Rig Veda 9.71.5: Mandala 9, Sukta 71, Mantra 5
Sukta 9.71
- Rishi
- Soma-Pavamāna tradition
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Likely Jagatī
- Rasa
- Vira (heroism) and Adbhuta (wonder)
समी रथं न भुरिजोरहेषत दश स्वसारो अदितेरुपस्थ आ । जिगादुप ज्रयति गोरपीच्यं पदं यदस्य मतुथा अजीजनन् ॥
samī́ rathaṁ ná bhuríjor aheṣata dáśa svásāro áditer upástha ā́ | jigā́dupá jrayati górapī́cyaṁ padáṁ yád asya matúthā́ ajī́janan ||
مل کر وہ اسے کثرت طاقت کے رتھ کی طرح آگے بڑھاتے ہیں، دس بہنیں ادتی کی گود میں۔ وہ آتا ہے اور شعاع کی چھپی ہوئی نشست کی طرف دباتا ہے؛ کیونکہ دانا بنانے والوں نے اس کے لیے وہ خفیہ قدم جنم دیا ہے۔
Word by Word
- समी
- together, in unisonIndeclinableअव्यय (उपसर्ग/निपात) — ‘सह/सम्यक्/एकत्र’Root सम् (उपसर्ग) + इ (अव्यय-रूप) / सम्यक्-अर्थे
- रथम्
- chariotNounपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
- न
- like, asIndeclinableउपमानार्थक अव्ययRoot न (निपात)
- भुरिजोः
- of the bhurij (a swift/skillful one; epithet)Nounपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot भुरिज् (प्रातिपदिक; ‘भुरिज्’ = कुशल/वेगवान्/प्रेरक-प्रकारः; RV-विशेष)
- अहेषत
- neighed/soundedVerbलुङ् (अोरिस्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (क्रिया)Root हिष्/हेष् (धातु; ‘हेष्’ = हेषते ‘to neigh/sound’; Vedic aorist)
- दश
- tenIndeclinableसंख्यावाचक (अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः)Role विशेषण (संख्या)Root दशन् (संख्या)
- स्वसारः
- sistersNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचनRole कर्तृRoot स्वसृ (प्रातिपदिक)
- अदितेः
- of AditiNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot अदिति (प्रातिपदिक)
- उपस्थे
- in the lap/seatNounपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचनRole अधिकरणRoot उपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
- आ
- unto, towardsIndeclinableअव्यय; ‘आ’ = ‘towards, unto, in’ (often with motion/approach)Root आ (उपसर्ग/निपात)
- जिगात्
- has gone/has comeVerbलिट् (परिपूर्ण/परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (Vedic: ‘has gone/has come’)Role कर्तृ (क्रिया)Root गम् (धातु; reduplicated perfect/aorist-like Vedic form)
- उप
- near, up toIndeclinableअव्यय; उपसर्गः ‘near, towards’Root उप (उपसर्ग)
- ज्रयति
- hastens/presses onVerbलट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचनRole कर्तृ (क्रिया)Root ज्रि/ज्रय् (धातु; Vedic ‘to hasten/press on/urge’)
- गोर्
- of the cow (or: of the ray/cow-symbol)Nounस्त्री/पुं (गो-शब्दः), षष्ठी, एकवचन (पदपाठे ‘गोर्’)Role सम्बन्धRoot गो (प्रातिपदिक)
- अपिच्यम्
- hidden, secretAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पदं विशेषयति)Role कर्म (विशेषण-रूपेण)Root अपिच्य (प्रातिपदिक; ‘अपिच्य’ = अन्तः/गूढ/पश्चात्-स्थित; RV-विशेष)
- पदम्
- step, track, placeNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनRole कर्मRoot पद (प्रातिपदिक)
- यत्
- whichPronounनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (पदम् इति अन्वयः)Role कर्म (सम्बन्ध-निर्देशक)Root यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- अस्य
- of him/itsPronounपुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचनRole सम्बन्धRoot इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
- मतुथाः
- duly, in due measure/skillfullyIndeclinableअव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण)Root मतुथा (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक; RV-विशेष, ‘according to measure/skillfully/with thought’)
- अजीजनन्
- they generated/producedVerbलङ् (इम्परफेक्ट), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचनRole कर्तृ (क्रिया)Root जन्/जनि (धातु; causative/iterative sense ‘to beget/produce’; Vedic imperfect)
Sandhi Notes
- समी रथं न भुरिजोः अहेषत (पदच्छेदः)
- ‘अदितेरुपस्थ’ = अदितेः + उपस्थे (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध + सप्तमी-अधिकरण; संधौ ‘ः उ’ → ‘रु’)
- ‘जिगादुप’ = जिगात् + उप (त् + उ → द् + उ/उप; संहितायां ‘त्’ परे घोषे ‘द्’)
- ‘गोरपीच्यं’ = गोः + अपिच्यम् (ः + अ → र् + अ; पदपाठे ‘गोर् अपिच्यम्’)
The meaning
Outer meaning
The ten sisters, seated in Aditi’s lap, urge Soma forward like a strong chariot; he advances to the hidden seat/step of the Cow (ray), which the wise makers have brought to birth for him.
Inner meaning
The ‘ten sisters’ are the ten fingers/energies of the inner pressing and also the complete set of powers that prepare the delight (Soma) for ascent. In the infinite consciousness (Aditi) they impel the soul’s bliss-force forward as a chariot of abundant capacity. Soma presses on toward the secret station of the Rays of Knowledge (goḥ apīcyam padam): the concealed plane where illumination is stored. The ‘wise fashioners’ are the inner faculties of discrimination and inspired thought (kavi, vipra, matu-thāḥ) that shape the path and give Soma his ‘secret step’—a decisive movement of consciousness from surface mind to the hidden luminous foundation.
Universal truth
Awakening is not accidental: the integral powers of our nature, when gathered in the Infinite, can propel the delight of being toward its concealed source in knowledge. True progress comes by a ‘secret step’—an inner shift made possible by disciplined intelligence and inspired will.
Themes
Soma-ritual, Hidden light/cows motif, Aditi infinity, Powers of action (ten sisters)
The seer
- Rishi
- Soma-Pavamāna tradition (Book 9)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.70, Rig Veda 9.72, Rig Veda 9.96, Rig Veda 9.97
Family tradition
Pavamāna Soma hymns transmitted through multiple seer-families; the ‘rishi’ is the inspired consciousness witnessing Soma’s purification and ascent.
Significance
Book 9 presents Soma as the archetype of purified Ananda moving through the filters of mind and life toward the luminous seat of Truth; the seer-voice is the inner sacrificer describing repeatable stages of transformation.
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Epithets
- Pavamāna (self-purifying), Indu (drop of delight), Madhu (honeyed bliss), Pavitra (the purified through the filter)
- Related deities
- Agni, Indra, Aditi, Uṣas, Sūrya
Cosmic role
The flowing delight that, when purified, becomes a sustaining force for gods (higher powers) and opens the hidden light.
Inner power
Ananda that clarifies the mind, energizes aspiration, and effects the ‘secret step’ into concealed knowledge.
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification (Pavamāna stotra/śastra context)
समी॒ रथं॒ न भु॒रिजो॑रहेषत॒ दश॒ स्वसा॑रो॒ अदि॑तेरु॒पस्थ॒ आ । जिगा॒दुप॑ ज्रयति॒ गोर॑पी॒च्यं॑ प॒दं यद॑स्य म॒तुथा॒ अजी॑जनन् ॥
सम् । ई॒म् इति॑ । रथ॑म् । न । भु॒रिजोः॑ । अ॒हे॒ष॒त॒ । दश॑ । स्वसा॑रः । अदि॑तेः । उ॒पऽस्थे॑ । आ । जिगा॑त् । उप॑ । ज्र॒य॒ति॒ । गोः । अ॒पी॒च्य॑म् । प॒दम् । यत् । अ॒स्य॒ । म॒तुथाः॑ । अजी॑जनन् ॥
sam | īm iti | ratham | na | bhurijoḥ | aheṣata | daśa | svasāraḥ | aditeḥ | upa-sthe | ā | jigāt | upa | jrayati | goḥ | apīcyam | padam | yat | asya | matuthāḥ | ajījanan
48
4 pādas × 12 syllables (typical Jagatī cadence)
Long, forward-driving, ‘processional’ rhythm suited to describing movement/advance.
Builds a sense of propulsion and coordinated effort, supporting visualization of ascent toward a hidden luminous station.
- दश स्वसारः (daśa svasāraḥ)
- Literal: ten sisters. Symbolic: ten fingers/powers of preparation; coordinated faculties that press and purify consciousness
- अदितेः उपस्थ (aditer upastha)
- Literal: lap of Aditi. Symbolic: infinite, undivided consciousness holding and nurturing the work
- रथं न भुरिजोः (rathaṃ na bhurijoḥ)
- Literal: like a chariot of abundant strength. Symbolic: organized dynamic movement of consciousness; a vehicle of ascent
- गोः अपीच्यं पदम् (gor apīcyaṃ padam)
- Literal: hidden step/seat of the cow. Symbolic: secret station of the Rays (illumination/knowledge) concealed in the subconscient
- मतुथाः (matuthāḥ)
- Literal: wise/skillful fashioners (by thought). Symbolic: inner builders—discerning intelligence and inspired ideation shaping the path
Pressing action assisted by ‘ten sisters’ (fingers); ritual accompaniment of Soma extraction and forward driving into vessels.
During Soma-yajña sequences while Soma is filtered and offered
Pressing, straining through wool/grass, collecting and offering; accompanying chants to ‘impel’ Soma
Use as a meditation-chant for coordinated inner effort: gather scattered faculties, then ‘press forward’ toward the concealed light-source within.
Aditi (a-diti ‘undivided/unbound’) marks the infinite field; upástha ‘lap’ indicates a supporting matrix. goḥ apīcyaṁ padam: go (ray/illumination) + apīcya (hidden/backward, secret) + pada (step/seat) evokes the RV motif of the ‘hidden cows/hidden light’. daśa svasāraḥ: in Soma context often the ten fingers; psychologically, coordinated powers enabling extraction of essence.
Aditi as infinity, Hidden seat of light (goḥ apīcyaṁ padam), Birth/manifestation of the path (ajījanan)
The ‘secret step’ is a rita-movement: a lawful transition from mixed consciousness to the ordered luminous foundation.
Hidden ‘padam’ implies Satya concealed behind appearances, recoverable by inner craftsmanship (mati).
Birth of a new step/plane in the seeker—illumination is ‘brought to birth’ by conscious formation.
Proto-Vedantic / Integral (Aurobindo’s psychological reading of Soma as Ananda and Go as knowledge).
The chariot is the organized sadhana; Aditi is infinite awareness; the hidden ‘cow-seat’ is the subconscient store of light waiting to be uncovered.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The ‘hidden step of the Cow’ mythologem: the secret seat of light/knowledge (goḥ apīcyaṁ padam) is approached and made accessible. The ten sisters drive Soma like a chariot—cooperative powers enabling the recovery/arrival at the concealed luminous station.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- Aditi as a privative formation (a- + diti) reflects an archaic Indo-European strategy of negation to express metaphysical absolutes (‘unbounded’). pada ‘step’ is a stable IE lexeme (PIE *péd-; cf. Latin pēs, English foot), used poetically for ‘station/path’ across IE traditions.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The r̥ṣi frames Soma’s journey as supported by coordinated inner powers (ten sisters) within the infinity of Aditi; Soma then reaches the secret station of light that the wise builders have ‘generated’. The devotee’s faculties and Soma’s divine impetus converge to uncover hidden knowledge.
Coordinating faculties to propel purified delight toward the concealed source of insight.
Anahata–Ajna axis (Ananda rising toward illumined mind)
Gentle ujjayi or sama-vṛtti (equal breath) to create steady forward rhythm.
Collected, aspiring, forward-moving (ekāgratā with uplift).
Before chanting, gather attention in the heart; on each pāda feel the ‘chariot’ move; after chanting, pause in silence and sense a ‘hidden step’ opening—an inner shift toward quiet luminous knowing.
Use standard Rigvedic three-tone contour (udātta/anudātta/svarita) as per śākhā tradition; exact accents require a pada-svara text.
Lean on udātta syllables for lift; keep anudātta low and steady; let svarita glide downward—maintain forward Jagatī flow across caesuras.
(sam): clear final ‘m’ with nasal closure, (bhurijoḥ): aspirate ‘bh’, light ‘ri’, visarga-like ‘ḥ’ at end, (apīcyam): long ‘ī’, ‘cy’ as palatal cluster, (matuthāḥ): dental ‘t’, clear ‘thāḥ’ with breathy aspiration
Bright, steady, slightly pressing tone (as if ‘urging forward’).
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