Rig Veda 9.97.6: Mandala 9, Sukta 97, Mantra 6
Sukta 9.97
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
स्तोत्रे राये हरिरर्षा पुनान इन्द्रं मदो गच्छतु ते भराय । देवैर्याहि सरथं राधो अच्छा यूयं पात स्वस्तिभिः सदा नः ॥
stótre rā́ye hárir arṣā punāná índraṃ mádo gacchatu te bhárāya | deváir yāhi sa-ráthaṃ rā́dho ácchā yūyáṃ pāta svastí-bhiḥ sadā́ naḥ ||
เพื่อบทสรรเสริญ เพื่อความมั่งคั่ง โอ้ผู้มีสีเหลืองอมน้ำตาล จงไหลรุดไปในยามชำระตน; ขอความปีติเมามาย (mada) ของท่านไปถึงอินทรา เพื่อให้เขาแบกรับพลังอำนาจ. จงไปพร้อมเหล่าเทพในรถคันเดียวสู่ทานแห่งความรื่นรมย์; และขอพวกท่านคุ้มครองเรานิรันดร์ด้วยความสวัสดี.
Word by Word
- स्तोत्रे
- in/at the hymn of praiseNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-एकवचनRole अधिकारणRoot स्तोत्र (स्तु- ‘to praise’ > स्तोत्र) प्रातिपदिक
- राये
- for wealthNounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot रायि/राय (धन) प्रातिपदिक
- हरिः
- the tawny one (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot हरि प्रातिपदिक
- अर्ष
- flow!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root ऋष् (अर्षति) धातु
- पुनानः
- purifying (himself)Participleवर्तमान कृदन्त (शानच्), आत्मनेपद, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्ता (विशेषण)Root पू (पुनाति) धातु
- इन्द्रम्
- IndraNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-एकवचनRole कर्मRoot इन्द्र प्रातिपदिक
- मदः
- the exhilaration / intoxicating draughtNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-एकवचनRole कर्ताRoot मद प्रातिपदिक
- गच्छतु
- let (it) goVerbलोट्, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root गम् (गच्छति) धातु
- ते
- of you / yourPronounषष्ठी-एकवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्धRoot युष्मद् सर्वनाम
- भराय
- for support / for bearing (aid)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-एकवचनRole सम्प्रदानRoot भर प्रातिपदिक (भृ ‘to bear’ से) / ‘भरण’ अर्थ
- देवैः
- with the godsNounपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचनRole सह/करणRoot देव प्रातिपदिक
- आ
- hither, forthIndeclinableउपसर्ग (गत्यर्थ-प्रवेश/समन्तात्)Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- इहि
- come!Verbलोट्, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root इ (एति) धातु
- सरथम्
- with a chariot / chariot-wiseAdverbial (indeclinable compound)अव्ययीभाव: ‘रथेन सह’Role (क्रियाविशेषण)Root स-रथ (रथ ‘chariot’ प्रातिपदिक) अव्ययीभाव
- राधः
- bounty, giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-एकवचन (रूपसाम्य)Role कर्म (आह्वान-वाक्ये)Root राधस् प्रातिपदिक
- अच्छ
- towardsIndeclinableगत्यर्थ निपातRole (क्रियाविशेषण)Root अच्छ (निपात)
- यूयम्
- you (all)Pronounप्रथमा-बहुवचनRole कर्ताRoot युष्मद् सर्वनाम
- पात
- protect!Verbलोट्, मध्यम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदRole (क्रिया)Root पा (पिबति/पाति ‘to protect’) धातु
- स्वस्तिभिः
- with well-being(s), with blessingsNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-बहुवचनRole करणRoot स्वस्ति प्रातिपदिक
- सदा
- alwaysIndeclinableकालवाचक अव्ययRole (क्रियाविशेषण)Root सदा (अव्यय)
- नः
- usPronounद्वितीया/षष्ठी-बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक); अत्र कर्मरूपेRole कर्मRoot अस्मद् सर्वनाम
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): स्तोत्रे | राये | हरिः | अर्ष | पुनानः | इन्द्रम् | मदः | गच्छतु | ते | भराय || देवैः | आ | इहि | सरथम् | राधः | अच्छ || यूयम् | पात | स्वस्तिभिः | सदा | नः । Notable: हरिरर्षा → हरिः + अर्ष (visarga before vowel)
- पुनान इन्द्रम् → पुनानः + इन्द्रम् (ḥ before vowel)
- देवार्याहि → देवैः + आ + इहि (ḥ + ā)
- राधो अच्छा → राधः + अच्छ (ḥ before vowel)
The meaning
Outer meaning
O tawny Soma, stream on while purifying, for the hymn and for wealth; let your ecstasy go to Indra for his bearing of power. Go with the Gods in one chariot toward the gift; may you protect us always with well-being.
Inner meaning
The ‘hari’ Soma is the golden-tawny delight-force moving swiftly through the channels of the being. It is invoked for stotra (mantric expression) and rāya (inner riches): the capacity to live from plenitude. Its rapture is offered to Indra so illumination may ‘bear’ (bhara) the powers of action without collapse. ‘With the Gods in one chariot’ signifies integrated functioning: illumined mind, will, life, and joy moving together toward rādhas—grace, delight-gift. The closing svasti seals the integration as stable harmony in life.
Universal truth
Joy must be yoked to illumination and coordinated powers; then it becomes a unified vehicle that carries us to grace and protects us with enduring well-being.
Themes
Soma-to-Indra, gift/grace (rādhas), protection refrain
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 9.97 (same), RV 9.62 (Soma for rāya), RV 1.80–1.81 (Indra bearing power with Soma)
Significance
A practical yogic formula: purify delight, offer rapture to illumination, integrate faculties, and seal the result as svasti.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (directed to Indra; with Viśve Devāḥ)
- Epithets
- hari (tawny), punāna (purifying), mada (ecstatic power)
- Related deities
- Indra, Viśve Devāḥ, R̥bhus/Adityas (often linked with rādhas and harmony; implicit)
Cosmic role
Energizes Indra and the gods; brings rādhas (effective delight) and protection.
Inner power
Joy-force that becomes coordinated action under illumination.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma Pavamāna chant; offering Soma to Indra
स्तो॒त्रे रा॒ये हरि॑रर्षा पुना॒न इन्द्रं॒ मदो॑ गच्छतु ते॒ भरा॑य । दे॒वैर्या॑हि स॒रथं॒ राधो॒ अच्छा॑ यू॒यं पा॑त स्व॒स्तिभि॒: सदा॑ नः ॥
स्तो॒त्रे । रा॒ये । हरिः॑ । अ॒र्ष॒ । पु॒ना॒नः । इन्द्र॑म् । मदः॑ । ग॒च्छ॒तु॒ । ते॒ । भरा॑य । दे॒वैः । या॒हि॒ । स॒ऽरथ॑म् । राधः॑ । अच्छ॑ । यू॒यम् । पा॒त॒ । स्व॒स्तिऽभिः॑ । सदा॑ । नः॒ ॥
stotre | rāye | hariḥ | arṣa | punānaḥ | indram | madaḥ | gacchatu | te | bharāya | devaiḥ | yāhi | sa-ratham | rādhaḥ | accha | yūyam | pāta | svasti-bhiḥ | sadā | naḥ
48
4 x 12 (approx.)
Driving then unifying; a ‘chariot’ rhythm—propulsive but coordinated.
Stimulates energetic flow and then gathers it into a unified, protected poise.
- हरिः
- Literal: tawny/golden one. Symbolic: Luminous, dynamic delight-force; swift Ananda-energy
- अर्ष
- Literal: stream, rush. Symbolic: Unobstructed flow of refined consciousness
- पुनानः
- Literal: purifying. Symbolic: Progressive refinement of joy into clarity and power
- स्तोत्रे
- Literal: for the hymn. Symbolic: For mantric expression that shapes consciousness
- राये
- Literal: for wealth. Symbolic: Inner riches: force, clarity, joy, capacity
- मदः
- Literal: ecstasy. Symbolic: Spiritual rapture energizing the illumined mind
- इन्द्रं… भरा॑य
- Literal: to Indra for bearing. Symbolic: To illumined mind so it can carry and organize the powers
- देवैः सरथम्
- Literal: with the gods in one chariot. Symbolic: Integrated faculties moving as one instrument
- राधः
- Literal: gift, grace, delight. Symbolic: Divine giving—effective happiness and fulfillment
- स्वस्तिभिः
- Literal: with well-beings. Symbolic: Harmonious right order in all parts of life
Indra-oriented offering: Soma’s mada is explicitly sent to Indra; the ‘one chariot’ image marks coordinated divine action in the rite and in the practitioner.
During Soma flow and offering portions; especially where Indra is invoked as receiver
Chant to accompany the streaming and symbolic ‘sending’ of Soma to Indra; concluding communal protection refrain
Use as a mantra for integrated action: before work or service, to align joy with clarity and coordinated faculties.
hari as ‘tawny/golden’ is a color-epithet of luminous energies; arṣa from √ṛṣ/√arṣ ‘to flow, move quickly’. punāna from √pū ‘purify’. bhara from √bhṛ ‘to bear, carry’ (PIE *bʰer-). rādhas ‘gift’ from √rādh ‘to succeed, accomplish, grant’—boon as effective accomplishment.
rayi as plenitude, collective action of devas (sa-ratham), svasti as stable right-being
‘Sarathaṃ’ (one chariot) is a strong ṛta-image: powers moving in right coordination.
Indra as truth-illumination that can ‘bear’ forces without distortion.
Descent of coordinated divine powers into life as effective delight (rādhas) and protection (svasti).
Integral Yoga hermeneutic: unity of faculties under illumined mind, powered by Ananda.
Stream = current of delight; chariot = unified instrument of nature; gift = effective grace in life.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The transmission of Soma’s mada to Indra and the joint ‘chariot’ movement with the gods toward rādhas. Mythic action: delight becomes power for the warrior-mind (Indra) and coordinated divine forces deliver an accomplished boon.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √bhṛ ‘bear’ (bharāya) is a clear PIE *bʰer- reflex (English bear, Greek phérein). The chariot idiom is a widespread Indo-European poetic motif for coordinated divine movement and the conveyance of boons.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi offers stotra (hymn) as the activating medium; Soma responds by flowing and carrying ecstasy to Indra. In return, the coordinated gods bring rādhas (effective grace) and maintain svasti (right-being) for the aspirant.
Offer the surge of joy to the illumined mind; unify faculties into one forward movement.
Manipura (power/bearing) guided by Ajna (illumination)
Inhale with ‘harir arṣā’; exhale with ‘indram mado gacchatu’; then a long settling exhale on ‘svastibhiḥ’.
Unified dynamism—calm power.
Chant 3–7 times; feel a golden current rise; mentally place it in a clear light at the brow (Indra). Then sense all parts (mind, will, life, body) yoked to one chariot moving toward rādhas; conclude by resting in svasti.
Follow Saṃhitā marks (e.g., हरि॑रर्षा, पुना॒न, इन्द्रं॒, मदो॑, भरा॑य, अच्छ॑, स्व॒स्तिभि॒:).
Strong, clean articulation on imperatives (‘arṣā’, ‘yāhi’). Slightly broaden on ‘sarathaṃ’ to feel unity. Soften and lengthen the final ‘svastibhiḥ sadā naḥ’.
arṣā: retroflex ṣ; do not pronounce as ‘arsa’, punāna: long ā; keep nasal ‘n’ clear, saratham: ‘sa-ra-thaṃ’ with dental th, acchā: double cch with a brief stop; long ā
Resonant and steady; energized without strain; a confident concluding cadence.
7
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
