Rig Veda 8.97.11: Mandala 8, Sukta 97, Mantra 11
Sukta 8.97
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Likely Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
समीं रेभासो अस्वरन्निन्द्रं सोमस्य पीतये । स्वर्पतिं यदीं वृधे धृतव्रतो ह्योजसा समूतिभिः ॥
sam ī́ṃ rebhā́so asvaran índraṃ sómasya pītáye | svàr-patiṃ yád īṃ vṛdhé dhṛtá-vrato hí ójasā sám ūtí-bhiḥ ||
रेभासः समं अस्वरन्—सोमस्य पीतये इन्द्रम्। स्वर्पतिं तम्—यदा स धृतव्रतः ओजसा वर्धते, समूतीभिः च सहाय-पूर्णताः स्वयम् उपसंगृह्णाति।
Word by Word
- सम्
- together, whollyIndeclinableउपसर्ग/अव्ययRoot सम् (उपसर्ग) / सम् (अव्यय)
- ईम्
- indeed; just; (enclitic emphasis)Indeclinableनिपात (एन्क्लिटिक)Root ईम् (निपात)
- रेभासः
- the singers/chanters (praisers)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot रेभ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्वरन्
- they sang, they sounded forthVerbलुङ् (अorist), परस्मैपद, 3 पुरुष, बहुवचनRoot √स्वर् (स्वरति/स्वर्)
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोमस्य
- of SomaNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पीतये
- for drinkingNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot पीति (प्रातिपदिक; √पा ‘to drink’ से)
- स्वःपतिम्
- the lord of heaven/lightNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot स्वःपति (प्रातिपदिक: स्वः + पति)
- यत्
- when; thatIndeclinableनपुंसकलिङ्ग, अव्ययवत् (सम्बन्धसूचक ‘when/that’)Root यद् (सर्वनाम)
- ईम्
- him (enclitic), indeedIndeclinableनिपात (एन्क्लिटिक)Root ईम् (निपात)
- वृधे
- for strengthening, for increaseNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन (वृध- ‘वृद्धि/वर्धन’ → ‘वृद्धये’ अर्थे)Role सम्प्रदानRoot वृध् (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधार: ‘वृद्धि/वर्धन’)
- धृतव्रतः
- whose vows are firm; steadfast in ordinanceAdjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (विशेषणम्) / संबोधन-समर्थRoot धृतव्रत (प्रातिपदिक; धृत + व्रत)
- हि
- for, indeedIndeclinableनिपातRoot हि (निपात)
- ओजसा
- with might, by strengthNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचनRole करणRoot ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- समूतिभिः
- with (his) aids/helpings altogetherNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole करणRoot समूति (प्रातिपदिक; सम् + ऊति ‘help, aid’)
Sandhi Notes
- संहितापाठ: समीं रेभासो अस्वरन्निन्द्रं सोमस्य पीतये । स्वर्पतिं यदीं वृधे धृतव्रतो ह्योजसा समूतिभिः ॥ Sandhi resolution: (1) समीं = सम् + ईम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय + एन्क्लिटिक निपात)
- (2) अस्वरन्निन्द्रं = अस्वरन् + इन्द्रम् (न् + इ → न्न्)
- (3) स्वर्पतिम् = स्वः + पतिम् (विसर्ग-लोप/रूप-समास; पदरूप ‘स्वःपति’)
- (4) यदीं = यत् + ईम् (त् + ई → दी; संधि)
- (5) ह्योजसा = हि + ओजसा (इ + ओ → यो)
- Accents as in mantra: समीं॑, रे॒भासो॑, अस्वर॒न्, इन्द्रं॒, सोम॑स्य, पी॒तये॑, स्व॑र्पतिं॒, यदीं॑, वृ॒धे, धृ॒तव्र॑तः, ह्योज॑सा, समू॒तिभि॑ः
The meaning
Outer meaning
The inspired singers raise a united cry to Indra to drink Soma; he is lord of Svah (the luminous world). When he grows, firm in his vow/law, he gathers strength and helpful powers.
Inner meaning
Rebhāsaḥ are illumined utterers—inner faculties that can ‘sound’ the truth. Their unified aspiration calls the Indric mind to drink Soma: to take into itself the delight/immortal essence that empowers illumination. As dhṛtavrata (holder of the right law), Indra increases by ojas (spiritual vigor) and collects ūti (helps)—supporting powers, intuitions, protections—into a plenitude for the seeker.
Universal truth
When aspiration becomes harmonious and sincere, higher intelligence is nourished by bliss and gathers all needed aids; right law and energy grow together.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Mantric invocation, Indra as lord of light
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 8.97.10–13 (Indra’s birth, call, and descent)
Family tradition
Collective-voice hymns where singers act as powers of consciousness calling Indra are characteristic of Indra-Soma cycles in Book 8.
Significance
Highlights the psychology of mantra: unified utterance invites illumination to partake of bliss and thereby increase its effective help.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra
- Epithets
- Svaraḥ-pati (Lord of the Light-world), Dhṛtavrata (firm in the law), Soma-pā (Soma-drinker, implied)
- Related deities
- Soma, Agni, Bṛhaspati (lord of inspired word; allied function to rebhāsaḥ)
Cosmic role
Receives Soma and turns it into victorious illumination; coordinates helps for the gods/seekers.
Inner power
Illumined intelligence nourished by ānanda, organizing supportive forces in the being.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering invitation (pītaye)
समीं॑ रे॒भासो॑ अस्वर॒न्निन्द्रं॒ सोम॑स्य पी॒तये॑ । स्व॑र्पतिं॒ यदीं॑ वृ॒धे धृ॒तव्र॑तो॒ ह्योज॑सा॒ समू॒तिभि॑: ॥
सम् । ई॒म् । रे॒भासः॑ । अ॒स्व॒र॒न् । इन्द्र॑म् । सोम॑स्य । पी॒तये॑ । स्वः॑ऽपतिम् । यत् । ई॒म् । वृ॒धे । धृ॒तऽव्र॑तः । हि । ओज॑सा । सम् । ऊ॒तिऽभिः॑ ॥
sam | īm | rebhāsaḥ | asvaran | indram | somasya | pītaye | svaḥ-patim | yat | īm | vṛdhe | dhṛta-vrataḥ | hi | ojasā | sam | ūti-bhiḥ
44
4 × ~11 syllables
Invocatory swell in first half; consolidating cadence in second half (‘sam … sam’).
Creates a feeling of collective ascent and then gathering protection around the listener.
- rebhāsaḥ
- Literal: singers, inspired ones. Symbolic: illumined faculties/voices of the soul-nature
- sam
- Literal: together. Symbolic: inner concord; collected being
- asvaran
- Literal: they sounded, cried. Symbolic: mantric vibration that calls down higher force
- somasya pītaye
- Literal: for the drinking of Soma. Symbolic: for the higher mind to receive divine bliss/essence
- svarpati
- Literal: lord of svah (light-world). Symbolic: master of luminous consciousness-plane
- dhṛtavrata
- Literal: holding the vow/law. Symbolic: fixed in r̥ta; unwavering executive truth
- ojasā
- Literal: by vigor. Symbolic: concentrated spiritual energy
- ūtibhiḥ
- Literal: helps, aids. Symbolic: supporting powers—intuitions, protections, right circumstances
Direct Soma-pressing relevance: invocation of Indra at Soma libation (pītaye), suitable for Soma-stotra sequences
At the moment of inviting Indra to drink Soma; also in stotra sequences
Chant to ‘call’ (āvāhana-like) and to affirm Indra’s growth by Soma
Use before meditation: a short invocation to align inner voices and invite a higher clarity to be ‘fed’ by joy rather than struggle.
rebhá (poet/singer) in RV often denotes inspired utterance; asvaran from √svar ‘sound, sing’ (also linked to ‘shine’ in Vedic wordplay with svar ‘light’); soma from √su ‘press’ (outer) and ‘distilled delight’ (inner); pītaye dat. of √pā ‘drink’; svàr-pati ‘lord of svar’ (svar/svah: luminous realm); vṛdhe from √vṛdh ‘grow’; dhṛta-vrata from √dhṛ ‘hold’ + vrata ‘rule/vow’ (from √vṛ ‘choose/will’ → ‘willed law’); ūti ‘help, favor’ from √av/√ū? (Vedic ūti as protective assistance).
Vrata (law of right action), Ojas (concentrated force), Increase/growth (vṛdh) of divine power in the aspirant
Dhṛtavrata indicates action aligned with r̥ta; helps (ūtayaḥ) assemble when law is held.
True speech (rebhāsaḥ) calls true power (Indra) to true delight (Soma).
Growth of the god in the sacrifice mirrors growth of higher consciousness in the seeker.
Mantra-śakti and inner yajña (Aurobindo/Kashyap): gods grow as powers in consciousness through offering.
Soma = delight-essence; svah = luminous plane; sound = mantric vibration awakening higher mind.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Indra’s Soma-drinking as empowerment: the god grows (vṛdhe) through Soma and thereby commands ‘helps’ (ūtayaḥ). Innerly, when delight/essence is received, the luminous mind-force expands and draws supportive energies into the sādhanā.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √pā ‘drink’ is PIE *peh₃- ‘drink’ (Lat. pōtus, Gk. pínō). √vṛdh ‘grow’ corresponds to PIE *werdh- ‘grow’ (Eng. worth via semantic shifts; Germ. werden ‘become’). These roots encode a universal Indo-European poetic logic: drinking → growth → power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The singers’ collective sound (sam…asvaran) is the offering that calls Indra to assimilate Soma; in return Indra, steadfast in vrata, increases and brings ‘helps’. The reciprocity is mantra-offering ↔ divine augmentation and protection.
Unify inner voices; invite the higher mind to drink ‘Soma’—a felt sweetness in the heart and head—so clarity increases naturally.
viśuddha (mantric voice) and ājñā (illumination)
Gentle ujjāyī (soft throat sound) to support ‘asvaran’ (sounding) without strain.
Collected aspiration leading to luminous calm with supportive energies around.
Begin with a few minutes of harmonizing breath; chant once slowly, then sit and feel ‘helps’ gathering—intuitions, protections, right impulses—without forcing.
Keep an invocatory lift on ‘indraṃ’ and ‘somasya pītaye’; soften into steadier tone on ‘dhṛtavrato’ and ‘ūtibhiḥ’.
Mark the two ‘sam’ as unifying beats; avoid clipping final visarga in rebhāsaḥ.
rebhāsaḥ: ‘bh’ aspirated., svarpatiṃ: keep ‘sv’ conjunct clean., dhṛtavrataḥ: vocalic ṛ in dhṛ; retroflex ṭ in dhṛta., ūtibhiḥ: long ū; final ḥ lightly released.
Resonant, devotional-invocatory; end with a gathered, protective tone.
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