Rig Veda Sukta 45
Mandala 9Sukta 456 Mantras

Sukta 45

Sukta 9.45

Rishi

Ascription varies; verify RV 9.45.1 in Anukramaṇī.

Chandas

To be verified for RV 9.45.1.

Dieser kurze Pavamāna-Hymnus drängt Soma (Indu), sich durch das Sieb zu läutern und als berauschende, einsichtverleihende Wonne zu strömen, die die Götter herbeiruft. Die Strophen betonen Somas Vorwärtsdrang über den Seihfilter hinaus, dass er besonders von Indra getrunken wird, und die daraus folgende Weitung der Schau und der heldischen Kraft für den Gesang der Verehrer.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.45

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (with Indra as primary Soma-drinker)

    Soma is praised as Indu, the bright drop that is pressed, filtered (pavamāna), and made fit for the gods; he is a giver of mada (rapture), vision (vi-cakṣaṇa), and lordship among the deities when he surges through the strainer.

Mantras

Mantra 1

स पवस्व मदाय कं नृचक्षा देववीतये । इन्दविन्द्राय पीतये ॥

Läutere dich, o Indu, zum berauschenden Entzücken; o Menschen-Seher, zum freudigen Kommen der Götter. Fließe zu Indra zum Trank.

Mantra 2

स नो अर्षाभि दूत्यं त्वमिन्द्राय तोशसे । देवान्त्सखिभ्य आ वरम् ॥

Ströme für uns in den Botendienst hinein; du erfreust Indra. Führe die Götter als Freunde herbei und senke die erwählte Gabe in unsere Gemeinschaft mit dem Göttlichen.

Mantra 3

उत त्वामरुणं वयं गोभिरञ्ज्मो मदाय कम् । वि नो राये दुरो वृधि ॥

Und dich, den rötlich Flammenden, salben wir mit Lichtstrahlen zum Rausch (mada). Öffne uns die Tore des Reichtums (rāya), weite die Durchgänge, durch die die Fülle eintritt.

Mantra 4

अत्यू पवित्रमक्रमीद्वाजी धुरं न यामनि । इन्दुर्देवेषु पत्यते ॥

Er hat den Läuterer (pavitra) überschritten; wie ein starker Renner, der das Joch auf der Bahn ergreift, drängt Indu voran und erringt die Herrschaft unter den Göttern.

Mantra 5

समी सखायो अस्वरन्वने क्रीळन्तमत्यविम् । इन्दुं नावा अनूषत ॥

Gemeinsam ließen die Gefährten den Ruf erschallen und begrüßten Indu im inneren Wald – ihn, der jenseits der schafgleichen Finsternis spielt; wie Boote trugen sie ihn weiter.

Mantra 6

तया पवस्व धारया यया पीतो विचक्षसे । इन्दो स्तोत्रे सुवीर्यम् ॥

Durch jenen Strom läutere dich, durch den du, getrunken, weitsichtig wirst; o Indu, bring in den Hymnus die Fülle heldischer Kraft.

Inside Sukta 45

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct imperative to Soma: purify and flow for rapture and for the gods’ arrival—specifically for Indra to drink (RV 9.45.1).

  2. Development

    Soma is portrayed as a powerful, swift racer; he passes beyond the filter and advances to divine lordship, indicating the triumph of purified essence (cf. RV 9.45.4).

  3. Climax

    The hymn peaks in the idea that, once drunk, Soma becomes ‘wide-seeing’—transformative insight arising from the purified stream.

  4. Where it settles

    It closes by asking Soma to bring su-vīrya (excellent heroic power) into the hymn itself, sealing the rite with strength and inspired speech (RV 9.45.6).

The deity: Soma Pavamāna, with Indra as chief drinker

  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between earth and heaven through the sacrificial stream—transforming the pressed plant-juice into a divine oblation that invigorates the gods (especially Indra) and sustains ṛta through yajña.
  • Inner significanceSoma symbolizes purified delight and inspired consciousness: when ‘drunk’ inwardly, it becomes clarity, widened perception, and courage—an uplift of the mind that empowers right action and victorious force.

The seer

  • Ascription varies in tradition; to be verified from the Sarvānukramaṇī for RV 9.45.1This hymn belongs to the Soma Pavamāna collection (Maṇḍala 9), where many verses are attributed variably across recensions and anukramaṇī traditions; the focus is on Soma’s purification and empowerment of Indra and the seers.

Famous verses

indav indrāya pītaye
Verse 9.45.1Sets the hymn’s ritual aim: Soma’s purification for ecstasy (mada), the gods’ coming (devavīti), and Indra’s drinking—linking the flow to divine empowerment.Read verse 9.45.1 →
aty ū pavitram akramīt
Verse 9.45.4Vivid central image of Soma’s victorious motion: he oversteps the filter like a racer and ‘wins lordship among the gods,’ expressing the sovereignty of purified Soma.Read verse 9.45.4 →
pīto vicakṣase
Verse 9.45.6Concludes with the inward result of Soma: when drunk he becomes ‘wide-seeing,’ and he is asked to grant heroic power to the praise—uniting insight, strength, and mantra.Read verse 9.45.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Pavamāna (self-purifying through the filter)
  • Indu (luminous drop/essence)
  • Bestower of mada (ecstatic rapture)
  • Giver of vi-cakṣaṇa (wide-seeing insight)
  • Energizer of Indra (strength for victory)
  • Swift, racing, overcoming the strainer (pavitram atikrānti)

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with the Pavamāna (Soma-filtering) hymns of Rig Veda Maṇḍala 9
  • Likely connected to the Soma-pressing liturgy where verses are reused across stotras/śastras (exact cross-attributions depend on anukramaṇī verification)

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (savana) and mix/prepare the juice according to the rite
  • Filter the Soma through the pavitra (wool/grass strainer) while chanting Pavamāna verses
  • Invite the gods to ‘glad coming’ (devavīti) and direct the flow toward Indra’s drinking
  • Offer the purified Soma into the appropriate cups/offerings and complete accompanying praises
  • Conclude with a request for insight, heroic power, and success in the stotra

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (Indu) as the principal oblation
  • Accompanying libations in Soma cups (grahas) as per the Soma rite

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises Soma as Pavamāna (the self-purifying Soma/Indu) as he flows through the filter; Indra is highlighted as the chief one who drinks Soma.

Pavamāna means “purifying” or “being purified,” referring to Soma as he is strained through the pavitra in the Soma ritual to become fit for offering and divine drinking.

It asks Soma to bring ecstatic inspiration and, when drunk, wide-seeing clarity, and to grant su-vīrya—strong heroic power—into the worshippers’ hymn and life.

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