Sukta 18
Sukta 9.18
Soma Pavamāna
Anuṣṭubh (probable; refrain-like cadence)
Dieser kurze Pavamāna-Hymnus preist Soma, wie er ausgepresst und durch das Sieb gereinigt wird, vom Bergquell in die für das Opfer bereiteten Gefäße strömend. Jede Strophe kehrt zum Refrain „madeṣu sarvadhā asi“ zurück und bekräftigt Somas allgegenwärtige Gegenwart in jedem erhobenen Zustand und in jeder heiligen Begeisterung. Der Zweck des Hymnus ist sowohl rituell (die Weihe des fließenden Soma) als auch geistlich (das Anrufen von Klarheit, Kraft und Gedeihen durch die gereinigte Essenz).
Mantras
Mantra 1
परि सुवानो गिरिष्ठाः पवित्रे सोमो अक्षाः । मदेषु सर्वधा असि ॥
Ringsum in seinem Werden hat der berggeborene Soma sich durch das Sieb des Läuterers ergossen; in allen Rauschen bist du auf jede Weise da.
Mantra 2
त्वं विप्रस्त्वं कविर्मधु प्र जातमन्धसः । मदेषु सर्वधा असि ॥
Du bist der Seher, du bist der Dichter; du bist Süße, hervorgebracht aus dem Presssaft: in allen Rauschen bist du auf jede Weise da.
Mantra 3
तव विश्वे सजोषसो देवासः पीतिमाशत । मदेषु सर्वधा असि ॥
Alle Götter, in einmütiger Freude vereint, haben dein Trankopfer erlangt; in allen Rauschen bist du auf jede Weise gegenwärtig.
Mantra 4
आ यो विश्वानि वार्या वसूनि हस्तयोर्दधे । मदेषु सर्वधा असि ॥
Der, der uns in die Hände alle begehrenswerten Schätze legt—du bist es, o Soma; in allen Rauschen bist du auf jede Weise gegenwärtig.
Mantra 5
य इमे रोदसी मही सं मातरेव दोहते । मदेषु सर्वधा असि ॥
Der, der diese beiden großen Welten zusammen melkt wie zwei Mütter—du bist es, o Soma; in allen Rauschen bist du auf jede Weise gegenwärtig.
Mantra 6
परि यो रोदसी उभे सद्यो वाजेभिरर्षति । मदेषु सर्वधा असि ॥
Der, der sogleich um beide Welten strömt, mit Füllen der Kraft—du bist dieser Soma; in allen Rauschen der Wonne bist du auf jede Weise gegenwärtig.
Mantra 7
स शुष्मी कलशेष्वा पुनानो अचिक्रदत् । मदेषु सर्वधा असि ॥
Er, voll drängender Kraft, sich reinigend, hat laut aufgeschrien, wenn er in die Krüge eintritt; in allen Rauschen der Wonne bist du auf jede Weise gegenwärtig.
Inside Sukta 18
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma, mountain-born, begins his purifying circuit through the filter—an image of sacred flow and consecration.
- Development
The hymn repeatedly identifies Soma as present in every ‘mada’ (uplift/rapture), while highlighting his tangible ritual actions: flowing, being purified, and granting riches into human hands.
- Climax
Soma’s vigorous arrival into the jars—crying aloud as he comes—marks the peak of potency: the essence is now fully gathered, energized, and ready for offering.
- Where it settles
The refrain closes the movement by universalizing the experience: Soma is present ‘in every way’ within all exalted states, sealing both ritual efficacy and inner uplift.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma is the pressed plant-juice deified as a luminous, living power; as Pavamāna (“self-purifying”), he streams through the pavitra (filter) into jars, becoming bright, potent, and fit for the gods. He is described as mountain-born (giriṣṭhāḥ), flowing in circuits, roaring/crying out as he enters the vessels, and bestowing desirable riches into the worshiper’s hands.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between earth and heaven as a consecrated essence: invigorating the gods, empowering Indra’s victory, sustaining ṛta (cosmic order) through the sacrificial flow, and distributing vitality, wealth, and inspired speech to humans.
- Inner significancePsychologically, Pavamāna signifies the mind’s vital energy purified through discipline—raw impulse refined into clarity, joy, and inspired strength. Spiritually, he represents the bliss-bearing essence that pervades elevated states (mada) while remaining ‘filtered’—i.e., made fit for divine communion.
The seer
- AnuktaThis sukta is transmitted without a clearly named ṛṣi in the provided tradition; such anonymity is common in portions of the Soma-Pavamāna corpus where the emphasis rests on the liturgy and refrain rather than a personal seer-signature.
Famous verses
madeṣu sarvadhā asi
viśvāni vāryā vasūni hastayor dadhe
kalaśeṣv ā punāno acikradat
Attributes of the deity
- Pavamāna (self-purifying)
- Mountain-born source
- Flows through the pavitra (filter)
- Enters jars/vessels (kalaśa)
- Bestower of wealth and desirable goods
- Bringer of ecstasy/rapture (mada)
- Vigorous, forceful (śuṣmī)
- Pervasive presence in all exalted states (refrain)
Also by this seer
- General attribution pattern: many Mandala 9 Pavamāna hymns are connected with Soma-pressing lineages and ritual specialists
- Comparable refrain-style Pavamāna stotras occur widely across RV 9, often functioning as set pieces for the pressing and filtering sequences.
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma (or its ritual substitute) and collect the expressed juice.
- Filter/purify through the pavitra (wool/grass strainer), reciting the Pavamāna verses with the refrain.
- Guide the purified flow into kalaśa (jars) and mixing vessels; maintain rhythmic recitation to ‘carry’ the flow.
- Prepare libations for the deities (often especially Indra and the Maruts in Soma contexts), keeping the Soma ‘bright’ and consecrated.
- Offer the Soma into the fire/with offerings according to the pressing sequence; conclude with prayers for wealth, strength, and uplifted joy.
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (pavamāna)
- Libations (graha) from the filtered Soma
- Associated oblations in the Soma rite (as prescribed in the śrauta context)
Frequently Asked Questions
It describes Soma being pressed and purified through the filter (pavitra), then flowing into jars for the sacrifice, while proclaiming that Soma is present in every state of sacred exhilaration (mada).
The refrain reinforces one central teaching: purified Soma pervades all forms of uplifted joy and inspired intensity—ritually in the Soma flow, and inwardly as clarified vitality in the worshiper.
As Pavamāna, Soma is also a symbol of refined life-force and consciousness—raw energy made pure through ‘filtering,’ becoming clarity, strength, and bliss fit for communion with the divine.
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