Rig Veda Sukta 36
Mandala 9Sukta 366 Mantras

Sukta 36

Sukta 9.36

Devata

Soma Pavamāna

This short Pavamāna hymn celebrates Soma as he is released from pressing, enters the woolen filter, and streams into the twin bowls, becoming purified and empowered for the gods. The verses praise his ordered, truth-seeking flow (ṛta), his strengthening might, and his ascent toward the heavenly realm, bringing vigor, light, and heroic force to the sacrificer.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.36

Mantras

Mantra 1

असर्जि रथ्यो यथा पवित्रे चम्वोः सुतः । कार्ष्मन्वाजी न्यक्रमीत् ॥

Released like a chariot-racer, the pressed Soma enters the filter and the two bowls; as a bringer of plenitude of force, he strides down into the working-field of the rite.

Mantra 2

स वह्निः सोम जागृविः पवस्व देववीरति । अभि कोशं मधुश्चुतम् ॥

O Soma, the carrier-flame, the wakeful one—flow in your purification beyond, toward the god-heroic state; press on to the vessel that drips with honeyed delight.

Mantra 3

स नो ज्योतींषि पूर्व्य पवमान वि रोचय । क्रत्वे दक्षाय नो हिनु ॥

O Pavamāna, make the ancient lights shine out for us; urge us onward to the will of right action and to the power of effective discernment.

Mantra 4

शुम्भमान ऋतायुभिर्मृज्यमानो गभस्त्योः । पवते वारे अव्यये ॥

Adorned by the seekers of the Truth, cleansed in the hands’ rays, he flows in the imperishable stream—Soma moving as pure order and luminous delight.

Mantra 5

स विश्वा दाशुषे वसु सोमो दिव्यानि पार्थिवा । पवतामान्तरिक्ष्या ॥

May Soma, as he purifies, bring all riches to the giver—those of heaven and those of earth, and those that belong to the mid-world of life-force.

Mantra 6

आ दिवस्पृष्ठमश्वयुर्गव्ययुः सोम रोहसि । वीरयुः शवसस्पते ॥

O Soma, you ascend to the back of heaven, desiring the powers of speed, desiring the rays of illumination, desiring the heroic soul-force—O lord of might.

Inside Sukta 36

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma is released with speed and purpose, entering the filter and bowls like a chariot-racer entering the course (RV 9.36.1).

  2. Development

    He is adorned and cleansed by truth-seekers, purified in the hands’ rays, and established in an imperishable stream aligned with ṛta (RV 9.36.4).

  3. Climax

    The hymn culminates in Soma’s upward ascent—reaching the back of heaven—seeking swiftness, illumination, and heroic power (RV 9.36.6).

  4. Where it settles

    The purified Soma stands as lord of might, implicitly ready for offering: clarified, empowered, and capable of granting force and prosperity to worshippers.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaSoma as the self-purifying, pressed draught that runs through the pavitra (filter), shining as it is cleansed by hands and wool, and becoming fit for the gods.
  • Cosmic functionMediator between heaven and earth: a luminous, ordered flow that invigorates Indra and the gods, sustains ṛta (cosmic order), and distributes strength, prosperity, and inspired speech.
  • Inner significanceThe clarifying current of consciousness—purified delight (ānanda) and discernment—moving from raw impulse to refined power, enabling truth-seeking, courage, and upward aspiration.

The seer

  • Asita Kāśyapa (traditional attribution)Kāśyapa-gotra (traditional) · Associated in later Vedic tradition with ascetic insight and seer-vision; linked with Soma-Pavamāna praise in some hymn attributions where authorship is uncertain in transmission.

Famous verses

असर्जि रथ्यो यथा पवित्रे चम्वोः सुतः । कार्ष्मन्वाजी न्यक्रमीत् ॥
Verse 9.36.1Defines the central ritual image: Soma’s swift release, entry into the filter, and collection in the twin bowls—linking physical purification with empowered potency for the rite.Read verse 9.36.1 →
शुम्भमान ऋतायुभिर्मृज्यमानो गभस्त्योः । पवते वारे अव्यये ॥
Verse 9.36.4Highlights Soma’s purification by ṛtāyus (truth-seekers) and his flow in the ‘imperishable stream,’ emphasizing ṛta as both ritual correctness and cosmic order.Read verse 9.36.4 →
śavasas pate
Verse 9.36.6Expresses the spiritual climax: Soma’s ascent to heaven and his triple desire—speed, light (rays), and heroic vigor—ending with the epithet ‘lord of might.’Read verse 9.36.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Pavamāna (self-purifying)
  • Swift like a racer
  • Filtered through wool (pavitra)
  • Strength-giving (śavas, vāja)
  • Aligned with ṛta (truth-order)
  • Ascending, heaven-reaching
  • Bestower of light, cattle/wealth, and heroic vigor

Also by this seer

  • Traditional association with Soma-Pavamāna stotras in Mandala 9 (attribution varies by recension and anukramaṇī traditions)
  • Connected in later literature with the Kāśyapa seer-line prominent in Vedic and Itihāsa-Purāṇa genealogies

The rite, step by step

  • Soma stalks are brought and prepared; the pressing stones/pressing is performed (savana).
  • Juice is expressed into vessels and mixed/managed according to rite.
  • The pressed Soma is poured through the pavitra (woolen filter) for purification.
  • Purified Soma flows into the two collecting bowls (camū).
  • Libations are offered to the gods (commonly Indra and others) with recitation/chant of Pavamāna verses.
  • Remaining Soma is apportioned per ritual rules; blessings for strength, order, and prosperity are sought.

Offerings

  • Purified Soma libations
  • Ghee (as accompanying oblation in the broader rite)
  • Grain cakes/oblations as prescribed in Soma rituals (contextual)

Frequently Asked Questions

It describes Soma being pressed, running through the woolen filter, filling the bowls, and becoming purified and powerful for offering in the sacrifice.

Pavamāna means “self-purifying.” The hymn focuses on Soma’s cleansing as he flows through the filter and is made fit for the gods.

It seeks strength and plenitude (vāja/śavas), clarity and truth-order (ṛta), and an uplifting, heaven-reaching power that supports heroic vitality in the worshipper.

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