Rig Veda 9.86.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 86, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.86
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
अत्यो न हियानो अभि वाजमर्ष स्वर्वित्कोशं दिवो अद्रिमातरम् । वृषा पवित्रे अधि सानो अव्यये सोमः पुनान इन्द्रियाय धायसे ॥
átyo na hiyānó abhí vā́jam arṣa svàr-vit kóśaṃ divó ádri-mātaram | vṛ́ṣā pavítre ádhi sā́no avyáye sómaḥ punāná indríyāya dhā́yase ||
Como um corcel impelido para a frente, arremete rumo à plenitude da força; ó descobridor do mundo solar (Svar), entra no vaso celeste nascido da pedra de prensar. Touro, no cimo do filtro imperecível, Soma é purificado para firmar e sustentar em nós o poder indriya de Indra.
Word by Word
- अत्यः
- the racer/steed (Soma as a swift one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot अत्य (प्रातिपदिक) < √अत्/अत्य् (गत्यर्थ; ‘अत्य’ ‘steed, racer’)
- न
- like/asIndeclinableनिपातRoot न
- हि॒यानः
- speeding, impelled, rushingVerbवर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि)Role कर्तृ (अत्यः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root √हि (गत्यर्थ) → हियान (कृदन्त, शानच्)
- अ॒भि
- towards, against, uponIndeclinableउपसर्ग/उपपद (पूर्वसर्ग)Root अभि
- वाजम्
- prize; strength; (victory-)bootyNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot वाज (प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्ष
- rush/stream!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRoot √ऋष्/अर्ष् (गत्यर्थ ‘to rush, flow’)
- स्व॒र्वित्
- winning heaven; heaven-findingAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वाजम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role कर्म (विशेषणरूपेण)Root स्वर् + √विद् (ज्ञाने) → स्वर्विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कोशम्
- the vessel, cask, containerNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (अर्ष इत्यस्य)Root कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
- दिवः
- of heaven, of the skyNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (वैदिके), षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (कोशम्/मातरम् इत्यस्य)Root दिव् (प्रातिपदिक ‘द्यौ/दिव्’)
- अद्रिमातरम्
- having the stone as mother; stone-born (pressed by the stone)Nounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्म (कोशम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन)Root अद्रि + मातृ (समासः: अद्रि-मातर्)
- वृषा
- the bull (vigorous one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (सोमः)Root वृषन्/वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
- पवित्रे
- in/onto the filter (sieve)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- अधि
- upon, overIndeclinableउपसर्ग/उपपदRoot अधि
- सानो
- on the ridge/surface (of the filter)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (वैदिक रूप: सानो = सानौ)Role अधिकरणRoot सानु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव्यये
- unfailing, imperishableAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन (पवित्रे/सानो इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role अधिकरण (विशेषणरूपेण)Root अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पुनानः
- purifying himself, being purifiedVerbवर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि)Role कर्तृ (सोमः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root √पू (पवने/शोधने ‘to purify’) → पुनान (कृदन्त, शानच्)
- इन्द्रियाय
- for Indra’s power/for vigorNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
- धायसे
- for sustenance/strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot धायस् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘support, nourishment, vigor’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सम्भाव्य): अत्यः | न | हियानः | अभि | वाजम् | अर्ष | स्वर्वित् | कोशम् | दिवः | अद्रिमातरम् || वृषा | पवित्रे | अधि | सानो | अव्यये | सोमः | पुनानः | इन्द्रियाय | धायसे || वैदिक-विशेषाः: (1) ‘सानो’ इति वैदिक-सप्तमी एकवचनरूपं ‘सानौ’ (सानु) इत्यस्य। (2) ‘स्वर्वित्’ बहुव्रीहिः/तत्पुरुष-समासः स्वर्+विद्, ‘वाजम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्। (3) ‘अद्रिमातरम्’ समासः (अद्रि-मातर्) कर्मपदेषु ‘कोशम्’ इत्यस्य सह विशेषण/अप्पोजिशनरूपेण। (4) ‘पुनानः’ ‘हियानः’ इत्युभौ शानच्-प्रत्ययान्तौ (वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तौ) कर्तरि प्रयोगे।
The meaning
Outer meaning
Soma, like a swift steed, rushes to gain strength; he enters the heavenly vessel born of the pressing-stone. As a bull on the summit of the imperishable filter, he is purified to establish Indra’s power within.
Inner meaning
The soul’s delight (Soma) is driven forward by aspiring life-force (aśva/atya) toward vāja—plenitude of effective energy. Passing through the ‘heavenly vessel’ (divo kośa) formed by pressure of discipline (adri, the pressing-stone), the delight becomes clarified on the imperishable inner filter (avyaya pavitra). This purified bliss is then held as indriya—Indra-force: luminous mental power, courage, and victorious clarity in the seeker.
Universal truth
When aspiration and disciplined pressure refine raw experience, delight becomes a stable, luminous power that can be held in consciousness and turned into effective action and illumination.
Themes
Soma purification, Vāja attainment, Indriya empowerment, Svar discovery
The seer
- Rishi
- Anukramaṇī attribution varies; RV 9.86 belongs to the Soma Pavamāna seer-tradition (often connected with Kāṇva transmission in Mandala 9).
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.86 (entire sūkta, Soma Pavamāna cycle), Rig Veda 9.85–9.87 (neighboring Soma purification hymns)
Family tradition
Soma-Pavamāna hymns are preserved through specialized udgātṛ/sāmaga and hotṛ lineages; many verses are transmitted in Kāṇva-prone recensions, though 9.86 seer-names differ across anukramaṇīs.
Significance
The ‘seer’ here is the inspired consciousness witnessing delight’s refinement: a paradigmatic yoga of purification where bliss becomes the fuel and substance for Indra’s illumination.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- pavamāna (self-purifying), vृषा (vṛṣā, bull/strong one), svarvit (finder of the light-world), hari (tawny, radiant)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Aśvins, Sūrya
Cosmic role
Cosmic delight and immortal essence that, when purified, becomes the sustaining sap of gods and the energizer of victorious consciousness.
Inner power
Ananda that clarifies into luminous force; it feeds Indra (illumined mind) and supports steady aspiration and discernment.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification (pavamāna chants) within Soma-yajña
अत्यो॒ न हि॑या॒नो अ॒भि वाज॑मर्ष स्व॒र्वित्कोशं॑ दि॒वो अद्रि॑मातरम् । वृषा॑ प॒वित्रे॒ अधि॒ सानो॑ अ॒व्यये॒ सोम॑: पुना॒न इ॑न्द्रि॒याय॒ धाय॑से ॥
अत्यः॑ । न । हि॒या॒नः । अ॒भि । वाज॑म् । अ॒र्ष॒ । स्वः॒ऽवित् । कोश॑म् । दि॒वः । अद्रि॑ऽमातरम् । वृषा॑ । प॒वित्रे॑ । अधि॑ । सानौ॑ । अ॒व्यये॑ । सोमः॑ । पु॒ना॒नः । इ॒न्द्रि॒याय॑ । धाय॑से ॥
atyaḥ | na | hiyānaḥ | abhi | vājam | arṣa | svaḥ-vit | kośam | divaḥ | adri-mātaram | vṛṣā | pavitre | adhi | sānau | avyaye | somaḥ | punānaḥ | indriyāya | dhāyase
48
4 padas of ~12 syllables (Jagatī cadence; minor recensional variation possible)
Long, forward-driving, with a ‘rushing’ gait suitable to arṣa/flow imagery.
Builds momentum and uplift; supports a felt sense of ascent and pressing-through resistance into a clearer, held power.
- अत्यः (atyaḥ)
- Literal: steed, swift horse. Symbolic: driven vital energy/aspiration carrying consciousness forward
- वाजम् (vājam)
- Literal: prize, strength, plenitude. Symbolic: fullness of force and effective capacity (spiritual energy made workable)
- स्वर्वित् (svarvit)
- Literal: finder of the sun/world of light. Symbolic: consciousness that discovers the supramental/light-world
- कोशम् (kośam)
- Literal: vessel, sheath, container. Symbolic: subtle receptacle of mind/heart that can hold refined delight
- अद्रिमातरम् (adrimātaram)
- Literal: born of the pressing-stone. Symbolic: born of tapas/pressure of yogic discipline and concentrated will
- पवित्रे (pavitre)
- Literal: filter, purifier. Symbolic: discriminating inner instrument that separates truth from mixture
- अव्यये (avyaye)
- Literal: imperishable. Symbolic: stable basis of the soul (psychic/immortal element) supporting purification
- इन्द्रियाय (indriyāya)
- Literal: for Indra-power, for vigor. Symbolic: for luminous mind-force, victorious perception and command
- धायसे (dhāyase)
- Literal: for holding/placing. Symbolic: for establishing and sustaining the power in the being
Soma pressing and filtration; Soma prepared ‘for Indra’ as empowerment draught
During Soma extraction/straining and offering sequences; sung/recited as Soma flows through the filter into vessels
Pressing (adri), straining (pavitra), collecting in cups (kośa/kalaśa), offering to Indra and other deities
Use as a meditation-chanted ‘inner purification’ verse: visualize experiences pressed by tapas, filtered by discernment, becoming steady joy-power for clear action.
vāja: not merely ‘prize/food’ but ‘strength/plenitude’ (semantic field of vigor and victorious gain); svàr-vit: ‘finder of svar’ (light-world); adri ‘pressing stone’ (instrumental mother of expressed Soma); avyaya ‘imperishable’ (a- + √i ‘go’ → ‘not passing away’); dhāyase from √dhā ‘to place/hold’ indicates stabilization of power (not momentary ecstasy).
Vāja as plenitude of force, Svar as illumined consciousness, Stabilization (dhā) of Indra-power through purification
Purification aligns the flow of delight with right order so it can be ‘held’ as effective power rather than dissipated pleasure.
The ‘imperishable’ filter suggests a stable truth-basis in the being that does not decay with circumstances.
Refinement/clarification: the cosmos and the yogin both ‘create’ higher force by pressing and straining the essence.
Proto-Vedāntic and Integral-yogic reading (Aurobindo/Kashyap): Ananda → illumination → effective action.
Vital speed (horse) and force (bull) drive the ascent; discipline (pressing-stone) and discernment (filter) refine delight into a sun-discovering consciousness that can be contained and used.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as a steed-bull rushing to vāja (victorious plenitude), entering the heavenly vessel born of the pressing stone, and being purified on the imperishable filter to establish Indra-power. It is the myth of preparing the divine draught that turns illumination into stable victorious capacity.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The steed simile is a classic IE marker of swift divine force; √dhā ‘place/establish’ is a central IE root for ‘setting’ cosmic order. The verse’s movement from rush (arṣa) to holding (dhāyase) mirrors an IE poetics of dynamic influx followed by ordered establishment.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi seeks not only Soma’s rush of ecstasy but its purification into a stable indriya (Indra-capacity) within the being. Soma is invoked as svar-vit—guide to the light-world—so the practitioner’s victory is grounded in illumination, not mere impulse.
Refine raw emotion/experience into calm, luminous delight that supports decisive clarity (Indra).
Manipura–Anahata axis (will/force refined into heart-joy); optional Ajna for Indra-illumination.
Moderate ujjayi or simple 4-4-6 breathing while mentally ‘pressing’ (gathering) and ‘filtering’ (discriminating) experience.
Energized clarity—joy that is strong, contained, and action-ready.
On inhale, feel aspiration like a steed surging upward; on exhale, let the experience pass through an inner filter of truth; pause briefly to ‘hold’ the clarified joy as steady power before the next cycle.
Use the standard RV saṃhitā svara: udatta on marked syllables, anudatta as default, svarita following udatta per padapāṭha cues (recension-dependent).
Keep the main lift on arṣa / pavitre / indriyāya; avoid flattening compound accents like svarvit-kośam.
(atyo): palatal glide ‘yo’ clean, not ‘jo’, (hiyānaḥ): preserve long ā; ḥ lightly aspirated, (adrimātaram): clear dental d, rolled r; avoid ‘adri-mā’ separation, (punāna): long ā sustained
Bright, forward, slightly nasal resonance to mimic ‘flow’; strong articulation on r/ṣ sounds.
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