Rig Veda 9.84.4: Mandala 9, Sukta 84, Mantra 4
Sukta 9.84
- Rishi
- Ascribed in RV 9 to Pavāmāna seers
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna
- Chandas
- Likely Jagatī or Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Adbhuta (wonder) and Shanta (peace)
एष स्य सोमः पवते सहस्रजिद्धिन्वानो वाचमिषिरामुषर्बुधम् । इन्दुः समुद्रमुदियर्ति वायुभिरेन्द्रस्य हार्दि कलशेषु सीदति ॥
eṣá syá sómaḥ pavate sahasrajíd hinvānáḥ vā́cam iṣirá̄m uṣárbudhám | índuḥ samudrám úd iyarti vāyúbhiḥ ā́ índrasya hā́rdi kalaśéṣu sīdati ||
Chính Soma này được lọc thanh mà chảy—kẻ thắng ngàn lần; thúc đẩy lời nói được linh hứng, sắc bén và đánh thức bình minh. Indu rực sáng cùng các luồng gió nâng dậy đại dương, rồi an tọa trong những chén (kalaśa) nơi trái tim của Indra.
Word by Word
- एषः
- this (one)Pronounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) → एष
- स्यः
- indeed/this hereParticle/Pronounनिपात/प्रयोग-विशेषः (deictic/emphatic) अव्ययवत्Root स्य (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक; एषः स्यः = ‘this indeed/this here’)
- सोमः
- SomaNounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
- पवते
- flows/purifies itselfVerbलट् (वर्तमान), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √पू (पवते) ‘to purify, to flow’
- सहस्रजित्
- winning a thousand (prizes)Adjective (epithet)पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (सोमस्य विशेषणम्)Root सहस्र + √जि (जित्) (कृदन्त-समास)
- हि
- for/indeedIndeclinableनिपातःRoot हि (निपात)
- इन्वानः
- impelling/urging onParticipleवर्तमान कृदन्तः, आत्मनेपद-भावः, पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (सोमः)Role KartāRoot √इ (इन्व्/इन्) ‘to set in motion, impel’ (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
- वाचम्
- speechNounस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
- इषिराम्
- swift/impetuousAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (वाचम् विशेषयति)Root इषिर (प्रातिपदिक; ‘swift/strong/refreshing’)
- उषर्बुधम्
- awakening at dawnAdjectiveस्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् (वाचम् विशेषयति)Root उषर् + बुध (समास; ‘dawn-awakening/rousing at dawn’)
- इन्दुः
- the drop (Soma)Nounपुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्Role KartāRoot इन्दु (प्रातिपदिक)
- समुद्रम्
- the sea/oceanNounपुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, एकवचनम्Role KarmaRoot समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- उदियर्ति
- raises/sets in motionVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root उद् + √यृ/√इ (यर्ति) ‘to raise, set in motion, send up’
- वायुभिः
- with the windsNounपुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचनम्Role KaraṇaRoot वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
- इन्द्रस्य
- of IndraNounपुंलिङ्गः, षष्ठी, एकवचनम्Root इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
- हार्दि
- in the heartNoun (locative form used adverbially)नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot हृद् → हार्द (प्रातिपदिक; ‘in/at the heart’)
- कलशेषु
- in the jarsNounपुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचनम्Role AdhikaraṇaRoot कलश (प्रातिपदिक)
- सीदति
- sits/settlesVerbलट् (वर्तमान), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्Root √सद् ‘to sit, settle, sink down’
Sandhi Notes
- Sandhi resolved: सोम॑: → सोमः
- सहस्र॒जिद्धि॑न्वा॒नो → सहस्रजित् + हि + इन्वानः (final -t before हि; Vedic orthography often writes -dhi-)
- वाच॑मिषि॒रामु॑ष॒र्बुध॑म् → वाचम् + इषिराम् + उषर्बुधम्
- समु॒द्रमुदि॑यर्ति → समुद्रम् + उदियर्ति
- वा॒युभि॒रेन्द्र॑स्य → वायुभिः + इन्द्रस्य
- हार्दि॑ क॒लशे॑षु → हार्दि + कलशेषु
The meaning
Outer meaning
Soma, in the act of purification, rushes on as a “thousand-winner,” impelling inspired speech that is sharp and awakening like dawn. The bright drop lifts the ocean with the winds and settles in the cups in Indra’s heart.
Inner meaning
The Bliss-force (Soma) when purified in the inner sacrifice becomes a conquering power that multiplies realizations (“thousand-winner”). It drives the mantric word (vāc) that is keen (iṣirā) and awakens the dawn of consciousness (uṣar-budham). As Indu, the luminous essence, it heaves up the “ocean” of being—stirring the subconscient and the vast vital-mental mass—by the life-breaths (vāyubhiḥ), then becomes stable as a settled delight in the heart-center of the illumined Mind (Indra).
Universal truth
When delight is clarified by discipline and sincerity, it energizes truthful speech and awakens new light; it can uplift the depths of the psyche and finally become a steady joy seated in the heart of awakened intelligence.
Themes
Soma-ritual, mantra and inspired speech, inner enthronement, awakening, plenitude-victory
The seer
- Rishi
- Ascribed to the Soma-Pavamāna seers of Mandala 9 (traditionally from the Kaṇva/Angiras-associated circles; specific rishi for 9.84.4 is not securely identified in common indices)
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 9.84 (whole sūkta, Soma Pavamāna), Rig Veda 9.83–9.86 (adjacent Pavamāna cycles)
Family tradition
Soma Pavamāna hymns are largely liturgical-visionary compositions of seer-families associated with the Soma rite; they encode inner yoga of purification and ascent.
Significance
The ‘unknown’ attribution reflects a collective seer-tradition: repeated experiential verification that purified Ananda awakens illumined speech and settles as stable delight in the heart of the awakened Mind (Indra).
The deity
- Devata
- Soma Pavamāna (received by Indra)
- Epithets
- pavamāna (self-purifying), indu (luminous drop), sahasrajit (thousand-conqueror), uṣarbudha (dawn-awakener)
- Related deities
- Indra, Vāyu, Uṣas, Agni
Cosmic role
Purifier and uplifter of consciousness; mediator between the depths (‘ocean’) and the supramental light; delight that empowers the gods.
Inner power
Ananda that clarifies, inspires truth-speech, stirs and raises the subconscient mass, and establishes joy in the heart of illumined intelligence (Indra).
In ritual
Where it is used
Soma pressing and purification (Pavamāna) with offering to Indra
ए॒ष स्य सोम॑: पवते सहस्र॒जिद्धि॑न्वा॒नो वाच॑मिषि॒रामु॑ष॒र्बुध॑म् । इन्दु॑: समु॒द्रमुदि॑यर्ति वा॒युभि॒रेन्द्र॑स्य॒ हार्दि॑ क॒लशे॑षु सीदति ॥
ए॒षः । स्यः । सोमः॑ । प॒व॒ते॒ । स॒ह॒स्र॒ऽजित् । हि॒न्वा॒नः । वाच॑म् । इ॒षि॒राम् । उ॒षः॒ऽबुध॑म् । इन्दुः॑ । स॒मु॒द्रम् । उत् । इ॒य॒र्ति॒ । वा॒युऽभिः॑ । आ । इन्द्र॑स्य । हार्दि॑ । क॒लशे॑षु । सी॒द॒ति॒ ॥
eṣaḥ | syaḥ | somaḥ | pavate | sahasra-jit | hinvānaḥ | vācam | iṣirām | uṣaḥ-budham | induḥ | samudram | ut | iyarti | vāyu-bhiḥ | ā | indrasya | hārdi | kalaśeṣu | sīdati
Triṣṭubh (probable for RV 9.84; many verses in this hymn-group are Triṣṭubh)
44
4 pādas × ~11 syllables
Driving, ascending cadence suited to ‘flow’ and ‘impulsion’ imagery
Builds a sense of uplift and inner momentum; supports a felt ‘rising’ of energy from depth to heart-settling calm.
- सोम (soma)
- Literal: pressed/expressed juice, Soma. Symbolic: divine Ananda (bliss) distilled through inner offering
- पवते (pavate)
- Literal: is purified/flows. Symbolic: consciousness being clarified, refined, made fit for higher reception
- सहस्रजित् (sahasrajit)
- Literal: winner of a thousand. Symbolic: power that conquers innumerable resistances/opens many realizations
- वाचम् (vācām)
- Literal: speech. Symbolic: mantric inspiration; truth-word expressing illumined perception
- इषिराम् (iṣirām)
- Literal: swift, keen, impetuous. Symbolic: penetrating discernment; sharp inspired utterance
- उषर्बुधम् (uṣarbudham)
- Literal: dawn-awakening. Symbolic: awakener of illumination; the coming of inner dawn
- इन्दुः (induḥ)
- Literal: bright drop. Symbolic: luminous essence of bliss-consciousness
- समुद्रम् (samudram)
- Literal: ocean. Symbolic: vast subconscient/vital sea; the infinite being below and around waking mind
- वायुभिः (vāyubhiḥ)
- Literal: with winds. Symbolic: with prāṇic currents, life-breaths that move and uplift
- इन्द्रस्य हार्दि (indrasya hārdi)
- Literal: in Indra’s heart. Symbolic: in the heart of illumined mind; seat where light and joy unite
- कलशेषु (kalaśeṣu)
- Literal: in cups/vessels. Symbolic: purified receptacles—mind/heart formations able to hold Ananda
Soma purification and offering into cups; emphasizes mantra (vā́c) energized by Soma and the offering’s ‘seating’ in Indra—standard Soma-yajña movement from pressing to cup to divine enjoyment.
During Soma-yajña sequences: pressing (savana), filtering, and libation stages
Chanted while Soma is purified through the filter and poured into vessels; invocation of inspired speech and Indra’s reception
Use as a meditation-chant to refine emotional energy into clear joy that awakens insight and settles in the heart.
sahasra-jit: not merely numeric; sahasra signals ‘innumerable plenitude’—Soma conquers abundance of forces/obstacles. hinv- (√hi) ‘impel’ links Soma to the forward-driving of vā́c (inspired speech), aligning with Vedic idea that clarified delight supports mantra-vision. samudra ‘ocean’ often denotes the vast causal plenitude; úd iyarti (√īr) ‘heaves up’ suggests raising submerged powers into manifestation via vāyu (life-currents). sīdati (√sad) marks the ‘enthronement’ of Soma in Indra’s heart—psychologically, delight settles in the luminous mind-force.
inspired speech (vā́c) as revelation, raising of submerged consciousness (ud-īr), indwelling of divine force in the heart (hārdi)
Soma’s ordered flow through purification images the psyche aligning to Ṛta.
Inspired vāc becomes effective when driven by purified Ananda.
Raising the ‘ocean’ suggests the emergence of higher consciousness from the depths; a continual re-creation through ascent.
Proto-Vedāntic/Integral (Aurobindonian) reading: ascent from subconscient to illumined mind and heart-settled Ananda.
dawn (uṣas-bodha motif)
Winds = prāṇa currents; ocean = subconscient/vital-mental vast; dawn = first illumination; cups = refined inner receptacles holding stable joy.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- Soma as the power that awakens inspired speech and stirs the cosmic ocean, then seats itself in Indra’s heart-cups. Mythic action: the pressed Soma becomes an elevating surge of waters and a stimulant of divine might; inner action: clarified delight raises the depths and stabilizes as effective power in the illumined heart.
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- √sad ‘sit’ (sīdati) continues PIE *sed- ‘sit’ (Lat. sedēre, Eng. sit via Germanic *sitjaną from same PIE set). hṛd/heart (hā́rdi) corresponds to PIE *ḱḗr(d)- ‘heart’ (Gk. kardia, Lat. cor). The enthronement metaphor (‘sit in the heart’) is an inherited Indo-European poetic idiom for stabilization of power.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The seer presents Soma as the enabler of revelation (vā́c) and as the guest who ‘takes seat’ in Indra. The reciprocity is functional: the human gives pressed Soma; Soma returns as awakened speech and as an inner settling of victorious force—making the sacrificer a fit vessel for Indra’s action.
Let refined delight propel truthful speech and awaken inner dawn; then rest the joy in the heart.
Anāhata (heart) with support from Viśuddha (truth-speech).
Gentle ujjāyī or nāḍī-śodhana before chanting; during chanting feel ‘vāyu’ lifting from navel to heart.
From energized clarity to settled luminous ease.
Begin with 3 slow repetitions sensing a cool, bright stream descending through the head and rising from the depths; end in silent heart-rest (2–5 minutes).
Use Vedic svara as per Śākala tradition: observe udatta peaks on key invocatory words (sómaḥ, índuḥ, índrasya); svarita falls after udatta; anudatta as low baseline (exact accenting requires pada-svara notation from a marked text).
Lean the voice slightly upward on udatta syllables; keep anudatta steady and low; let svarita glide down without breaking flow.
eṣa ‘e-ṣa’ with clear retroflex ṣ, sahasrajit: ‘-jit’ crisp, not ‘ji-ta’, uṣarbudham: keep ṣ (retroflex) and budham (bu-dham) distinct, samudram: ‘sa-mu-dram’ with light ‘dr’ cluster, kalaśeṣu: ‘ka-la-śe-ṣu’ with palatal ś
Clear, flowing, slightly bright; end with a gentle settling tone on sīdati.
9
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.
