Rig Veda 9.91.3: Mandala 9, Sukta 91, Mantra 3
Sukta 9.91
- Rishi
- Rebha Kāśyapa
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Vira (heroism)
वृषा वृष्णे रोरुवदंशुरस्मै पवमानो रुशदीर्ते पयो गोः । सहस्रमृक्वा पथिभिर्वचोविदध्वस्मभिः सूरो अण्वं वि याति ॥
vṛ́ṣā vṛ́ṣṇe rórūvad aṃśúr asmai pávamāno rúśad īrte páyo góḥ | sahásram ṛ́kvā pathíbhiḥ vacovíd adhvásmabhiḥ sū́ro aṇvám ví yāti ||
वृषा वृष्णे रोरुवदंशुरस्मै पवमानो रुशदीर्ते पयो गोः । सहस्रमृक्वा पथिभिर्वचोविदध्वस्मभिः सूरो अण्वं वि याति ॥
Word by Word
- वृषा
- the bull (vigorous one)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक) < √वृष् (वर्षणे/सेचने)
- वृष्णे
- for the bull / to the strong oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- रोरुवत्
- roars, resoundsVerbवर्तमान, परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचन (तीव्र/अभ्यास-रूप: intensive)Role (क्रिया)Root √रु (शब्दे) (intensive: रो-रु-)
- अंशुः
- the Soma-stalk / rayNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मै
- to himPronounपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot अयम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- पवमानः
- being purified (Soma)Participleपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्/मान) आत्मनेपद-भावRole KartāRoot पवमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) < √पू (पवने/शोधने)
- रुशदीर्ते
- moves/streams forth shiningVerbवर्तमान, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √ईर् (गत्यर्थे/प्रेरणे) with preverb रुशद्- (as adverbial qualifier ‘shining’)
- पयः
- milk; sap; (Soma-)juiceNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
- गोः
- of the cowNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole SambandhaRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- सहस्रम्
- a thousandNumeralनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (संख्याशब्द) अथवा अव्ययीभाववत् परिमाणार्थेRole KarmaRoot सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- ऋक्वा
- the singer of ṛc-versesNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot ऋक्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- पथिभिः
- by/with pathsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot पथि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘path’)
- वचोविद्
- knower/finder of speech (hymns)Adjective/Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot वचस् + √विद् (ज्ञाने) (समास: वचो-विद्)
- अध्व
- the course/roadNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्मभिः
- by us / with usPronounतृतीया, बहुवचनRole KaraṇaRoot अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- सूरः
- the sun; the shining oneNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot सूर (प्रातिपदिक)
- अण्वम्
- the narrow (track); the subtle courseAdjective (used substantively)नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अण्व (प्रातिपदिक)
- वि
- apart, forth, widelyIndeclinableउपसर्गRole (क्रियाविशेषण)Root वि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- याति
- goes, movesVerbवर्तमान, परस्मैपद, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole (क्रिया)Root √या (गत्यर्थे)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेद (resolved): वृषा | वृष्णे | रोरुवत् | अंशुः | अस्मै | पवमानः | रुशदीर्ते | पयः | गोः | सहस्रम् | ऋक्वा | पथिभिः | वचोविद् | अध्व | अस्मभिः | सूरः | अण्वम् | वि | याति । मुख्य सन्धि/रूप-टिप्पणी: (1) रोरुवत् = √रु का अभ्यास/तीव्र (intensive) वर्तमान-रूप
- पदान्त -त् परे स्वरादौ (अंशुः) विशेष परिवर्तन नहीं। (2) रुशदीर्ते: ‘रुशद्’ (दीप्तिमत्/श्वेत) क्रियाविशेषणवत् + ईर्ते (√ईर्, आत्मनेपद) — संहितायां एकपदवत्। (3) वचोविद्: समास (वचस् + विद्) में वचस् का ओ-आदेश (वचो-)। (4) अध्व: अध्वन्-शब्द का द्वितीया एकवचन वैदिक संक्षिप्त रूप (अध्वानम् > अध्व)।
The meaning
Outer meaning
A bull for the bull—his roaring ray; purified, he rises shining as the milk of the cow. A thousand-voiced seer, knower of the word, the Sun moves forth along our paths, spreading his subtle course.
Inner meaning
Soma as a ‘bull’ (vṛṣā) is force for the Force—delight strengthens the illumined power (often Indra implied as vṛṣṇe). The ‘roaring ray’ (aṃśu) is the intense luminous current released by purification. ‘Milk of the cow’ is not cattle but the nourishing essence of the Cow of Light: the clarified sweetness of knowledge (go = rays) turned into sustaining delight. The mantra then fuses Soma with Sūrya imagery: when delight is purified, it becomes solar—revealing—moving on our paths as a ‘thousand-voiced’ ṛk-vān (seer of many hymns), ‘knower of the word’ (vacovid). The subtle course (aṇvaṃ) is the fine, inward track of consciousness by which illumination spreads through all movements of life.
Universal truth
Purified joy becomes power and light: it nourishes knowledge and turns into a revealing sun within, guiding life’s paths with subtle but pervasive illumination.
Themes
Soma as light-ray, solarization of Soma, word-knowledge, nourishing essence (payas)
The seer
- Rishi
- Rebha Kāśyapa
- Lineage
- Kāśyapa
- Other hymns
- RV 9.91.1, RV 9.91.2, RV 9.91.4
Family tradition
Kāśyapa Soma hymns frequently interweave Soma with solar/Indra imagery, indicating inner unity of delight, force, and illumination.
Significance
The seer presents the culmination of purification: Soma becomes solar in us—delight transformed into illumining guidance—uniting power (vṛṣā), knowledge (go), and mantra (vacovid).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Vṛṣā (bull, potent), Aṃśu (ray), Pavamāna (purifying), Vacovid (knower of the word, by function)
- Related deities
- Indra (the ‘bull’ who drinks Soma; illumination-force), Sūrya (explicit imagery), Bṛhaspati (word-knower resonance)
Cosmic role
Gives strength to the mighty powers and turns into luminous guidance; a bridge between Ananda and Sūrya (illumination).
Inner power
Ananda that becomes force and light—roaring energy purified into subtle solar discernment along life-paths.
In ritual
Where it is used
Pavamāna recitation during Soma purification; imagery supports offering to Indra and the solar powers.
वृषा॒ वृष्णे॒ रोरु॑वदं॒शुर॑स्मै॒ पव॑मानो॒ रुश॑दीर्ते॒ पयो॒ गोः । स॒हस्र॒मृक्वा॑ प॒थिभि॑र्वचो॒विद॑ध्व॒स्मभि॒: सूरो॒ अण्वं॒ वि या॑ति ॥
वृषा॑ । वृष्णे॑ । रोरु॑वत् । अं॒शुः । अ॒स्मै॒ । पव॑मानः । रुश॑त् । ई॒र्ते॒ । पयः॑ । गोः । स॒हस्र॑म् । ऋक्वा॑ । प॒थिऽभिः॑ । व॒चः॒ऽवित् । अ॒ध्व॒स्मऽभिः॑ । सूरः॑ । अण्व॑म् । वि । या॒ति॒ ॥
vṛṣā | vṛṣṇe | roruvat | aṃśuḥ | asmai | pavamānaḥ | ruśat | īrte | payaḥ | goḥ | sahasram | ṛkvā | pathi-bhiḥ | vacaḥ-vit | adhvasma-bhiḥ | sūraḥ | aṇvam | vi | yāti
48
4×12 syllables (Jagatī norm; with Vedic flexibility)
Strong, expansive, with a surge in the first half (bull/roar) and a luminous unfolding in the second (sun/path).
Energizes and then clarifies—listeners feel both potency and widening illumination.
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: powerful generative force; dynamic strength of delight
- वृष्णे (vṛṣṇe)
- Literal: for the bull (mighty one). Symbolic: for the illumined power (Indra-like) within; force strengthening force
- रोरुवत् (roruvat)
- Literal: roaring. Symbolic: intense vibrant mantra-energy
- अंशुः (aṃśuḥ)
- Literal: ray, Soma-stalk/beam. Symbolic: luminous current of consciousness
- पवमानः (pavamānaḥ)
- Literal: purifying. Symbolic: self-refining delight-force
- पयः गोः (payaḥ goḥ)
- Literal: milk of the cow. Symbolic: nourishing essence of Light/Knowledge (go = rays)
- सहस्रम् ऋक्वा (sahasram ṛkvā)
- Literal: thousand-voiced seer. Symbolic: mantric plenitude; many-sided inspired expression
- वचोविद् (vacovid)
- Literal: knower of the word. Symbolic: mastery of truth-speech/mantra
- सूरः (sūraḥ)
- Literal: sun. Symbolic: illumination-consciousness revealing the paths
- अण्वम् (aṇvam)
- Literal: subtle course. Symbolic: fine inner channel of yogic movement
Recited in Soma purification praising Soma as luminous essence and as mantra-empowering power; supports the identification of Soma with solar illumination in the inner sacrifice.
During straining/clarifying and in praise sequences that link Soma to strength and light.
Chanting while Soma is filtered and prepared for offering; invoking strength and illumination for the sacrificer.
Meditation for transforming emotional joy into clear guidance: ‘let the Soma become Sūrya’—joy refined into discernment for daily paths.
vṛ́ṣan/bull imagery encodes virile force and outpouring energy (√vṛṣ ‘rain, shower’). aṃśú ‘ray/stalk’ links Soma’s plant and light-symbolism. payas ‘milk’ becomes ‘nourishing essence’; go ‘cow’ as ray/knowledge is a Vedic semantic extension. vacovíd (vacas ‘word’ + vid ‘know’ from √vid ‘know’, PIE *weyd-).
mantra-knowledge (vacovid), subtle penetration of light (aṇva), generative force (vṛṣa)
Sūrya ‘along our paths’ signifies ṛta as the right track of life and consciousness.
Vacovid links to Satya in speech: knowledge of the word as truth-force.
Transmutation: delight → power → light; the inner alchemy of sacrifice.
Aurobindo’s synthesis: Soma (Ananda) and Sūrya (illumination) are complementary powers in integral transformation.
mid-morning to noon (solar expansion implied)
A purified current of delight becomes a solar presence that illuminates the subtle routes of thought, feeling, and action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as the shining ‘milk of the Cow’—the extracted luminous nourishment—and as a roaring bull-force that empowers the mighty. The mythic fusion of Soma and solar movement (sūrya) expresses the identity of delight and illumination in the inner ascent.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- vacovid uses √vid (PIE *weyd-) ‘know/see’, a central IE cognitive root. The bull/rain semantic field (√vṛṣ) parallels IE storm/strength metaphors where virility and outpouring denote power. The appositional style (vṛṣā… aṃśuḥ… sūryaḥ) is archaic poetic stacking.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi recognizes Soma as both energetic force (bull) and illuminative intelligence (sun, knower of the word). The requested boon is implicit: that this luminous essence travel ‘along our paths’—i.e., enter and guide the practitioner’s journey with subtle, penetrating light.
Feel purified delight rising as a luminous ray; let it become an inner sun that guides decisions and actions.
Maṇipūra (power) refined to Ājñā (illumined guidance) and Sahasrāra (subtle course).
Bhrāmarī (soft humming) to evoke ‘roaring’ vibration, followed by silent stillness visualizing a sun-disc above the brow.
Bright, subtly guided, expansive; joy transmuted into discernment.
When confused, recall a moment of pure gladness; ‘filter’ it by quieting desire; then watch it turn into a clear seeing at the brow—follow the ‘subtle course’ rather than impulsive routes.
Vedic three-tone; emphasize the sonic ‘roruvat’ with controlled force, not volume distortion.
Give a firm lift on ‘vṛṣā…vṛṣṇe’ and ‘sūraḥ’; soften into a luminous line on ‘aṇvaṃ vi yāti’.
वृषा/वृष्णे (vṛṣā/vṛṣṇe): retroflex ṛ and ṣṇ cluster, रोरुवत् (roruvat): clear repeated ‘ro’, रुशद् (ruśad): palatal ś, पयः (payaḥ): final visarga, अण्वम् (aṇvam): retroflex ṇ + ‘va’ glide
Start forceful and resonant, then become clear and radiant in the latter half.
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