Sukta 80
Sukta 9.80
Traditionally attributed to seers of the Soma Pavamāna corpus; specific r̥ṣi for RV 9.80.2 not securely inferable from the provided excerpt alone.
Soma Pavamāna (Soma in the act of purification), with explicit orientation 'for Indra' (इन्द्राय).
Likely Triṣṭubh (common in RV 9; requires full metrical count confirmation).
This Soma Pavamāna hymn praises Soma as he is pressed, released, and purified into a radiant, thousand-streamed flow meant especially to exhilarate Indra and sustain the divine order. Soma is celebrated as the bull of ecstasy who repels life-diminishing forces, brings fame and strength, and moves like a river-wave through the waters toward the gods.
Mantras
Mantra 2
यं त्वा वाजिन्नघ्न्या अभ्यनूषतायोहतं योनिमा रोहसि द्युमान् । मघोनामायुः प्रतिरन्महि श्रव इन्द्राय सोम पवसे वृषा मदः ॥
O Soma, forceful and victorious, the luminous powers (the unharmable Cows of Light) have chanted to thee; thou ascendest the iron-struck womb (the firm vessel of formation), shining with radiance. Repelling what diminishes the life of the givers, thou becomest vast fame and strength for Indra; thou flowest as the Bull of ecstasy, the rapturous energy.
Mantra 3
एन्द्रस्य कुक्षा पवते मदिन्तम ऊर्जं वसानः श्रवसे सुमङ्गलः । प्रत्यङ्स विश्वा भुवनाभि पप्रथे क्रीळन्हरिरत्यः स्यन्दते वृषा ॥
Into Indra’s belly the most rapturous Soma flows, clothing himself with energy, auspicious for the growth of the soul’s fame and force. Turning inward he spreads through all the worlds of our being; playing, the tawny steed rushes on—this bull-current pours forth.
Mantra 4
तं त्वा देवेभ्यो मधुमत्तमं नरः सहस्रधारं दुहते दश क्षिपः । नृभिः सोम प्रच्युतो ग्रावभिः सुतो विश्वान्देवाँ आ पवस्वा सहस्रजित् ॥
Thee, most honeyed for the gods, the strong ones draw out—thousand-streamed—from the ten fingers. O Soma, pressed by men with the stones, released into flow, purify thyself toward all the gods, thou conqueror of a thousand resistances.
Mantra 5
तं त्वा हस्तिनो मधुमन्तमद्रिभिर्दुहन्त्यप्सु वृषभं दश क्षिपः । इन्द्रं सोम मादयन्दैव्यं जनं सिन्धोरिवोर्मिः पवमानो अर्षसि ॥
Thee, full of sweetness, the skilful hands draw out with the stones—within the waters—the bull from the ten fingers. O Soma, making Indra glad, gladdening the divine people within us, thou rushest purified like a wave of the river.
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Soma in his purified, flowing form (Soma Pavamāna), with a clear intention that his clarified power especially exhilarates Indra while also reaching all the gods.
It describes the Soma juice as it pours in many rivulets during pressing and purification—an image of abundant, unstoppable flow and overflowing potency in the ritual.
They point to the concrete Soma-pressing: stones press out the juice, and the officiants’ hands (ten fingers) draw and guide it into purification, showing how the rite produces the divine drink.