Rig Veda Sukta 3
Mandala 9Sukta 310 Mantras

Sukta 3

Sukta 9.3

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist den ausgepressten Soma als unsterbliche, geflügelte Macht, die eilends zu den Bottichen und zum Absetzplatz strebt und dann in die Wasser eintaucht, um gereinigt zu werden. Während Soma in stetigem Strom fließt, wird er dafür gerühmt, belebende Impulse (iṣaḥ) hervorzubringen und dem Opfernden Schätze zuzuteilen, wodurch rituelle Reinheit mit Wohlstand und inspirierter Kraft verbunden wird.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.3

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (the self-purifying Soma)

    Described as a god and immortal power who speeds like a winged being toward the vats, enters the waters, and flows purified in a stream after pressing and straining.

Mantras

Mantra 1

एष देवो अमर्त्यः पर्णवीरिव दीयति । अभि द्रोणान्यासदम् ॥

Dies ist der Gott, die unsterbliche Macht: wie ein Geflügelter eilt er dahin; er drängt zu den Bottichen, zur Stätte des Absetzens.

Mantra 2

एष देवो विपा कृतोऽति ह्वरांसि धावति । पवमानो अदाभ्यः ॥

Dies ist der Gott, zur Einsicht geschult, er läuft über die Krümmungen hinaus; selbstläuternd ist er unangreifbar.

Mantra 3

एष देवो विपन्युभिः पवमान ऋतायुभिः । हरिर्वाजाय मृज्यते ॥

Dies ist der Gott, selbstläuternd, er wird gereinigt von den Begeisterten und den Suchern der Ṛta; der Falbe wird poliert zur Fülle der Kraft.

Mantra 4

एष विश्वानि वार्या शूरो यन्निव सत्वभिः । पवमानः सिषासति ॥

Dieser Held, der sich selbst reinigt (Pavamāna), strebt nach allen begehrenswerten Schätzen, als dränge er mit den Kräften seines Seins voran.

Mantra 5

एष देवो रथर्यति पवमानो दशस्यति । आविष्कृणोति वग्वनुम् ॥

Dieser Gott, der sich selbst reinigt (Pavamāna), fährt wie auf einem Wagen und erringt Verehrung; er macht den inspirierten Sänger sichtbar.

Mantra 6

एष विप्रैरभिष्टुतोऽपो देवो वि गाहते । दधद्रत्नानि दाशुषे ॥

Dieser Gott, von den ṛṣi gepriesen, taucht in die Wasser ein; die Schätze tragend, gibt er sie dem Gebenden.

Mantra 7

एष दिवं वि धावति तिरो रजांसि धारया । पवमानः कनिक्रदत् ॥

Dieser Selbstreinigende eilt gen Himmel, durch die Räume (rajas) in seinem Strom; als Pavamāna ruft er laut, im Vorwärtsdrang.

Mantra 8

एष दिवं व्यासरत्तिरो रजांस्यस्पृतः । पवमानः स्वध्वरः ॥

Dieser Selbstreinigende ist gen Himmel ausgeflossen, durch die Räume (rajas), unberührt; als Pavamāna ist er der svadhvara, das wahre, selbstbewegte Opfer.

Mantra 9

एष प्रत्नेन जन्मना देवो देवेभ्यः सुतः । हरिः पवित्रे अर्षति ॥

Er, der Gott, aus uraltem Geborensein, für die Götter ausgepresst; Hari, der Goldfalbe, strömt im Reiniger (pavitra).

Mantra 10

एष उ स्य पुरुव्रतो जज्ञानो जनयन्निषः । धारया पवते सुतः ॥

Dieser, der Vielwirkende, geboren, bringt die Antriebe hervor; ausgepresst strömt er im Strom dahin, sich selbst läuternd.

Inside Sukta 3

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is pointed out as ‘this’ immortal god, rushing like a winged power toward the vats and the settling-place (RV 9.3.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn tracks Soma’s ritual journey—movement, entry into waters, purification—while emphasizing that praise by seers empowers his beneficence and his gifting of treasures to the sacrificer (RV 9.3.6).

  3. Climax

    Soma, ‘of many workings,’ is born through pressing and generates invigorating impulses (iṣaḥ) as he flows in a continuous stream—ritual action becomes cosmic generativity (RV 9.3.10).

  4. Where it settles

    The flow stabilizes as purified Soma: the rite culminates in clarified potency ready for offering and for bestowing wealth, strength, and inspired energy.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and inspiration: Soma’s purified flow sustains the gods, strengthens Indra and other deities, and channels abundance (ratna) into the human-sacrificial sphere.
  • Inner significanceSymbol of the mind/heart’s clarified essence—when ‘pressed’ by discipline and ‘strained’ through discernment, it becomes luminous inspiration, energetic drive (iṣ), and inner purity.

Famous verses

eṣa devo amartyaḥ
Verse 9.3.1Sets the hymn’s signature image: Soma as an immortal, winged power rushing to the vats and settling-place—an exact ritual map expressed as divine motion.Read verse 9.3.1 →
dadhad ratnāni dāśuṣe
Verse 9.3.6Highlights Soma’s purification logic and reciprocity: praised by seers he enters the waters, carrying ‘treasures’ and granting them to the patron who gives.Read verse 9.3.6 →
janayan iṣaḥ
Verse 9.3.10Provides the theological peak: Soma’s birth through pressing generates iṣaḥ (impulsions/energies) and his self-purifying stream becomes a source of vitality and inspiration.Read verse 9.3.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Self-purifying (pavamāna)
  • Immortal, divine power (amartya deva)
  • Swift, winged motion imagery
  • Moves toward vats/settling-place (droṇa, āsada)
  • Plunges into waters for purification
  • Bestower of treasures to the giver (dāśuṣe ratnāni)
  • Generative of impulses/energies (janayan iṣaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Mandala 9 is a dedicated collection of Soma Pavamāna hymns used in Soma rites; individual authorship is frequently composite or uncertain.
  • The hymn participates in the broader Pavamāna style: repeated ‘eṣa’ (“this one”) demonstratives, vivid motion imagery, and ritual-directional language (vats, settling-place, waters).

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma stalks to express the juice (suta).
  • Mix/guide the expressed Soma with water for purification (apo).
  • Strain through the woolen filter (pavitra) into vessels/vats (droṇa).
  • Let Soma ‘settle’/clarify at the settling-place (āsada).
  • Offer purified Soma as libation to the gods; distribute portions to priests and patron according to rite.
  • Recite/chant Pavamāna hymns to accompany and sacralize each movement of the flowing Soma.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma juice (soma rasa)
  • Purifying waters (āpaḥ)
  • Libations into the sacred fire (agni)
  • Associated oblations per Soma rite (e.g., ghee alongside offerings, depending on śrauta procedure)

Frequently Asked Questions

It describes Soma after pressing: he rushes to the vats, is purified through water and straining, and then becomes a powerful, clarified flow fit for offering and blessing the sacrificer.

Because water is part of Soma’s purification process in the ritual. Symbolically, it also represents cleansing and clarification before Soma’s power is offered and received.

The hymn says Soma bears and grants “treasures” (ratnāni) to the giver (the patron/sacrificer) and also generates inner energies or impulses (iṣaḥ), linked with strength and inspiration.

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