Sukta 3
Sukta 9.3
Soma Pavamāna (the self-purifying Soma)
This Pavamāna Soma hymn celebrates the pressed Soma as an immortal, winged power hastening to the vats and settling-place, then plunging into the waters to be purified. As Soma flows in a steady stream, he is praised for generating invigorating impulses (iṣaḥ) and distributing treasures to the sacrificer, linking ritual purity with prosperity and inspired energy.
Mantras
Mantra 1
एष देवो अमर्त्यः पर्णवीरिव दीयति । अभि द्रोणान्यासदम् ॥
यह देवता है, जो कभी नहीं मरता। वो उड़ने वाले की तरह तेज़ चलता है। वो उन बड़े बर्तन की तरफ जा रहा है जहाँ उसे बिठाया जाता है।
Mantra 2
एष देवो विपा कृतोऽति ह्वरांसि धावति । पवमानो अदाभ्यः ॥
यह देवता समझदार बन गया है। वो टेढ़ी-मेढ़ी रास्तों को पीछे छोड़के सीधा चल रहा है। वो खुद को साफ कर रहा है, कोई उसको पकड़ नहीं सकता।
Mantra 3
एष देवो विपन्युभिः पवमान ऋतायुभिः । हरिर्वाजाय मृज्यते ॥
यह देवता खुद को साफ कर रहा है। जो लोग सही रास्ते पे हैं, वो उसको चमका रहे हैं। वो सुनहरे रंग का है और ताकत के लिए तैयार हो रहा है।
Mantra 4
एष विश्वानि वार्या शूरो यन्निव सत्वभिः । पवमानः सिषासति ॥
यह बहादुर है और खुद को साफ कर रहा है। वो सब अच्छी चीज़ें पाना चाहता है। ऐसा लगता है जैसे अपनी ताकत से आगे बढ़ रहा हो।
Mantra 5
एष देवो रथर्यति पवमानो दशस्यति । आविष्कृणोति वग्वनुम् ॥
यह देवता खुद को साफ करता है। ऐसे चलता है जैसे कोई रथ में बैठा हो। सब उसकी तारीफ करते हैं। वो भगवान के भक्त को साफ करके सबके सामने ला देता है।
Mantra 6
एष विप्रैरभिष्टुतोऽपो देवो वि गाहते । दधद्रत्नानि दाशुषे ॥
रिशि लोग इस देवता की तारीफ करते हैं। यह पानी में उतर जाता है। अपने पास जो खज़ाना है, वो दान देने वाले को दे देता है।
Mantra 7
एष दिवं वि धावति तिरो रजांसि धारया । पवमानः कनिक्रदत् ॥
यह देवता खुद को साफ करता है और आसमान की तरफ दौड़ता है। बीच में से गुज़रता है अपनी धार के साथ। आगे बढ़ते वक़्त आवाज़ करता है।
Mantra 8
एष दिवं व्यासरत्तिरो रजांस्यस्पृतः । पवमानः स्वध्वरः ॥
यह देवता खुद को साफ करके आसमान की तरफ बह गया। बीच के सब हिस्सों से गुज़रा बिना किसी चीज़ को छूए। यह सच्चा यज्ञ करता है जो खुद चलता है।
Mantra 9
एष प्रत्नेन जन्मना देवो देवेभ्यः सुतः । हरिः पवित्रे अर्षति ॥
यह देवता पुराने ज़माने से है। भगवान लोगों के लिए बनाया गया है। सोने जैसा रंग है इसका। साफ करने वाली चीज़ में बह रहा है।
Mantra 10
एष उ स्य पुरुव्रतो जज्ञानो जनयन्निषः । धारया पवते सुतः ॥
यह सोम बहुत काम करता है। जब यह पैदा होता है, तो नई शक्ति लाता है। इसको निचोड़ा जाता है, और यह बहता है। आप आप को साफ करता है।
Inside Sukta 3
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma is pointed out as ‘this’ immortal god, rushing like a winged power toward the vats and the settling-place (RV 9.3.1).
- Development
The hymn tracks Soma’s ritual journey—movement, entry into waters, purification—while emphasizing that praise by seers empowers his beneficence and his gifting of treasures to the sacrificer (RV 9.3.6).
- Climax
Soma, ‘of many workings,’ is born through pressing and generates invigorating impulses (iṣaḥ) as he flows in a continuous stream—ritual action becomes cosmic generativity (RV 9.3.10).
- Where it settles
The flow stabilizes as purified Soma: the rite culminates in clarified potency ready for offering and for bestowing wealth, strength, and inspired energy.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaDescribed as a god and immortal power who speeds like a winged being toward the vats, enters the waters, and flows purified in a stream after pressing and straining.
- Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and inspiration: Soma’s purified flow sustains the gods, strengthens Indra and other deities, and channels abundance (ratna) into the human-sacrificial sphere.
- Inner significanceSymbol of the mind/heart’s clarified essence—when ‘pressed’ by discipline and ‘strained’ through discernment, it becomes luminous inspiration, energetic drive (iṣ), and inner purity.
Famous verses
eṣa devo amartyaḥ
dadhad ratnāni dāśuṣe
janayan iṣaḥ
Attributes of the deity
- Self-purifying (pavamāna)
- Immortal, divine power (amartya deva)
- Swift, winged motion imagery
- Moves toward vats/settling-place (droṇa, āsada)
- Plunges into waters for purification
- Bestower of treasures to the giver (dāśuṣe ratnāni)
- Generative of impulses/energies (janayan iṣaḥ)
Also by this seer
- Mandala 9 is a dedicated collection of Soma Pavamāna hymns used in Soma rites; individual authorship is frequently composite or uncertain.
- The hymn participates in the broader Pavamāna style: repeated ‘eṣa’ (“this one”) demonstratives, vivid motion imagery, and ritual-directional language (vats, settling-place, waters).
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma stalks to express the juice (suta).
- Mix/guide the expressed Soma with water for purification (apo).
- Strain through the woolen filter (pavitra) into vessels/vats (droṇa).
- Let Soma ‘settle’/clarify at the settling-place (āsada).
- Offer purified Soma as libation to the gods; distribute portions to priests and patron according to rite.
- Recite/chant Pavamāna hymns to accompany and sacralize each movement of the flowing Soma.
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice (soma rasa)
- Purifying waters (āpaḥ)
- Libations into the sacred fire (agni)
- Associated oblations per Soma rite (e.g., ghee alongside offerings, depending on śrauta procedure)
Frequently Asked Questions
It describes Soma after pressing: he rushes to the vats, is purified through water and straining, and then becomes a powerful, clarified flow fit for offering and blessing the sacrificer.
Because water is part of Soma’s purification process in the ritual. Symbolically, it also represents cleansing and clarification before Soma’s power is offered and received.
The hymn says Soma bears and grants “treasures” (ratnāni) to the giver (the patron/sacrificer) and also generates inner energies or impulses (iṣaḥ), linked with strength and inspiration.
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