Rig Veda 8.48.8: Mandala 8, Sukta 48, Mantra 8
Sukta 8.48
- Devata
- Soma
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
सोम राजन्मृळया नः स्वस्ति तव स्मसि व्रत्यास्तस्य विद्धि । अलर्ति दक्ष उत मन्युरिन्दो मा नो अर्यो अनुकामं परा दाः ॥
sóma rājan mṛḷáyā naḥ svastí táva smasi vratyā́s tásya viddhi | álarti dákṣa utá mányur indo mā́ no aryó anu-kā́maṃ párā dāḥ ||
सोम राजन् मृळया नः स्वस्ति तव स्मसि व्रत्यास्तस्य विद्धि। अलर्ति दक्ष उत मन्युरिन्दो मा नो अर्यो अनुकामं परा दाः॥
Word by Word
- सोम
- O SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root सोम- (प्रातिपदिक) < √सु (सवने/प्रसवने) इति व्युत्पत्तिः (परम्परागत)
- राजन्
- O kingNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root राजन्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मृळय
- be gracious / show mercyVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे); मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (आज्ञा)Root √मृळ् (सुखाय/अनुग्रहे) (वेद.)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’)Role सम्प्रदान (हितार्थे) / सम्बन्धRoot अस्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- स्वस्ति
- well-being, welfareIndeclinableअव्ययRole प्रयोजन/आशीः (क्रियाविशेषणभाव)Root स्वस्ति (अव्यय/निपात; सु+अस्ति)
- तव
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root युष्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- स्मसि
- we areVerbलट् (वर्तमाने); उत्तम-पुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √अस् (भू)
- व्रत्याः
- (we are) your followers / votaries (vratyas)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (स्मसि इत्यस्य कर्तृ-सम्बन्धः)Root व्रत्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- तस्य
- of that / thereofPronounषष्ठी-एकवचनRole सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)Root तद्- (सर्वनाम)
- विद्धि
- know, take noteVerbलोट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (आज्ञा)Root √विद् (ज्ञाने)
- अलर्ति
- stirs up / impelsVerbलट्; तृतीय-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot √अल्/अलर्त् (गत्यर्थे/उत्साहे) (वेद.)
- दक्षः
- skill, power, abilityNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अलर्ति इत्यस्य)Root दक्ष- (प्रातिपदिक)
- उत
- and alsoIndeclinableअव्ययRole समुच्चयRoot उत (निपात)
- मन्युः
- wrath, ardorNounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (अलर्ति इत्यस्य; ‘दक्षः … मन्युः’ समुच्चितौ)Root मन्यु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्दो
- O Indu (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन-एकवचनRole सम्बोधनRoot इन्दु- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मा
- do notIndeclinableअव्यय (निषेधः, आज्ञार्थे)Role निषेधRoot मा (निषेध-अव्यय)
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक ‘नः’)Role कर्म (परा दाः इत्यस्य)Root अस्मद्- (सर्वनाम)
- अर्यः
- a hostile stranger / foe (aryá)Nounपुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्तृ (परा दाः इत्यस्य; ‘अर्यः’ = शत्रु/परः)Root अर्य- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अनुकामम्
- according to (his) desire, at willIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Role क्रियाविशेषण (रीतिः/प्रकारः)Root अनुकामम् (अव्ययीभाव; अनु+काम)
- परा
- away, forthIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्गार्थे ‘away, forth’)Role क्रियाविशेषण/उपसर्गार्थRoot परा (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- दाः
- give over / hand (us) awayVerbलोट्; मध्यम-पुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रिया (निषेधेन सह: ‘मा … दाः’)Root √दा (दाने)
Sandhi Notes
- संहिता-पाठः: सोम॑ राजन्मृ॒ळया॑ नः स्व॒स्ति तव॑ स्मसि व्र॒त्या॒३॒॑स्तस्य॑ विद्धि । अल॑र्ति॒ दक्ष॑ उ॒त म॒न्युरि॑न्दो॒ मा नो॑ अ॒र्यो अ॑नुका॒मं परा॑ दाः ॥ पद-विच्छेद (मुख्य-सन्धि-निरसन): 1) राजन् + मृळय → राजन्मृळय (व्यञ्जन-सन्धि: न् + म्) 2) व्रत्याः + तस्य → व्रत्यास्तस्य (विसर्ग/अः-लोपः: -आः + त-) 3) मन्युः + इन्दो → मन्युरिन्दो (विसर्ग-सन्धि: -ुः + इ- → -ुरि-) 4) मा + नः → मा नो (स्वर/ओ-रूप एन्क्लिटिक-प्रयोग) 5) अनु + कामम् → अनुकामम् (अव्ययीभाव-समास; संहिता में एकपद) 6) परा + दाः → परा दाः (उपसर्गार्थ अव्यय पृथक्; क्रियायोग) टिप्पणी: ‘नः’ 1st occurrence = षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एन्क्लिटिक (हित/सम्बन्ध), 2nd occurrence = द्वितीया-एन्क्लिटिक (कर्म)
The meaning
Outer meaning
A prayer to King Soma for grace and well-being: the worshippers declare themselves Soma’s followers; discernment and will are awake; Soma is asked not to hand them over to a hostile “other” (aryá) who seeks to dominate them.
Inner meaning
Soma, the Ananda-principle, is invoked as the sovereign of the inner kingdom to stabilize the seeker in swasti (integral well-being). The aspirant affirms allegiance to the inner discipline (vrata) and asks Soma to recognize that consecration. As bliss descends, buddhi-like discernment (dakṣa) and dynamic will/ardor (manyu) awaken; the prayer is to not be surrendered to the “otherness” of the egoic-vital nature and hostile forces that pull consciousness according to their desire (anukāma).
Universal truth
When inner delight is enthroned, intelligence and will naturally rise; the central work is to remain loyal to the soul’s law rather than be carried away by outer impulses and hostile suggestions.
Themes
consecration, protection prayer, Soma kingship, awakening of faculties
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 8.48.1-12 (Soma-focused sequence)
Significance
The seer-voice here is that of the consecrated practitioner speaking from lived inner experience: Soma awakens discernment and will, and protects from hostile compulsions—an experiential psychology characteristic of the Vedic yoga of Ananda.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma (Indu)
- Epithets
- rājan (king), indu (bright drop), suṣakhā (good friend, implied across the cluster)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Aśvins (healing motif by association)
Cosmic role
Cosmic delight and immortalizing essence that supports the gods’ powers and the growth of life and mind.
Inner power
Ananda that heals, harmonizes, and empowers discrimination (dakṣa) and purified will (manyu) while shielding from hostile formations.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering/pressing context (soma-yajña atmosphere; also suitable as a protective prayer within Soma rites)
सोम॑ राजन्मृ॒ळया॑ नः स्व॒स्ति तव॑ स्मसि व्र॒त्या॒३॒॑स्तस्य॑ विद्धि । अल॑र्ति॒ दक्ष॑ उ॒त म॒न्युरि॑न्दो॒ मा नो॑ अ॒र्यो अ॑नुका॒मं परा॑ दाः ॥
सोम॑ । रा॒ज॒न् । मृ॒ळय॑ । नः॒ । स्व॒स्ति । तव॑ । स्म॒सि॒ । व्र॒त्याः॑ । तस्य॑ । वि॒द्धि॒ । अल॑र्ति । दक्षः॑ । उ॒त । म॒न्युः । इ॒न्दो॒ इति॑ । मा । नः॒ । अ॒र्यः । अ॒नु॒ऽका॒मम् । परा॑ । दाः॒ ॥
soma | rājan | mṛḷaya | naḥ | svasti | tava | smasi | vratyāḥ | tasya | viddhi | alarti | dakṣaḥ | uta | manyuḥ | indo iti | mā | naḥ | aryaḥ | anu-kāmam | parā | dāḥ
Anuṣṭubh-like cadence (probable; 4 pādas with compact syntax typical of later Rigvedic diction)
32
4×8 (approximate)
firm, declarative, vow-like
builds resolve and inner alignment; the short pādas make the plea and affirmation feel immediate and protective
- soma rājan
- Literal: Soma, King. Symbolic: sovereign Ananda governing the inner being
- mṛḻayā
- Literal: be gracious, have mercy. Symbolic: softening of inner resistance; descent of healing delight
- svasti
- Literal: well-being, auspiciousness. Symbolic: integral harmony of body-life-mind under the soul
- vratyāḥ
- Literal: votaries, those under a vow. Symbolic: aspirants pledged to inner discipline and consecration
- dakṣa
- Literal: skill, ability, discernment. Symbolic: right discrimination and effective inner capacity
- manyu
- Literal: wrath, ardor, will-force. Symbolic: purified force of tapas and executive will
- indo (indu)
- Literal: Soma-drop, bright Soma. Symbolic: luminous bliss-current in consciousness
- aryo
- Literal: the other/stranger; (also “noble” in other contexts). Symbolic: the alien power of ego/vital hostility that seeks possession
- anukāmam
- Literal: according to desire. Symbolic: movement compelled by craving rather than truth
Protective and consecratory close: the sacrificer declares vow-relationship (vratya) and asks Soma for svasti and protection from hostile/alien powers that act by desire.
during Soma praise/oblation sequences; before or after tasting/receiving Soma
recitation to invoke Soma’s grace and protection from hostile forces
used as a meditation-prayer for safeguarding the practice: ‘may the inner delight not surrender me to craving/hostility; awaken discernment and will’
svastí is ‘good-being’ (su + asti), a core Vedic blessing. vratyāḥ indicates disciplined adherence to a vrata—inner consecration. dakṣa is formative intelligence/skill (capacity to do rightly), and manyu is force of will/ardour; together they indicate awakened faculties. aryá here is best read contextually as an adversarial ‘other’ (not the later ethnic term), a figure of hostile claim; anu-kāma underscores the danger of being surrendered to desire-driven forces.
svasti (good-being), vrata (consecrated discipline), dakṣa (formative intelligence) and manyu (will-force) as awakened instruments, protection from desire-driven hostile forces
vrata is the personal form of ṛta—right law of working in the being.
truth-alignment is preserved by not yielding to ‘anukāma’ (desire-compulsion).
the enthronement of Soma as king establishes harmony and supports the evolution of mind and life.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: Ananda as a fundamental plane supporting illumination and right action.
Soma as a cool luminous current in the heart-mind that restores harmony and guards against hostile desire-forces.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Kingship of Soma as protector of the vowed community: the devotee declares himself under Soma’s vrata and asks not to be surrendered to hostile, desire-driven forces. Psychologically it is the safeguarding of the consecrated inner life from the ‘other’ (alien movements of ignorance) by keeping discernment and will awake.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √vid ‘know’ is PIE *weyd-. √dā ‘give’ is PIE *deh₃- ‘give’. The compound svasti (su + asti) parallels IE ‘good-being’ benedictions (cf. Greek εὖ + εἶναι conceptually; Latin bene + esse). The semantic pairing of intelligence (dakṣa) and spirited force (manyu) mirrors IE tripartite psychologies (mind/spirit vitality) found in comparative traditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- A vow-based reciprocity: ‘we are yours, know it.’ The rishi claims belonging and discipline (vrata) and in exchange requests grace (mṛḷaya), svasti, and protection. The devatā is not distant; Soma is the sovereign of the inner polity who must not ‘hand over’ the seeker to hostile claims.
establish Soma as ‘inner king’: invoke calm delight, then watch discernment and will awaken without aggression.
Anāhata (heart)
gentle nāḍī-śodhana or slow exhale-focused breathing while repeating ‘soma rājan mṛḻayā naḥ svasti’
quiet joy with vigilant clarity
Begin with gratitude; feel a cool luminous nectar in the heart; affirm your vow (vrata) to truth; when desire or hostile thought arises, offer it to Soma and return to swasti.
Use Rigvedic svara: maintain udatta on marked syllables, anudatta as baseline, svarita as falling glide; keep ‘sóma rā́jan’ bright and lifted.
Accent the invocatory words: ‘sóma rā́jan’, ‘mṛḻáyā’, ‘svásti’; keep ‘mā nó’ clearly separated to preserve the prohibition.
ṛ in mṛḻayā is vocalic ‘r’ (not ‘ri’), ḻ in mṛḻayā is retroflex lateral; approximate carefully if unavailable, indo/indu: keep short i, nasalize lightly on ‘n’, anukāmam: articulate ‘nu-kā’ distinctly; avoid slurring
clear, steady, protective
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