Rig Veda 9.36.1: Mandala 9, Sukta 36, Mantra 1
Sukta 9.36
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
असर्जि रथ्यो यथा पवित्रे चम्वोः सुतः । कार्ष्मन्वाजी न्यक्रमीत् ॥
ásarji rathyó yáthā pavítre camvóḥ sutáḥ | kā́rṣman vājī́ ny àkramīt ||
ท่านถูกปลดปล่อยดุจนักแข่งรถศึก; โสมะที่คั้นแล้วเข้าสู่ตะแกรงกรองและถ้วยทั้งสอง; ในฐานะผู้นำความอุดมแห่งพลัง ท่านก้าวลงสู่ทุ่งงานแห่งพิธีบูชา.
Word by Word
- असर्जि
- was released/was let flowVerbAorist (sigmatic), Passive; 3rd person singularRoot सृज्
- रथ्यः
- fit for a chariot; chariot-goingAdjectiveMasculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (with असर्जि) / qualifier of the subject (Soma)Root रथ्य (प्रातिपदिक) < रथ
- यथा
- as, likeIndeclinableComparative particleRoot यथा
- पवित्रे
- in/through the filter (sieve)NounNeuter, locative singularRole AdhikaraṇaRoot पवित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- चम्वोः
- of the two bowls/vesselsNounFeminine, genitive dualRole Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (relation)Root चमू (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुतः
- pressed, expressed (Soma)Participle (Adjective) / Noun-epithetMasculine, nominative singular; past passive participleRole Kartā (with असर्जि) / qualifier of SomaRoot सु (धातु) → सुत (कृदन्त)
- कार्ष्मन्
- in the furrow/track (plough-track)NounNeuter, locative singularRole AdhikaraṇaRoot कार्ष्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- वाजी
- the racer/steed; swift oneNoun/AdjectiveMasculine, nominative singularRole Kartā (with न्यक्रमीत्)Root वाजिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
- नि
- down, into, alongPreverbUpasarga (prefix) to क्रम्Root नि
- अक्रमीत्
- stepped/wentVerbImperfect (Vedic), active; 3rd person singularRoot क्रम्
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः: असर्जि | रथ्यः | यथा | पवित्रे | चम्वोः | सुतः | कार्ष्मन् | वाजी | नि | अक्रमीत् । Sandhi/phonology: (1) रथ्यो यथा → रथ्यः यथा (visarga before y, RV saṃhitā often shows o/yo-type sandhi)
- (2) चम्वो: is gen. dual चम्वोः (final ḥ written as : in some transcripts)
- (3) न्यक्रमीत् → नि + अक्रमीत् (upasarga-sandhi: i + a → ya/’y’ in saṃhitā spelling)
- Accents as given: अस॑र्जि (udātta on स), रथ्यो॑ (udātta on यो), प॒वित्रे॑, च॒म्वो॑ः, सु॒तः, कार्ष्म॑न्, वा॒जी, न्य॑क्रमीत्
The meaning
Outer meaning
Released like a chariot-racer, the pressed Soma goes into the filter and the two bowls; the vājin (bringer of strength) strides down into the working-field.
Inner meaning
When the Soma-force is ‘released’ (asarji), it moves with swift, victorious energy (rathyaḥ) into the purifier (pavitra)—the discriminating faculty that strains mixed movements. The ‘two bowls’ (camvoḥ) can be read inwardly as the twin receptacles of mind and life (or mind and heart) that receive the clarified delight. Then Soma as vājin (power-bringer) enters the karmic field (kārṣman): the embodied arena where realization must be worked out in action.
Universal truth
Spiritual energy must be purified and received by our inner instruments before it can be applied effectively in life’s field of work.
Themes
Soma-pressing, Purification through pavitra, Descent of power, Rite as inner labor (kārṣman)
The seer
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.36
Significance
The verse is a technical inner-psychology of transformation: release → purification → reception → application in the field of works.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Suta (pressed), Vājī (force-bringer/prize-winner), Rathya (swift like a charioteer)
- Related deities
- Agni (leader of sacrifice), Indra (force of illumination)
Cosmic role
Carries the clarified essence through the rite’s instruments, empowering action and fruition.
Inner power
A liberated Ananda-force that, once filtered, becomes practical strength in embodied life.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma filtration into cups during Soma-yajña
अस॑र्जि॒ रथ्यो॑ यथा प॒वित्रे॑ च॒म्वो॑: सु॒तः । कार्ष्म॑न्वा॒जी न्य॑क्रमीत् ॥
अस॑र्जि । रथ्यः॑ । य॒था॒ । प॒वित्रे॑ । च॒म्वोः॑ । सु॒तः । कार्ष्म॑न् । वा॒जी । नि । अ॒क्र॒मी॒त् ॥
asarji | rathyaḥ | yathā | pavitre | camvoḥ | sutaḥ | kārṣman | vājī | ni | akramīt
48
4×12 (approx.)
Swift opening with a ‘release’ feel; then a settling into purposeful stride.
Elicits a sense of dynamic movement channeled into orderly process; good for mobilizing energy with control.
- असर्जि (asarji)
- Literal: was released/let loose. Symbolic: the awakened force is allowed to flow; a liberation of energy
- रथ्यः (rathyaḥ)
- Literal: chariot-racer. Symbolic: swift victorious movement of consciousness toward its goal
- पवित्रे (pavitre)
- Literal: in the filter/strainer. Symbolic: discriminative purification—separating truth from mixture
- चम्वोः (camvoḥ)
- Literal: of the two cups/bowls. Symbolic: twin inner vessels (mind-life / mind-heart) receiving the clarified current
- कार्ष्मन् (kārṣman)
- Literal: ploughed field; working-ground. Symbolic: the field of karma—practical life where realization must take form
- वाजी (vājī)
- Literal: possessing vāja; strong; prize-winner. Symbolic: effective force that can accomplish and embody truth
Pavamāna sequence during Soma pressing/straining: describing Soma’s swift course into the pavitra and collecting vessels (camū).
At the moment of Soma flowing through the strainer into collecting vessels
Accompanying the physical straining/collecting; invoking swift, effective Soma
Use when beginning a task: release energy, pass it through discernment, then bring it into concrete action.
Key terms: (1) asarji: aorist passive of √sṛj ‘release’—Soma as a force set free. (2) pavitra: from √pū ‘purify’ + instrumental formation; the ‘filter’ is both ritual sieve and psychological discriminant. (3) camū: vessel/bowl; dual camvoḥ suggests paired containers—can be read inwardly as two receptive levels (mind and life) needing the clarified flow. (4) kārṣman: related to kṛṣ ‘to plough’ (furrow/field); symbolically the prepared inner ground where the force can work. (5) vāja: from √vaj/√vāj ‘to be strong, invigorate’ → not mere ‘food/prize’ but ‘plenitude of force’ enabling accomplishment.
purification as discernment, right descent of force into the prepared field (inner sādhanā), vāja as energetic plenitude
The filter symbolizes ṛta’s discriminating order—right movement through right instrument.
Essence descending into form: from subtle delight to workable power in the ‘field’.
Integral transformation: spiritual force must enter mind-life and then works.
Speed (aspiration) must be guided into purification (discernment) and then grounded into the earth-field (embodiment).
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Soma’s course’ mythologem: the divine essence is released, races, and enters the purifier and vessels. Mythically it is the descent of a luminous force into prepared receptacles; psychologically it is the inrush of clarified delight-power into mind/life once the inner field is ploughed.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sṛj ‘send forth’ is part of a broad IE pattern of ‘flow/release’ verbs used for sacrificial liquids. √kram ‘stride’ continues PIE *krem-/*kremh₂ ‘to step/stride’ (cf. related Indo-Iranian formations). The racing simile (rathyaḥ) reflects inherited IE heroic/agonistic diction applied to sacred flow.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer witnesses and affirms the exact movement of the force: Soma must be ‘released’ and then guided into the pavitra and vessels. The human role is preparation and right channeling; the divine role is swift entry and effective working as vājī in the inner field.
Visualize a bright current released from the heart, passing through a clear filter at the brow, then filling two inner cups (mind and heart) before descending into the hands/feet for action.
Ajna (filter/discernment) and Manipura (effective force)
Brisk inhale (release), brief pause (filter), steady exhale (descent into action).
Channelled dynamism—speed under guidance.
When excited or scattered, ‘strain’ the impulse: ask what is true, timely, and beneficial; then act with the purified energy.
Keep a lively rise on the opening; maintain precise accenting through compounds (pavitre, camvoḥ).
Mark the caesura after yathā; let ‘pavitre camvoḥ’ be smoothly connected; emphasize the downward ‘ni akramīt’ with a settling cadence.
asarji: ‘rj’ cluster clean, rathyo: dental ‘th’ (not retroflex), pavitre: ‘tr’ crisp, camvoḥ: ‘mv’ cluster; final visarga light, ny akramīt: separate ni + akramīt with gentle sandhi; long ‘ī’
Bright, clear, slightly तेजस् (tejas) infused; not harsh.
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