Rig Veda Sukta 6
Mandala 9Sukta 69 Mantras

Sukta 6

Sukta 9.6

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist Somas freudigen, kraftvollen Lauf durch die wollenen Filter, während er für die Götter gereinigt und für die Opfergabe tauglich gemacht wird. Soma erscheint als mächtiger „Stier“ und als schnelles Ross, durch rituelle Kräfte geläutert; er bringt inspirierte Rede hervor und die berauschende Ekstase, die besonders Indra begehrt.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.6

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna

    Soma is the pressed and purified sacred juice, praised as self-purifying (pavamāna), gladdening, powerful, and radiant as he streams through the sheep’s-wool filters (āvya/vāra).

Mantras

Mantra 1

मन्द्रया सोम धारया वृषा पवस्व देवयुः । अव्यो वारेष्वस्मयुः ॥

O Soma, als Stier der Kraft ströme in einem wonnigen Strom; läutere dich als einer, der die Götter sucht. In den wollenen Sieben, nach uns verlangend, nimm Gestalt an, damit wir dich empfangen.

Mantra 2

अभि त्यं मद्यं मदमिन्दविन्द्र इति क्षर । अभि वाजिनो अर्वतः ॥

Zu jener berauschenden Wonne, zu jenem Rauschtrank – „für Indra“, o Soma-Tropfen –, so ströme hervor. Ströme auch zu den vājina-Pferden, zu den schnellen Rossen.

Mantra 3

अभि त्यं पूर्व्यं मदं सुवानो अर्ष पवित्र आ । अभि वाजमुत श्रवः ॥

Zu jener uralten Wonne ströme hin, o Soma, ausgepresst; lauf in den Läuterer hinein. Ströme hin zu Vāja, zur sieghaften Kraft, und zu Śravas, zum leuchtenden Ruhm, dem weiten Hören der Wahrheit.

Mantra 4

अनु द्रप्सास इन्दव आपो न प्रवतासरन् । पुनाना इन्द्रमाशत ॥

Einer dem andern folgend strömen die Soma-Tropfen wie Wasser einen Hang hinab. Sich selbst läuternd erreichen sie Indra, die lichtvolle Geisteskraft, damit in uns die sieghafte Macht erwache.

Mantra 5

यमत्यमिव वाजिनं मृजन्ति योषणो दश । वने क्रीळन्तमत्यविम् ॥

Ihn läutern sie wie ein schnelles Ross der Kraft — zehn Jungfrauen am Werk — ihn, der im Wald spielt, den alles überholenden Läufer. So wird Soma von den Mächten des Ritus geglättet, bis seine leuchtende Schnelligkeit offenbar wird.

Mantra 6

तं गोभिर्वृषणं रसं मदाय देववीतये । सुतं भराय सं सृज ॥

Jenen stierhaften Saft, jene Essenz — zur Trunkenheit und zum gnädigen Annehmen durch die Götter — sammle zusammen mit den Strahlen (go). Den ausgepressten, füge ihn zu einem einzigen Strom, damit er unsere Opfergabe weitertrage.

Mantra 7

देवो देवाय धारयेन्द्राय पवते सुतः । पयो यदस्य पीपयत् ॥

Der Gott Soma, ausgepresst, strömt im Strom für den Gott Indra, wenn sein milchreicher Überfluss anschwillt und ihn nährt. So mehrt die Wonne die Kraft, die den inneren Widerstand bricht.

Mantra 8

आत्मा यज्ञस्य रंह्या सुष्वाणः पवते सुतः । प्रत्नं नि पाति काव्यम् ॥

Als die Seele des Opfers, schnell dahineilend, strömt Soma — wohl ausgepresst — geläutert. Er hütet und gründet im Innern die uralte, inspirierte Weisheit, die immerwährende Dichtung der ṛṣi.

Mantra 9

एवा पुनान इन्द्रयुर्मदं मदिष्ठ वीतये । गुहा चिद्दधिषे गिरः ॥

So, dich selbst läuternd, nach Indra verlangend, trägst du den stärksten Rausch (máda) zum göttlichen Genießen herbei. Selbst in der verborgenen Höhle setzt du die inspirierten Worte (giráḥ) ein.

Inside Sukta 6

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is urged to flow in a gladdening stream—strong as a bull—purifying himself through the woolen filters toward the worshippers and gods (9.6.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates the dynamic imagery of purification: Soma is cleansed and polished like a swift steed by ritual powers, revealing speed, radiance, and potency fit for divine enjoyment (e.g., 9.6.5).

  3. Climax

    Soma, now self-purified and Indra-seeking, bears the most intense rapture for the gods; inspiration arises even from the secret inner ‘cave,’ establishing true speech (9.6.9).

  4. Where it settles

    The purification culminates in readiness for offering (vīti): Soma’s clarified force becomes joy, strength, and inspired utterance for the sacrificer and the gods.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is invoked as a bull of strength and as a swift runner, bringing exhilaration (mada) to the gods, especially Indra.
  • Cosmic functionMediator of divine vitality: Soma’s purification and offering sustains the gods, strengthens Indra for victory, and renews ṛta (cosmic order) through consecrated exhilaration and luminous flow.
  • Inner significanceThe refining of consciousness: Soma’s passage through the ‘filters’ symbolizes the mind-life being clarified into a bright, inspired current that yields joy, strength, and true speech (giraḥ), even from the ‘hidden cave’ of the inner being.

Famous verses

mandrayā soma dhārayā vṛṣā pavasva
Verse 9.6.1Sets the core ritual-theological frame: Soma’s joyous stream, bull-like force, and purification through woolen filters directed toward gods and sacrificers.Read verse 9.6.1 →
यमत्यमिव वाजिनं मृजन्ति योषणो दश । वने क्रीळन्तमत्यविम् ॥
Verse 9.6.5Iconic metaphor of ritual purification: Soma is cleansed like a swift steed by ‘ten maidens’ (often read as ritual agencies/fingers/streams), emphasizing refinement and revealed power.Read verse 9.6.5 →
guhā cid dadhiṣe giraḥ
Verse 9.6.9Culminating insight: purified Soma, desiring Indra, brings the highest ecstasy and establishes inspired words even in hidden depths—linking ritual to inner revelation.Read verse 9.6.9 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Self-purifying (pavamāna)
  • Gladdening, ecstasy-giving (mada)
  • Bull-like vigor (vṛṣā)
  • Swift, racing energy (like a vājin/steed)
  • Filtered through woolen sieves (vāra/āvya)
  • Indra-strengthening and god-seeking (devayuḥ/indrayuḥ)
  • Source of inspired speech (giraḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Further attribution requires consulting the hymn colophon and traditional Anukramaṇī data for RV 9.6.

The rite, step by step

  • Pressing of Soma plant to obtain the juice (savana context)
  • Mixing/setting the juice to flow and be guided in a ‘stream’ (dhārā)
  • Purification through woolen filters (vāra/āvya), repeatedly cleansing and clarifying
  • Collection in vessels; enlivening with accompanying rite-actions and recitations
  • Libation/oblation to the gods—prominently to Indra—seeking strength, joy, and inspired speech

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (pavamāna soma)
  • Libations to Indra (and associated deities in Soma rites)
  • Optional adjuncts customary in Soma ritual such as water and milk/curds depending on śrauta procedure (context-dependent)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is purified (pavamāna) while flowing through woolen filters, becoming fit to be offered to the gods and to strengthen Indra.

The images show Soma’s power and speed: as a ‘bull’ he is forceful and fertilizing, and as a ‘swift steed’ he is polished by the rite until his energy becomes bright and effective.

Alongside the ritual meaning, it suggests an inner meaning: purified Soma awakens inspiration from hidden depths of the person, so truthful speech and insight emerge.

Ask anything about Sukta 6 of the Rig Veda

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