Sukta 99
Sukta 9.99
Soma Pavamāna
Is mantra mein Som ka pavitra hone ka varnan hai. Som ko daba ke nikala jata hai, phir wool se filter karke saaf kiya jata hai. Ye chamakta hua drink Indra ke liye taiyar kiya jata hai. Kavi is ritual ko ek cosmic process batate hain. Som chamakdar kapde pehne hai aur ek messenger ki tarah hai. Wo bowls mein baith kar Indra ko power deta hai. Isse Indra ko jeet aur inspiration milti hai. Ye drink strength aur sahi order ke liye hai.
Mantras
Mantra 1
आ हर्यताय धृष्णवे धनुस्तन्वन्ति पौंस्यम् । शुक्रां वयन्त्यसुराय निर्णिजं विपामग्रे महीयुवः ॥
Pyare aur bahadur bhagwan ke liye log dhanush kheenchte hain. Woh shakti ka dhanush hai. Log uske liye chamakdar kapda bunte hain. Yeh sab bolne se pehle hota hai. Jo log uski badai karte hain woh yeh kaam karte hain.
Mantra 2
अध क्षपा परिष्कृतो वाजाँ अभि प्र गाहते । यदी विवस्वतो धियो हरिं हिन्वन्ति यातवे ॥
Raat ke baad Soma ko saaf karke aage bheja jaata hai. Woh taakat ke liye aage badhta hai. Jab Vivasvat ke khayal use push karte hain, toh woh peele rang wala apna safar shuru karta hai.
Mantra 3
तमस्य मर्जयामसि मदो य इन्द्रपातमः । यं गाव आसभिर्दधुः पुरा नूनं च सूरयः ॥
Hum is Soma ko saaf karte hain. Yeh woh nasha hai jo Indra ke liye sabse best hai. Pehle bhi aur ab bhi suraj ki kiranon ne isko apne muh mein liya hai.
Mantra 4
तं गाथया पुराण्या पुनानमभ्यनूषत । उतो कृपन्त धीतयो देवानां नाम बिभ्रतीः ॥
Jab Soma ko saaf kiya jaata hai, toh purane gaanon se uski prashansa hoti hai. Bhagwan ke naam leke log apne dil ki baat kehte hain.
Mantra 5
तमुक्षमाणमव्यये वारे पुनन्ति धर्णसिम् । दूतं न पूर्वचित्तय आ शासते मनीषिणः ॥
Soma jo bah raha hai, use samajhdar log ek khaas kapde se saaf karte hain. Phir use ek doot ki tarah bhejte hain purani yaad ke paas.
Mantra 6
स पुनानो मदिन्तमः सोमश्चमूषु सीदति । पशौ न रेत आदधत्पतिर्वचस्यते धियः ॥
Soma ko saaf karke bowls mein daala jaata hai. Woh bahut taakat deta hai. Jaise beej jeev mein rakha jaata hai, waise hi woh khayalon ko shakti deta hai.
Mantra 7
स मृज्यते सुकर्मभिर्देवो देवेभ्यः सुतः । विदे यदासु संददिर्महीरपो वि गाहते ॥
Soma ko sahi kaam se saaf kiya jaata hai. Yeh devta hai jo doosron devta ke liye banaya jaata hai. Jab use jaanna ho, woh paani mein mil jaata hai. Bade-bade dhaaron mein utar jaata hai.
Mantra 8
सुत इन्दो पवित्र आ नृभिर्यतो वि नीयसे । इन्द्राय मत्सरिन्तमश्चमूष्वा नि षीदसि ॥
Indu, tujhe chhanni ke through guzara jaata hai. Log tujhe le jaate hain. Tu itna tej hai ki Indra ko jaga deta hai. Indra ke paas beth jaata hai, taaki Indra tujhe pi sake.
Inside Sukta 99
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with a vivid image of empowering preparation: Soma is armed with ‘manly power’ and clothed in a shining garment by those who magnify him (the poets/priests).
- Development
Attention shifts to the technical-sacred process—Soma pouring forth, being purified through the imperishable woolen filter, and being directed like a messenger toward primeval remembrance (pūrva-citti).
- Climax
Soma’s successful transformation into the most exhilarating draught culminates in his being made ready for Indra—ecstasy disciplined into strength for divine action.
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with Soma installed in the bowls for Indra’s drinking, sealing the ritual’s purpose: purified radiance becomes shared power and victorious inspiration.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma is praised as Indu, the bright, exhilarating pressed juice that rushes forth, is strained through the pavitra (filter), and becomes a radiant offering fit for the gods—especially Indra. He is ‘clothed’ in shining splendor, guided by the wise, and installed in the cups as the drink of inspired power.
- Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and divine exhilaration: Soma renews strength, stimulates inspired speech (vip), and supports the gods’ victory and the world’s right functioning through the sacrificial order.
- Inner significancePurified consciousness: as Soma is clarified through the filter, so the mind and speech are refined—ecstasy becomes disciplined insight, and raw impulse is transformed into luminous, effective will.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī attribution varies (Pavamāna Soma seer tradition; often placed among Soma-seer lineages)Associated with the Soma Pavamāna corpus where the ‘seer’ voice is frequently collective—ritual poets describing Soma’s purification as both liturgy and revelation.
Famous verses
आ हर्यताय धृष्णवे धनुस्तन्वन्ति पौंस्यम् । शुक्रां वयन्त्यसुराय निर्णिजं विपामग्रे महीयुवः ॥तमुक्षमाणमव्यये वारे पुनन्ति धर्णसिम् । दूतं न पूर्वचित्तय आ शासते मनीषिणः ॥सुत इन्दो पवित्र आ नृभिर्यतो वि नीयसे । इन्द्राय मत्सरिन्तमश्चमूष्वा नि षीदसि ॥Attributes of the deity
- Purifying (pavamāna)
- Radiant/bright (śukra, indu)
- Invigorating and ecstatic (matsarin)
- Ritually ‘messenger-like’ carrier of intention
- Indra’s beloved draught
- Linked with inspired speech (vip) and poetic vision
Also by this seer
- Related Pavamāna hymns in Mandala 9 attributed across Anukramaṇī traditions to Soma-seer families (varies by recension and listing).
The rite, step by step
- Soma is pressed (suta) and made to flow.
- The juice is led into the pavitra (filter) and strained through the wool (vāra).
- The purified Soma is gathered and guided/‘commissioned’ by the ritual experts (manīṣiṇaḥ).
- Soma is ‘seated’ in the bowls (camū) as the offering portion.
- Libations are presented to the deities, with emphasis on Indra receiving the invigorating drink.
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (primary)
- Libations into the offering vessels/bowls (camū)
- Accompanying praises (stotra/śastra) as the verbal offering
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma while he is being purified—pressed, strained through the filter, made radiant, and prepared as the sacred drink offered especially to Indra.
In the Soma ritual the juice is strained through a woolen filter (vāra/pavitra). The hymn treats this as both a physical purification and a symbol of refining consciousness and speech.
The poets describe purified Soma as carrying the sacrificer’s intention to the gods—directed by the wise like a messenger—so the offering reaches its divine goal and awakens ancient, foundational awareness.
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