Sukta 22
Sukta 9.22
Soma Pavamāna
This Soma Pavamāna hymn celebrates the pressed Soma as swift, thundering streams that surge like chariots, bringing vigor, plenty, and inspired vision to the sacrificer. It emphasizes Soma’s purification and clarifying power—moving through the filter, becoming “clear-seeing,” and awakening dhī (inspired thought). Soma is also praised as a recoverer of hidden wealth from the Paṇis and as one who makes firm the “stretched thread,” symbolizing continuity of rite and realization.
Mantras
Mantra 1
एते सोमास आशवो रथा इव प्र वाजिनः । सर्गाः सृष्टा अहेषत ॥
यह सोम की शक्तियाँ बहुत तेज़ हैं, जैसे रथ दौड़ती है आगे। यह खुशाली लाने वाली शक्तियाँ हैं। इन्हें धारा में छोड़ दिया गया है, और वो ज़ोर से बह रही हैं।
Mantra 2
एते वाता इवोरवः पर्जन्यस्येव वृष्टयः । अग्नेरिव भ्रमा वृथा ॥
यह हवा की तरह उड़ती हैं और आवाज़ करती हैं। जैसे पर्जन्य देवता की बारिश बरसती है, वैसे ही यह भी गिरते हैं। जैसे अग्नि की आग घूमेगी, वैसे ही यह भी घूमेगी और अंधेरा दूर करेगी।
Mantra 3
एते पूता विपश्चितः सोमासो दध्याशिरः । विपा व्यानशुर्धियः ॥
यह सोम की शक्तियाँ साफ हो गई हैं और उनकी नज़र साफ है। इनमें दही मिला हुआ है। इन्होंने अच्छी सोचें पा ली हैं और उन्हें फैला दिया है। यह रिशि जैसी शक्तियाँ हैं जो दिमाग को कई तरफ खोलती हैं।
Mantra 5
एते पृष्ठानि रोदसोर्विप्रयन्तो व्यानशुः । उतेदमुत्तमं रजः ॥
यह सब रिशियों की तरह चले हैं और दोनों दुनिया की ऊंचाई तक पहुँच गए हैं। उन्होंने सबसे ऊपर वाली जगह को छुआ है, वो सबसे बड़ी और चमकदार जगह।
Mantra 7
त्वं सोम पणिभ्य आ वसु गव्यानि धारयः । ततं तन्तुमचिक्रदः ॥
हे सोम, तुम उस धन को वापस लाते हो जो पणि लोग छुपा के रखते थे। तुमने एक धागा कस के पकड़ लिया है, जैसे कोई काम पूरा करने का रास्ता बन जाए।
Inside Sukta 22
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma streams burst forth swift and powerful, compared to racing chariots that carry plenitude and force.
- Development
The hymn turns to Soma’s purification and intelligence—clarified Soma becomes clear-seeing and spreads inspired thoughts in many directions.
- Climax
Soma overcomes obstruction: he retrieves wealth and ‘luminous cattle/rays’ from the Paṇis and secures it for the sacrificer.
- Where it settles
He establishes the firm ‘stretched thread’—the stable continuity of rite, order, and the path of realization—leaving the flow secured and purposeful.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma is the pressed and flowing sacred draught, praised as a living power that runs in streams, roars, becomes purified, and invigorates gods and humans; in pavamāna hymns he is repeatedly described as ‘purified’ (pūta), ‘swift’ (āśu), and as moving through the filter (pavitra) as luminous juice.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between heaven and earth by energizing the gods (especially Indra) and sustaining ṛta through the sacrificial flow; as a cosmic elixir he renews strength, fertility, and victorious power, and restores what is hidden or withheld.
- Inner significanceSoma symbolizes the clarified current of consciousness—ecstatic vitality disciplined by purification—awakening insight (dhī), widening perception, and establishing continuity of the inner ‘thread’ of practice and truth.
Famous verses
एते सोमास आशवो रथा इव प्र वाजिनः । सर्गाः सृष्टा अहेषत ॥एते पूता विपश्चितः सोमासो दध्याशिरः । विपा व्यानशुर्धियः ॥tataṃ tantum acikradaḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Purified/clarified (pavamāna, pūta)
- Swift, force-bearing, victorious
- Luminous and abundant (vājin, giver of vāja)
- Inspiring (awakener of dhī)
- Roaring/impelling like released waters
- Recoverer of wealth from obstruction (Paṇis)
- Establisher of continuity (‘stretched thread’)
Also by this seer
- Mandala 9 Soma Pavamāna corpus
- Transmission of Soma-pressing and purification hymnody used in Soma sacrifices (Somayajña)
The rite, step by step
- Soma plant is brought and prepared; pressing begins on the pressing stones (adri).
- Juice is mixed/strengthened (often with water; in some contexts with milk/curd—dadhyāśiraḥ) and led toward purification.
- Soma is filtered through the strainer (pavitra), becoming ‘pavamāna’ (self-purifying/flowing purified).
- Purified Soma is collected in vessels and offered into the fire and/or presented to deities, especially Indra.
- Hotṛ/udgātṛ recitations accompany the flow, linking the ‘streams’ to inspiration, victory, and restored wealth.
- Distribution/consumption follows according to rite, sealing strength and clarity for gods and sacrificer.
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice
- Ghee (as accompanying oblation)
- Milk/curd admixture (dadhyāśiraḥ, where ritually applicable)
- Water used in dilution and flow
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Soma Pavamāna—Soma as he is pressed, flows, and becomes purified through the filter, bringing strength and clarity.
It refers to the ritual filtering of Soma juice, and also to the idea that Soma clarifies the mind—spreading inspired thought (dhī) and clear seeing.
The Paṇis symbolize hoarding or obstruction; Soma is praised for retrieving hidden wealth (including ‘gavyāni,’ luminous riches). The “stretched thread” points to firm continuity—of the rite, of right order, and of steady inner progress.
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