Rig Veda Sukta 41
Mandala 9Sukta 416 Mantras

Sukta 41

Sukta 9.41

Devata

Soma Pavamāna (streams/forces of Soma)

This short Pavamāna hymn praises Soma in his flowing, purified form as he rushes through the filter, casting off the “black skin” of obscurity and revealing bright, tireless power. It petitions Soma to stream toward the sacrificers with abundant nourishment—cattle, gold-like radiance, horses, and victorious strength—and to encircle them with peace-giving protection. The hymn’s purpose is both ritual (empowering the soma-pressing) and spiritual (clarifying consciousness through the rasa of Soma).

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.41

Mantras

Mantra 1

प्र ये गावो न भूर्णयस्त्वेषा अयासो अक्रमुः । घ्नन्तः कृष्णामप त्वचम् ॥

Forth they surge like cattle in a whirling rush—bright, tireless energies that stride on, striking away the black skin: the covering of obscurity.

Mantra 2

सुवितस्य मनामहेऽति सेतुं दुराव्यम् । साह्वांसो दस्युमव्रतम् ॥

We take our thought toward the good passage and cross beyond the hard-to-pass bridge; as conquerors we overcome the lawless dasyu within—the power that refuses the true working.

Mantra 3

शृण्वे वृष्टेरिव स्वनः पवमानस्य शुष्मिणः । चरन्ति विद्युतो दिवि ॥

One hears, as of rain, the sound of the purifying and forceful Soma; his lightnings move in the heaven—signs of the awakened energy in the heights of consciousness.

Mantra 4

आ पवस्व महीमिषं गोमदिन्दो हिरण्यवत् । अश्वावद्वाजवत्सुतः ॥

Flow toward us, O Indu, bringing a vast nourishment—rich in rays (cows), rich in luminous splendour (gold), rich in life-force (horses), rich in plenitude of power (vāja)—you who are pressed out for the work.

Mantra 5

स पवस्व विचर्षण आ मही रोदसी पृण । उषाः सूर्यो न रश्मिभिः ॥

Flow, O universal discerner, and fill the vast two worlds; as the Dawn and the Sun with their rays, so do you flood our whole being with luminous currents.

Mantra 6

परि णः शर्मयन्त्या धारया सोम विश्वतः । सरा रसेव विष्टपम् ॥

Encircle us, O Soma, from every side with your stream that brings peace and shelter; flow through our world of settled being like rasa itself—pure essence moving everywhere.

Inside Sukta 41

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma’s streams surge forward with force and brilliance, like a rushing herd, striking off the “black skin” of concealment.

  2. Development

    The hymn turns from vivid imagery of purification to direct petitions: Soma is asked to flow toward the sacrificers with vast nourishment and manifold wealth-powers (cows, gold, horses, vāja).

  3. Climax

    The prayer peaks in the vision of Soma as universal protector—encircling the worshippers on every side with a peace-bringing stream.

  4. Where it settles

    It settles into the sense of Soma pervading the ordered world like pure essence (rasa), sustaining stable well-being and shelter.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaSoma as “Pavamāna” is the pressed and purified draught flowing in shining streams through the woolen filter, vigorous, bright, and victorious, driving away darkness and bringing delight and strength.
  • Cosmic functionHe is the purifier and energizer: a life-giving current that renews vitality, supports the gods in their functions, and establishes prosperity and protection for the sacrificer.
  • Inner significanceSoma symbolizes the clarified essence (rasa) of consciousness—when purified, it removes inner obscurity, awakens luminous perception, and stabilizes the mind in peace and shelter.

The seer

  • AnuktaThis hymn is transmitted without a clearly named seer; such anukta attributions are common in Mandala 9, where the focus rests on Soma’s liturgical flow rather than a single poet’s persona.

Famous verses

ghnantaḥ kṛṣṇām apa tvacam
Verse 9.41.1Sets the keynote image of Pavamāna: energetic streams surging forward and removing the ‘black skin’—a classic metaphor for purification and the dispelling of obscurity.Read verse 9.41.1 →
ā pavasva mahīm iṣam
Verse 9.41.4Central petition for abundance and power: Soma is invoked to bring ‘great nourishment’ endowed with cattle, gold-like radiance, horses, and vāja (victorious might).Read verse 9.41.4 →
pari ṇaḥ śarmayantyā dhārayā
Verse 9.41.6Concluding protective prayer: Soma is asked to encircle the people with a sheltering stream and to pervade their world like rasa—pure essence everywhere.Read verse 9.41.6 →

Attributes of the deity

  • purifying stream (pavamāna)
  • radiant/bright (tveṣa, hiraṇyavat)
  • tireless energy (ayāsa)
  • remover of darkness/covering (kṛṣṇā tvac)
  • giver of nourishment and wealth (iṣ, gomad)
  • protector who encircles with peace (śarma)

Also by this seer

  • Associated broadly with the Pavamāna Soma corpus of Mandala 9 (hymns used during soma purification and offering).

The rite, step by step

  • Press the soma plant and collect the expressed juice (suta).
  • Strain/purify it through the filter (pavitra), allowing the streams to “flow” as the hymn is recited.
  • Mix/prepare the soma with appropriate adjuncts according to rite (commonly with water; milk is typical in many soma contexts).
  • Offer libations to the gods (especially Indra and the Soma-deities) while invoking Soma’s protective, nourishing flow.
  • Conclude with petitions for peace, shelter, strength, and settled well-being for the community.

Offerings

  • Purified soma juice (pavamāna)
  • Libations into the fire/offerings in the soma rite
  • Common soma adjuncts (water; often milk/curds in broader practice)

Frequently Asked Questions

It praises Soma as he flows in purified streams, drives away darkness, and brings nourishment, wealth, strength, and protective peace to the worshippers.

It is a metaphor for purification: as Soma is strained, he casts off impurity; spiritually, it points to removing inner ignorance and obscurity.

It is suited to recitation during soma pressing and straining, when the juice is purified and offered, while praying for prosperity and shelter for the community.

Ask anything about Sukta 41 of the Rig Veda

Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.

Not sure where to start?

A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.

Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app

Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Continue reading in the Vedapath app

Open in App
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play