Rig Veda Sukta 68
Mandala 9Sukta 6810 Mantras

Sukta 68

Sukta 9.68

Chandas

Trishtubh (probable for RV 9.68; requires pada-count verification per verse)

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist die honigsüßen Soma-Tropfen, die zu den Göttern eilen und sich reinigen, während sie durch die Filter und die Wasser strömen. Er erinnert an Somas mythische Gewinnung aus dem „fernen Jenseits“ und rühmt die Rolle der Seher, die Soma läutern und als strahlende, hymnenwürdige Macht begründen. Der Hymnus gipfelt in einem Gebet, dass Somas Reinigung sich in der Lebenskraft der Verehrer gründe, in der Eintracht mit Himmel und Erde und in Reichtum, der von heldenhafter Stärke erfüllt ist.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.68

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (Soma in the act of self-purification)

    Soma is the pressed plant-essence that becomes a god: a honeyed, shining, flowing power, cleansed through the sieve and waters, moving as a radiant ‘ray’ fit for ṛc and ṛta.

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र देवमच्छा मधुमन्त इन्दवोऽसिष्यदन्त गाव आ न धेनवः । बर्हिषदो वचनावन्त ऊधभिः परिस्रुतमुस्रिया निर्णिजं धिरे ॥

Zum Gott drängen die honigreichen Soma‑Tropfen, wie Kühe, wie melkende, heimwärts eilend. Die auf dem Barhis Sitzenden, wortbegabt, setzen mit ihren Eutern den strömenden Glanz der erleuchtenden Strahlen fest – sein helles Gewand der Reinheit.

Mantra 2

स रोरुवदभि पूर्वा अचिक्रददुपारुहः श्रथयन्त्स्वादते हरिः । तिरः पवित्रं परियन्नुरु ज्रयो नि शर्याणि दधते देव आ वरम् ॥

Er brüllt und ruft über den uralten Grundfesten; aufsteigend löst der Falbe die Fesseln und macht es süß. Über das Sieb hinziehend, in weiten Bahnen umhergehend, legt der Gott seine schnellen Läufe nieder und kommt zur erwählten Vortrefflichkeit.

Mantra 3

वि यो ममे यम्या संयती मदः साकंवृधा पयसा पिन्वदक्षिता । मही अपारे रजसी विवेविददभिव्रजन्नक्षितं पाज आ ददे ॥

Der, der die beiden im Joch vereinten Zwillingswelten weitet und ausmisst — dessen Rausch (mada) wächst gemeinsam, anschwellend vom Milchstrom der Fülle, unerschöpflich. Er findet die beiden weiten, grenzenlosen Räume; voranschreitend nimmt er das unversiegende Licht‑Vermögen (pājas) in sich auf.

Mantra 4

स मातरा विचरन्वाजयन्नपः प्र मेधिरः स्वधया पिन्वते पदम् । अंशुर्यवेन पिपिशे यतो नृभिः सं जामिभिर्नसते रक्षते शिरः ॥

Zwischen den beiden Müttern wandelt er, die Wasser mehrend; der Weise füllt nach eigenem Gesetz (svadhā) den Stand‑Ort aus. Der Strahl (aṃśu) wird mit dem Korn zerrieben; dann erreicht er, mit den Männern und den verwandten Mächten, das Ziel und behütet das Haupt — den Gipfel des Bewusstseins.

Mantra 5

सं दक्षेण मनसा जायते कविॠतस्य गर्भो निहितो यमा परः । यूना ह सन्ता प्रथमं वि जज्ञतुर्गुहा हितं जनिम नेममुद्यतम् ॥

Durch Unterscheidungskraft (dakṣa) und durch den Geist wird der Seher (kavi) geboren: ein Schoß der Wahrheit (ṛta), beiseitegelegt jenseits des Paares. Jung sind sie — und doch werden sie zuerst geboren: die verborgene Geburt, im Geheimraum niedergelegt, steigt empor zu ihrer bestimmten Reihe.

Mantra 6

मन्द्रस्य रूपं विविदुर्मनीषिणः श्येनो यदन्धो अभरत्परावतः । तं मर्जयन्त सुवृधं नदीष्वाँ उशन्तमंशुं परियन्तमृग्मियम् ॥

Die Einsichtigen erkannten die Gestalt des Entzückenden, als der Adler aus fernstem Jenseits den Soma‑Saft herbeitrug. Ihn läutern sie, den gut Gedeihenden, in den Strömen – den höchst Ersehnten Strahl, der ringsum wandelt, hymnenwürdig, dem ṛta gemäß.

Mantra 7

त्वां मृजन्ति दश योषणः सुतं सोम ऋषिभिर्मतिभिर्धीतिभिर्हितम् । अव्यो वारेभिरुत देवहूतिभिर्नृभिर्यतो वाजमा दर्षि सातये ॥

Dich läutern zehn Jungfrauen, o Soma – ausgepresst, von den ṛṣi durch Gedanken und feste Versenkungen eingesetzt. Mit wollenen Sieben, auch mit den Anrufungen der Götter, mit menschlichen Kräften – von dorther kommst du und lässt die Fülle der Kraft zur Gewinnung sichtbar werden.

Mantra 8

परिप्रयन्तं वय्यं सुषंसदं सोमं मनीषा अभ्यनूषत स्तुभः । यो धारया मधुमाँ ऊर्मिणा दिव इयर्ति वाचं रयिषाळमर्त्यः ॥

Wenn Soma ringsum zieht – flugtauglich, gut gesetzt –, da besingen ihn die inspirierten Gedanken und Loblieder. Er, voll Süße, hebt mit seiner Woge vom Himmel her das Wort empor; unsterblich mehrt er die Fülle des Seins.

Mantra 9

अयं दिव इयर्ति विश्वमा रजः सोमः पुनानः कलशेषु सीदति । अद्भिर्गोभिर्मृज्यते अद्रिभिः सुतः पुनान इन्दुर्वरिवो विदत्प्रियम् ॥

Dieser Soma aus dem Himmel setzt alle Räume in Bewegung; selbst sich läuternd nimmt er in den Schalen seinen Sitz. Mit Wassern und mit Strahlen wird er gereinigt; von den Steinen gepresst findet der sich läuternde Indu weiten Raum und das Liebe — die zustimmende Wonne der Seele.

Mantra 10

एवा नः सोम परिषिच्यमानो वयो दधच्चित्रतमं पवस्व । अद्वेषे द्यावापृथिवी हुवेम देवा धत्त रयिमस्मे सुवीरम् ॥

So, o Soma, wenn du ringsum ausgegossen wirst, ströme in deiner Reinheit und begründe in uns die wundervollste Weite der Lebenskraft. In ungetrennter Eintracht rufen wir Himmel und Erde an; o Götter, verleiht uns Reichtum — die Fülle des Seins, reich an heldischer Kraft.

Inside Sukta 68

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Honeyed Soma-drops surge toward the divine like eager cattle, while word-rich powers on the sacred seat establish the streaming radiance in purity.

  2. Development

    The hymn elaborates Soma’s cleansing through waters/filters and his transformation into a bright, hymn-worthy ‘ray’; it also recalls the mythic origin—Soma brought by the eagle from the far beyond.

  3. Climax

    Recognition of Soma’s true form by the seers and the intense act of cleansing him in the rivers—Soma as purified delight aligned with ṛta and fit for sacred song.

  4. Where it settles

    A direct supplication: as Soma is poured all around, may he establish wondrous life-power in us; in undivided harmony Heaven-and-Earth are invoked, and the gods are asked to grant heroic wealth.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is portrayed as rushing like cows to their home, wearing a bright garment of purity, and remembered as brought by the eagle from the far distance.
  • Cosmic functionTo purify and vitalize the worlds: Soma mediates between human offering and divine reception, strengthens gods and men, and renews cosmic order through clarified, luminous flow.
  • Inner significanceThe refining of consciousness: emotions and impulses are ‘pressed’ and ‘filtered’ into clarity, sweetness, and inspired speech; Soma becomes the purified delight that supports truth (ṛta), vigor, and harmonious integration.

Famous verses

प्र देवमच्छा मधुमन्त इन्दवोऽसिष्यदन्त गाव आ न धेनवः । बर्हिषदो वचनावन्त ऊधभिः परिस्रुतमुस्रिया निर्णिजं धिरे ॥
Verse 9.68.1Sets the hymn’s central imagery: Soma-drops rushing to the divine, compared to cows, and the establishment of Soma’s radiant ‘garment of purity’ through sacred action and inspired speech.Read verse 9.68.1 →
मन्द्रस्य रूपं विविदुर्मनीषिणः श्येनो यदन्धो अभरत्परावतः । तं मर्जयन्त सुवृधं नदीष्वाँ उशन्तमंशुं परियन्तमृग्मियम् ॥
Verse 9.68.6Highlights the mythic and doctrinal peak: the eagle bringing Soma from the far beyond, and the seers cleansing him into a hymn-worthy, truth-rhythmic radiance.Read verse 9.68.6 →
एवा नः सोम परिषिच्यमानो वयो दधच्चित्रतमं पवस्व । अद्वेषे द्यावापृथिवी हुवेम देवा धत्त रयिमस्मे सुवीरम् ॥
Verse 9.68.10Concluding prayer that links ritual purification to human benefit—vitality, harmony with Dyāvā-Pṛthivī, and wealth rich in heroic force—showing the sukta’s practical aim.Read verse 9.68.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • pavamāna (self-purifying/being purified)
  • madhu (honeyed sweetness)
  • śuci (bright, clean, radiant)
  • aṃśu (ray/beam, vital essence)
  • swift-flowing, world-strengthening
  • hymn-worthy (ṛgmya), aligned with ṛta

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with the Pavamāna hymns of Mandala 9 used by Soma-officiants (e.g., Udgātṛ/Hotṛ traditions) in the Soma sacrifice
  • Contributes to the recurring RV 9 theological-poetic motif: Soma as luminous, honeyed, world-strengthening purifier

The rite, step by step

  • Soma is pressed and its juice collected (savana context).
  • The juice is mixed/handled and led to the straining fleece/sieve (pavitra).
  • Purification: Soma ‘flows’ through the filter and waters, described as radiant streaming.
  • Libations are offered to the gods (especially Indra and the deities of the rite), accompanied by recitation/chant of Pavamāna verses.
  • Closing prayer for vitality (vayaḥ), harmony with Heaven-and-Earth, and wealth/heroic force (rayi, suvīra).

Offerings

  • Purified Soma libation
  • Ghee and ancillary oblations (as part of the wider Soma rite)
  • Praise-hymns (stotra/śastra) as verbal offering

Frequently Asked Questions

The main deity is Soma Pavamāna—Soma as it is being purified and made radiant for offering. The last verse also invokes Heaven and Earth (Dyāvā-Pṛthivī) and the gods collectively.

“Pavamāna” refers to Soma in the process of purification—flowing through the strainer and waters so that the juice becomes clear, bright, and fit to be offered to the gods.

The hymn asks Soma to establish vibrant life-power in the worshippers and requests the gods to grant wealth and well-being, especially “suvīra”—prosperity rich in heroic strength and capable offspring/energy.

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