Sukta 10
Sukta 9.10
Soma Pavamāna
This Soma Pavamāna hymn celebrates the self-impelled rush of the purified Soma-stream as it is pressed, filtered, and set in motion toward rāyī (plenitude, wealth, fullness of being). As Soma brightens, the hymn links his flow with solar radiance (Vivasvat), Dawn’s blessing (Uṣas, Bhaga), and a hidden heavenly station perceived by the seer’s inner eye—suggesting that ritual purification mirrors an ascent of consciousness.
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र स्वानासो रथा इवार्वन्तो न श्रवस्यवः । सोमासो राये अक्रमुः ॥
सोम की ताकतें आगे बढ़ रही हैं, जैसे गाड़ियाँ चलती हैं या घोड़े दौड़ते हैं। वो सुनने के लिए तैयार हैं। यह सब शक्तियाँ समृद्धि की तरफ जा रही हैं।
Mantra 2
हिन्वानासो रथा इव दधन्विरे गभस्त्योः । भरासः कारिणामिव ॥
जैसे गाड़ी को धक्का देते हैं, वैसे ही यह शक्तियाँ आगे बढ़ रही हैं। भगवान के हाथों में वो फैल रही हैं। जैसे कोई काम करने वाला चीज़ें उठाता है, वैसे ही यह खुशी लेकर आते हैं।
Mantra 3
राजानो न प्रशस्तिभिः सोमासो गोभिरञ्जते । यज्ञो न सप्त धातृभिः ॥
जैसे राजा लोग अपनी तकरीब से तैयार होते हैं, वैसे सोम की धारें रोशनी से चमक रही हैं। यह एक यज्ञ जैसा है जो सात लोग मिल के संभालते हैं। सब सही तरीके से हो रहा है।
Mantra 4
परि सुवानास इन्दवो मदाय बर्हणा गिरा । सुता अर्षन्ति धारया ॥
सोम के चमकते बूंदें घूम रही हैं। वो शब्द की ताकत से भरे हैं और खुशी के लिए बह रहे हैं। जैसे पानी निकलता है, वैसे ही यह भी लगातार बह रहे हैं।
Mantra 5
आपानासो विवस्वतो जनन्त उषसो भगम् । सूरा अण्वं वि तन्वते ॥
यह सूर्य के चमक से भरे हैं और सुबह की खुशी लाते हैं। चमकते हुए लोग एक पतली रोशनी की लकीर बना रहे हैं। वो रोशनी का रास्ता अंदर तक ले जाते हैं।
Mantra 6
अप द्वारा मतीनां प्रत्ना ऋण्वन्ति कारवः । वृष्णो हरस आयवः ॥
पुराने रिशियों ने ज्ञान के दरवाज़े खोल दिए हैं। जो लोग सच ढूंढ रहे हैं वो आगे बढ़ रहे हैं। वो भगवान की तेज़ शक्ति की तरफ जा रहे हैं।
Mantra 7
समीचीनास आसते होतारः सप्तजामयः । पदमेकस्य पिप्रतः ॥
साथ मिल के बैठते हैं सात लोग जो पूजा करते हैं। वो एक ही जगह को पकड़ के बैठते हैं। यह भगवान का आधार है।
Mantra 8
नाभा नाभिं न आ ददे चक्षुश्चित्सूर्ये सचा । कवेरपत्यमा दुहे ॥
वो हमारे लिए बिंदु देता है, सब का सेंटर। सूर्य के साथ नज़र भी देता है। रिशि के ज्ञान का फल हमारे लिए निकालता है।
Mantra 9
अभि प्रिया दिवस्पदमध्वर्युभिर्गुहा हितम् । सूरः पश्यति चक्षसा ॥
वो स्वर्ग की प्यारी जगह की तरफ जाते हैं। यह जगह छुपी हुई है, पूजा करने वाले लोग इसको रखते हैं। जो चमकता है वो अपनी नज़र से इसको देखता है।
Inside Sukta 10
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma-powers surge forth self-impelled—swift as chariots and eager steeds—moving toward rāyī (plenitude).
- Development
As the flow brightens, Soma is linked with Vivasvat’s radiance and Dawn’s portion (Bhaga), spreading a subtle ‘thread/path’ of light through existence.
- Climax
The hymn culminates in the revelation of a beloved ‘station of heaven’ hidden in secrecy, set in the rite, and truly seen by the luminous seer with inner vision.
- Where it settles
The movement settles into assured perception and attainment: purified Soma becomes the means by which the hidden goal is approached and beheld—ritual action and spiritual sight aligned.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma as ‘pavamāna’ is the Soma-juice in the act of becoming pure—rushing, roaring, and shining as it is pressed and strained; he is repeatedly portrayed as swift like a chariot/steed and luminous like the sun’s power.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between earth and heaven through the sacrifice: invigorating the gods, sustaining ṛta (cosmic order), and generating prosperity, vitality, and victorious force for the sacrificer.
- Inner significanceSoma’s ‘purification’ symbolizes the refinement of mind and speech—raw impulse becoming clarified inspiration; his bright flow is the awakening current that opens vision (cakṣas) and leads toward the ‘beloved station of heaven’ hidden within.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī tradition: Ascribed to the Soma Pavamāna seersThis hymn belongs to Maṇḍala 9 (the Pavamāna book), where many sūktas are transmitted without a clearly individualized r̥ṣi; the focus is the inspired vision of Soma’s purification rather than a single named author.
Famous verses
प्र स्वानासो रथा इवार्वन्तो न श्रवस्यवः । सोमासो राये अक्रमुः ॥आपानासो विवस्वतो जनन्त उषसो भगम् । सूरा अण्वं वि तन्वते ॥divas padam
Attributes of the deity
- Purifying flow (pavamāna) through the filter (pavitra)
- Swift, self-impelled movement (like ratha/arvant)
- Luminous/solar affinity (Vivasvat, Sūrya imagery)
- Bestower of rāyī (wealth, plenitude)
- Bringer of dawn-blessing (Uṣas, Bhaga)
- Revealer of hidden heavenly seat (divas padam, guhā)
Also by this seer
- Maṇḍala 9 generally: extensive Soma Pavamāna corpus used in Soma-sacrifice recitation
- Related Pavamāna hymns in RV 9 that describe Soma’s flow through the filter (pavitra) and his bestowal of wealth, light, and inspiration
The rite, step by step
- Soma stalks are pressed and the juice is expressed (savana context).
- The juice is mixed/clarified and strained through the filter (pavitra), becoming ‘pavamāna’.
- Mantras praise Soma’s swift, self-driven flow and invite his increase of rāyī and inspiration.
- The purified Soma is set forth for offering; priests (including Adhvaryu) arrange the rite and vessels.
- Libations are offered to the gods; the sacrificer seeks prosperity, clarity, and victorious strength.
Offerings
- Purified Soma-juice (libations)
- Associated oblations customary to Soma rites (e.g., ghee/clarifying accompaniments depending on śrauta procedure)
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Soma in his purified, flowing form—Soma Pavamāna—especially as he is pressed and strained in the Soma sacrifice.
As Soma is purified, he moves swiftly like a racing chariot and brings prosperity and clarity; the hymn says this purified flow also leads to a higher, hidden ‘heavenly’ goal that can be inwardly seen.
Because purified Soma is described as becoming bright and radiant; the Dawn’s blessing and solar light symbolize the awakening of vision and the spreading of a subtle path of illumination in life and ritual.
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