Rig Veda Sukta 98
Mandala 9Sukta 9812 Mantras

Sukta 98

Sukta 9.98

Devata

Soma Pavamāna (Indu)

Dieser Pavamāna-Soma-Hymnus preist Indu, wie er durch Wasser und wollene Filter gereinigt wird; man bittet ihn, zu den Sängern zu „strömen“ und reichen Wohlstand, Kraft und Sieg zu bringen. Während Somās geklärter Strom emporsteigt, erscheint er in freudiger Eintracht mit allen Göttern, stärkt die Opfernden und öffnet das „Haus“ der Fülle. Der Hymnus gipfelt in dem gemeinsamen Wunsch der Seher und Gefährten, Somās strahlender Führung teilhaft zu werden und dauerhafte Stärke und Gedeihen zu sichern.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.98

Mantras

Mantra 1

अभि नो वाजसातमं रयिमर्ष पुरुस्पृहम् । इन्दो सहस्रभर्णसं तुविद्युम्नं विभ्वासहम् ॥

Ströme zu uns, o Indu, als reichster Sieggewinn, als vielbegehrter Reichtum; o Indu, tausendtragende Fülle, weithin leuchtend, alles Widerstehen überwindend.

Mantra 2

परि ष्य सुवानो अव्ययं रथे न वर्माव्यत । इन्दुरभि द्रुणा हितो हियानो धाराभिरक्षाः ॥

Ausgepresst umhüllt er sich mit dem wollenen Überzug wie mit einem Panzer am Wagen; Indu, auf die hölzernen Bottiche gelegt, eilt dahin und ergießt sich in seinen Strömen.

Mantra 3

परि ष्य सुवानो अक्षा इन्दुरव्ये मदच्युतः । धारा य ऊर्ध्वो अध्वरे भ्राजा नैति गव्ययुः ॥

Ausgepresst strömt Indu durch die Wolle, sein Rausch verfließt nicht. Der Strom, der im Opfergang (adhvara) aufwärts steigt, zieht wie ein Glänzender dahin, auf der Suche nach den lichten Herden des Lichts.

Mantra 4

स हि त्वं देव शश्वते वसु मर्ताय दाशुषे । इन्दो सहस्रिणं रयिं शतात्मानं विवाससि ॥

Denn du, o göttlicher Indu, gewährst dem sterblichen Spender ein bleibendes Gut: tausendfachen Reichtum, einen Schatz von hundert Kräften — so lässt du ihn in Weite und Wohlergehen wohnen.

Mantra 5

वयं ते अस्य वृत्रहन्वसो वस्वः पुरुस्पृहः । नि नेदिष्ठतमा इषः स्याम सुम्नस्याध्रिगो ॥

Wir, die wir nach deinen vielen Reichtümern verlangen, o Vasu, o Vṛtrahan, möchten am nächsten zu den Strömen des Antriebs gesetzt sein; mögen wir Träger deiner Gnade sein, o Adhrigu, ungebrochen in unserem Tragen.

Mantra 6

द्विर्यं पञ्च स्वयशसं स्वसारो अद्रिसंहतम् । प्रियमिन्द्रस्य काम्यं प्रस्नापयन्त्यूर्मिणम् ॥

Zweimal fünf Schwesterkräfte baden ihn – den selbstruhmvollen, mit den Steinen gepressten; ihn, der Indra lieb und begehrenswert ist; sie reinigen und lassen seine Woge der Wonne aufwallen.

Mantra 7

परि त्यं हर्यतं हरिं बभ्रुं पुनन्ति वारेण । यो देवान्विश्वाँ इत्परि मदेन सह गच्छति ॥

Ringsum reinigen sie jenen geliebten, fahlgoldenen Soma, den goldbraunen, mit läuterndem Wasser; ihn, der im Rausch seiner Wonne alle Götter umgreift und mit ihnen in Einung geht.

Mantra 8

अस्य वो ह्यवसा पान्तो दक्षसाधनम् । यः सूरिषु श्रवो बृहद्दधे स्वर्ण हर्यतः ॥

Denn durch seine Hilfe ist er wahrlich euer Schützer, ein Wirker wirksamer Kraft; er, der geliebte Lichtglänzende, begründet unter den ṛṣi weiten Ruhm — wie der Glanz des sonnenhellen Himmels.

Mantra 9

स वां यज्ञेषु मानवी इन्दुर्जनिष्ट रोदसी । देवो देवी गिरिष्ठा अस्रेधन्तं तुविष्वणि ॥

Dieser Indu wird euch in den menschlichen Opfern geboren, o Himmel und Erde; ein Gott für die göttlichen Mächte, bergsitzend, unermüdlich, mit gewaltigem Klang dröhnend.

Mantra 10

इन्द्राय सोम पातवे वृत्रघ्ने परि षिच्यसे । नरे च दक्षिणावते देवाय सदनासदे ॥

Für Indra, o Soma, zum Trank — für Indra, den Vṛtra-Schlächter — wirst du ringsum ausgegossen; und für den Helden, der die rechte Gabe trägt, für den Gott, den göttlichen, der auf den Sitzen thront.

Mantra 11

ते प्रत्नासो व्युष्टिषु सोमाः पवित्रे अक्षरन् । अपप्रोथन्तः सनुतर्हुरश्चितः प्रातस्ताँ अप्रचेतसः ॥

Jene uralten Somas, beim Aufdämmern, wenn die Nächte auseinanderweichen, strömten durch den Läuterer (pavitra). Das Feindliche zurückstoßend, treiben sie es von oben herab — am Morgen — jene Regungen, denen rechtes Gewahrsein fehlt.

Mantra 12

तं सखायः पुरोरुचं यूयं वयं च सूरयः । अश्याम वाजगन्ध्यं सनेम वाजपस्त्यम् ॥

Jenen strahlenden Vorläufer, o Freunde — ihr und wir, die Erleuchteten (sūrayas) — mögen wir erreichen; mögen wir den Duft der Fülle an Kraft gewinnen; mögen wir Heim und Grund dieser Fülle erobern.

Inside Sukta 98

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    A direct invocation for Indu to flow toward the singers with the most winning wealth—abundant, thousand-bearing, and resistance-conquering power.

  2. Development

    The hymn dwells on Soma’s purification: the beloved tawny/golden Soma is cleansed with water, and his delighted ecstasy is portrayed as encompassing and accompanying all the gods.

  3. Climax

    Soma’s purified might is affirmed as vast luminous force that brings victory and plenitude, aligning the sacrificers with divine companionship and power.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn closes with a shared prayer of ‘friends’ and ‘illumined ones’ to attain the radiant-forerunner Soma and win the fragrance, home, and foundation of vāja (plenitude of force).

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaIndu is the pressed Soma-juice “purifying” (pavamāna) as it runs through the filter, tawny/golden-brown, radiant, exhilarating, and bountiful—bringing rayi (wealth), vāja (victorious force), and wide luminous power.
  • Cosmic functionMediates between human rite and divine realm: through purification and offering he invigorates the gods, sustains ṛta (right order), and releases prosperity, strength, and victorious momentum to the sacrificer.
  • Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness and inspired vitality—ecstasy disciplined by purification—so that inner power becomes luminous, focused, and capable of overcoming resistances.

The seer

  • Ascribed to a Soma-Pavamāna seer (Anukramaṇī tradition; specific name uncertain)Associated with the Ninth Maṇḍala’s Pavamāna corpus—hymns that poetically track Soma’s ritual purification and his role as inspirer, wealth-giver, and divine energizer.

Famous verses

अभि नो वाजसातमं रयिमर्ष पुरुस्पृहम् । इन्दो सहस्रभर्णसं तुविद्युम्नं विभ्वासहम् ॥
Verse 9.98.1Sets the hymn’s central petition: Soma’s purifying flow is asked to bring the richest, most victory-winning wealth—abundance and power that overcomes all resistances.Read verse 9.98.1 →
परि त्यं हर्यतं हरिं बभ्रुं पुनन्ति वारेण । यो देवान्विश्वाँ इत्परि मदेन सह गच्छति ॥
Verse 9.98.7Iconic purification image: Soma is cleansed all around with water, and his ecstatic power is said to move with and encompass all the gods—linking ritual process with cosmic communion.Read verse 9.98.7 →
तं सखायः पुरोरुचं यूयं वयं च सूरयः । अश्याम वाजगन्ध्यं सनेम वाजपस्त्यम् ॥
Verse 9.98.12Concluding communal aspiration: the companions seek the radiant-forerunner Soma and the enduring ‘home’ of plenitude—turning praise into a shared spiritual and material goal.Read verse 9.98.12 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifying flow (pavamāna)
  • Radiance/brightness (dyumna, puraḥruc)
  • Bestower of wealth and victorious force (rayi, vāja)
  • Exhilarating ecstasy (mada)
  • All-conquering energy (vibhvāsah)
  • Companion of the gods, moving in concord with them

Also by this seer

  • Part of the broader RV 9 Pavamāna collection traditionally linked to multiple seer-families (e.g., Kaṇva, Atri, Vasiṣṭha, etc.), where individual hymn attributions can vary by recension and anukramaṇī notes.
  • Contributes to the Soma-ritual theology: Soma as purified brilliance that strengthens Indra and the gods, and as the inner force of inspired speech (dhī).

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (savana) and mix with water for purification.
  • Filter through wool/strainers (pavitra), letting the stream ‘flow forth’ as Pavamāna.
  • Collect the clarified Soma; accompany with chants praising his abundance, radiance, and victory-giving power.
  • Offer portions in the fire and/or to the gods (notably Indra and the All-Gods), invoking strength and prosperity for the sacrificer.
  • Conclude with communal aspiration: may the companions attain Soma’s radiant lead and secure the ‘home’ of plenitude.

Offerings

  • Pressed Soma-juice (Indu)
  • Purifying water used in cleansing the Soma
  • Ghee and ancillary oblations as part of the Soma-yajña context

Frequently Asked Questions

The deity is Soma Pavamāna (Indu)—Soma as the purified, flowing juice during the ritual filtering process.

As Soma is purified, he is asked to flow toward the worshippers with abundant wealth, victorious strength, and radiant power that removes obstacles and supports the gods.

Because the hymn is meant for the Soma-pressing rite: the poetry mirrors Soma’s real movement through water and filters, and also symbolizes inner purification leading to clarity and power.

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