Rig Veda Sukta 111
Mandala 9Sukta 1113 Mantras

Sukta 111

Sukta 9.111

Devata

Soma Pavamāna

Chandas

Jagati (likely due to longer pādas; needs confirm)

Ce bref hymne à Pavamāna loue Soma lorsqu’il est purifié dans le filtre, resplendissant d’une lumière dorée et, coulant dans le rite, triomphant de toute hostilité. Soma y est dépeint comme le révélateur d’un trésor caché, l’instaurateur de la vitalité par des puissances triples, et comme le char divin dont l’éclat allant de l’avant soutient la force victorieuse d’Indra au combat.

Recitation with translationRig Veda 9.111

Mantras

Mantra 1

अया रुचा हरिण्या पुनानो विश्वा द्वेषांसि तरति स्वयुग्वभिः सूरो न स्वयुग्वभिः । धारा सुतस्य रोचते पुनानो अरुषो हरिः । विश्वा यद्रूपा परियात्यृक्वभिः सप्तास्येभिॠक्वभिः ॥

Par cette clarté d’or, se purifiant, il franchit toutes les haines avec ses coursiers attelés par lui-même, comme le Soleil avec ses propres rayons attelés. Le flot du Soma pressé resplendit : se purifiant, le Hari roux-doré. Lorsqu’il circule autour de toutes les formes avec les voyants, avec les puissances à sept bouches de la Parole, avec les voyants.

Mantra 2

त्वं त्यत्पणीनां विदो वसु सं मातृभिर्मर्जयसि स्व आ दम ऋतस्य धीतिभिर्दमे । परावतो न साम तद्यत्रा रणन्ति धीतयः । त्रिधातुभिररुषीभिर्वयो दधे रोचमानो वयो दधे ॥

Tu découvres ce trésor que les Paṇis avaient caché ; avec les Mères tu le purifies dans ta propre demeure — dans la maison du ṛta, par les actes de l’intelligence inspirée, dans la demeure. Tel un chant venu de loin est ce lieu où résonnent les pensées. Resplendissant, tu établis la force de vie par la triple assise, par les trois puissances rousses ; resplendissant, tu établis la force de vie.

Mantra 3

पूर्वामनु प्रदिशं याति चेकितत्सं रश्मिभिर्यतते दर्शतो रथो दैव्यो दर्शतो रथः । अग्मन्नुक्थानि पौंस्येन्द्रं जैत्राय हर्षयन् । वज्रश्च यद्भवथो अनपच्युता समत्स्वनपच्युता ॥

Il s’avance dans la direction première, discernant avec clarté ; par ses rayons il se rassemble — le char visible, le char divinement visible. Vers Indra sont venus les hymnes-uktha virils, le réjouissant pour la victoire ; et le vajra aussi — lorsque vous devenez inébranlables dans les combats, inébranlables.

Inside Sukta 111

How it unfolds

  1. Where it opens

    Soma’s golden light and self-purification, crossing beyond all hatreds like the sun with its own yoked rays.

  2. Development

    He is the revealer of hidden wealth and is cleansed ‘with the Mothers’ in the home of ṛta; inspired thoughts and chants resound as he establishes vitality through threefold ruddy powers.

  3. Climax

    Soma appears as the divine, visible chariot drawn together with rays—poetry (uktha) surges to Indra, arousing him for victory.

  4. Where it settles

    The hymn settles on steadfastness and irresistible power in conflict: Indra’s thunderbolt and Soma’s support become ‘unwavering’ in battles.

The deity: Soma Pavamāna

  • In the VedaSoma is the pressed and filtered sacred drink, praised as a radiant, tawny-golden purifier whose streaming ‘dhārā’ shines and moves among all forms; he is linked with the inspired Word (ṛk/uktha) and with Indra’s invigorating strength.
  • Cosmic functionHe mediates between earth and heaven as a luminous, purifying current—strengthening gods (especially Indra), sustaining ṛta (cosmic order), and turning inspired speech into effective power in ritual and warlike victory.
  • Inner significanceSoma Pavamāna symbolizes the clarified mind and purified life-force: when inner energies are ‘filtered’ through discipline and insight, they become luminous, overcome aversion/hostility, and empower decisive action aligned with truth (ṛta).

The seer

  • Anukramanī-attributed: Unknown (Anirukta/Anonymous seer)This hymn belongs to the Soma Pavamāna corpus where many verses are preserved without a clearly named rishi; its voice is characteristic of the ‘ritual-poetic’ seer who identifies Soma’s physical purification with cosmic illumination and victory-power.

Famous verses

अया रुचा हरिण्या पुनानो विश्वा द्वेषांसि तरति स्वयुग्वभिः सूरो न स्वयुग्वभिः । धारा सुतस्य रोचते पुनानो अरुषो हरिः । विश्वा यद्रूपा परियात्यृक्वभिः सप्तास्येभिॠक्वभिः ॥
Verse 9.111.1Defines the hymn’s core image: Soma as golden, self-purifying radiance that overcomes hostility, with the shining stream (dhārā) and the ‘seven-mouthed’ power of inspired speech.Read verse 9.111.1 →
त्वं त्यत्पणीनां विदो वसु सं मातृभिर्मर्जयसि स्व आ दम ऋतस्य धीतिभिर्दमे । परावतो न साम तद्यत्रा रणन्ति धीतयः । त्रिधातुभिररुषीभिर्वयो दधे रोचमानो वयो दधे ॥
Verse 9.111.2Connects Soma to the Paṇis/hidden-treasure motif and to ṛta: Soma ‘finds the vasu’ and establishes life-force through threefold powers, showing ritual purification as cosmic and vital renewal.Read verse 9.111.2 →
पूर्वामनु प्रदिशं याति चेकितत्सं रश्मिभिर्यतते दर्शतो रथो दैव्यो दर्शतो रथः । अग्मन्नुक्थानि पौंस्येन्द्रं जैत्राय हर्षयन् । वज्रश्च यद्भवथो अनपच्युता समत्स्वनपच्युता ॥
Verse 9.111.3Bridges Soma’s radiance with Indra’s victory: the divine chariot imagery and the arrival of manly hymns that gladden Indra, culminating in unwavering thunderbolt-power in battle.Read verse 9.111.3 →

Attributes of the deity

  • Purifier (pavamāna) flowing through the filter
  • Golden/ruddy radiance (hari/aruṣa)
  • Overcomer of hatred and obstruction
  • Finder/revealer of hidden treasure (vasu) from the Paṇis motif
  • Life-force giver and energizer of Indra
  • Linked to inspired speech: ṛk/uktha, resonant dhītis

Also by this seer

  • Part of the Mandala 9 Pavamāna collection.

The rite, step by step

  • Press Soma (savana) and mix/prepare according to the rite.
  • Filter the pressed Soma through the strainer (pavitra), watching the shining stream (dhārā).
  • Recite/chant Pavamāna verses as Soma ‘purifies himself’ and is ‘cleansed with the Mothers’ (often interpreted as waters/streams and/or ritual agencies).
  • Offer the clarified Soma to the gods—chiefly Indra—accompanied by ukthas for strength and triumph.
  • Conclude with distribution/consumption per ritual rule, affirming ṛta and communal well-being.

Offerings

  • Pressed and filtered Soma juice
  • Associated libations (waters used in purification; ancillary offerings as per Soma rite)

Frequently Asked Questions

The main deity is Soma Pavamāna—Soma as he is pressed and filtered, praised as a shining purifier who empowers the gods, especially Indra.

It refers to Soma flowing through the ritual filter (pavitra). The hymn also uses it symbolically: purification turns raw energy into clear, radiant strength aligned with ṛta (truth/order).

Filtered Soma is offered to Indra to increase his strength. The hymn links Soma’s radiance and inspired hymns (ukthas) with Indra’s unwavering victory power, symbolized by the vajra (thunderbolt).

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