Rig Veda Sukta 77
Mandala 9Sukta 775 Mantras

Sukta 77

Sukta 9.77

Dieser kurze Pavamāna-Hymnus preist Soma, wie er geläutert und im Gefäß bereitet wird: Er leuchtet als Indras Vajra — eine unwiderstehliche Kraft, die Sieg und Fülle bringt. Die Verse schildern den gefilterten Soma als süß, strahlend und das Gesetz (ṛta) tragend; er zieht die reichen Ströme ghee-gleicher Essenz an sich und erfüllt den Opfernden mit Stärke, „Strahlen“ (go) und inspirierter Rede. Im Schlussgang wird der Soma-Strom mit den weiten, verlässlichen Mächten Varuṇas und Mitras identifiziert, sodass die Läuterung nicht nur ein ritueller Akt ist, sondern eine Harmonisierung kosmischer Ordnung und innerer Wahrheit.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.77

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna (as Indra’s vajra-form)

    Soma is the pressed and filtered sacred drink, ‘pavamāna’ as he runs clear through the wool/strainer into the vessel, sweet (madhumat), radiant (vapuṣo vapuṣṭara), and compelling like Indra’s thunderbolt.

Mantras

Mantra 1

एष प्र कोशे मधुमाँ अचिक्रददिन्द्रस्य वज्रो वपुषो वपुष्टरः । अभीमृतस्य सुदुघा घृतश्चुतो वाश्रा अर्षन्ति पयसेव धेनवः ॥

Dieser ruft laut im Gefäß, voll honigsüßer Wonne – Indras Donnerkeil, an Glanz noch glänzender als Glanz. Zu ihm strömen die reich melkenden Ströme der Wahrheit, von geklärter Fülle triefend; sie eilen wie brüllende Kühe, gleichsam mit Milch.

Mantra 2

स पूर्व्यः पवते यं दिवस्परि श्येनो मथायदिषितस्तिरो रजः । स मध्व आ युवते वेविजान इत्कृशानोरस्तुर्मनसाह बिभ्युषा ॥

Jener Uralte läutert sich und strömt – den der Falke von dorther brachte, vom Himmel her, quer durch den Luftraum. Mit honigsüßer Wonne eilt er heran, vor Kraft bebend; selbst vor Kṛśānu, dem Bogenschützen, vor seinem Bogen, fürchtete er sich im Sinn.

Mantra 3

ते नः पूर्वास उपरास इन्दवो महे वाजाय धन्वन्तु गोमते । ईक्षेण्यासो अह्यो न चारवो ब्रह्मब्रह्म ये जुजुषुर्हविर्हविः ॥

Mögen uns jene früheren und späteren Soma-Tropfen, o Indus, zur großen Kraftfülle, reich an Strahlen und Rindern, dahineilen. Sichtbar und schnell wie Schlangen – die jedes Opfer mit jedem Mantra annehmen –, mögen sie in uns sich regen: Mantra um Mantra, Gabe um Gabe.

Mantra 4

अयं नो विद्वान्वनवद्वनुष्यत इन्दुः सत्राचा मनसा पुरुष्टुतः । इनस्य यः सदने गर्भमादधे गवामुरुब्जमभ्यर्षति व्रजम् ॥

Dieser Soma, der Wissende, erringt uns (das Verborgene), wie einer, der die Wälder sucht; geradlinig schreitet er mit dem Geist, von vielen gepriesen. Er, der im Sitz den Keim einsetzt, stürmt zum weiten Gehege der Strahlen — zum Pferch, wo die leuchtenden Herden gesammelt sind.

Mantra 5

चक्रिर्दिवः पवते कृत्व्यो रसो महाँ अदब्धो वरुणो हुरुग्यते । असावि मित्रो वृजनेषु यज्ञियोऽत्यो न यूथे वृषयुः कनिक्रदत् ॥

Der Vollbringer rechter Wirkungen, die weithin wirkende Essenz, strömt aus dem leuchtenden Himmel herab; groß ist er, unverrätlich — Varuṇa, die Macht des weiten Gesetzes, der in weiten Räumen sich bewegt. Auch Mitra wird ausgepresst in den Gefilden unseres Seins, opferwürdig; wie ein starker Hengst in der Herde wiehert er laut.

Inside Sukta 77

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is heard and seen in the vessel—sweet, radiant, and explicitly named as Indra’s vajra-like power.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands the imagery: streams of ṛta and ghee-like richness flow toward him; the Soma-drops, ancient and later, speed toward great strength and ‘rays,’ accepting offering and mantra in a continuous inner movement.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s purified force is universalized: he flows from the luminous heaven as the ‘right-doer’ essence, vast and unbetrayable—identified with Varuṇa’s wide law and Mitra’s sacrificial harmony.

  4. Where it settles

    The flow culminates in a vigorous, victorious drive—like a strong stallion crying within the herd—leaving the hearer with energized aspiration and ordered power ready for ritual offering and inner conquest.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between heaven and earth through sacrifice, quickening the gods, strengthening Indra for victory, and establishing the flow of ṛta (cosmic truth/order) as abundance, inspiration, and protection.
  • Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness and concentrated life-force: when filtered, it becomes decisive will (vajra), luminous discernment, and mantra-powered aspiration that aligns the seeker with truth and right action.

Famous verses

indrasya vajro vapuṣo vapuṣṭaraḥ
Verse 9.77.1Defines the hymn’s central vision: Soma in the vessel as ‘Indra’s vajra,’ sweeter-than-sweet and more radiant than radiance, with ṛta’s rich streams flowing to him.Read verse 9.77.1 →
brahma-brahma ye jujuṣur havir-haviḥ
Verse 9.77.3Links Soma-drops across time (‘ancient and later’) to the goal of vāja and go (strength and rays/cattle), and highlights the mantra-offering reciprocity (havir-haviḥ; brahma-brahma).Read verse 9.77.3 →
चक्रिर्दिवः पवते कृत्व्यो रसो महाँ अदब्धो वरुणो हुरुग्यते । असावि मित्रो वृजनेषु यज्ञियोऽत्यो न यूथे वृषयुः कनिक्रदत् ॥
Verse 9.77.5Reveals Soma’s cosmic breadth by invoking Varuṇa and Mitra as active powers in the Soma-flow—right action, vast law, and sacrificial harmony—ending with a forceful, stallion-like cry.Read verse 9.77.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Pavamāna (self-purifying, flowing clear)
  • Madhumat (honey-sweet delight)
  • Vajra-like force (Indra’s empowering might)
  • Ṛta-linked (streams of Truth)
  • Ghee-dripping richness (ghṛtaścuta)
  • Swift, visible movement (serpent-like imagery)
  • Wide-law power (Varuṇa aspect)
  • Harmonizing, sacrificial friendliness (Mitra aspect)

Also by this seer

  • General participation in Mandala 9’s Soma-Pavamāna hymns (praise of Soma in the act of filtration and pressing).

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma on the soma-stones and collect the juice.
  • Filter/purify through wool or strainer into the vessel (kośa/droṇa), reciting Pavamāna verses.
  • Offer purified Soma in libations to Indra (and associated deities), maintaining ṛta through correct chant and measure.
  • Complete with additional offerings and prayers for vāja (victorious force), go (rays/cattle), and protection under Varuṇa–Mitra order.

Offerings

  • Purified Soma juice (pavamāna)
  • Ghee (as accompanying oblation and as the hymn’s symbolic ‘richness’)
  • Havis offerings paired with mantras (havir-haviḥ)

Frequently Asked Questions

The hymn praises Soma Pavamāna—Soma as he is purified and made ready for offering—described as Indra’s thunderbolt-like power.

Because purified Soma is seen as the force that empowers Indra to overcome obstacles; spiritually, it represents a concentrated, decisive energy born from purification.

The final verse shows Soma’s flow as carrying the powers of Varuṇa (vast, unbreakable cosmic law) and Mitra (harmony and right relationship), so the ritual purification also signifies alignment with ṛta.

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