Rig Veda Sukta 82
Mandala 9Sukta 825 Mantras

Sukta 82

Sukta 9.82

Chandas

Likely Triṣṭubh (requires verification).

Dieser kurze Pavāmāna-Hymnus preist Soma, wie er frisch gepresst und gereinigt wird: Durch das unvergängliche wollene Sieb strömt er zu seinem gheehellen Sitz, wie ein Falke, der in sein Nest zurückkehrt. Die Verse verweben rituelle Bilder (Steine, Wasser, Auspressen und Sieben) mit kosmischen Entsprechungen (Parjanya, die Wasser, die „Kühe/Lichtstrahlen“) und stellen Soma als königliche Macht dar, die dem Opfer Kraft, Sieg und Wohlergehen bringt.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.82

In this hymn

Addressed to

  • Soma PavamanaSoma Pavamāna

    Soma is the pressed and purified sacred draught, ruddy, strong, tawny, praised as a kingly, wondrous force who roars toward the ‘cows’ (often read as rays of light or luminous herds) and takes his ghee-rich seat after passing the filter.

Mantras

Mantra 1

असावि सोमो अरुषो वृषा हरी राजेव दस्मो अभि गा अचिक्रदत् । पुनानो वारं पर्येत्यव्ययं श्येनो न योनिं घृतवन्तमासदम् ॥

Ausgepresst ist Soma, rötlich, ein mächtiger Stier, falb; wie ein König ruft der Wunderbare zu den Kühen des Lichts. Sich läuternd umkreist er das unvergängliche Sieb; wie ein Falke sein Nest sucht er den ghee‑reichen Sitz.

Mantra 2

कविर्वेधस्या पर्येषि माहिनमत्यो न मृष्टो अभि वाजमर्षसि । अपसेधन्दुरिता सोम मृळय घृतं वसानः परि यासि निर्णिजम् ॥

O Soma, Seher und Wissender, du umkreisest alles in deiner weiten Größe; wie ein wohlgestriegeltes Ross stürmst du auf vā́ja zu – die Fülle der Kraft und des sieghaften Vollmaßes. Die krummen Gänge der Not abwehrend, sei uns gnädig. In leuchtende Klarheit (ghṛtá) gehüllt, kreist du und nimmst das reinigende Gewand (nirṇíj) an.

Mantra 3

पर्जन्यः पिता महिषस्य पर्णिनो नाभा पृथिव्या गिरिषु क्षयं दधे । स्वसार आपो अभि गा उतासरन्त्सं ग्रावभिर्नसते वीते अध्वरे ॥

Parjanya, wie ein Vater, setzt dem Mächtigen eine Wohnstatt an den Nabel der Erde, in den Höhen; und die Schwester-Wasser strömen zu den Strahlen, zu den Kühen des Lichts. Mit den Presssteinen kommen sie zusammen im weit ausgebreiteten Opfer (adhvará), im ausgepressten (vīta) Ritus – damit die Kräfte sich vereinen und die Wonne geboren und bereitet werde.

Mantra 4

जायेव पत्यावधि शेव मंहसे पज्राया गर्भ शृणुहि ब्रवीमि ते । अन्तर्वाणीषु प्र चरा सु जीवसेऽनिन्द्यो वृजने सोम जागृहि ॥

Wie eine Gattin an ihrem Herrn bringst du heilsame Freude und weite Fülle dar; o Keim des Pajra-Geschlechts, höre, was ich dir sage. Wandle inmitten der Stimmen – ziehe umher in den Kräften der Rede – zum rechten, vollen Leben. O Soma, Tadelloser, erwache im Feld unseres Seins.

Mantra 5

यथा पूर्वेभ्यः शतसा अमृध्रः सहस्रसाः पर्यया वाजमिन्दो । एवा पवस्व सुविताय नव्यसे तव व्रतमन्वापः सचन्ते ॥

Wie einst, o Indu, zogst du ringsumher und gewannst vāja hundertfach, tausendfach, ohne Fehl — so läutere dich nun zu neuem, weiterem Heil. Die Wasser folgen deinem vrata; sie stimmen deinem Weg zu und tragen deine verordnete Bewegung.

Inside Sukta 82

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is born by pressing—ruddy, powerful, kinglike—crying out toward the luminous ‘cows/rays’ and setting the hymn’s tone of dynamic emergence.

  2. Development

    The hymn expands the scene into a cosmic-liturgical convergence: Parjanya as fatherly rain-force, the Waters as sisters, and the stones and streams cooperating to prepare Soma in the sacrifice.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s triumphant purification through the imperishable filter and arrival at the ghee-rich seat—an image of perfected potency made fit for offering and blessing.

  4. Where it settles

    A remembered pattern of past victories (hundredfold, thousandfold) becomes a present prayer: ‘purify now for new felicity,’ with the Waters following Soma’s ordained law (vrata).

The deity: Soma Pavāmāna

  • Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and inspiration: he links heaven, earth, waters, and rain (Parjanya), quickens fertility, and empowers gods and sacrificers through the consecrated drink.
  • Inner significanceThe refining of Soma through the filter symbolizes the purification of consciousness—raw impulse and power becoming clarified insight, joy, and disciplined strength aligned with ṛta (cosmic order).

The seer

  • Anirukta (R̥ṣi not securely identified for RV 9.82)This hymn belongs to the Mandala 9 Pavāmāna collection, where many sūktas are transmitted as part of the Soma-pressing tradition and are not always securely attributable from a small excerpt alone.

Famous verses

avyayaṃ vāram (the imperishable filter)
Verse 9.82.1Defines the core Pavāmāna imagery: Soma’s kingly power, his movement through the imperishable filter, and his settling into the ghee-rich seat—ritual action mapped to cosmic symbolism.Read verse 9.82.1 →
पर्जन्यः पिता महिषस्य पर्णिनो नाभा पृथिव्या गिरिषु क्षयं दधे । स्वसार आपो अभि गा उतासरन्त्सं ग्रावभिर्नसते वीते अध्वरे ॥
Verse 9.82.3Brings in Parjanya and the Waters to show Soma’s purification as a coordinated cosmic process—rain, rivers, stones, and sacrifice all converging to ‘make ready’ the divine drink.Read verse 9.82.3 →
tava vratam anv āpaḥ sacante (the Waters follow your law)
Verse 9.82.5Concludes with the hymn’s practical wish: as Soma once granted victory and vāja in vast measure, so may he purify now for fresh well-being; emphasizes ṛta/vrata as the law the Waters follow.Read verse 9.82.5 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying (pavāmāna)
  • Kingly, victorious power
  • Ruddy/tawny brilliance
  • Moves through the imperishable filter (avyaya vāra)
  • Allied with Waters and rain-force (Parjanya)
  • Giver of vāja (strength, prize, victory)

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with the Pavāmāna Soma corpus (RV 9), a specialized liturgical cycle for Soma purification and offering.
  • Connected with the ritual-poetic tradition of Soma stotras used in the pressing (abhiṣava) and straining (pavana) sequences.

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma with stones (grāvan) to express the juice.
  • Mix/guide the flow with Waters (āpaḥ), ritually and symbolically.
  • Strain through the woolen filter (vāra), described as imperishable (avyaya).
  • Collect the purified Soma in vessels; seat it in the ghee-bright place of offering.
  • Offer Soma in the well-spread sacrifice (adhvara) with recitation of Pavāmāna verses for strength and well-being.

Offerings

  • Purified Soma (Indu)
  • Ghee (ghṛta) as the bright, nourishing accompaniment
  • Libations in the Soma vessels (grahas)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he is pressed and purified, describing his passage through the straining filter and his readiness to be offered in the sacrifice for strength, victory, and well-being.

They express the idea that Soma’s power is not only ritual but cosmic: rain-force (Parjanya) and the Waters cooperate in nourishing, flowing, and purifying—mirroring how Soma is prepared and how life is sustained.

Ritually it is the woolen strainer used to clarify Soma; symbolically it suggests a timeless principle of purification—power becoming fit, luminous, and aligned with sacred order (vrata/ṛta).

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