Sukta 20
Sukta 9.20
Pavamāna Soma seer tradition (RV 9).
Gāyatrī
This short Gāyatrī hymn praises Soma Pavamāna as he rushes through the woolen filter (pavitra), a seer-like stream prepared for the gods’ enjoyment. The poet asks the purified Soma to overcome all opposing forces and to bring firm wealth (dhruva rayi), nourishment/impulse of increase (iṣ), and heroic power (suvīrya) into the hymn and the sacrificer’s life.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र कविर्देववीतयेऽव्यो वारेभिरर्षति । साह्वान्विश्वा अभि स्पृधः ॥
यह रिशि देवताओं के लिए बह रहा है। सोम को भेड़ के ऊन से साफ किया जा रहा है। यह सब रुकावटों को पार कर के चलता है।
Mantra 2
स हि ष्मा जरितृभ्य आ वाजं गोमन्तमिन्वति । पवमानः सहस्रिणम् ॥
वो साफ करता हुआ गाने वालों के लिए ताकत लाता है। इसमें बहुत सारी किरण होती है। यह ताकत हज़ार गुना बढ़ जाती है।
Mantra 3
परि विश्वानि चेतसा मृशसे पवसे मती । स नः सोम श्रवो विदः ॥
सोम तुम सब चीज़ों के पास जाते हो, अपनी सोच से। तुम साफ करते हो, हमारे खयालों को भी ठीक करते हो। हे सोम, हमारे लिए वो कामयाबी लाओ जो लोग सुन सकें और सच फैल सकें।
Mantra 4
अभ्यर्ष बृहद्यशो मघवद्भ्यो ध्रुवं रयिम् । इषं स्तोतृभ्य आ भर ॥
सोम, हमारे पास आओ, बड़ी शान के साथ। जो लोग दान देते हैं, उनके लिए पक्का धन लाओ। जो लोग तुम्हारे गाना गाते हैं, उनको भी बढ़ाओ। उनका मन भर जाए और सच में मज़बूत हो जाए।
Mantra 5
त्वं राजेव सुव्रतो गिरः सोमा विवेशिथ । पुनानो वह्ने अद्भुत ॥
सोम, तुम ऐसे हो जैसे अच्छा राजा होता है। तुम उन गानों में आ जाते हो जो लोग भगवान के लिए गाते हैं। तुम खुद को साफ करते हो, एक अजब ताकत बन जाते हो जो हमारी पूजा आगे ले जाता है।
Mantra 6
स वह्निरप्सु दुष्टरो मृज्यमानो गभस्त्योः । सोमश्चमूषु सीदति ॥
वो ताकत पानी में इतनी तेज़ है कि कोई रोक नहीं सकता। हाथों में साफ होके सोम उन बर्तन में बैठ जाता है। यह वो बर्तन हैं जहाँ पूजा का काम होता है।
Mantra 7
क्रीळुर्मखो न मंहयुः पवित्रं सोम गच्छसि । दधत्स्तोत्रे सुवीर्यम् ॥
सोम, तुम अपनी ताकत के साथ खेलते हो, पूजा में लगे रहते हो। तुम साफ करने वाले पानी के पास जाते हो। गानों में हिम्मत भर देते हो, ताकि अंदर की लड़ाई में जीत मिले।
Inside Sukta 20
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma is invoked as a kavi (seer) who rushes forth through the woolen filter for the gods’ delight, overpowering all resistances.
- Development
The hymn turns to explicit petitions: vast glory, steadfast wealth (dhruva rayi), and nourishing increase (iṣ) for the offerers and singers.
- Climax
Soma’s passage to the pavitra is portrayed as dynamic and victorious—his purified movement itself becomes the source of power placed into the hymn (suvīrya).
- Where it settles
The hymn closes with Soma ‘going to the purifier’ and endowing the stotra with heroic force, sealing the rite with strength for both speech and life.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between humans and gods by carrying oblations and awakening divine powers; as a purifier, he sustains ṛta (cosmic order) by transforming raw potency into clarified, shareable essence.
- Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness: the mind’s rushing energies are filtered into luminous insight, steadiness, and courageous speech that can ‘win’ the inner struggle.
The seer
- Pavamāna Soma seer tradition (RV 9)A collective, school-based authorship typical of Mandala 9, where multiple seer-families transmit and refine hymns to Soma’s purification, emphasizing the ritual process and its inner transformative symbolism.
Famous verses
प्र कविर्देववीतयेऽव्यो वारेभिरर्षति । साह्वान्विश्वा अभि स्पृधः ॥dhruvaṃ rayim
pavitraṃ soma gacchasi
Attributes of the deity
- pavamāna (self-purifying/being purified)
- kavi (seer-like intelligence)
- swift flowing streams
- pavitra (filter/purifier)
- giver of dhruva rayi (stable prosperity)
- bestower of iṣ (nourishing increase) and suvīrya (heroic power)
- overcomer of spṛdhaḥ (oppositions/resistances)
Also by this seer
- Numerous Pavamāna (purifying Soma) hymns across Rigveda Mandala 9
- Development of Soma imagery centered on the filter (pavitra), flowing streams, and the bestowal of rayi (wealth) and vīrya (power)
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma stalks and collect the expressed juice
- Mix/prepare with water and customary adjuncts as per rite
- Pass the Soma through the woolen filter (pavitra/avya) into a vessel
- Chant the Pavamāna stotras while Soma ‘flows’ (arṣati)
- Offer clarified Soma to the gods (notably Indra and other deities) and distribute according to ritual share
- Conclude with prayers for stable wealth (rayi), nourishment (iṣ), and strength (vīrya)
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice
- Water for mixing/flow
- Woolen filter (pavitra) as the purifying medium (ritual implement)
Frequently Asked Questions
Soma Pavamāna is Soma as he is being purified—flowing through the ritual filter—so he becomes fit for the gods and powerful for the sacrificer.
The woolen filter (pavitra/avya) is the key ritual instrument that clarifies Soma; the hymn uses it as a symbol of purification that turns raw force into luminous, beneficial power.
It asks for victory over opposition, steadfast prosperity (dhruva rayi), nourishing increase (iṣ), and heroic strength (suvīrya) that empowers both life and sacred speech.
Ask anything about Sukta 20 of the Rig Veda
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Rig Veda in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
