Rig Veda 9.64.15: Mandala 9, Sukta 64, Mantra 15
Sukta 9.64
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
पुनानो देववीतय इन्द्रस्य याहि निष्कृतम् । द्युतानो वाजिभिर्यतः ॥
punā́nō deva-vītáya índrasya yāhi níṣkṛtam | dyutā́nō vājíbhir yatáḥ ||
เมื่อท่านชำระตนเพื่อการรับอันยินดีของเหล่าเทพ จงไปยังสถานที่บูชาที่อินทรากำหนดไว้; จงส่องประกาย และมาถึงพร้อมด้วยความอุดมแห่งพลัง (vāja) เถิด.
Word by Word
- पुनानः
- purifying (himself), being purifiedVerb (participle)Present participle (śatṛ/śānac-type), Ātmanepada; nominative singular masculineRole कर्तृRoot √पू (pū) / prātipadika: पुनान- (pres. mid. ptcp.)
- देववीतये
- for the gods’ enjoyment/for divine reception (as an offering)NounFeminine; dative singularRole सम्प्रदानRoot prātipadika: देववीति- (deva-vīti-)
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounMasculine; genitive singularRole सम्बन्धRoot prātipadika: इन्द्र-
- याहि
- goVerbImperative, 2nd person singular; ParasmaipadaRole (मुख्य क्रिया)Root √या (yā)
- निष्कृतम्
- to the prepared/appointed place; the outlet/pressing-vat (prepared)Noun/AdjectiveNeuter; accusative singularRole कर्मRoot prātipadika: निष्कृत- (niṣ-kṛta-) < √कृ (kṛ) with nis-
- द्युतानः
- shining, flashingVerb (participle)Present participle, Ātmanepada; nominative singular masculineRole कर्तृRoot √द्युत् (dyut) / prātipadika: द्युतान- (pres. mid. ptcp.)
- वाजिभिः
- with prize-winners/with swift (steeds); with powers that win bootyNounMasculine; instrumental pluralRole करणRoot prātipadika: वाजिन्-
- यतः
- guided, directed; controlled (in its course)AdjectiveMasculine; nominative singular (agreeing with the subject ‘Soma’)Role कर्तृ-विशेषणRoot prātipadika: यत- (PPP of √यम् ‘to restrain/guide’) used as adjective
Sandhi Notes
- Padapāṭha-style resolution: पु॒ना॒नो | दे॒ववी॑तय॒े | इन्द्र॑स्य | याहि | निष्कृ॒तम् | द्यु॒ता॒नो | वा॒जिभि॑ः | य॒तः ।
- accent marks retained as in Saṃhitā. देववीतय॒े is dative sg. of देववीति-
- निष्कृतम् is accusative sg. neut. (PPP of nis+√kṛ) used as goal-object with याहि
- यतः is PPP-adjective (√यम्) agreeing with the subject (Soma) implied by participles पुनानः/द्युतानः
The meaning
Outer meaning
Purifying thyself for the gods’ glad acceptance, go to Indra’s appointed place; shining, arrive with the prizes/strengths (vāji-bhiḥ).
Inner meaning
As Soma purifies, he becomes fit for divine reception (devavītaye): the higher powers can accept and use this energy. He then goes to Indra’s niṣkṛtam—Indra’s prepared place: the illumined mind’s established field (clarified intellect/inner throne). Arriving shining (dyutānaḥ), he brings vāja—plenitudes of force, capacities for effective action. Purified delight thus becomes the substance of luminous mastery and victorious functioning.
Universal truth
When inner energies are purified and offered upward, they naturally find their right seat in enlightened intelligence and return as effective strength and skill in life.
Themes
offering-movement, Indra strengthening, victory-force (vāja), purification-to-manifestation
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma Pavamāna seer-tradition (RV 9.64)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.64.12 (Indra drinking Soma), RV 9.63–9.66 (Soma going to Indra; vāja motifs)
Family tradition
The ninth maṇḍala repeatedly links Soma’s purification to Indra’s empowerment; this verse is a crisp statement of that inner transfer.
Significance
The rishi indicates a practical inner mechanics: prepare the ‘place’ (niṣkṛtam) in the mind through clarity; then purified Ananda can arrive as luminous force (vāja).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (in relation to Indra)
- Epithets
- Pavamāna, Dyumat (shining—implied), Indu
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
Soma as the energizer that reaches Indra’s sphere and equips him with vāja for cosmic victories.
Inner power
Transmuted delight that becomes luminous executive power in the mind.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma offering directed to Indra’s portion
पु॒ना॒नो दे॒ववी॑तय॒ इन्द्र॑स्य याहि निष्कृ॒तम् । द्यु॒ता॒नो वा॒जिभि॑र्य॒तः ॥
पु॒ना॒नः । दे॒वऽवी॑तये॑ । इन्द्र॑स्य । या॒हि॒ । निः॒ऽकृ॒तम् । द्यु॒ता॒नः । वा॒जिऽभिः॑ । य॒तः ॥
punānaḥ | deva-vītaye | indrasya | yāhi | niḥ-kṛtam | dyutānaḥ | vāji-bhiḥ | yataḥ
48
4 pādas × ~12 syllables
Purposeful and goal-directed; a ‘going’ rhythm with a bright arrival.
Elicits a sense of forward movement culminating in a luminous landing—useful for intention and resolve.
- पुनानः (punānaḥ)
- Literal: purifying oneself. Symbolic: self-transformation; refining the vital-emotional substance
- देववीतये (deva-vītaye)
- Literal: for the gods’ acceptance/feast. Symbolic: fit for higher consciousness; offered without ego-mixture
- इन्द्रस्य (indrasya)
- Literal: of Indra. Symbolic: belonging to the illumined mind, the power of mastery
- निष्कृतम् (niṣkṛtam)
- Literal: appointed/marked-out place, prepared spot. Symbolic: prepared inner seat—clear mental field where illumination acts
- द्युता॒नः (dyutānaḥ)
- Literal: shining, flashing. Symbolic: radiant clarity; consciousness lit by truth
- वाजिभिः (vāji-bhiḥ)
- Literal: with vāja: prizes, strengths, forces. Symbolic: plenitudes of effective power—energies of accomplishment aligned with light
Transition from purification to offering: Soma directed to Indra’s ‘niṣkṛta’ (offering locus) in Soma-yajña
During Soma-yajña at points of directing the clarified Soma to Indra’s cup/place.
Guiding the flow toward Indra’s graha/altar portion; invoking shining arrival with vāja.
Before decisive action: purify motivation (punānaḥ), prepare a clear mental ‘seat’ (niṣkṛtam), then act from luminous strength (vāja).
yāhi: imperative from √yā ‘go’. niḥ-kṛta: from nis + √kṛ ‘set out, prepare’ → ‘prepared place’ (ritually the offering station; psychologically the prepared inner seat). dyutāna: from √dyut ‘shine, blaze’ (cf. ‘dyuti’). vāja: multivalent—‘prize/food’ but rooted in strength/abundance; often symbolizes ‘plenitude of effective force’ in the inner reading.
preparation of the inner seat (niṣkṛta) for divine force, vāja as effective power
Right placement (niṣkṛtam) suggests order: energies go to their proper seat in the cosmic/psychic economy.
Dyuti (shining) as sign of truth-consciousness entering mind.
Cosmic function is sustained by correct offerings: delight-energy fuels illumination, which returns as force.
Integral yoga: preparation of the mind-field for descent/arrival of purified higher energy.
Flow to a prepared place = channeling energy into a clarified mental center; shining = awakened clarity; vāja = capacities and powers for right action.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘Soma goes to Indra’s prepared seat’ with vāja: the mythic transfer of clarified delight into the heroic luminous power, enabling Indra’s victories. Psychologically, the purified ānanda is installed in the inner throne of mastery, arriving as effective energies.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √yā ‘go’ corresponds to PIE *h₁ey- ‘go’ (cf. Gk. eîmi). √dyut ‘shine’ aligns with PIE *dyeu- ‘sky/daylight’ semantic field (though not always a direct morphological match), reflecting the archaic association of shining with divinity and clarity.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi acts as organizer of the inner rite: he commands Soma to move, to shine, and to arrive endowed with vāja. The devatā is not distant; it is a dynamic force being installed in the prepared consciousness where Indra (inner sovereignty) can drink and act.
Prepare the ‘niṣkṛtam’—a clear inner seat in the mind; invite purified joy to arrive there as luminous force; then hold a single intention in that light.
Ājñā (prepared place of Indra)
3-part practice: (1) a few cleansing breaths (punānaḥ), (2) brief stillness to ‘mark out’ the inner seat (niṣkṛtam), (3) inhale brightness (dyuti), exhale steady power (vāja).
Luminous executive calm; clarity with strength.
If action feels scattered, first purify (drop agitation), then prepare a single clear mental space; from there let energy ‘arrive’ and act in measured steps.
Rigvedic accenting; exact udātta/anudātta/svarita depends on accented Saṃhitā recension.
Keep ‘devavītaye’ devotional and lifted; articulate ‘niṣkṛtam’ carefully (ṣkṛ cluster); brighten on ‘dyutānaḥ’.
devavītaye: long ī; separate deva-vīta-ye, niṣkṛtam: retroflex ṣ; vocalic ṛ; do not insert extra vowel in ṣkṛ, dyutānaḥ: ‘dyu’ as a single cluster; long ā, vājibhiḥ: long ā; aspirated bh, yataḥ: dental t, visarga soft
Bright, focused, and forward-moving; end with firm steadiness.
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