Rig Veda 9.74.6: Mandala 9, Sukta 74, Mantra 6
Sukta 9.74
- Rishi
- Soma-pavamāna seer tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Jagatī
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Adbhuta (wonder)
सहस्रधारेऽव ता असश्चतस्तृतीये सन्तु रजसि प्रजावतीः । चतस्रो नाभो निहिता अवो दिवो हविर्भरन्त्यमृतं घृतश्चुतः ॥
sahasrá-dhāre ’vá tā́ḥ asaścátaḥ tṛtī́ye santu rájasi prajā́vatīḥ | cátasro nā́bho níhitā ávo divó havírbharanty amṛ́taṃ ghṛta-ścútaḥ ||
จากต้นธารพันสาย พวกมันไหลลงมาไม่ขาดตอน; ขอให้พวกมันสถิตในแดนที่สาม อุดมด้วยผู้สืบเผ่า. ‘สะดือ’ สี่ประการถูกวางไว้เป็นหลักค้ำฟ้า; พวกมันนำเครื่องบูชา—อมฤต หยดพราวด้วยเนยใสอันสว่าง.
Word by Word
- सहस्रधारे
- having a thousand streamsAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण कर्तृपदस्य) अथवा विशेष्य-सम्बन्धःRoot सहस्र-धार (प्रातिपदिक; सहस्र + धार) / धार-
- अव
- down, forthIndeclinableअव्ययम्Role (क्रियाविशेषणम्)Root अव (उपसर्ग/निपात) / अव-
- ताः
- those (f.)Pronounस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) / तद्
- असश्चतः
- have flowed / have streamedVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root सस्/सृ (धातु: सस्/सृ = सरति/ससर्ति ‘to flow, move’)
- तृतीये
- in the thirdAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम् (रजसि इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role AdhikaraṇaRoot तृतीय (क्रमवाचक-प्रातिपदिक) / तृतीय-
- सन्तु
- let them beVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root अस् (धातु: अस् ‘to be’)
- रजसि
- in the region/space (rajas)Nounनपुंसकलिङ्गे सप्तमी एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot रजस् (प्रातिपदिक) / रजस्
- प्रजावतीः
- rich in offspring/creaturesAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (ताः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण) अथवा विशेष्य-सम्बन्धःRoot प्रजा-वती (प्रातिपदिक; प्रजा + वत्) / वत्
- चतस्रः
- four (f.)Adjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role KartāRoot चतुर् (संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक) / चतुर्
- नाभः
- the navel/central hubNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे (वैदिके रूपान्तरम्) प्रथमा एकवचनम्Role Adhikaraṇa (स्थानीय-केन्द्रार्थे ‘at the navel/centre’)Root नाभि/नाभ (प्रातिपदिक) / नाभि-
- निहिताः
- placed, set downParticipleभूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role Kartā (विशेषणरूपेण चतस्रः इत्यस्य) अथवा कर्मणि-भावःRoot नि-धा (धातु: धा ‘to place’ + उपसर्ग नि) / धा
- अवः
- help, protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (वैदिके) प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचनम्; अत्र ‘सहाय/रक्षा’ अर्थेRole Karma (भरन्ति इत्यस्य) अथवा साध्य-सम्बन्धःRoot अवस् (प्रातिपदिक) / अवस्
- दिवः
- of heavenNounस्त्रीलिङ्गे षष्ठी एकवचनम्Role सम्बन्ध (Genitive)Root द्यौ/दिव् (प्रातिपदिक) / दिव्
- हविः
- oblationNounनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot हविस् (प्रातिपदिक) / हविस्
- भरन्ति
- they bring/bearVerbलट्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमा बहुवचनम्Role (क्रिया)Root भृ (धातु: भृ ‘to bear, bring’)
- अमृतम्
- immortal (nectar), deathlessNoun/Adjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्Role Karma (भरन्ति इत्यस्य; हविः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) अथवा विशेष्य-सम्बन्धःRoot अ-मृत (प्रातिपदिक; न + मृत) / मृत
- घृतश्चुतः
- dripping with gheeAdjectiveभूतकृदन्त/विशेषण (क्त/त), नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (अमृतम्/हविः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्) अथवा पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा बहुवचनम् (कर्तृविशेषणम्) — अत्र पद्ये ‘अमृतम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणत्वं प्रबलम्Role Karma (विशेषणरूपेण) अथवा Kartā-विशेषणम्Root घृत-श्चुत (प्रातिपदिक; घृत + श्चुत < √च्युत/च्यु ‘to drip, flow’) / च्यु
Sandhi Notes
- सहस्र॑धा॒रेऽव = सहस्रधारे + अव (ए/अ संधिः; ‘ए’ + ‘अ’ → ‘एऽ’ अवग्रहः).
- घृत॒श्चुत॑: = घृत + श्चुतः (व्यञ्जन-संधिः: त् + श् → च्छ्/श्च्; वैदिक-पाठे ‘श्च’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
From a thousand-streamed source the Soma-streams flow down unbroken; may they establish themselves in the third realm, rich in increase. Four “navels” are set as the supports of heaven; they carry the offering—immortal, dripping with ghee.
Inner meaning
The purified Ananda-consciousness (Soma) descends in innumerable currents from the supramental source and must be stabilized in the “third rajas”—the luminous mid-world of the inner being where mind, life, and body can be harmonized and made fruitful. The “four navels” are the four foundational centers/pillars of the inner heaven (a stable higher consciousness in the embodied being); through these supports the immortal offering (amṛta) is borne into our nature as a steady outpouring of clarified light (ghṛta) — the luminous substance of truth-consciousness.
Universal truth
Spiritual realization is not a single flash but a many-streamed descent of higher consciousness that must be grounded in the intermediate plane of life and mind. When the inner foundations are set, the immortal light naturally circulates and nourishes all parts of the being.
Themes
cosmic architecture, descent of amrita, Soma-streams, Rita-supports
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma-pavamāna seer tradition (Mandala 9)
- Other hymns
- RV 9.74, RV 9.75, RV 9.76 (neighboring pavamāna sequence)
Family tradition
Pavamāna hymns of the Soma-pressing lineages; transmitted through ritual-vision poets rather than a single named rishi here
Significance
The Mandala 9 rishis specialize in the yoga of purification: turning mixed vital-mental movements into a clear stream of Ananda that can feed Indra (illumined mind) and establish a higher order in the being.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Pavamāna (self-purifying), Amṛta (immortal essence), Ghṛtáścút (ghee/clarified-light dripping)
- Related deities
- Indra, Agni, Sūrya, Uṣas, Maruts
Cosmic role
The purifier and carrier of delight and immortality; mediates between heaven and earth by flowing through the filter into the offering.
Inner power
Ananda-force that clarifies mind and vital, making them transparent to truth and capable of stable increase.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification (pavamāna)
स॒हस्र॑धा॒रेऽव॒ ता अ॑स॒श्चत॑स्तृ॒तीये॑ सन्तु॒ रज॑सि प्र॒जाव॑तीः । चत॑स्रो॒ नाभो॒ निहि॑ता अ॒वो दि॒वो ह॒विर्भ॑रन्त्य॒मृतं॑ घृत॒श्चुत॑: ॥
स॒हस्र॑ऽधारे । अव॑ । ताः । अ॒स॒श्चतः॑ । तृ॒तीये॑ । स॒न्तु॒ । रज॑सि । प्र॒जाऽव॑तीः । चत॑स्रः । नाभः॑ । निऽहि॑ताः । अ॒वः । दि॒वः । ह॒विः । भ॒र॒न्ति॒ । अ॒मृत॑म् । घृ॒त॒ऽश्चुतः॑ ॥
sahasra-dhāre | ava | tāḥ | asaścataḥ | tṛtīye | santu | rajasi | prajāvatīḥ | catasraḥ | nābhaḥ | ni-hitāḥ | avaḥ | divaḥ | haviḥ | bharanti | amṛtam | ghṛta-ścutaḥ
48
4 pādas of ~12 syllables
Long, rolling cadence suited to sustained flow imagery
Induces a sense of continuous descent and establishment—good for contemplative steadiness rather than sharp incitement.
- sahasradhāra
- Literal: thousand-streamed (source/flow). Symbolic: infinite differentiations of one supramental Ananda descending as many currents of experience and insight
- asaścatas
- Literal: unbroken, uninterrupted. Symbolic: continuity of sadhana and of the descending force without lapses
- tṛtīye rajasi
- Literal: in the third region/space. Symbolic: the luminous intermediary world (antarikṣa) within—life-mind plane to be transformed and made a vessel of the higher
- prajāvatīḥ
- Literal: rich in progeny. Symbolic: fruitful in inner formations—right thoughts, powers, and works born from the higher consciousness
- catasro nābhaḥ
- Literal: four navels/hubs. Symbolic: four foundational stations of the inner sacrifice (often read as fourfold order: truth, right will, right thought, right delight; or four sustaining centers of the “heaven” in us)
- divo avaḥ
- Literal: supports of heaven. Symbolic: stable higher poise in the being that holds illumination in life
- havis
- Literal: offering. Symbolic: consecrated substance of our energies and experiences uplifted and returned as transformed force
- amṛtam
- Literal: immortal (nectar). Symbolic: deathless consciousness—Ananda/Truth-substance
- ghṛtaścutaḥ
- Literal: dripping with ghee. Symbolic: pouring of clarified light (luminous intelligence) rather than physical butter
Soma flowing in multiple streams into vessels (kalaśa) during filtration; ‘havis’ language links Soma directly to oblation
During Soma-yajña sequences when Soma is filtered and offered
Chanting while Soma flows through the woolen strainer; invocation for stable, fruitful descent
Use as a meditation on grounding higher peace/bliss into the active life-plane; recite before work to ‘set the third realm’ in order.
sahasra-dhāra: ‘thousand’ + dhārā ‘stream’ (√dhṛ ‘to hold/flow as a holder’). rajas: ‘space/region’ from √raj ‘to be colored/shine’; in RV denotes planes. prajāvatī: pra- + jā ‘be born’ → ‘rich in births’. nābhi: central knot/source. ni-hitā: √dhā/hi ‘to place’ with ni- ‘down, fixed’. haviḥ: from √hu ‘to pour/sacrifice’ (havis as poured offering). ghṛta-ścuta: √scut ‘to drip’.
three realms (tṛtīya rajas), structuring centers (nābhi) as cosmic foundations, amṛta as consecrated offering
The ‘unbroken flow’ and ‘supports of heaven’ indicate Ṛta as stable structure for the descent.
Ghṛta as truth-light substance that carries the offering.
Establishing the higher world (heaven) in the mid-world through four supports; fructifying the being (prajā).
Proto-Vedāntic / Aurobindonian supramental reading (Soma as Ananda, ghṛta as Truth-light).
Streams = descending experiences of Ananda; heaven = higher consciousness; ghee = clarified illumination that nourishes the sacrifice.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The descent of many streams from a thousand-fold source and the ‘four navels’ supporting heaven: a myth of ordered emanation—multiple currents of the immortal offering are grounded in stable cosmic centers so they can enter manifestation without breaking.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- The use of numeral-cosmology (‘three’, ‘four’, ‘thousand’) is a common Indo-European poetic device for totality and world-structuring. √bhṛ ‘to bear/bring’ (bharanti) is PIE *bʰer- (widely attested), used here for the conveyance of sacred substance.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer’s will is expressed as an optative establishment (santu): may the descending forces settle in a productive plane (prajāvatīḥ). The deity’s gift is not only ecstasy but structured generativity—right births of works and states.
Feel a many-streamed descent of quiet bliss and light; stabilize it in the ‘mid-region’ of breath, heart, and mind.
Anāhata to Ājñā axis (integration of feeling and vision)
Slow nāḍī-śodhana or equal breathing (sama-vṛtti) while sensing a downward flow on exhale
Quiet, wide, luminous receptivity with grounded stability
Invoke the ‘unbroken flow’; then consciously ‘set the supports’—straight spine, steady breath, calm mind—so the delight becomes fruitful in action.
Vedic accenting with udatta/anudatta/svarita as per śākha; keep primary udātta lifts on marked syllables (e.g., sahasrá-, dhāré, cátasro, amṛtám).
Maintain a gentle rise on udātta, a glide on svarita, and a low steady anudātta; avoid modern ‘song’ vibrato.
sahasradhāre: keep ‘dh’ aspirated; long ā in -dhāre, asaścatas: pronounce ś as palatal; keep short a in -tas, tṛtīye: retroflex ṛ; long ī, ghṛtaścutaḥ: retroflex ṛ; ‘śc’ as ś + c cluster; final ḥ lightly released
Clear, flowing, sustained; like a continuous stream
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