Gems from the Vedas

Earning God’s favor

This verse addresses the Divine as the most powerful one (Indra) and understanding that we can become prabhoovaso, dwelling in God-consciousness with body, mind, and soul. This mantra answers the question, “How does one become a prabhoovaso—one who dwells constantly in God-consciousness?” The verse outlines a formula where a specific inner state, cultivated over time, naturally leads to the satisfaction and divine alignment that define a true spiritual master.

1. The Goal: Attaining the State of Prabhuvaso

The verse culminates in the ideal of the Prabhuvaso, a realized person who is enjoying the bliss of awareness and consciousness of God’s energy and wisdom within and all around him.

Prabhoo (प्रभु): “Mighty,” “a master.” This person has achieved self-mastery. They are not tossed about by circumstances but are a powerful, stable center of consciousness.

Vaso (वसो): “Dwelling in goodness/light.” This mastery is not for selfish power, but results in a being who is a conduit for goodness, benevolence, and spiritual wealth.

A Prabhuvaso is therefore a self-realized individual whose life is a beacon of divine consciousness—a stable, powerful force for good in the world. The rest of the verse describes how to become this.

2. The Foundation: A Tranquil Relationship with the Past (somaaḥ sutaaso)

The first qualification is a transformed relationship with one’s past.

Sutaaso (सुतासो): These are our “accumulated experiences”—everything we have done, thought, and felt up to this moment. It is the raw data of our lives.

Somaaḥ (सोमाः): This is a state of bliss and being tranquil, peaceful, or friendly.

This means the aspirant is not one who is without a past, but one who has processed their life’s experiences and rendered them peaceful. They have distilled wisdom from their sutaaso, letting go of turmoil, resentment, and trauma. Their past is no longer a source of agitation but has been transformed into a foundation of tranquility (somaaḥ). This inner peace regarding what has been is the essential starting point.

The Path: A Continuous State of Serenity (ye cha sotvaaḥ)

The verse immediately adds ye cha sotvaaḥ, which you identify as the continuation of this quality into the present and future. This is crucial. The tranquility cannot be a one-time event; it must become an enduring state of being.

This points to a life of constant mindfulness and practice. The individual actively maintains this peaceful (soma) quality as they navigate new experiences. They do not allow the challenges of the present or anxieties about the future to disrupt the inner serenity they have cultivated from their past. They live in a state of continuous peaceful consciousness.

4. The Result: The Emergence of Inner Satisfaction (teṣhaaṃ matsva)

The final line describes the outcome – Teṣhaaṃ (“of them” or “those who”) i.e., in those who have achieved this state, arises matsva (“deep blissfulness, deep contentment/satisfaction” or “divine favor”).

In this framework, matsva is not a favor granted by an external being, but the natural, emergent state that arises from within. It is the profound contentment and bliss that is the fruit of a peaceful past and a serene present. It is the favor one earns from becoming self-aware and gravitating to their own Highest Self. This inner joy is the unmistakable sign that one is becoming, or has become, a prabhuvaso.

In essence, the verse beautifully states that we earn God’s favor (bliss, enlightenment, joy) by energizing our highest Self-awareness. When one’s past experiences are rendered peaceful and this peace is maintained continuously, the result is the profound satisfaction that is the very nature of a prabhuvaso—a master who dwells in the constant light of God-consciousness.