Sukta 99
Sukta 9.99
Soma Pavamāna
يُمجِّد هذا النشيد السُّومي البافاماني سوما في فعل التطهير ذاته—يُعصر، ويجري، ويُرشَّح عبر الصوف، ويُهيَّأ شرابًا مُنشِّطًا لإندرا. ويصوِّر الشعراء الطقسَ بوصفه عمليةً كونية: شرابًا لامعًا مُكتسيًا بالإشراق، مُوجَّهًا كرسول، ومُقعَدًا في الأقداح ليمنح النصرَ والإلهامَ والقوةَ المستقيمةَ المنظَّمة.
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ हर्यताय धृष्णवे धनुस्तन्वन्ति पौंस्यम् । शुक्रां वयन्त्यसुराय निर्णिजं विपामग्रे महीयुवः ॥
للمحبوب الجسور يمدّون قوسَ القوّة الرجولية؛ وللقوّة السيّدة (asura) ينسجون ثوبًا لامعًا—في مقدّمة القول المُلهَم—أولئك الذين يعظّمونه.
Mantra 2
अध क्षपा परिष्कृतो वाजाँ अभि प्र गाहते । यदी विवस्वतो धियो हरिं हिन्वन्ति यातवे ॥
ثمّ، وقد تَطهَّر عبر الليالي، يَندفع قُدُماً نحو فيوضات القوّة؛ حين تُسيِّر أفكارُ فيفاسفاتِ الأشقرَ ليمضي في رحلته.
Mantra 3
तमस्य मर्जयामसि मदो य इन्द्रपातमः । यं गाव आसभिर्दधुः पुरा नूनं च सूरयः ॥
إيّاه نُطهِّر—ذلك النشوة المقدّسة (مَدَ) الأجدرَ بأن يشربها إندرا؛ الذي جعلته الأشعّةُ في أفواهها، قديماً والآن أيضاً، يا أهلَ الإشراق.
Mantra 4
तं गाथया पुराण्या पुनानमभ्यनूषत । उतो कृपन्त धीतयो देवानां नाम बिभ्रतीः ॥
إيّاه، وهو يتطهّر، أنشدوا له بترتيلةٍ عتيقة؛ وكذلك تتشكّل الإلهاماتُ، حاملةً أسماءَ الآلهة.
Mantra 5
तमुक्षमाणमव्यये वारे पुनन्ति धर्णसिम् । दूतं न पूर्वचित्तय आ शासते मनीषिणः ॥
هو—سوما المنسكب اندفاعًا—يطهّره الحكماء في المصفاة الصوفية غير الفانية؛ وحاملُ الطقس الثابتُ يكلّفونه ويوجّهونه—كأنه رسول—نحو الذِّكر القديم (الوعي الأوّل).
Mantra 6
स पुनानो मदिन्तमः सोमश्चमूषु सीदति । पशौ न रेत आदधत्पतिर्वचस्यते धियः ॥
ذلك السوما، إذ يُطهَّر وهو أشدُّه إسكارًا في البهجة، يستقرّ في الأقداح؛ وكبذرةٍ تُودَع في الكائن الحيّ يُوضَع في الداخل—سيّدُ الكلمة، يجعل الأفكار خصيبةً للنطق.
Mantra 7
स मृज्यते सुकर्मभिर्देवो देवेभ्यः सुतः । विदे यदासु संददिर्महीरपो वि गाहते ॥
يُنقّى بالأعمال القويمة: الإلهُ المعصورُ للآلهة؛ وحين يُراد أن يُعرَف، يتّحد في هذه المياه ويغوص عميقًا في الجداول الفسيحة العظيمة.
Mantra 8
सुत इन्दो पवित्र आ नृभिर्यतो वि नीयसे । इन्द्राय मत्सरिन्तमश्चमूष्वा नि षीदसि ॥
يا إندو المعصور، إلى المُصفّاة (pavitra) تُساق بقوى البشر الفاعلة؛ وأنتَ أشدُّ ما يوقظ النشوة المقدّسة، فتستقرّ في الأقداح لإندرا، لكي تشربَ قوّةُ السيادةِ المضيئة.
Inside Sukta 99
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with a vivid image of empowering preparation: Soma is armed with ‘manly power’ and clothed in a shining garment by those who magnify him (the poets/priests).
- Development
Attention shifts to the technical-sacred process—Soma pouring forth, being purified through the imperishable woolen filter, and being directed like a messenger toward primeval remembrance (pūrva-citti).
- Climax
Soma’s successful transformation into the most exhilarating draught culminates in his being made ready for Indra—ecstasy disciplined into strength for divine action.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with Soma installed in the bowls for Indra’s drinking, sealing the ritual’s purpose: purified radiance becomes shared power and victorious inspiration.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma is praised as Indu, the bright, exhilarating pressed juice that rushes forth, is strained through the pavitra (filter), and becomes a radiant offering fit for the gods—especially Indra. He is ‘clothed’ in shining splendor, guided by the wise, and installed in the cups as the drink of inspired power.
- Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and divine exhilaration: Soma renews strength, stimulates inspired speech (vip), and supports the gods’ victory and the world’s right functioning through the sacrificial order.
- Inner significancePurified consciousness: as Soma is clarified through the filter, so the mind and speech are refined—ecstasy becomes disciplined insight, and raw impulse is transformed into luminous, effective will.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī attribution varies (Pavamāna Soma seer tradition; often placed among Soma-seer lineages)Associated with the Soma Pavamāna corpus where the ‘seer’ voice is frequently collective—ritual poets describing Soma’s purification as both liturgy and revelation.
Famous verses
आ हर्यताय धृष्णवे धनुस्तन्वन्ति पौंस्यम् । शुक्रां वयन्त्यसुराय निर्णिजं विपामग्रे महीयुवः ॥तमुक्षमाणमव्यये वारे पुनन्ति धर्णसिम् । दूतं न पूर्वचित्तय आ शासते मनीषिणः ॥सुत इन्दो पवित्र आ नृभिर्यतो वि नीयसे । इन्द्राय मत्सरिन्तमश्चमूष्वा नि षीदसि ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifying (pavamāna)
- Radiant/bright (śukra, indu)
- Invigorating and ecstatic (matsarin)
- Ritually ‘messenger-like’ carrier of intention
- Indra’s beloved draught
- Linked with inspired speech (vip) and poetic vision
Also by this seer
- Related Pavamāna hymns in Mandala 9 attributed across Anukramaṇī traditions to Soma-seer families (varies by recension and listing).
The rite, step by step
- Soma is pressed (suta) and made to flow.
- The juice is led into the pavitra (filter) and strained through the wool (vāra).
- The purified Soma is gathered and guided/‘commissioned’ by the ritual experts (manīṣiṇaḥ).
- Soma is ‘seated’ in the bowls (camū) as the offering portion.
- Libations are presented to the deities, with emphasis on Indra receiving the invigorating drink.
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (primary)
- Libations into the offering vessels/bowls (camū)
- Accompanying praises (stotra/śastra) as the verbal offering
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma while he is being purified—pressed, strained through the filter, made radiant, and prepared as the sacred drink offered especially to Indra.
In the Soma ritual the juice is strained through a woolen filter (vāra/pavitra). The hymn treats this as both a physical purification and a symbol of refining consciousness and speech.
The poets describe purified Soma as carrying the sacrificer’s intention to the gods—directed by the wise like a messenger—so the offering reaches its divine goal and awakens ancient, foundational awareness.
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