (2) soften emotions on exhale, (3) quiet thoughts; then a few breaths sensing a central channel flow.
Unified, generous, quietly luminous.
After chanting, practice one concrete act of ‘bhaga’: distribute something—time, attention, help—so the inner delight becomes right action.
Observe Vedic accents; the ‘asi…asi…asi’ sequence benefits from clear pitch distinction on udātta syllables.
First half: flowing legato; second half: articulate each ‘asi’ as a steady proclamation.
saṃ: nasalized ‘ṃ’ before ‘t’., trī: long ī., pavitrā: ‘tr’ cluster clear; long ā., pūyamānaḥ: long ū; ‘y’ glide, not ‘j’., maghavā: aspirate ‘gh’ softly but distinctly.
Smooth, luminous, affirming.
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