Rig Veda Sukta 43
Mandala 9Sukta 436 Mantras

Sukta 43

Sukta 9.43

Dieser kurze Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist Soma, wie er im Sieb geläutert wird: Er wird einem schnellen Ross verglichen, das von den strahlenden „Kühen“ (Strahlen) gereinigt und dann durch die Lieder der Dichter geschmückt wird. Er bittet den leuchtenden Indu, herrlichen Reichtum (rayi), vielstrahlenden Glanz zu bringen und den singenden Seher mit sieghafter Kraft und edler Heldenenergie (suvīrya) zu stärken.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.43

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna

    Soma is the pressed, flowing, and self-purifying divine drink, bright and golden, rushing through the woolen filter and becoming fit for the gods.

Mantras

Mantra 1

यो अत्य इव मृज्यते गोभिर्मदाय हर्यतः । तं गीर्भिर्वासयामसि ॥

Der, der sich läutert wie ein schneller Renner, durch die Strahlen‑„Kühe“ zur Wonne — der Goldfarbene: ihn kleiden und erglänzen lassen wir mit unseren inspirierten Liedern.

Mantra 2

तं नो विश्वा अवस्युवो गिरः शुम्भन्ति पूर्वथा । इन्दुमिन्द्राय पीतये ॥

Ihn schmücken uns alle, die Hilfe Suchenden, mit Liedern wie nach alter Weise — diesen lichten Indu dem Indra zum Trank.

Mantra 3

पुनानो याति हर्यतः सोमो गीर्भिः परिष्कृतः । विप्रस्य मेध्यातिथेः ॥

Sich selbst läuternd schreitet der goldene Soma voran, durch Hymnen vollkommen bereitet — im Werk des Rishi, des würdigen Gastes des Opfers und der Einsicht.

Mantra 4

पवमान विदा रयिमस्मभ्यं सोम सुश्रियम् । इन्दो सहस्रवर्चसम् ॥

O Pavamāna-Soma, finde und bringe uns rayi, schön in wahrem Glanz; o Indu, Reichtum von tausend Strahlen.

Mantra 5

इन्दुरत्यो न वाजसृत्कनिक्रन्ति पवित्र आ । यदक्षारति देवयुः ॥

Indu, gleich einem rasenden Ross, das Fülle herbeiträgt, springt immer wieder in das Sieb der Läuterung, wenn der gottbegehrende Strom hervorquillt und darüber hinausgeht.

Mantra 6

पवस्व वाजसातये विप्रस्य गृणतो वृधे । सोम रास्व सुवीर्यम् ॥

Läutere dich zum Gewinn der Fülle, zum Wachstum des singenden ṛṣi; o Soma, schenke uns edle Heldenkraft — wirksame Seelenmacht.

Inside Sukta 43

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is introduced as a swift steed being cleansed by the shining ‘cows’ (rays), readying him for joy and offering.

  2. Development

    The poets intensify praise: Soma is made radiant by hymns, and the focus turns to what his purified brilliance brings—splendid wealth and many-rayed glory.

  3. Climax

    A direct petition: Pavamāna is asked to ‘find’ and deliver suśriya rayi and sahasravarcas (thousandfold radiance).

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends with an actionable request—purify for victory and increase the praising seer, granting suvīrya (noble, effective hero-power).

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is praised as radiant, exhilarating, and as one whom poets “clothe” with inspired speech.
  • Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and light: he invigorates gods and humans, supports ṛta (ordered truth), and turns the raw plant-juice into a luminous, life-sustaining power that enables victory, wealth, and inspired vision.
  • Inner significanceThe purification of Soma mirrors inner refinement—clarifying consciousness, intensifying inspiration (dhī), and converting raw impulse into illumined strength and joyful ecstasy directed toward truth.

The seer

  • Anukramaṇī-attributed Soma Pavamāna seer (tradition does not preserve a single, stable personal name for RV 9.43)Associated with the Mandala 9 Soma-Pavamāna corpus that poetically maps the ritual purification of Soma into a vision of spiritual illumination and ecstatic inspiration.

Famous verses

यो अत्य इव मृज्यते गोभिर्मदाय हर्यतः । तं गीर्भिर्वासयामसि ॥
Verse 9.43.1Sets the controlling image of the sukta: Soma’s purification likened to grooming a swift horse, and the poets ‘clothing’ him with inspired speech—linking ritual action to poetic consecration.Read verse 9.43.1 →
sahasravarcasam
Verse 9.43.4Central boon-request: asks Pavamāna to bring suśriya rayi and ‘a thousand radiances,’ summarizing Soma’s role as giver of prosperity and luminous power.Read verse 9.43.4 →
pavasva vājasātaye
Verse 9.43.6Concluding prayer tying purification to concrete outcomes—vājasāti (winning of plenitude/victory) and the gift of suvīrya to the chanting vipra.Read verse 9.43.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • self-purifying (pavamāna)
  • radiant/bright (indu)
  • golden-hued
  • ecstasy-giving (madāya)
  • victory- and strength-bestowing (vājasāti, suvīrya)
  • inspirer of hymns and seers

Also by this seer

  • Part of the broader Pavamāna (Soma purification) hymns of Mandala 9, used across Soma-pressing liturgies
  • Contributes to the recurring Rigvedic imagery of Soma as Indu (the bright drop) whose purification yields light, vigor, and inspired speech

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (abhiṣava) and collect the juice
  • Filter/purify through the woolen strainer (pavitra), allowing Soma to ‘run’ as Pavamāna
  • Recite Pavamāna verses as Soma flows, ‘adorning’ him with stoma (praise)
  • Mix/prepare Soma according to the rite (often with water/milk as prescribed)
  • Offer Soma libations to the deities (especially Indra and associated gods)
  • Conclude with petitions for rayi (wealth), brilliance, victory, and inner power for the chanter

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma juice (primary)
  • Libations of purified Soma
  • Accompaniments as per rite (water, milk/curds in some preparations)

Frequently Asked Questions

The deity is Soma Pavamāna—Soma as he flows through the filter in the Soma sacrifice, becoming purified, bright, and fit to be offered.

It asks for splendid wealth (rayi), great radiance (sahasravarcas), success in winning strength and plenty (vājasāti), and noble inner power (suvīrya).

Because the ritual purification is like grooming a fast steed: Soma is ‘cleaned’ by the bright rays and then ‘adorned’ by hymns, showing both physical filtering and inner illumination.

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