Rig Veda Sukta 13
Mandala 9Sukta 139 Mantras

Sukta 13

Sukta 9.13

Chandas

Likely Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-class line length; requires syllable count verification.

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist den sich selbst läuternden Soma, der in „tausend Strömen“ durch das wollene Sieb dahinstürzt und so den Göttern würdig wird. Besonders wird seine geklärte Essenz als bereitetes Opfertrankopfer für Vāyu und Indra dargestellt; erbeten wird, dass die strömenden Indu-Kräfte reichen Wohlstand, heldische Kraft und die Niederwerfung feindlicher Mächte bringen. Der Hymnus gipfelt darin, dass Soma sich im „Schoß des Ṛta“ niederlässt und Reinheit, rechte Ordnung und lichtvolle Schau begründet.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.13

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (with explicit linkage to Vāyu and Indra as recipients)

    Soma is the pressed and flowing sacred drink, here celebrated specifically as pavamāna, “self-purifying”, as it streams through the sheep’s-wool filter (avi) in many currents and becomes the refined oblation.

Mantras

Mantra 1

सोमः पुनानो अर्षति सहस्रधारो अत्यविः । वायोरिन्द्रस्य निष्कृतम् ॥

Soma, sich läuternd, strömt in tausend Strömen, über das wollene Sieb hinaus; er geht zum bereiteten Sitz, zum Opferraum Vāyus und Indras in uns.

Mantra 2

पवमानमवस्यवो विप्रमभि प्र गायत । सुष्वाणं देववीतये ॥

O ihr nach der Gabe Verlangenden, singt hin zum sich läuternden Soma, dem Seherischen; ausgepresst kommt er zur göttlichen Aufnahme, damit die Götter in uns eintreten und teilhaben.

Mantra 3

पवन्ते वाजसातये सोमाः सहस्रपाजसः । गृणाना देववीतये ॥

Es läutern sich die Soma-Ströme zum Gewinn der Fülle an Kraft; tausendfach an Energie fließen sie, besungen, zur göttlichen Aufnahme.

Mantra 4

उत नो वाजसातये पवस्व बृहतीरिषः । द्युमदिन्दो सुवीर्यम् ॥

Und auch für uns, zum Gewinn der Fülle, läutere dich zu weiten Antrieben der Kraft; o Indu, bring die leuchtende Macht und die edle Heldenstärke.

Mantra 5

ते नः सहस्रिणं रयिं पवन्तामा सुवीर्यम् । सुवाना देवास इन्दवः ॥

Mögen diese Indu — göttlich in ihrem Wirken, wohlgesprochen — uns tausendfachen Reichtum läutern und auch edle Heldenkraft (suvīrya) in uns bringen.

Mantra 6

अत्या हियाना न हेतृभिरसृग्रं वाजसातये । वि वारमव्यमाशवः ॥

Wie schnelle Rosse, voranstürmend, nicht von Stacheln getrieben, sind sie ausgeflossen zum Gewinn der Fülle; die Eilenden haben das wollene Sieb weit ausgebreitet und den Weg der geklärten Süße geöffnet.

Mantra 7

वाश्रा अर्षन्तीन्दवोऽभि वत्सं न धेनवः । दधन्विरे गभस्त्योः ॥

Die lichten Soma-Tropfen strömen, o Indu, wie muhende Kühe zum Kalb; sie setzen sich fest und tragen sich in den beiden Händen, finden festen Halt im Griff des Opfers und des Suchenden.

Mantra 8

जुष्ट इन्द्राय मत्सरः पवमान कनिक्रदत् । विश्वा अप द्विषो जहि ॥

Indra wohlgefällig, ruft der erregende Soma — o Pavamāna — in seiner Trunkenheit laut; schlage alle Feindschaften, alle feindlichen Regungen hinweg, die dem Wachsen des Lichtes in uns widerstehen.

Mantra 9

अपघ्नन्तो अराव्णः पवमानाः स्वर्दृशः । योनावृतस्य सीदत ॥

Sich läuternd, die feindlichen und krummen Mächte niederschlagend, setzen sich die Soma-Ströme, die die Sonnenwelt (Svar) schauen, in den Schoß des Ṛta, der Wahrheitsordnung.

Inside Sukta 13

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma begins as an impetuous, thousand-streamed current, purifying himself as he rushes beyond the woolen filter toward the prepared divine seat.

  2. Development

    The hymn shifts from vivid ritual imagery (flowing, straining, preparation) to the boon-request: may the purified Indu-powers bring abundant wealth and noble heroic strength.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s purified force becomes openly militant and luminous—he smites hostile/crooked powers and attains ‘sun-seeing’ clarity.

  4. Where it settles

    The currents finally ‘take their seat in the womb of Ṛta,’ closing on establishment in truth-order and the secure fruition of purification.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaThe hymn depicts Soma as luminous, forceful, and truth-seated, driving away crooked/hostile powers and taking his place in the realm of Ṛta.
  • Cosmic functionSoma mediates between earth and heaven: extracted from the plant, clarified through ritual order, and offered so that the gods—especially Vāyu (breath/wind) and Indra (victorious power)—are strengthened to uphold cosmic stability and victory.
  • Inner significancePsychologically, Soma Pavamāna signifies the mind-life (prāṇa and thought) being clarified: impulses are strained of turbulence, energy becomes lucid, and the purified current settles into truth (ṛta), enabling ‘sun-seeing’ (svardṛś) consciousness.

The seer

  • Anukramaṇī attribution requiredThis sukta’s seer is not identifiable from the supplied data; in Mandala 9 many hymns are attributed to Soma-pavamāna seers from multiple families, and the precise r̥ṣi must be verified from the Sarvānukramaṇī for RV 9.13.1.

Famous verses

sahasradhāro atyaviḥ
Verse 9.13.1Sets the core Pavamāna image: Soma self-purifying in thousand currents, passing the woolen strainer, and becoming the prepared offering-space for Vāyu and Indra.Read verse 9.13.1 →
sahasriṇaṃ rayim
Verse 9.13.5Central benediction: the ‘Indu’ powers are asked to purify for the sacrificer a thousandfold plenitude (rayi) and to bring suvīrya—noble, victorious vigor.Read verse 9.13.5 →
yonau ṛtasya
Verse 9.13.9Doctrinal culmination: purified Soma-currents that ‘behold the sun-world’ destroy hostile forces and settle in the ‘womb of Ṛta,’ linking ritual purification to cosmic truth-order.Read verse 9.13.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Self-purifying (pavamāna)
  • Thousand-streamed abundance (sahasradhāra)
  • Passes beyond the woolen filter (atyaviḥ)
  • Prepared oblation-seat for Vāyu and Indra (vāyor indrasya niṣkṛtam)
  • Bestower of wealth and heroic power (rayi, suvīrya)
  • Destroyer of hostile/crooked forces (apaghnan arāvṇaḥ)
  • Truth-seated, Ṛta-womb abiding (yonau ṛtasya)
  • Luminous, ‘sun-world seeing’ (svardṛśaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Attribution cannot be responsibly listed without Anukramaṇī confirmation for RV 9.13.

The rite, step by step

  • Soma is pressed/extracted (savana) and mixed as required with water for flow.
  • The juice is poured through the woolen strainer (avi/pavitra), repeatedly purified as it streams.
  • The clarified Soma is collected in the vessel and ‘prepared’ as niṣkṛta—fit/appointed for divine reception.
  • Invocations are made to Soma Pavamāna while directing the offering intention toward Vāyu and Indra.
  • Libations are offered into the fire or presented according to Soma-rite procedure, accompanied by requests for rayi (plenty) and suvīrya (heroic vigor).
  • Concluding aspiration: the purified currents ‘sit’ in Ṛta—stability, right order, and victory over hostile forces are affirmed.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma juice (Soma-rasa)
  • Water for washing/flowing in purification
  • Optional accompaniments per rite (e.g., milk/curds in some traditions)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is purified through the ritual strainer, then offered as a refined oblation—especially for Vāyu and Indra—while asking for wealth, strength, and protection.

Because Pavamāna Soma is defined by the act of purification: the juice is strained through wool so it becomes clear, potent, and ritually fit for offering.

It means the purified Soma settles into Ṛta—truth and right order—symbolizing that purification leads to clarity, harmony, and the defeat of crooked or hostile forces.

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