Rig Veda Sukta 70
Mandala 9Sukta 7010 Mantras

Sukta 70

Sukta 9.70

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus feiert den geläuterten Indu, wie er gepresst, gesiebt und lichtvoll gemacht wird – als Verkörperung des Ṛta (kosmisches Wahrheits- und Gesetzesmaß) und der wahren Wonne, die Götter und Welten nährt. Er schildert Somas Aufstieg und sich weitende Kraft: von den „Sieben“ nährenden Mächten gemolken, bekleidet er sich mit strahlenden Sphären und stürzt schließlich wie ein Ross in Indras Leib, um Stärke, Führung und Schutz vor Tadel zu verleihen.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.70

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (purified Soma as an inner power of truth and delight)

    Soma is praised as the pressed and purified sacred draught that flows through the filter, shining, roaring, and becoming fit for the gods, especially for Indra.

Mantras

Mantra 1

त्रिरस्मै सप्त धेनवो दुदुह्रे सत्यामाशिरं पूर्व्ये व्योमनि । चत्वार्यन्या भुवनानि निर्णिजे चारूणि चक्रे यदृतैरवर्धत ॥

Dreimal melkten ihm die sieben nährenden Mächte die wahre Wonne in der uralten Weite des Himmelsraums. Und vier andere schöne Welten formte er sich als sein leuchtendes Gewand, als er nach den Gesetzen des Ṛta anwuchs.

Mantra 2

स भिक्षमाणो अमृतस्य चारुण उभे द्यावा काव्येना वि शश्रथे । तेजिष्ठा अपो मंहना परि व्यत यदी देवस्य श्रवसा सदो विदुः ॥

Nach der schönen Unsterblichkeit begehrend, breitet er sich durch des Sehers dichterisches Schauen über beide Himmel aus. Mit eilender Freigebigkeit umspannt er die strahlendsten Wasser, wenn sie durch des Gottes Ruhm den Sitz, die lichtvolle Stätte, erkennen.

Mantra 3

ते अस्य सन्तु केतवोऽमृत्यवोऽदाभ्यासो जनुषी उभे अनु । येभिर्नृम्णा च देव्या च पुनत आदिद्राजानं मनना अगृभ्णत ॥

Mögen seine Lichter unsterblich sein, unüberwältigbar, beiden Geburten folgend. Durch sie — durch menschliche Kraft und durch göttliche Macht — ergreifen, während er sich läutert, die Gedanken wahrlich den König, Soma.

Mantra 4

स मृज्यमानो दशभिः सुकर्मभिः प्र मध्यमासु मातृषु प्रमे सचा । व्रतानि पानो अमृतस्य चारुण उभे नृचक्षा अनु पश्यते विशौ ॥

Von zehn guten Wirkungen gereinigt, schreitet er mit den mittleren Müttern, im vorderen Maß. Das schöne Unsterbliche trinkend, schaut er mit menschenkundigem Blick beide Völker, beide Bereiche.

Mantra 5

स मर्मृजान इन्द्रियाय धायस ओभे अन्ता रोदसी हर्षते हितः । वृषा शुष्मेण बाधते वि दुर्मतीरादेदिशानः शर्यहेव शुरुधः ॥

Sich glättend für Indras indriya‑Kraft, jubelt er, zwischen die beiden Enden der zwei Welten gesetzt. Als Stier mit Wucht vertreibt er die krummen Gedanken, anstürmend wie ein Jäger gegen die Hemmenden.

Mantra 6

स मातरा न ददृशान उस्रियो नानददेति मरुतामिव स्वनः । जानन्नृतं प्रथमं यत्स्वर्णरं प्रशस्तये कमवृणीत सुक्रतुः ॥

Er brüllt wie die lichten Kühe, als riefe er die Mütter, mit dem Klang gleich dem der Maruts. Den ersten Ṛta kennend, jene himmeltragende Kraft, erwählt der gut Entschlossene sie zu seinem Lob.

Mantra 7

रुवति भीमो वृषभस्तविष्यया शृङ्गे शिशानो हरिणी विचक्षणः । आ योनिं सोमः सुकृतं नि षीदति गव्ययी त्वग्भवति निर्णिगव्ययी ॥

Brüllend, furchtbar, schärft der Stier mit Kraft die Hörner; der Falbe, weitblickend. In den wohlbereiteten Schoß setzt sich Soma nieder; eine kuhgeborene Haut wird sein glänzendes Gewand, kuhgeboren sein strahlender Mantel.

Mantra 8

शुचिः पुनानस्तन्वमरेपसमव्ये हरिर्न्यधाविष्ट सानवि । जुष्टो मित्राय वरुणाय वायवे त्रिधातु मधु क्रियते सुकर्मभिः ॥

Rein, reinigend, macht er seinen Leib makellos; der Falbe legt sich auf den wollenen Kamm. Von Mitra, Varuṇa und Vāyu willkommen geheißen, wird die dreifache Süße durch rechte Werke bereitet.

Mantra 9

पवस्व सोम देववीतये वृषेन्द्रस्य हार्दि सोमधानमा विश । पुरा नो बाधाद्दुरिताति पारय क्षेत्रविद्धि दिश आहा विपृच्छते ॥

Ströme, Soma, zum Genuss der Götter; tritt ein in den Soma-Sitz im Herzen des Stiers Indra. Ehe es uns trifft, führe uns über Not und Übel hinweg. Der das Feld kennt, verkünde dem Fragenden die Himmelsrichtungen.

Mantra 10

हितो न सप्तिरभि वाजमर्षेन्द्रस्येन्दो जठरमा पवस्व । नावा न सिन्धुमति पर्षि विद्वाञ्छूरो न युध्यन्नव नो निदः स्पः ॥

Wie ein angeschirrtes Ross stürme zur Fülle der Kraft; o Indu, läutere dich hinein in Indras Bauch. Wie ein Boot setze kundig über den Strom; wie ein Held im Kampf wehre von uns die feindlichen Schmähungen ab.

Inside Sukta 70

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma’s primordial source and abundance are invoked: the ‘seven’ fostering powers draw out the true delight in the ancient sky-wide expanse, and Soma grows by Ṛta.

  2. Development

    The hymn builds Soma’s living imagery—lowing like cows, sounding like the Maruts—while stressing his knowledge of the first Ṛta and his fitness for praise and offering.

  3. Climax

    Soma surges like a harnessed steed toward power, purifying himself into Indra’s belly—the decisive moment where clarified delight becomes divine strength.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn ends with practical grace: Soma as the knowing guide who helps one cross like a boat and who, like a hero, wards off hostile speech and reproach.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is depicted as a radiant, truth-bearing power that is ‘milked’ from hidden sources and increases by Ṛta, fashioning luminous worlds as his robe.
  • Cosmic functionMediator and energizer: he invigorates Indra for victory, supports Ṛta, and sustains the ordered worlds through his clarified, life-giving flow.
  • Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness—truth-perception and bliss (ānanda) distilled from experience—rushing toward the divine will (Indra) and enabling inner strength, right discernment, and protection from negativity.

Famous verses

त्रिरस्मै सप्त धेनवो दुदुह्रे सत्यामाशिरं पूर्व्ये व्योमनि । चत्वार्यन्या भुवनानि निर्णिजे चारूणि चक्रे यदृतैरवर्धत ॥
Verse 9.70.1Establishes the hymn’s grand cosmology: Soma’s ‘true delight’ is drawn forth by the seven fostering powers, and he expands by Ṛta, clothing himself in beautiful worlds.Read verse 9.70.1 →
स मातरा न ददृशान उस्रियो नानददेति मरुतामिव स्वनः । जानन्नृतं प्रथमं यत्स्वर्णरं प्रशस्तये कमवृणीत सुक्रतुः ॥
Verse 9.70.6Links Soma’s sound and movement with cosmic forces (cows/Maruts) and explicitly frames him as knower of the ‘first Ṛta,’ grounding purification in truth-law.Read verse 9.70.6 →
हितो न सप्तिरभि वाजमर्षेन्द्रस्येन्दो जठरमा पवस्व । नावा न सिन्धुमति पर्षि विद्वाञ्छूरो न युध्यन्नव नो निदः स्पः ॥
Verse 9.70.10A vivid culmination: Soma rushes like a steed into Indra, becomes the means of crossing difficulties like a boat, and protects devotees from hostile reproaches.Read verse 9.70.10 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying flow (pavamāna)
  • Radiance and clarity
  • Upholder/knower of Ṛta
  • Giver of strength and victory
  • World-fashioning/widening power
  • Protective, reproach-dispelling force

Also by this seer

  • Part of the RV Book 9 Pavamāna collection (Soma hymns used in Soma-pressing rites)
  • Contributes to the shared ‘Soma-poetics’ of flowing, shining, and strengthening imagery across Maṇḍala 9

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (abhiṣava) and collect the expressed juice
  • Mix/prepare with water and supportive substances as per rite
  • Strain through the filter (pavitra) while chanting Pavamāna verses
  • Collect the clarified Soma in vessels for offering
  • Make libations to Indra (and allied deities), accompanied by praise
  • Conclude with prayers for strength, right guidance, and protection from hostility/reproach

Offerings

  • Clarified Soma juice (Indu)
  • Libations into the fire (as prescribed)
  • Optional accompanying offerings per Soma rite (e.g., ghee/oblations as integrated in the ceremony)

Frequently Asked Questions

The deity is Soma Pavamāna (Indu)—Soma as the purified sacred draught flowing through the filter, offered especially to Indra for strength.

It teaches that purification brings ‘true delight’ aligned with Ṛta (truth-law): Soma becomes radiant, strengthens Indra, widens the worlds, and grants protection and right passage through obstacles.

It is chanted during the Soma-pressing and straining stage, when the expressed juice is purified through the filter and then offered as clarified Soma in the Soma sacrifice.

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