Rig Veda Sukta 72
Mandala 9Sukta 729 Mantras

Sukta 72

Sukta 9.72

Rishi

Soma-Pavamāna tradition (Book 9).

Chandas

Likely Jagatī (to be metrically confirmed).

Dieser Soma-Pavamāna-Hymnus preist den geläuterten Soma, wie er gereinigt, ausgepresst und mit Milch in das Gefäß gegossen wird, wo er zu einer strahlenden, begeisternden Kraft wird. Soma wird gefeiert als Erwecker von Rede und Denken, als Erneuerer des Lebens im Sitz des Ṛta (kosmische Ordnung) und als Spender reichen Wohlstands und Wohlergehens für den Verehrer.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.72

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna

    Soma is the ‘tawny’ (hari/piśaṅga) draught cleansed through the filter, mingled with milk, and poured into the kalaśa; he is a kavi (seer-poet) whose flowing inspires vāc (speech) and matī (thought).

Mantras

Mantra 1

हरिं मृजन्त्यरुषो न युज्यते सं धेनुभिः कलशे सोमो अज्यते । उद्वाचमीरयति हिन्वते मती पुरुष्टुतस्य कति चित्परिप्रियः ॥

Sie reinigen den fahlgoldenen; wie ein rotgoldenes Ross wird er zum Werk angeschirrt. Mit den Milchströmen wird er in den Krug gegossen; Soma wird in sein Gefäß des Werdens gesalbt. Er erhebt das Wort und setzt den Gedanken in Bewegung; dem Vielgepriesenen wird er auf vielerlei Weise zum nahen, geliebten Vertrauten.

Mantra 2

साकं वदन्ति बहवो मनीषिण इन्द्रस्य सोमं जठरे यदादुहुः । यदी मृजन्ति सुगभस्तयो नरः सनीळाभिर्दशभिः काम्यं मधु ॥

Gemeinsam sprechen viele Seher vom Soma Indras, wenn sie ihn in den Bauch, in das innere Gefäß, gemolken haben. Wenn die starkhändigen Männer ihn mit den zehn Schwestern, die in einem Haus wohnen, reinigen, dann wird der ersehnte Honig der Wonne bereitet — zum Genuss der Seele.

Mantra 3

अरममाणो अत्येति गा अभि सूर्यस्य प्रियं दुहितुस्तिरो रवम् । अन्वस्मै जोषमभरद्विनंगृसः सं द्वयीभिः स्वसृभिः क्षेति जामिभिः ॥

Unermüdlich schreitet er weiter — zu den Kühen, den Strahlen, hin zum lieben Ort der Sonne, jenseits des Rufes der melkenden Tochter. Ihm nach bringt der sich beugend Greifende ihm Wohlgefallen; und er wohnt vereint mit den zwei Schwesterkräften, den Verwandten.

Mantra 4

नृधूतो अद्रिषुतो बर्हिषि प्रियः पतिर्गवां प्रदिव इन्दुॠत्वियः । पुरंधिवान्मनुषो यज्ञसाधनः शुचिर्धिया पवते सोम इन्द्र ते ॥

Von Männern gereinigt, vom Stein gepresst, strömt der geliebte Indu über das Barhis, den heiligen Sitz; der Herr der Strahlen-Kühe, im weiten Himmel sich bewegend, rituell tauglich. Voller Fülle, dem Menschen dienend als Vollender des Opfers, rein durch erleuchtetes Denken, strömt Soma für dich, o Indra.

Mantra 5

नृबाहुभ्यां चोदितो धारया सुतोऽनुष्वधं पवते सोम इन्द्र ते । आप्राः क्रतून्त्समजैरध्वरे मतीर्वेर्न द्रुषच्चम्वोरासदद्धरिः ॥

Von den Armen der Männer angetrieben, im Strom ausgepresst, strömt Soma nach seinem eigenen Gesetz der Wonne für dich, o Indra. Du hast die Kräfte des Willens im Opfer erfüllt und angeschirrt; wie ein Vogel zu seiner Ruhestatt ist der Falbe (Hari) gekommen und hat sich auf die Schalen gesetzt.

Mantra 6

अंशुं दुहन्ति स्तनयन्तमक्षितं कविं कवयोऽपसो मनीषिणः । समी गावो मतयो यन्ति संयत ऋतस्य योना सदने पुनर्भुवः ॥

Sie melken den strahlenden Stängel (aṃśu), donnernd und unerschöpflich — die Seher, werkgewandt und reich an Einsicht. Gemeinsam ziehen die Lichtstrahlen und die Regungen des Denkens, in Einklang gebändigt, zum Schoß der Ṛta, zum Sitz, wo das Werden sich erneut erneuert.

Mantra 7

नाभा पृथिव्या धरुणो महो दिवोऽपामूर्मौ सिन्धुष्वन्तरुक्षितः । इन्द्रस्य वज्रो वृषभो विभूवसुः सोमो हृदे पवते चारु मत्सरः ॥

Als Nabel der Erde, als fester Halt des großen Himmels, in der Woge der Wasser, inmitten der Ströme gesetzt—so wird Soma ausgegossen. Indras Donnerkeil, der Stier der Kraft, weithin reich: Soma, die liebliche Trunkenheit, strömt geläutert im Herzen.

Mantra 8

स तू पवस्व परि पार्थिवं रजः स्तोत्रे शिक्षन्नाधून्वते च सुक्रतो । मा नो निर्भाग्वसुनः सादनस्पृशो रयिं पिशङ्गं बहुलं वसीमहि ॥

So läutere dich, rings um den irdischen Raum (rájas) strömend; unterweise unser Lied und den Mühevollen, o du von guter Wirkkraft (sukrátu). Schneide uns nicht ab vom Schatz, du, der die Sitze des Überflusses berührt; mögen wir den fahl‑goldenen, vielfachen Reichtum (rayí) besitzen.

Mantra 9

आ तू न इन्दो शतदात्वश्व्यं सहस्रदातु पशुमद्धिरण्यवत् । उप मास्व बृहती रेवतीरिषोऽधि स्तोत्रस्य पवमान नो गहि ॥

Komm zu uns, o Indu, hundertfach schenkend—Rossekraft; tausendfach schenkend, reich an Herden und goldenem Glanz. Bring uns nahe die großen, reichen Antriebe (íṣaḥ); o Pavamāna, komm zu unserem Lied und nimm darauf Platz.

Inside Sukta 72

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens with the vivid ritual image of Soma being cleansed and poured with milk into the jar, likened to a tawny steed yoked to its work.

  2. Development

    It expands Soma’s identity from ritual liquid to inspired power: he raises speech, impels thought, and is ‘milked’ by seers as an inexhaustible, thunderous beam; all movements converge toward the womb of Ṛta.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s flow is invoked to circle and pervade the earthly realm while educating the hymn and empowering the worker—granting access to the ‘seats of abundance’ without deprivation.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into a protective petition: do not cut us off from treasure; may we possess tawny, manifold plenitude—wealth, fullness, and renewed becoming.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaHe is linked with thunder-like power, inexhaustibility, and the ‘womb of Ṛta’ where renewal occurs.
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between earthly offering and divine plenitude—purifying, energizing, and sustaining the gods and the cosmic order while bestowing rayi (wealth/abundance) and vitality on the sacrificer.
  • Inner significanceAs purified consciousness, Soma symbolizes the clarified mind-force that awakens inspired speech, concentrates thought, and renews the seeker by aligning inner life with Ṛta (truth/order).

The seer

  • Soma-Pavamāna tradition (Pavamāna-ṛṣis of Mandala 9)Mandala 9 is a specialized collection devoted to Soma’s purification (pavamāna), composed by multiple seer-families; the ‘rishi’ is often transmitted as a liturgical tradition rather than a single named author.

Famous verses

ud vācam īrayati (he lifts up the word)
Verse 9.72.1Sets the core ritual and mystical frame: Soma is cleansed, poured into the kalaśa with milk, and described as the awakener of speech and thought—linking rite to inspiration.Read verse 9.72.1 →
ṛtasya yonā (womb of Ṛta)
Verse 9.72.6Highlights Soma as an inexhaustible, thunderous ‘beam’ milked by seers; the imagery culminates in movement toward the ‘womb of Ṛta’ and renewal (punar-bhuvaḥ).Read verse 9.72.6 →
स तू पवस्व परि पार्थिवं रजः स्तोत्रे शिक्षन्नाधून्वते च सुक्रतो । मा नो निर्भाग्वसुनः सादनस्पृशो रयिं पिशङ्गं बहुलं वसीमहि ॥
Verse 9.72.8A direct, practical invocation: Soma is asked to flow around the earthly realm, not to deprive the worshipper of wealth, and to grant abundant tawny plenitude.Read verse 9.72.8 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying flow (pavamāna)
  • Tawny/golden radiance
  • Inspiration of speech and thought
  • Kavi (seer-like intelligence)
  • Milk-mingled sweetness
  • Bestower of wealth and fullness (rayi, vasu)
  • Linked to Ṛta and renewal (punar-bhuvaḥ)

Also by this seer

  • Numerous Soma Pavamāna hymns across Rig Veda Mandala 9 (Soma Pavitra cycle)
  • Liturgical shaping of Soma-pressing praise used in Soma-yajña contexts

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (or prepare Soma substitute in later practice) and express the juice
  • Filter/cleanse through the pavitra (wool/strainer), ‘cleansing the tawny one’
  • Mix with milk streams (dhenubhiḥ) and pour into the kalaśa (collecting vessel)
  • Chant stotras/śastras while Soma ‘flows around the earthly realm’ and is offered
  • Make libations to the deities; conclude with prayers for wealth, protection, and continuity of Ṛta-aligned life

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (pavamāna)
  • Milk/curds mixed with Soma
  • Ghee and accompanying oblations as part of the Soma rite

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is purified through the filter and poured into the vessel with milk, and it asks him to inspire the worshipper and grant abundance.

In Vedic symbolism, purified Soma is not only a ritual drink; he is also the power that awakens inspired speech (vāc) and sets the mind’s insight (matī) in motion.

It refers to the source or seat of cosmic truth and order (Ṛta), where life and right becoming are renewed; the hymn says Soma leads energies and thoughts toward that renewing center.

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