Sukta 104
Sukta 9.104
Soma Pavamāna
This short Soma Pavamāna hymn invites the ritual companions to sit, sing, and “adorn” the self-purifying Soma as it is clarified, so its splendour and prosperity may increase. It praises Soma as the finder of wealth and luminous radiance, and concludes with a protective prayer: may Soma set a secure boundary and drive away Rakṣasas and double-faced, godless harms from the sacrificers’ path.
Mantras
Mantra 1
सखाय आ नि षीदत पुनानाय प्र गायत । शिशुं न यज्ञैः परि भूषत श्रिये ॥
O companions, sit down here and sing forth to the self-purifying One. Adorn him with the works of sacrifice as one adorns a child—so that the splendour may grow.
Mantra 2
समी वत्सं न मातृभिः सृजता गयसाधनम् । देवाव्यं मदमभि द्विशवसम् ॥
Release him together, like a calf to its mothers—this delight that accomplishes life and being. Let the divine, sheep’s-wool-filtered ecstasy press toward the one of double strength.
Mantra 3
पुनाता दक्षसाधनं यथा शर्धाय वीतये । यथा मित्राय वरुणाय शंतमः ॥
May he purify into a force that accomplishes skill and right capacity—so that the host may feast rightly; so that for Mitra and Varuṇa he becomes most blissful and harmonizing.
Mantra 4
अस्मभ्यं त्वा वसुविदमभि वाणीरनूषत । गोभिष्टे वर्णमभि वासयामसि ॥
For us the voices have sounded to you, the finder of plenitude. With the rays of Light we clothe your form—making your radiance manifest around us.
Mantra 5
स नो मदानां पत इन्दो देवप्सरा असि । सखेव सख्ये गातुवित्तमो भव ॥
You are for us the lord of ecstasies, O Indu, a divine inspirer. Like a friend in friendship, become for us the best knower of the paths—leading us surely in the journey of consciousness.
Mantra 6
सनेमि कृध्यस्मदा रक्षसं कं चिदत्रिणम् । अपादेवं द्वयुमंहो युयोधि नः ॥
Make for us a secure boundary; drive away from us any devouring Rakshasa. Ward off from us the godless, double-faced harm; fight it away from our path.
Frequently Asked Questions
It accompanies the purification of Soma: the singers praise the flowing, self-purifying Soma, ask for prosperity and radiance, and end with a prayer for protection from hostile forces.
Because Soma is treated as a precious presence during the rite—carefully tended and ‘adorned’ by correct sacrificial actions, so his splendour and blessings can grow.
The hymn asks Soma to set a secure boundary and to drive away devouring Rakṣasas and ‘double-faced’ godless harm—anything deceptive or destructive that could obstruct the sacrificers.
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