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.
This Pavamāna Soma hymn praises the self-purifying Soma as it rushes through the woolen strainer in “a thousand streams,” becoming fit for the gods. It especially presents Soma’s clarified essence as the prepared oblation for Vāyu and Indra, asking that the flowing Indu-forces bring abundant wealth, heroic energy, and the defeat of hostile powers. The hymn culminates in Soma’s settlement in the “womb of Ṛta,” establishing purity, right order, and luminous vision.
Mantras
Mantra 1
सोमः पुनानो अर्षति सहस्रधारो अत्यविः । वायोरिन्द्रस्य निष्कृतम् ॥
सोम अपने आप को साफ कर रहा है और हज़ार धारा में बह रहा है। यह ऊलन फ़िल्टर से गुज़र के आगे निकल रहा है। यह वायु और इन्द्र के लिए तैयार किया गया स्थान पर जा रहा है जो हमारे अंदर है।
Mantra 2
पवमानमवस्यवो विप्रमभि प्र गायत । सुष्वाणं देववीतये ॥
हे जो लोग वरदान माँगते हैं, पवमान सोम की तारीफ करो। यह वो है जो भगवान की तरह सोचता है। इसको निचोड़ा गया है और यह भगवानों के लिए आ रहा है। इससे भगवान लोग हमारे अंदर आते हैं और अपना हिस्सा लेते हैं।
Mantra 3
पवन्ते वाजसातये सोमाः सहस्रपाजसः । गृणाना देववीतये ॥
सोम रस की धारें खुद को साफ करती हैं ताकि शक्ति मिले। उनमें हज़ार गुना ताक़त है। जब लोग उनकी प्रार्थना करते हैं, वो भगवान के लिए बहते हैं। यह रस भगवान को खुश करता है और उन्हें हमारे पास लाता है।
Mantra 4
उत नो वाजसातये पवस्व बृहतीरिषः । द्युमदिन्दो सुवीर्यम् ॥
और हमारे लिए भी यह रस खुद को साफ करे ताकि हमें बड़ी शक्ति मिले। हे इंदु, तू चमकदार ताक़त ला। तू विदेशी बलवान आदमियों जैसी शक्ति दे। यह शक्ति हमारे अंदर आए।
Mantra 5
ते नः सहस्रिणं रयिं पवन्तामा सुवीर्यम् । सुवाना देवास इन्दवः ॥
यह सोम की शक्तियाँ हमारे लिए हज़ार गुना ज़्यादा दें। वो हमारे लिए बड़ी दौलत लाएँ। यह शक्तियाँ भगवान की तरफ से आती हैं। इनसे बहादुर आदमियों जैसी ताक़त भी मिले।
Mantra 6
अत्या हियाना न हेतृभिरसृग्रं वाजसातये । वि वारमव्यमाशवः ॥
यह धारें तेज़ घोड़ों की तरह दौड़ती हैं। कोई उन्हें मार के नहीं चलाता, खुद से चलते हैं। शक्ति पाने के लिए बहते हैं। वो कपड़े से पानी साफ करते हैं जैसे छान लगा रहे हो।
Mantra 7
वाश्रा अर्षन्तीन्दवोऽभि वत्सं न धेनवः । दधन्विरे गभस्त्योः ॥
चमकदार सोम की बूंदें बहती हैं। जैसे गाय अपने बच्चे के पास जाती है, वैसे यह भी बहती हैं। वो दोनों हाथों में ठहर जाती हैं। जैसे कोई पकड़ के रख ले, वैसे यह भी पकड़ में आ जाती हैं।
Mantra 8
जुष्ट इन्द्राय मत्सरः पवमान कनिक्रदत् । विश्वा अप द्विषो जहि ॥
यह सोम रस इंद्र को पसंद आता है। यह दिल खुश कर देता है और आवाज़ निकालता है। हे पवमान, सारे दुश्मन और नफ़रत को दूर कर दे। जो लोग हमारे अंदर उजाला आने से रोकते हैं, उनको हटा दे।
Mantra 9
अपघ्नन्तो अराव्णः पवमानाः स्वर्दृशः । योनावृतस्य सीदत ॥
सोम रस अपने आप को साफ़ करता है। वो बुरी और टेढ़ी ताकतों को तोड़ देता है। यह सोम धारें सूरज की दुनिया देखती हैं। वो सत्य के गर्भ में बैठ जाती हैं।
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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