Rig Veda Sukta 73
Mandala 9Sukta 739 Mantras

Sukta 73

Sukta 9.73

Devata

Soma Pavamāna with strong invocation of Varuṇa and Ṛta (purifying Soma as the power that clarifies Vāc and guards vrata)

Chandas

Jagatī (probable for RV 9.73; verify against a metrical count in a critical edition)

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist den reinigenden Strom des Soma, wie er durch das pavitra gesiebt wird, leuchtende Inspiration hervorbringt und Indras Kraft stärkt. Wiederholt verknüpft der Hymnus die Klärung des Soma mit der Klärung der Vāc (inspirierte Rede) und mit dem Schutz des vrata (heiliges Gesetz/Gelübde, Observanz) unter Varuṇa und Ṛta und stellt die Reinigung sowohl als rituellen Vollzug wie als kosmisch-moralische Ordnung dar.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.73

Mantras

Mantra 1

स्रक्वे द्रप्सस्य धमतः समस्वरन्नृतस्य योना समरन्त नाभयः । त्रीन्त्स मूर्ध्नो असुरश्चक्र आरभे सत्यस्य नावः सुकृतमपीपरन् ॥

Für den ausströmenden Tropfen klangen die Lippen (der Pressung) im Einklang; die Nabel‑Mittepunkte liefen zusammen in den Schoß des Ṛta. Er, der Asura, setzte drei Gipfel‑Stützen zum Halt; und die Schiffe der Wahrheit ließen das wohl‑Gewirkte in uns anschwellen und wachsen.

Mantra 2

सम्यक्सम्यञ्चो महिषा अहेषत सिन्धोरूर्मावधि वेना अवीविपन् । मधोर्धाराभिर्जनयन्तो अर्कमित्प्रियामिन्द्रस्य तन्वमवीवृधन् ॥

Gerade, geradlinig stürmten die Mächtigen dahin; auf der Woge des Sindhu erbebten die Begehrenden (venā́) und ließen sie erzittern. Mit Strömen von Honig brachten sie den Ark hervor, den lichtvollen Hymnus, und mehrten im Sein den geliebten Leib Indras.

Mantra 3

पवित्रवन्तः परि वाचमासते पितैषां प्रत्नो अभि रक्षति व्रतम् । महः समुद्रं वरुणस्तिरो दधे धीरा इच्छेकुर्धरुणेष्वारभम् ॥

Von der Kraft der Läuterung erfüllt, sitzen sie rings um das inspirierte Wort (Vāc). Der uralte Vater in ihnen behütet ihr Gelübde, das Gesetz rechten Wirkens. Varuṇa legt gleichsam einen Schleier über den großen Ozean der Weite; die Erleuchteten verlangen, die tragenden Fundamente zu ergreifen.

Mantra 4

सहस्रधारेऽव ते समस्वरन्दिवो नाके मधुजिह्वा असश्चतः । अस्य स्पशो न नि मिषन्ति भूर्णयः पदेपदे पाशिनः सन्ति सेतवः ॥

Aus dir, dem Tausendströmigen, steigen vereint die honigzüngigen Ströme empor — unaufhörlich — auf der Höhe des Himmels. Seine Wächter blinzeln nicht; auf Schritt und Tritt sind da die Bandhalter, die Erbauer der Übergänge — Hüter des Durchgangs.

Mantra 5

पितुर्मातुरध्या ये समस्वरन्नृचा शोचन्तः संदहन्तो अव्रतान् । इन्द्रद्विष्टामप धमन्ति मायया त्वचमसिक्नीं भूमनो दिवस्परि ॥

Aus Vater und Mutter steigen sie durch die ṛc in ein einziges Zusammenklingen empor; brennend verzehren sie die Ungebundenen, die Gesetzlosen. Durch die Macht der māyā blasen sie die dunkle Haut fort, die Indra verhasst ist, aus der weiten Ausdehnung rings um den Himmel.

Mantra 6

प्रत्नान्मानादध्या ये समस्वरञ्छ्लोकयन्त्रासो रभसस्य मन्तवः । अपानक्षासो बधिरा अहासत ऋतस्य पन्थां न तरन्ति दुष्कृतः ॥

Aus dem uralten Maß steigen sie in ein einziges Zusammenklingen empor—diese Gedanken, an den śloka angeschirrt, vom stürmischen Drang getrieben. Doch die Übeltäter—achsenlos, taub—fallen ab; den Pfad des ṛta überschreiten sie nicht.

Mantra 7

सहस्रधारे वितते पवित्र आ वाचं पुनन्ति कवयो मनीषिणः । रुद्रास एषामिषिरासो अद्रुहः स्पशः स्वञ्चः सुदृशो नृचक्षसः ॥

Im tausendströmigen, weithin ausgebreiteten Läuterer reinigen die Seher und Denker das Wort. Rudra-gleich sind ihre Kräfte—schnell, ohne Trug; ihre Wächter sind selbstgerade, klarblickend, mit dem Auge, das den Menschen erkennt.

Mantra 8

ऋतस्य गोपा न दभाय सुक्रतुस्त्री ष पवित्रा हृद्यन्तरा दधे । विद्वान्त्स विश्वा भुवनाभि पश्यत्यवाजुष्टान्विध्यति कर्ते अव्रतान् ॥

Er ist der Hirt und Hüter des ṛta, nicht zu täuschen, von lauterem, vollkommenem Willen; die drei Läuterer legt er ins Innere des Herzens. Wissend schaut er auf alle Welten; er schlägt die Unwillkommenen nieder, die Gesetzlosen, die Unordnung schmieden.

Mantra 9

ऋतस्य तन्तुर्विततः पवित्र आ जिह्वाया अग्रे वरुणस्य मायया । धीराश्चित्तत्समिनक्षन्त आशतात्रा कर्तमव पदात्यप्रभुः ॥

Der Faden des ṛta ist ausgespannt als Läuterer, durch Varuṇas gestaltende māyā vorn auf die Zungenspitze gesetzt. Selbst die Weisen müssen sich daran anschließen — und gelangen hin. Hier stürzt der Schöpfer der Krümmung, Schritt um Schritt, machtlos.

Inside Sukta 73

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    The hymn opens with the surge and straight-going movement of the purifying powers, presenting Soma as a mighty current over the ocean-wave, already oriented toward clarity and right direction.

  2. Development

    Streams of ‘honey’ generate arka (illumined hymn) and increase Indra’s strength; purification is shown not only as physical filtration but as the making of inspired speech and ordered power.

  3. Climax

    Vāc is explicitly cleansed in the vast, thousand-streamed purifier; Varuṇa appears as guardian of vrata and as the one who ‘veils’ the great ocean of the Vast, while the dhīraḥ (illumined seekers) strive to grasp the supporting foundations (dharuṇāni).

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles into the image of disciplined, vigilant forces—Rudra-like energies and clear-seeing watchers—suggesting a stabilized order where purified Soma supports truthful speech, protected observance, and effective divine-human action.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaSoma Pavamāna is Soma ‘in the act of purification’—the pressed, flowing, clarified draught that runs in streams through the strainer, becoming bright, honeyed, and fit for the gods. In this hymn, Soma’s purification is explicitly tied to purifying Vāc and to the guardianship of vrata, with Varuṇa portrayed as the great upholder who veils and orders the Vast according to Ṛta.
  • Cosmic functionAs the purified current, Soma renews vitality, empowers Indra for victorious action, and sustains Ṛta by aligning sacrifice, speech, and conduct with cosmic order; Varuṇa’s presence signals moral-cosmic regulation (vrata) alongside ritual correctness.
  • Inner significanceSoma’s ‘filtering’ signifies the refinement of consciousness: impulses and speech are clarified into truthful, effective expression (Vāc), while the will is steadied into disciplined right action (vrata) under the light of Ṛta.

The seer

  • Anukta (Pavamāna Soma tradition)This hymn belongs to the Mandala 9 Soma-Pavamāna corpus where many hymns are transmitted without a firmly fixed individual r̥ṣi attribution in common summaries; the poetic voice reflects the specialist Soma-pressing and straining tradition centered on purification, Ṛta, and inspired speech.

Famous verses

सम्यक्सम्यञ्चो महिषा अहेषत सिन्धोरूर्मावधि वेना अवीविपन् । मधोर्धाराभिर्जनयन्तो अर्कमित्प्रियामिन्द्रस्य तन्वमवीवृधन् ॥
Verse 9.73.2Key statement of the hymn’s dynamic: the straight-going surge of the purifying current, the ‘honey-streams’ that bring forth arka (illumined chant), and Soma’s role in strengthening Indra—central to Pavamāna ritual purpose.Read verse 9.73.2 →
पवित्रवन्तः परि वाचमासते पितैषां प्रत्नो अभि रक्षति व्रतम् । महः समुद्रं वरुणस्तिरो दधे धीरा इच्छेकुर्धरुणेष्वारभम् ॥
Verse 9.73.3Most explicit nexus of themes: purification around Vāc, the ‘Ancient Father’ guarding vrata, and Varuṇa’s ṛta-governed sovereignty over the ‘great ocean of the Vast’; it articulates inner purification and cosmic law together.Read verse 9.73.3 →
सहस्रधारे वितते पवित्र आ वाचं पुनन्ति कवयो मनीषिणः । रुद्रास एषामिषिरासो अद्रुहः स्पशः स्वञ्चः सुदृशो नृचक्षसः ॥
Verse 9.73.7Iconic Pavamāna imagery of the ‘thousand-streamed’ purifier where seers cleanse Vāc; introduces the Rudra-like, swift, non-malicious energies and the vigilant spaśaḥ (watchers), highlighting disciplined perception and protection.Read verse 9.73.7 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Pavamāna: self-clarifying, brightening flow
  • Honeyed streams (madhu-dhārāḥ) that generate inspired hymn/illumination (arka)
  • Purifier of Vāc (speech/vision)
  • Strengthener of Indra’s tanū (power-body/force)
  • Aligned with Ṛta and guarded by Varuṇa’s vrata
  • Associated with vigilant ‘watchers’ (spaśaḥ) and swift Rudra-like energies

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with the Soma Pavamāna hymn families of Mandala 9 (RV 9) rather than a single identifiable authorial r̥ṣi.
  • Thematic contribution: integrates Soma’s physical filtration with Varuṇa’s guardianship of vrata and the unveiling/veiling of the ‘great ocean’ (mahaḥ samudra), a hallmark of Ṛta-centered contemplation in Pavamāna poetry.

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (savana) and collect the expressed juice.
  • Strain through the pavitra (filter/strainer), ‘thousand-streamed’ and widely spread, while chanting Pavamāna verses.
  • Mix/prepare Soma with appropriate adjuncts (as the rite prescribes) and keep it ritually protected and orderly (vrata/ṛta emphasis).
  • Offer clarified Soma in libations, especially in connection with Indra; accompany with hymns that ‘bring forth arka’ (illumined chant).
  • Conclude with remaining portions distributed according to the ritual system, maintaining purity of speech and conduct throughout.

Offerings

  • Clarified Soma (pavamāna soma) libations
  • Associated oblations as per Soma rite (e.g., ghee/clarifying accompaniments depending on śrauta procedure)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma while it is being purified through the ritual filter, describing how the clarified flow strengthens Indra and also purifies inspired speech (Vāc) and right observance (vrata) under Ṛta.

Varuṇa is closely linked with Ṛta and vrata (cosmic and moral order). The hymn invokes him to show that Soma’s purification is not only physical but also an ordering of truth, discipline, and right action.

Alongside the literal filtering of Soma, it symbolizes refining speech and insight—making expression truthful, luminous, and effective, like Soma becoming clear and fit for offering.

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