Rig Veda 10.76.2: Mandala 10, Sukta 76, Mantra 2
Sukta 10.76
- Rishi
- As per Anukramaṇī for RV 10.76
- Devata
- Indra
- Chandas
- Trishtubh
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Shanta (peace)
तदु श्रेष्ठं सवनं सुनोतनात्यो न हस्तयतो अद्रिः सोतरि । विदद्ध्यर्यो अभिभूति पौंस्यं महो राये चित्तरुते यदर्वतः ॥
tád u śréṣṭhaṃ sávanaṃ sunotanā́tyo na hástayato ádriḥ sótari | vidád dhy àryó abhíbhūti paúṃsyaṃ mahó rāyé cit tarute yád árvataḥ ||
وہ بہترین نذر نچوڑو، ہاتھ میں گھوڑے کی طرح، پتھر اسے باہر نکالے، اے نچوڑنے والے۔ کیونکہ شریف شخص فتح پانے والی مردانگی پاتا ہے، وہ بڑی دولت سے بھی آگے نکل جاتا ہے جب اچھی طرح جوتا جائے، تاکہ ہماری نچوڑنی اعلیٰ طاقت کو صرف ملکیت سے آگے آزاد کرے۔
Word by Word
- तत्
- thatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- उ
- indeed, justIndeclinableनिपातRoot उ (निपात)
- श्रेष्ठम्
- best, most excellentAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक; श्रेयस्/श्रेष्ठ-)
- सवनम्
- pressing (of Soma), Soma-pressNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot सवन (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुनोतन
- press (you all)Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, बहुवचनRoot सु (धातु) + लोट्
- अत्यः
- a steed, horseNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमार्थक-अव्ययRoot न (उपमा-निपात)
- हस्तयतः
- of the one holding/handling (with the hand)Adjectiveपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot हस्तय (प्रातिपदिक; ‘हस्त’ + यत्-प्रत्यय/यत्-भाव)
- अद्रिः
- the pressing-stoneNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
- सोतारि
- in/at the Soma-presserNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole AdhikaraṇaRoot सोतरि (प्रातिपदिक; ‘सोता’ + अरि/इ-प्रत्यय; ‘presser’)
- विदत्
- know, find outVerbलोट् (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचनRoot विद् (धातु) + लोट्
- हि
- for, indeedIndeclinableनिपातRoot हि (निपात)
- अर्यः
- the noble (Arya), patronNounपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनRole KartāRoot अर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- अभिभूतिम्
- overpowering might, victoryNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot अभिभूति (प्रातिपदिक)
- पौंस्यम्
- manly power, prowessNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot पौंस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
- महः
- greatAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (वेदिक रूप)Role KarmaRoot महत्/मह (प्रातिपदिक)
- राये
- for wealthNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot रायि/राय (प्रातिपदिक)
- चित्तरुते
- for conspicuous fame/renownNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचनRole SampradānaRoot चित्तरुति (प्रातिपदिक; चित्त + रुति/रुति ‘fame/renown’)
- यत्
- which, whatPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचनRole KarmaRoot यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अर्वतः
- of the steed, of the horseNounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRoot अर्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolution (padapāṭha-style): तदु → तत् + उ
- सुनोत॒नात्यो॒ → सुनोतन + अत्यः (final -n + initial vowel gives -n a- in saṃhitā)
- हस्त॑यतो॒ अद्रि॑: → हस्तयतः + अद्रिः
- सो॒तरि॑ → सोतारि (loc. sg.)
- विदद्ध्य१॒॑र्यो → विदत् + हि + अर्यः (ddh from -d + hi)
- अ॒भिभू॑ति॒ पौंस्यं॑ → अभिभूतिम् + पौंस्यम्
- म॒हो रा॒ये → महः + राये
- चि॑त्तरुते॒ → चित्त-रुते (dative sg.)
- यदर्व॑तः → यत् + अर्वतः
The meaning
Outer meaning
Press out that best libation; like a steed in the hand, let the stone drive it forth, O presser. The noble one finds conquering manhood; he surpasses even great riches when the impulsion is rightly harnessed.
Inner meaning
The ‘best pressing’ is the extraction of soma—symbolically, the release of divine delight and luminous essence from our inner substance. The pressing-stone (adri) is the concentrated will/discipline that compels the essence to flow. ‘Like a steed in the hand’ points to controlled energy: the vital force is held and guided, not allowed to run into desire. The ‘noble one’ (ārya) is the soul-being turned toward truth. He attains ‘conquering manhood’ (abhibhūti pauṃsya)—the victorious strength of the illumined mind—surpassing even material abundance, when the impulsion (arvat—swift movement) is rightly yoked: i.e., when dynamic energy is disciplined by the soul’s aim.
Universal truth
The highest gain is not possession but the released essence of delight and power obtained by disciplined effort; when energy is rightly harnessed, the soul surpasses mere wealth and wins mastery.
Themes
Soma-ritual (innerized), Conquest of the soul, Transcending mere wealth
The seer
- Other hymns
- RV 10.76.1-? (hymn context)
Significance
The mantra encodes a central Aurobindonian theme: soma-pressing as inner extraction of delight; adri as tapas; ārya as the soul that chooses truth over mere wealth.
The deity
- Devata
- Indra (implicit recipient of pressed Soma); Soma and the pressing act are central
- Epithets
- śreṣṭha-savana (best pressing, contextual), abhibhūti-dā (giver of conquest, contextual Indra function)
- Related deities
- Agni (carrier of offering), Bṛhaspati (opener of the hidden word), Aśvins (swift right movement)
Cosmic role
Indra receives soma to increase illumination and victory; Soma is the delight-essence that empowers the gods; the pressing is the means of manifestation.
Inner power
Indra: victorious illumination; Soma: bliss-substance that intensifies consciousness; Adri: disciplined will that releases the essence.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma-pressing instruction/praise within Indra-oriented soma rites.
तदु॒ श्रेष्ठं॒ सव॑नं सुनोत॒नात्यो॒ न हस्त॑यतो॒ अद्रि॑: सो॒तरि॑ । वि॒दद्ध्य१॒॑र्यो अ॒भिभू॑ति॒ पौंस्यं॑ म॒हो रा॒ये चि॑त्तरुते॒ यदर्व॑तः ॥
तत् । ऊँ॒ इति॑ । श्रेष्ठ॑म् । सव॑नम् । सु॒नो॒त॒न॒ । अत्यः॑ । न । हस्त॑ऽयतः । अद्रिः॑ । सो॒तरि॑ । वि॒दत् । हि । अ॒र्यः । अ॒भिऽभू॑ति । पौंस्य॑म् । म॒हः । रा॒ये । चि॒त् । त॒रु॒ते॒ । यत् । अर्व॑तः ॥
tat | oṃ iti | śreṣṭham | savanam | sunotana | atyaḥ | na | hasta-yataḥ | adriḥ | sotar i | vidat | hi | aryaḥ | abhi-bhūti | paiṃsyam | mahaḥ | rāye | cit | tarute | yat | arvataḥ
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4×11 (approx.)
Workmanlike, directive rhythm—imperatives and strong mid-line turns.
Strengthens will and discipline; evokes the feeling of ‘pressing out’ and concentrating energy.
- श्रेष्ठं सवनम् (śreṣṭhaṃ savanam)
- Literal: best pressing/libation. Symbolic: highest extraction of soma: distilled delight and light
- सुनोतन (sunotan)
- Literal: press out!. Symbolic: active inner work of releasing essence from nature
- अद्रिः (adriḥ)
- Literal: pressing stone. Symbolic: concentrated will/discipline; firm tapas
- सोतरि (sotari)
- Literal: O presser. Symbolic: the inner sacrificer who performs yoga-work
- अत्यः (atyaḥ)
- Literal: steed. Symbolic: vital energy under control
- हस्तयतः (hastayataḥ)
- Literal: held in the hand. Symbolic: governed, mastered energy
- अर्यः (āryaḥ)
- Literal: noble one. Symbolic: psychic being oriented to truth
- अभिभूति (abhibhūti)
- Literal: overcoming, conquest. Symbolic: victory over lower nature/resistance
- पौंस्यं (pauṃsyaṃ)
- Literal: manhood, virile strength. Symbolic: spiritual strength and mastery
- राये (rāye)
- Literal: riches. Symbolic: outer gains/possessions (secondary to inner victory)
- अर्वतः (arvataḥ)
- Literal: of the swift/impulsion. Symbolic: rightly directed dynamic drive
Directly Soma-pressing instruction (savana); used in Soma sacrifices (e.g., Agniṣṭoma sequences) where pressing and offering are performed.
During soma savana (pressing sessions), especially when emphasizing excellence of pressing and the gain of victory-strength.
Pressing with adri, collecting soma, offering to Indra; accompanying recitation to align intention and effect.
As a practice mantra for disciplined inner work: before meditation or creative effort, ‘press out the best’—extract essence from experience and direct energy beyond mere acquisition.
savana from √su ‘press’ (Soma pressing; inwardly ‘expressing’ essence). adri ‘stone’ is the pressing implement; psychologically, the firm will/discipline that expresses the inner sap. √tṛ (tarute) ‘cross, pass over’ (PIE *terh₂ ‘cross over’, cf. Latin trans). arya denotes the one who strives upward by right law; paúṃsya ‘manly force’ is not brute masculinity but conquering capacity of the soul-force.
Tapas/discipline (adri as firm instrument), Crossing beyond (tṛ) limitation, True wealth (rāy) as fullness
Right harnessing of arvataḥ (impulsion) implies ṛta-guided dynamism.
The ārya finds true conquering strength—truth validated as mastery over lower movements.
Manifestation advances by extraction and offering of essence (soma) which empowers the gods/powers to open and conquer.
Integral yoga hermeneutic: sacrifice as inner process; soma as bliss-consciousness; victory as transformation.
Pressing = inner extraction; stone = disciplined will; steed = vital drive; riches = external attainment; victory = mastery of consciousness.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The Soma-pressing as the means to obtain ‘conquering manhood’ (abhibhūti paúṃsya). Mythically it is the preparation of Indra’s strength; inwardly it is the extraction of the soul’s essence to surpass even ‘great wealth’—all outer acquisition—by inner victory.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √tṛ ‘cross’ (tarute) reflects PIE *terh₂ (cf. Latin trans). The steed metaphor for controlled force is a shared IE poetic device; the imperative ritual instruction is a typical archaic hymnic-ritual register.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The rishi instructs the human agents to perform the pressing so the Devata (Indra/Soma power) may manifest as conquering force. The exchange is: disciplined action (pressing) yields inner force (paúṃsya) and the capacity to transcend lower aims.
‘Press out the best’: concentrate awareness, squeeze out scattered thoughts, and release a clear stream of delight-force into the heart and brow.
manipura (tapas/discipline) to ajna (illumined mastery)
3 rounds: inhale (gather), brief hold (press), exhale (release) — gentle kumbhaka if suitable; feel soma-flow on exhale.
Focused intensity leading to lucid calm and inner sweetness.
Use as a prelude to deep work: set a clear intention (Indra), apply disciplined effort (adri), keep energy ‘in hand’ (hastayataḥ), and offer the extracted essence to the highest aim rather than to desire for ‘riches’.
Triṣṭubh with imperative force; keep udātta prominence on śreṣṭham, sunotan, adriḥ, āryaḥ, abhibhūti (per accent tradition).
Imperatives should be clear but not shouted; let the second hemistich broaden on ‘maho rāye’ to contrast inner victory vs wealth.
śreṣṭham: retroflex ṣṭh cluster, savanam: short a vowels even, sunotan: dental n, not retroflex, adriḥ: short a, rolled r, abhibhūti: bhū long ū, pauṃsyam: nasalized auṃ, keep m marker, tarute: dental t, clear r
Focused, firm, ‘pressed’ tone—compact resonance.
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