Rig Veda Sukta 69
Mandala 9Sukta 6910 Mantras

Sukta 69

Sukta 9.69

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist den stürmisch dahinströmenden, sich selbst reinigenden Soma, wie er gepresst und durchgeseiht wird: in hellen Strömen eilt er voran und stärkt die Götter, besonders Indra. Mit lebhaften Gleichnissen (Pfeil, Kalb, Sonnenstrahlen) schildert er Somas geordneten Lauf durch die rituellen „Fäden“ des Filters und erbittet strahlenden Reichtum, Schutz und die gelungene Vollendung des Ritus.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.69

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (purifying Soma)

    Soma is praised as a luminous, exhilarating draught that becomes “pure” as it runs through the filter, flowing in wide streams, swift as sunrays, and fit for the gods.

Mantras

Mantra 1

इषुर्न धन्वन्प्रति धीयते मतिर्वत्सो न मातुरुप सर्ज्यूधनि । उरुधारेव दुहे अग्र आयत्यस्य व्रतेष्वपि सोम इष्यते ॥

Wie ein Pfeil, dem Bogen entgegengesetzt, ist der Gedanke gespannt und gerichtet; wie ein Kalb eilt er zur Mutter, zum geschwollenen Euter. Vorn ergießt er seine weithinströmenden Fluten; selbst innerhalb seiner festgesetzten Gelübde und Wirkungen drängt Soma voran, um in uns das Opferwerk zu vollenden.

Mantra 2

उपो मतिः पृच्यते सिच्यते मधु मन्द्राजनी चोदते अन्तरासनि । पवमानः संतनिः प्रघ्नतामिव मधुमान्द्रप्सः परि वारमर्षति ॥

Der Gedanke tritt heran und wird verflochten, in Honig getränkt; die wonnebringende Geburt treibt ihn im Innern des Sitzes des Seins an. Der sich läuternde Soma, ein ununterbrochener Faden, wie einer, der Hindernisse niederschlägt, — der honigreiche Tropfen umfließt das umschließende Netz und schreitet weiter.

Mantra 3

अव्ये वधूयुः पवते परि त्वचि श्रथ्नीते नप्तीरदितेॠतं यते । हरिरक्रान्यजतः संयतो मदो नृम्णा शिशानो महिषो न शोभते ॥

Auf dem Schafvlies strömt er, nach der Braut verlangend; um die Haut zieht er und löst die Töchter der Aditi; er geht den Pfad des ṛta. Der Falbe schreitet — der Verehrungswürdige, die selbstgezügelte Trunkenheit; durch nṛ́mna geschärft, leuchtet er wie ein mächtiger Stier.

Mantra 4

उक्षा मिमाति प्रति यन्ति धेनवो देवस्य देवीरुप यन्ति निष्कृतम् । अत्यक्रमीदर्जुनं वारमव्ययमत्कं न निक्तं परि सोमो अव्यत ॥

Der Stier misst aus; die Kühe schreiten ihm entgegen — die göttlichen Mächte des Gottes nahen dem geklärten Ausfluss. Er ist über die helle, unvergängliche Umhegung hinausgeschritten; Soma wird darum gewoben wie ein Gewand, eingetaucht und gefärbt.

Mantra 5

अमृक्तेन रुशता वाससा हरिरमर्त्यो निर्णिजानः परि व्यत । दिवस्पृष्ठं बर्हणा निर्णिजे कृतोपस्तरणं चम्वोर्नभस्मयम् ॥

In das makellose, leuchtende Gewand gekleidet, hat der falbe Unsterbliche, sich reinigend, sich ringsum umhüllt. Den Rücken des Himmels machte er zum strahlenden Überwurf für seine Läuterung; für die Becher (camvú) schuf er eine ausgebreitete Unterlage, ein himmelgleiches Fundament.

Mantra 6

सूर्यस्येव रश्मयो द्रावयित्नवो मत्सरासः प्रसुपः साकमीरते । तन्तुं ततं परि सर्गास आशवो नेन्द्रादृते पवते धाम किं चन ॥

Wie die Strahlen der Sonne, schnell antreibend und begierig, drängen die berauschten Ströme gemeinsam voran. Die raschen Rinnen laufen um den gespannten Faden; ohne Indra läutert er keinerlei Wohnstatt, nicht eine einzige.

Mantra 7

सिन्धोरिव प्रवणे निम्न आशवो वृषच्युता मदासो गातुमाशत । शं नो निवेशे द्विपदे चतुष्पदेऽस्मे वाजाः सोम तिष्ठन्तु कृष्टयः ॥

Wie der Strom eines Flusses den Hang hinab in die Niederung, so fanden die schnellen Rausche, vom Stier ausgegossen, ihren Weg. Heil unserem Wohnen, dem Zweifüßigen und dem Vierfüßigen; in uns, o Soma, mögen die vājaḥ, die Fülle der Kraft, feststehen, und die Völker sich gründen.

Mantra 8

आ नः पवस्व वसुमद्धिरण्यवदश्वावद्गोमद्यवमत्सुवीर्यम् । यूयं हि सोम पितरो मम स्थन दिवो मूर्धानः प्रस्थिता वयस्कृतः ॥

Läutere dich für uns, reich an Gut — goldreich, pferdereich, rinderreich, kornreich — und (schenke) die höchste vīrya, die heldische Kraft. Denn ihr, o Soma, seid unsere Väter und unser Halt; auf des Himmels Scheitel seid ihr gesetzt, als Ordner und Mehrer unserer Lebenskraft.

Mantra 9

एते सोमाः पवमानास इन्द्रं रथा इव प्र ययुः सातिमच्छ । सुताः पवित्रमति यन्त्यव्यं हित्वी वव्रिं हरितो वृष्टिमच्छ ॥

Diese Somas, sich läuternd, zogen zu Indra hin wie Wagen zur Siegesbeute. Ausgepresst gehen sie über das wollene Sieb hinaus; die Hülle zurücklassend, eilen die fahlgoldenen (Ströme) zum Regen — zum Ausguss des höheren Überflusses.

Mantra 10

इन्दविन्द्राय बृहते पवस्व सुमृळीको अनवद्यो रिशादाः । भरा चन्द्राणि गृणते वसूनि देवैर्द्यावापृथिवी प्रावतं नः ॥

O Soma-Tropfen, läutere dich für Indra, den Großen — gütig, tadellos, ein Vernichter des Schadens. Bring dem Sänger leuchtende Güter; und ihr, Himmel und Erde, mit den Göttern, fördert und behütet uns.

Inside Sukta 69

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma’s purposeful drive is introduced through sharp, kinetic imagery—thought poised like an arrow and Soma rushing like a calf to the mother’s udder (RV 9.69.1).

  2. Development

    The hymn expands Soma’s motion into cosmic radiance: streams move together like the sun’s rays, circling the stretched ‘thread’ of the filter, emphasizing orderly purification and divine destination (RV 9.69.6).

  3. Climax

    Soma is explicitly urged to purify for ‘Indra the Vast,’ becoming the flawless, harm-destroying power that enables divine victory and human welfare (RV 9.69.10).

  4. Where it settles

    It ends in blessing: may Soma bring shining riches to the singer, and may Heaven and Earth, with the gods, protect and further the sacrificers (RV 9.69.10).

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is invoked as benign, faultless, and a remover of harm, and is explicitly directed toward Indra’s greatness.
  • Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and divine power: Soma’s purified flow strengthens Indra for heroic action, sustains ṛta (ordered working), and links heaven–earth through the sacrificial current.
  • Inner significanceThe clarifying of Soma mirrors inner clarification—refining thought and intention, concentrating energy, and turning inspiration into a steady, disciplined force aligned with one’s dharma/ṛta.

Famous verses

इषुर्न धन्वन्प्रति धीयते मतिर्वत्सो न मातुरुप सर्ज्यूधनि । उरुधारेव दुहे अग्र आयत्यस्य व्रतेष्वपि सोम इष्यते ॥
Verse 9.69.1Sets the hymn’s core metaphor: concentrated intention and Soma’s forward-driving purification within ‘fixed laws’ (vratas), linking ritual action to inner resolve.Read verse 9.69.1 →
सूर्यस्येव रश्मयो द्रावयित्नवो मत्सरासः प्रसुपः साकमीरते । तन्तुं ततं परि सर्गास आशवो नेन्द्रादृते पवते धाम किं चन ॥
Verse 9.69.6Highlights the iconic Pavamāna image of streams like sunrays moving around the stretched ‘thread’ (filter), and stresses Soma’s special relationship with Indra.Read verse 9.69.6 →
इन्दविन्द्राय बृहते पवस्व सुमृळीको अनवद्यो रिशादाः । भरा चन्द्राणि गृणते वसूनि देवैर्द्यावापृथिवी प्रावतं नः ॥
Verse 9.69.10Concluding invocation: Soma is asked to purify for Indra, destroy harm, grant shining wealth, and secure protection from Dyāvā-Pṛthivī with the gods—summing up the hymn’s aims.Read verse 9.69.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying (pavamāna)
  • Swift-flowing, radiant streams
  • Exhilarating/rapturous (matsara)
  • Order-abiding (within vratas)
  • Indra-strengthening
  • Protector and remover of harm
  • Bestower of shining wealth (candrāṇi vasūni)

Also by this seer

  • Associated generally with the Soma-Pavamāna collection (Rig Veda Maṇḍala 9), a specialized liturgical anthology for Soma purification chants.
  • Contributes to the ritual-poetic imagery of Soma’s flow through the sieve (pavitra) and Soma’s empowerment of Indra.

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma stalks and collect the expressed juice.
  • Mix/prepare with ritual waters as prescribed; guide the flow toward the filter (pavitra).
  • Strain through wool/grass filter; chant Pavamāna verses as the streams run and clarify.
  • Collect the purified Soma in vessels; apportion for Indra and other deities.
  • Offer Soma with accompanying oblations; conclude with prayers for protection, wealth, and ritual success.

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (primary)
  • Libations to Indra
  • Associated offerings customary in Soma rites (e.g., ghee/oblations in the fire, as contextually paired in the larger ritual)

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a Soma Pavamāna hymn describing Soma’s purification as it flows through the filter, and it asks that this purified Soma empower Indra and bring wealth and protection to the worshippers.

These images emphasize speed, direction, and instinctive movement: Soma (and the mind behind the rite) is focused like an arrow, eager like a calf to its mother, and radiant and swift like the sun’s rays.

The hymn repeatedly frames Soma’s purification as serving Indra’s greatness—purified Soma strengthens Indra, and the final verse directly asks Soma to purify for Indra and to remove harm while granting blessings.

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