Rig Veda 9.74.7: Mandala 9, Sukta 74, Mantra 7
Sukta 9.74
- Rishi
- Soma-pavamāna seer tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
श्वेतं रूपं कृणुते यत्सिषासति सोमो मीढ्वाँ असुरो वेद भूमनः । धिया शमी सचते सेमभि प्रवद्दिवस्कवन्धमव दर्षदुद्रिणम् ॥
śvetáṃ rūpáṃ kṛṇute yát sisā́sati sómo mīḍhvā́ṃ ásuro véda bhū́manaḥ | dhiyā́ śámī sacate sém abhí prá-vad divás kavándham áva darṣad udríṇam ||
Белый облик он творит, когда желает быть приведённым в движение — Сома, могучий даритель, Асура, знающий простор. Мыслью он сопрягается с умиротворяющей силой; и он гонит вперёд, делая зримой небесную бочку, изливая вниз вознесённый поток.
Word by Word
- श्वेतम्
- white, brightAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Karma (रूपम् इति विशेषणम्)Root श्वेत- (प्रातिपदिक)
- रूपम्
- form, appearanceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot रूप- (प्रातिपदिक)
- कृणुते
- he makes, he fashionsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया) —Root कृ (धातु)
- यत्
- which, that (when/that which)Pronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (सम्बन्धे) अथवा अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगे ‘when/that which’Role Karma (यद्-सम्बन्धः) / SambandhaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सिषासति
- he desires to win/obtain, he seeksVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; देशिदेरटिव (सि-षा-स-)Role (क्रिया) —Root सन्/षन् (इच्छार्थक-धातु; desiderative of √सा/√सि ‘to win/obtain’ in Vedic usage)
- सोमः
- Soma (the pressed/ritual drink; deity)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सोम- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मीढ्वान्
- bountiful, beneficent (giver)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root मीढ्वांस् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; from √मिह्/√मिह ‘to pour, rain’ > ‘bountiful/beneficent’)
- असुरः
- Asura (lord, mighty one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root असुर- (प्रातिपदिक)
- वेद
- knowsVerbलिट्/परिपूर्ण-वर्तमान (परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he knows’ (Vedic perfect with present sense)Role (क्रिया) —Root विद् (धातु)
- भूमनः
- of greatness, of abundanceNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)Root भूमान्/भूमन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- धिया
- with thought, by insightNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole KaraṇaRoot धी- (प्रातिपदिक)
- शमी
- peace, appeasement, auspicious calmNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot शमी- (प्रातिपदिक; Vedic: ‘peace/quieting’ or ‘auspiciousness’)
- सचते
- he accompanies, he attains, he followsVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole (क्रिया) —Root सच् (धातु) / √सच ‘to accompany, join’
- स
- hePronounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole Kartā (पुनरन्वयः: ‘he’ = सोमः)Root तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- इम
- thisPronoun(अयम्-श्रृङ्खला) पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, द्वितीया, एकवचन (Vedic enclitic form)Role Karma (अभि-प्रवद् इत्यस्य)Root इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; enclitic)
- अभि
- towards, uponIndeclinableउपसर्गःRole (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- प्र
- forth, forwardIndeclinableउपसर्गःRole (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root प्र (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- वद्
- speak, utterVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (Vedic injunctive/imperative nuance possible)Role (क्रिया) —Root वद् (धातु)
- दिवः
- of heaven, of the skyNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot दिव्/द्यौस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- कवन्धम्
- barrel/cask; (also) trunk/stock; here: vessel/cask (of Soma)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (RV usage varies), द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot कवन्ध- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अव
- down, awayIndeclinableउपसर्गःRole (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root अव (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दर्षत्
- let it appear, let it be seenVerbलोट्/विधिलिङ्-छाया (Vedic), परस्मैपद, तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘let (it) be seen/appear’Role (क्रिया) —Root दृश् (धातु)
- उद्रिणम्
- watery, swelling with water; wave-likeAdjective/Nounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (कवन्धम् इति विशेषणम्)Role Karma (विशेषणरूपेण)Root उद्रि- / उद्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘watery, wave-like; swelling’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (सम्भाव्य): श्वेतं | रूपं | कृणुते | यत् | सिषासति | सोमः | मीढ्वान् | असुरः | वेद | भूमनः || धिया | शमी | सचते | सः | इम् | अभि | प्र | वद् | दिवः | कवन्धम् | अव | दर्षत् | उद्रिणम् || प्रमुख-सन्धयः: (1) यत्सिषासति = यत् + सिषासति (त् + स्)
- (2) सोमो मीढ्वाँ = सोमः + मीढ्वान् (विसर्ग-लोपः/ओ-आदेशः पदान्ते)
- (3) सेमभि = सः + इम् + अभि (विसर्ग-लोपः; इम् एन्क्लिटिक)
- (4) प्रवद्दिवः = प्र + वद् + दिवः (उपसर्ग-संयोग; द् + द् संयोग)
- (5) कवन्धमव = कवन्धम् + अव (म् + अ)
The meaning
Outer meaning
Soma makes a white form when he wishes to be impelled; the strong giver, the Asura, knows the Vast. With thought he joins the pacifying power; he drives forward and makes visible the heavenly cask, pouring down the uplifted flood.
Inner meaning
When the Ananda-force is ready to act, it takes on a ‘white form’—a purified, luminous state fit for movement in the being. As ‘Asura’ (lord of the divine power), Soma knows the Vast (bhūman): the wideness of higher consciousness. Guided by dhī (illumined thought), it allies with śamī—peaceful harmonizing energy—so the movement is not rajasic agitation but a tranquil power. Then the inner ‘heavenly vessel’ (kavandha) becomes manifest: the supramental container of delight opens, and the elevated flood (udriṇa) pours down into the lower nature.
Universal truth
True power is born from purity and wideness; when action is yoked to peace and clear intelligence, hidden reserves of higher consciousness open and a transforming influx descends.
Themes
purification into clarity, Soma as Asura (sovereign power), descent of the heavenly nectar
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma-pavamāna seer tradition (Mandala 9)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.74, RV 9.75
Family tradition
Pavamāna specialists: poets of purification who ‘see’ Soma’s psychological workings as the inner sacrifice
Significance
This verse emphasizes the Aurobindonian triad for effective transformation: purity (śveta), wideness (bhūman), and peace (śamī) guided by dhī.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Śveta-rūpa (white-formed), Mīḍhvān (strong giver), Asura (sovereign power-knower), Bhūmavid (knower of the Vast)
- Related deities
- Indra, Sūrya, Agni
Cosmic role
Reveals the hidden heavenly vessel of delight and releases its flood into the worlds.
Inner power
Purifying bliss that becomes dynamic without losing peace; opens higher reservoirs.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma filtration and libation preparation
श्वे॒तं रू॒पं कृ॑णुते॒ यत्सिषा॑सति॒ सोमो॑ मी॒ढ्वाँ असु॑रो वेद॒ भूम॑नः । धि॒या शमी॑ सचते॒ सेम॒भि प्र॒वद्दि॒वस्कव॑न्ध॒मव॑ दर्षदु॒द्रिण॑म् ॥
श्वे॒तम् । रू॒पम् । कृ॒णु॒ते॒ । यत् । सिसा॑सति । सोमः॑ । मी॒ढ्वान् । असु॑रः । वे॒द॒ । भूम॑नः । धि॒या । शमी॑ । स॒च॒ते॒ । सः । ई॒म् । अ॒भि । प्र॒ऽवत् । दि॒वः । कव॑न्धम् । अव॑ । द॒र्ष॒त् । उ॒द्रिण॑म् ॥
śvetam | rūpam | kṛṇute | yat | sisāsati | somaḥ | mīḍhavān | asuraḥ | veda | bhūmanaḥ | dhiyā | śamī | sacate | saḥ | īm | abhi | pra-vat | divaḥ | kavandham | ava | darṣat | udriṇam
48
4×12 (approx.)
Measured, expansive; alternates impetus and repose
Supports a calm dynamism—energy that remains wide and pacified.
- śvetaṃ rūpam
- Literal: white form. Symbolic: purified luminous state; clarity of consciousness
- siṣāsati
- Literal: desires to set in motion/impel. Symbolic: the will of the higher force to act in the nature
- mīḍhvān
- Literal: strong giver/rewarder. Symbolic: Ananda that grants strength, fruition, and inner wealth
- asura
- Literal: lord/powerful being. Symbolic: sovereign divine consciousness (not demonic); mastery of force
- bhūman
- Literal: vastness. Symbolic: wideness of being; supramental plenitude
- dhiyā
- Literal: by thought/vision. Symbolic: illumined intelligence (dhī) guiding the movement
- śamī
- Literal: pacifying/quieting power. Symbolic: peace-force that harmonizes mind and vital
- kavandha (divas)
- Literal: cask/vessel of heaven. Symbolic: inner container of higher Ananda/knowledge opening to view
- udriṇam
- Literal: uplifted/raised flood. Symbolic: descent of elevated consciousness into the lower planes
Describes Soma’s whitening/purification and visible flow into vessels; used in the pavamāna recitations accompanying pressing and filtering
During the flowing/clarifying of Soma before offering
Praise of Soma’s whitening/purifying and the release of the ‘heavenly’ essence
Recite before meditation or creative work to invoke ‘white clarity’ and ‘peaceful force’ together.
śveta: ‘white/bright’ (√śvit/śvi ‘to shine’). sisāsati: desiderative of √sā/si ‘to set in motion/impel’ (interpretation depends on tradition); conveys ‘willing to flow/press onward’. asura: from *asu ‘life-breath’ + -ra ‘possessing’ → ‘lord of life-force’; in early RV positive epithet. bhūman: ‘vastness’ from √bhū ‘to be’. dhī: inspired thought/vision. śamī: from √śam ‘to calm, pacify, make auspicious’. kavandha: ‘cask/barrel’, a container image for soma/nectar in heaven.
Bhūman (the Vast), dhī (illumined thought), śam (harmonization as prerequisite for descent)
The right movement is one that is ‘driven forward’ by dhī while remaining in śamī—order without disturbance.
The ‘white form’ signifies truth-purity making the higher vessel visible.
Revelation/unveiling of the heavenly container; release of a higher flood into manifestation.
Upaniṣadic ‘bhūman’ resonance; Aurobindonian psychology of peace-force and descent.
Whiteness = purified consciousness; vessel = supramental holding; flood = descending force of Ananda/knowledge.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma’s self-whitening and the revelation of the heavenly vessel: the myth of purification that makes the hidden container of immortality visible, enabling the controlled release of the raised waters as a descent into the manifest.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The core verbs √kṛ (make), √vid (know), √dṛś (see/show) are old Indo-European staples (PIE *kwer-, *weyd-, *derk- respectively, in common reconstructions). The verse also preserves an archaic positive ‘asura’ as ‘sovereign’, reflecting early Indo-Iranian religious vocabulary before later demonization.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer emphasizes conditions of right reception: Soma joins with dhī and śamī—illumination and harmonization—so the descent is not disruptive but revelatory (darṣat). The devatā is presented as a knowing sovereign who releases what the human being can bear.
Invoke ‘white clarity’ in the mind and let it widen into bhūman; then allow a peaceful descent into the body.
Ājñā (clarity) with Sahasrāra (vastness) and a settling into Anāhata (peace)
Inhale ‘widening’ (bhūman), exhale ‘settling’ (śamī); slow 4-6 breathing
Wide, bright, tranquil dynamism
First purify (observe thoughts without grasping), then widen (sense space), then act from peace—let the ‘heavenly vessel’ open naturally.
Use Vedic accent as marked in the saṃhitā; keep udātta prominence on śvétam, sómo, asúraḥ, dhiyā́, divás, etc., per śākha tradition.
Let the first pāda feel like ‘forming’; second like ‘knowing the vast’; third like ‘joining peace’; fourth like ‘pouring down’.
śvetaṃ: ś + v cluster clean; short e, siṣāsati: retroflex ṣ; long ā, mīḍhvān: long ī; ḍh aspirated retroflex, kavandham: keep nasalization light; dh aspirated, udriṇam: retroflex ṛ; short i
Bright, steady, slightly uplifted at the end of each pāda
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