Rig Veda 9.28.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 28, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.28
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism)
एष वृषा कनिक्रदद्दशभिर्जामिभिर्यतः । अभि द्रोणानि धावति ॥
eṣá vṛ́ṣā kánikradad daśábhīr jāmíbhir yatáḥ | abhí dróṇāni dhāvati ||
ఈ వృషభ-బలం, పది జామి-శక్తుల ప్రేరణతో గర్జిస్తుంది; అది ద్రోణాలు—పాత్రాల వైపు పరుగెత్తుతుంది.
Word by Word
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- वृषा
- the bull; the potent oneNoun (used adjectivally)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role कर्तृ (एषः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root वृषन् (प्रातिपदिक) / वृष (PIE *wers- ‘to rain, be potent’)
- कनिक्रदत्
- roars; cries aloudVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्तृ = एषः वृषा)Root √क्रन्द् (क्रन्दति ‘to cry/roar’) with intensive/reduplicated stem कनिक्रन्द-
- दशभिः
- with tenNumeral(त्रिलिङ्ग), तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करणRoot दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
- जामिभिः
- with (his) kinsmen / kindredNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role करण (दशभिः सह)Root जामि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘kinsman/related one; of the same stock’)
- यतः
- from where; whenceIndeclinable (relative adverb)अव्ययम्Role अपादान/अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध ("from where/whence")Root यतस् (अव्यय; from relative base य-)
- अभि
- towards; untoIndeclinable (preverb)अव्ययम्Role दिशा/प्रवृत्ति-निर्देश (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root अभि (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
- द्रोणानि
- the vats/troughs (Soma-vessels)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम्Role कर्मRoot द्रोण (प्रातिपदिक; ‘trough/vat; Soma-vessel’)
- धावति
- rushes; runsVerbलट् (वर्तमाने), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role क्रिया (कर्म = द्रोणानि)Root √धाव् (धावति ‘to run, rush’)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: एषः | वृषा | कनिक्रदत् | दशभिः | जामिभिः | यतः | अभि | द्रोणानि | धावति || 1) एष वृषा → एषः वृषा (विसर्ग-लोपः पदान्ते)
- 2) कनिक्रदद्दशभिः → कनिक्रदत् दशभिः (त् + द → द्द, जश्त्व/संधि-समासः)
- 3) जामिभिर्यतः → जामिभिः यतः (विसर्गः → र् before vowel; here restored to underlying -भिः)
The meaning
Outer meaning
This Bull bellowing, urged by ten kindred powers, runs toward the vessels.
Inner meaning
Soma as vṛṣā (bull-force) is the potent delight-energy that surges and ‘bellows’—a sign of awakened life-force under divine influence. The ‘ten kindred’ can be read psychologically as the full set of human instruments (often correlated with ten senses/energies) acting in harmony to propel the purified current toward the receptacles (droṇāni): prepared capacities in the being ready to hold and distribute the nectar-force.
Universal truth
When all our faculties act together (not in conflict), the higher joy becomes a powerful, directed energy that fills the prepared parts of life with strength and clarity.
Themes
Soma-ritual, pressing, embodiment/receptacle, force
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.28.1, Rig Veda 9.28.2, Rig Veda 9.28.3, Rig Veda 9.28.5
Significance
This verse highlights integral coordination: the seer sees Soma not as isolated bliss but as a force mobilized by the whole instrument-nature, moving to fill prepared receptacles—an image of disciplined embodiment of Ananda.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- vṛṣā
- Related deities
- Maruts (energies), Agni, Indra
Cosmic role
Fertile, strengthening essence that fills the ritual vessels and empowers the gods’ action in the world-order.
Inner power
Potent Ananda-śakti that energizes the senses and life-force while remaining directed toward right receptivity and offering.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma collection into vessels (droṇa/kalaśa) during Soma rites
ए॒ष वृषा॒ कनि॑क्रदद्द॒शभि॑र्जा॒मिभि॑र्य॒तः । अ॒भि द्रोणा॑नि धावति ॥
ए॒षः । वृषा॑ । कनि॑क्रदत् । द॒शऽभिः॑ । जा॒मिऽभिः॑ । य॒तः । अ॒भि । द्रोणा॑नि । धा॒व॒ति॒ ॥
eṣaḥ | vṛṣā | kanikradat | daśa-bhiḥ | jāmi-bhiḥ | yataḥ | abhi | droṇāni | dhāvati
44
4 x 11 (approx.)
Percussive and kinetic; the repeated sound in kanikradat suits a driving beat.
Stirs vitality and coordinated action; good for overcoming tamas and lethargy.
- वृषा (vṛṣā)
- Literal: bull. Symbolic: potent force, fecund energy of delight-power
- कनिकradat (kanikradat)
- Literal: bellowing/roaring repeatedly. Symbolic: vibratory proclamation of awakened force; mantra-like resonance in life-energy
- दशभिः जामिभिः (daśabhiḥ jāmi-bhiḥ)
- Literal: by ten kindred (kinsmen). Symbolic: the ten coordinated powers/instruments of the being acting as allies
- द्रोणानि (droṇāni)
- Literal: vats/vessels, troughs. Symbolic: receptive containers—purified capacities, inner holdings where force is stored and offered
- अभि धावति (abhi dhāvati)
- Literal: runs toward. Symbolic: directed movement of energy toward right channels and offerings
Allusion to pressing (ten fingers) and Soma running into droṇas (vessels) in the Soma rite.
As Soma is led/channeled into containers after filtration
Directing the flow, filling vessels, preparing offerings
Use before work or disciplined practice to gather scattered energies into a single directed movement.
daśa ‘ten’ often concretely the ten fingers used in Soma pressing; psychologically ten operative faculties. jāmi ‘akin’ from √jam ‘be born’ → ‘of same birth/kind’. yata from √yam ‘to yoke/guide’. droṇa ‘trough/vessel’—ritual container; symbolically a formed receptacle. kanikradat: intensive formation from √krand ‘roar’.
harmonized faculties (jāmi), prepared receptivity (droṇa as vessel of consciousness), directed force (yataḥ)
The ‘run toward the vessels’ suggests right channeling—force guided by order, not dispersion.
Concentration and containment: creation requires vessels/capacities to hold descending force.
Yoga of integration: harmonizing instruments so higher force can be embodied.
Bull/roar = awakened prāṇa and life-force; ten kindred = coordinated senses/energies; vessels = purified capacities and disciplines that can hold power safely.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The pressing and pouring: Soma as the bull roars while driven by ‘ten’ allied powers, then streams into the vessels—mythically the divine liquid entering its cups; psychologically the force enters prepared inner receptacles shaped by coordinated faculties.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- daśa ‘ten’ continues PIE *deḱm̥(t) (cf. Latin decem, Greek déka). √yam ‘yoke/guide’ relates to PIE *yewg- ‘yoke’ (cf. Latin iugum, English yoke).
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer emphasizes cooperation: when the ‘ten’ kindred faculties act together, Soma’s force can be rightly directed and received; the deity responds by filling the vessels—granting a tangible inner abundance rather than a fleeting uplift.
Collect the ten scattered powers (senses, impulses, thoughts) and offer them into a single stream of purified energy moving toward inner receptivity.
Maṇipūra (power/collection) stabilizing into Anāhata (joyful force)
3-part breath (dirgha) with emphasis on navel expansion; feel energy gather at the navel then rise as a single stream.
Strong, centered embodiment with controlled intensity.
Before chanting, sit upright and consciously ‘gather’ attention from the senses; chant with a steady beat; then remain still, sensing the ‘vessel’ of the body as capable of holding higher force without agitation.
Emphasize the iterative sound of ‘kanikradat’ with precise consonants; keep the pāda breaks crisp to preserve drive.
Slight stress on ‘vṛṣā’ and ‘daśabhiḥ’; let ‘abhi droṇāni dhāvati’ flow as a directed run.
vṛṣā (retroflex ṣ; vocalic ṛ), kanikradat (kr cluster; avoid ‘kanikarat’), daśabhiḥ (ś), jāmibhiḥ (long ā; bhih with light visarga), droṇāni (long ō)
Resonant, chest-supported, rhythmic—like a controlled roar.
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