Sukta 13
Sukta 9.13
Soma Pavamāna (with explicit linkage to Vāyu and Indra as recipients).
Likely Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-class line length; requires syllable count verification.
Is mantra mein Pavamana Soma ki taareef hai jo khud saaf hota hai. Soma woolen chhanni se hazaron dhaara mein bahata hai. Aise mein wo devtaon ke liye taiyaar ho jata hai. Soma ka saaf ras Vayu aur Indra ke liye offering ban jata hai. Yeh bahate hue Indu shaktiyan dhan, veerta aur dushmano par jeet laati hain. Ant mein Soma Rta ki god mein bas jata hai aur sahi vyavastha sthapit karta hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
सोमः पुनानो अर्षति सहस्रधारो अत्यविः । वायोरिन्द्रस्य निष्कृतम् ॥
Soma apne aap ko saaf kar raha hai aur hazaar dhaara mein beh raha hai. Yeh woolen filter se guzar ke aage nikal raha hai. Yeh Vayu aur Indra ke liye taiyaar kiya gaya sthaan par ja raha hai jo humare andar hai.
Mantra 2
पवमानमवस्यवो विप्रमभि प्र गायत । सुष्वाणं देववीतये ॥
Hey jo log vardaan maangte hain, Pavamana Soma ki tareef karo. Yeh woh hai jo bhagwan ki tarah sochta hai. Isko nichoda gaya hai aur yeh bhagwanon ke liye aa raha hai. Isse bhagwan log humare andar aate hain aur apna hissa lete hain.
Mantra 3
पवन्ते वाजसातये सोमाः सहस्रपाजसः । गृणाना देववीतये ॥
Som ras ki dhaarein khud ko saaf karti hain taaki shakti mile. Unmein hazaar guna taqat hai. Jab log unki prarthana karte hain, woh bhagwan ke liye bahate hain. Yeh ras bhagwan ko khush karta hai aur unhe hamare paas laata hai.
Mantra 4
उत नो वाजसातये पवस्व बृहतीरिषः । द्युमदिन्दो सुवीर्यम् ॥
Aur hamare liye bhi yeh ras khud ko saaf kare taaki humein badi shakti mile. Hey Indu, tu chamakdar taqat laa. Tu videsi balwan aadmiyon jaisi shakti de. Yeh shakti hamare andar aaye.
Mantra 5
ते नः सहस्रिणं रयिं पवन्तामा सुवीर्यम् । सुवाना देवास इन्दवः ॥
Yeh Som ki shaktiyaan hamare liye hazaar guna zyada den. Woh hamare liye badi daulat laayein. Yeh shaktiyaan bhagwan ki taraf se aati hain. Inse bahadur aadmiyon jaisi taqat bhi mile.
Mantra 6
अत्या हियाना न हेतृभिरसृग्रं वाजसातये । वि वारमव्यमाशवः ॥
Yeh dhaarein tez ghodon ki tarah daudti hain. Koi unhe maar ke nahi chalata, khud se chalte hain. Shakti paane ke liye bahate hain. Woh kapde se paani saaf karte hain jaise chaan laga rahe ho.
Mantra 7
वाश्रा अर्षन्तीन्दवोऽभि वत्सं न धेनवः । दधन्विरे गभस्त्योः ॥
Chamakdar Som ki boondein bahati hain. Jaise gaay apne bacche ke paas jaati hai, waise yeh bhi bahati hain. Woh dono haathon mein thehar jaati hain. Jaise koi pakad ke rakh le, waise yeh bhi pakad mein aa jaati hain.
Mantra 8
जुष्ट इन्द्राय मत्सरः पवमान कनिक्रदत् । विश्वा अप द्विषो जहि ॥
Yeh Soma ras Indra ko pasand aata hai. Yeh dil khush kar deta hai aur aawaz nikaalta hai. He Pavamana, saare dushman aur nafrat ko door kar de. Jo log hamare andar ujaala aane se rokte hain, unko hata de.
Mantra 9
अपघ्नन्तो अराव्णः पवमानाः स्वर्दृशः । योनावृतस्य सीदत ॥
Soma ras apne aap ko saaf karta hai. Woh buri aur tedhi taqaton ko tod deta hai. Yeh Soma dhaarein sooraj ki duniya dekhti hain. Woh satya ke garbh mein baith jaati hain.
Inside Sukta 13
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma begins as an impetuous, thousand-streamed current, purifying himself as he rushes beyond the woolen filter toward the prepared divine seat.
- Development
The hymn shifts from vivid ritual imagery (flowing, straining, preparation) to the boon-request: may the purified Indu-powers bring abundant wealth and noble heroic strength.
- Climax
Soma’s purified force becomes openly militant and luminous—he smites hostile/crooked powers and attains ‘sun-seeing’ clarity.
- Where it settles
The currents finally ‘take their seat in the womb of Ṛta,’ closing on establishment in truth-order and the secure fruition of purification.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma is the pressed and flowing sacred drink, here celebrated specifically as pavamāna—“self-purifying”—as it streams through the sheep’s-wool filter (avi) in many currents and becomes the refined oblation. The hymn depicts Soma as luminous, forceful, and truth-seated, driving away crooked/hostile powers and taking his place in the realm of Ṛta.
- Cosmic functionSoma mediates between earth and heaven: extracted from the plant, clarified through ritual order, and offered so that the gods—especially Vāyu (breath/wind) and Indra (victorious power)—are strengthened to uphold cosmic stability and victory.
- Inner significancePsychologically, Soma Pavamāna signifies the mind-life (prāṇa and thought) being clarified: impulses are strained of turbulence, energy becomes lucid, and the purified current settles into truth (ṛta), enabling ‘sun-seeing’ (svardṛś) consciousness.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī attribution requiredThis sukta’s seer is not identifiable from the supplied data; in Mandala 9 many hymns are attributed to Soma-pavamāna seers from multiple families, and the precise r̥ṣi must be verified from the Sarvānukramaṇī for RV 9.13.1.
Famous verses
sahasradhāro atyaviḥ
sahasriṇaṃ rayim
yonau ṛtasya
Attributes of the deity
- Self-purifying (pavamāna)
- Thousand-streamed abundance (sahasradhāra)
- Passes beyond the woolen filter (atyaviḥ)
- Prepared oblation-seat for Vāyu and Indra (vāyor indrasya niṣkṛtam)
- Bestower of wealth and heroic power (rayi, suvīrya)
- Destroyer of hostile/crooked forces (apaghnan arāvṇaḥ)
- Truth-seated, Ṛta-womb abiding (yonau ṛtasya)
- Luminous, ‘sun-world seeing’ (svardṛśaḥ)
Also by this seer
- Attribution cannot be responsibly listed without Anukramaṇī confirmation for RV 9.13.
The rite, step by step
- Soma is pressed/extracted (savana) and mixed as required with water for flow.
- The juice is poured through the woolen strainer (avi/pavitra), repeatedly purified as it streams.
- The clarified Soma is collected in the vessel and ‘prepared’ as niṣkṛta—fit/appointed for divine reception.
- Invocations are made to Soma Pavamāna while directing the offering intention toward Vāyu and Indra.
- Libations are offered into the fire or presented according to Soma-rite procedure, accompanied by requests for rayi (plenty) and suvīrya (heroic vigor).
- Concluding aspiration: the purified currents ‘sit’ in Ṛta—stability, right order, and victory over hostile forces are affirmed.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice (Soma-rasa)
- Water for washing/flowing in purification
- Optional accompaniments per rite (e.g., milk/curds in some traditions)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma as he is purified through the ritual strainer, then offered as a refined oblation—especially for Vāyu and Indra—while asking for wealth, strength, and protection.
Because Pavamāna Soma is defined by the act of purification: the juice is strained through wool so it becomes clear, potent, and ritually fit for offering.
It means the purified Soma settles into Ṛta—truth and right order—symbolizing that purification leads to clarity, harmony, and the defeat of crooked or hostile forces.
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