Sukta 53
Sukta 9.53
Soma Pavamāna (with ritual epithet adrivaḥ)
Is mantra mein Soma ko bulaya ja raha hai jab wo daba ke saaf kiya jata hai. Soma se kaha ja raha hai ki wo rakshas aur dushman log ko maar bhagaye. Soma ke niyam pakke hain jo koi tod nahi sakta. Wo peela Indu nadi ki tarah tezi se bah raha hai. Indra ke liye Soma takat ban raha hai. Yeh takat Indra ko jung mein jeet dilati hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
उत्ते शुष्मासो अस्थू रक्षो भिन्दन्तो अद्रिवः । नुदस्व याः परिस्पृधः ॥
Som ras, tumhari taakat utho. Jaise pathar se nichodte hain waise hi buraai ko tod do. Jo log hamare saamne khade hain, unko bhaga do. Jo hamare dushman hain, unko door kar do.
Mantra 2
अया निजघ्निरोजसा रथसंगे धने हिते । स्तवा अबिभ्युषा हृदा ॥
Is taakat se woh dushman ko maar deta hai. Jab rath ladte hain aur jung hoti hai, woh jeet leta hai. Main uski tareef karta hoon bina dar ke. Mera dil khula hai.
Mantra 3
अस्य व्रतानि नाधृषे पवमानस्य दूढ्या । रुज यस्त्वा पृतन्यति ॥
Is pavitra Som ke niyam kade hain, koi tod nahi sakta. Jo tumse ladega, uski taakat tod do. Uski buri chaal ko khatam kar do.
Mantra 4
तं हिन्वन्ति मदच्युतं हरिं नदीषु वाजिनम् । इन्दुमिन्द्राय मत्सरम् ॥
Log use nadiyon mein le jaate hain. Woh peela hai aur uska nasha utarta nahi. Woh tez hai aur Indra ke liye khush karne wala hai. Yeh Indra ko taakat deta hai.
Inside Sukta 53
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma’s forces ‘rise up’ as he is pressed—an immediate martial-protective tone: breaking rakṣas and pushing away encircling hostility.
- Development
The hymn asserts Soma’s unassailable vratas (laws of purification and ṛta), and calls for the shattering of whoever wages war against him.
- Climax
Soma’s irresistible power is invoked to ‘ruj’ (break) the adversary—hostile force is to be crushed by the purifying current’s might.
- Where it settles
The vision settles on the tawny Indu rushing in the waters, unfailing in ecstasy, becoming Indra’s intoxicating, victory-bringing energy.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna, with the ritual epithet adrivaḥ
- In the VedaSoma is praised as the pressed, flowing, self-purifying draught that runs through the filters, shining tawny-gold, strong and exhilarating; he breaks rakṣas and repels hostility while becoming a delight and power for Indra.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates vitality between heaven and earth: a purifying flow that strengthens the gods (especially Indra), sustains ṛta through his vratas, and clears away forces of disorder.
- Inner significanceThe clarified current of consciousness—when ‘pressed’ by discipline and ‘filtered’ by discernment—drives out inner obscurations, stabilizes truth-guided order, and releases luminous strength and inspired joy.
The seer
- Anonymus (R̥gvedic Soma-Pavamāna seer, name not preserved in the Anukramaṇī tradition for this sukta)Representative voice of the Soma-pressing tradition in Maṇḍala 9, focusing on purification (pavamāna), protection from rakṣas, and empowerment of Indra through the pressed Indu.
Famous verses
rakṣo bhindantaḥ adrivaḥ
अस्य व्रतानि नाधृषे पवमानस्य दूढ्या । रुज यस्त्वा पृतन्यति ॥indum indrāya matsaram
Attributes of the deity
- pavamāna (self-purifying, flowing through the filter)
- adrivaḥ (linked with pressing-stones and the pressing rite)
- rakṣo-bhid (breaker of demonic obstruction)
- vrata-vat (upholder of fixed laws/ṛta)
- hari/aruṇa (tawny, radiant)
- nadīṣu iva (river-like, swift current)
- indra-matsara (intoxicating/rapturous strength for Indra)
Also by this seer
- Associated broadly with the Soma Pavamāna corpus (RV 9), where multiple hymns are attributed to various seer-families; this specific sukta is transmitted without a secure personal attribution in the provided tradition.
The rite, step by step
- Soma is brought and prepared; pressing-stones (adri) are readied.
- Soma is pressed; the expressed juice is collected.
- The juice is purified through the wool/strainer (pavitra), envisioned as a river-like flow.
- Mantras praise Soma’s rising strength to break rakṣas and repel hostile rivals.
- The clarified Soma is offered, especially to Indra, as invigorating ‘matsara’ (rapture/strength).
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice (Indu)
- Oblations accompanying Soma service (as per rite): typically ghee and ancillary offerings depending on the śrauta context
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Soma in his form as Pavamāna—Soma flowing through the filter after pressing—also called adrivaḥ in connection with the pressing-stones.
As Soma is purified, his power rises to break demonic obstruction (rakṣas), repel hostile forces, and uphold firm sacred laws (vratas), while energizing Indra.
In the Vedic ritual, purified Soma is offered to Indra as a strengthening, exhilarating drink; the sukta calls Soma “the drop that is rapture for Indra,” supporting victory and power.
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