Sukta 41
Sukta 9.41
This short Pavamāna hymn praises Soma in his flowing, purified form as he rushes through the filter, casting off the “black skin” of obscurity and revealing bright, tireless power. It petitions Soma to stream toward the sacrificers with abundant nourishment—cattle, gold-like radiance, horses, and victorious strength—and to encircle them with peace-giving protection. The hymn’s purpose is both ritual (empowering the soma-pressing) and spiritual (clarifying consciousness through the rasa of Soma).
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
प्र ये गावो न भूर्णयस्त्वेषा अयासो अक्रमुः । घ्नन्तः कृष्णामप त्वचम् ॥
जैसे गाय भागती हुई चलती है, वैसे ही यह एनर्जीज़ दौड़ती हुई आती हैं। यह चमकदार हैं और थकते नहीं हैं। यह अंधेरा जैसे काला कवर है, उसको तोड़ के निकाल देती हैं।
Mantra 2
सुवितस्य मनामहेऽति सेतुं दुराव्यम् । साह्वांसो दस्युमव्रतम् ॥
हम सोच रहे हैं कि अच्छा रास्ता मिल जाए। जो पुल पारना मुश्किल है, उसको पार कर ले। अंदर जो बुरी ताकत है जो सही काम नहीं करती, उसको हम हरा देते हैं।
Mantra 3
शृण्वे वृष्टेरिव स्वनः पवमानस्य शुष्मिणः । चरन्ति विद्युतो दिवि ॥
सोम की आवाज़ सुन, जैसे बारिश की आवाज़ आती है। यह सोम साफ करता है और ताकत रखता है। आसमान में बिजली चमकती है, जैसे ऊपर कोई जाग रहा हो।
Mantra 4
आ पवस्व महीमिषं गोमदिन्दो हिरण्यवत् । अश्वावद्वाजवत्सुतः ॥
इन्दु, हमारे पास आ। तू बड़ा पोषण लाता है। तू चमक लाता है, सोना जैसा। तू ताकत लाता, घोड़े जैसी। तू बड़ा बरकत लाता। तू निचोड़ा गया है काम के लिए।
Mantra 5
स पवस्व विचर्षण आ मही रोदसी पृण । उषाः सूर्यो न रश्मिभिः ॥
सोम, बह कर आ। दोनों दुनिया को भर दे। जैसे सुबह सूरज निकलता है और रोशनी फैलाता है, वैसे ही तू भी रोशनी फैला।
Mantra 6
परि णः शर्मयन्त्या धारया सोम विश्वतः । सरा रसेव विष्टपम् ॥
सोम, हमारे चारों तरफ अपनी धारा बहा। हमें शांति दे, सुरक्षा दे। जैसे पानी में रस घुलता है, वैसे ही तू हमारी ज़िन्दगी में घुस जा।
Inside Sukta 41
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma’s streams surge forward with force and brilliance, like a rushing herd, striking off the “black skin” of concealment.
- Development
The hymn turns from vivid imagery of purification to direct petitions: Soma is asked to flow toward the sacrificers with vast nourishment and manifold wealth-powers (cows, gold, horses, vāja).
- Climax
The prayer peaks in the vision of Soma as universal protector—encircling the worshippers on every side with a peace-bringing stream.
- Where it settles
It settles into the sense of Soma pervading the ordered world like pure essence (rasa), sustaining stable well-being and shelter.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- Cosmic functionHe is the purifier and energizer: a life-giving current that renews vitality, supports the gods in their functions, and establishes prosperity and protection for the sacrificer.
- Inner significanceSoma symbolizes the clarified essence (rasa) of consciousness—when purified, it removes inner obscurity, awakens luminous perception, and stabilizes the mind in peace and shelter.
The seer
- AnuktaThis hymn is transmitted without a clearly named seer; such anukta attributions are common in Mandala 9, where the focus rests on Soma’s liturgical flow rather than a single poet’s persona.
Famous verses
ghnantaḥ kṛṣṇām apa tvacam
ā pavasva mahīm iṣam
pari ṇaḥ śarmayantyā dhārayā
Attributes of the deity
- purifying stream (pavamāna)
- radiant/bright (tveṣa, hiraṇyavat)
- tireless energy (ayāsa)
- remover of darkness/covering (kṛṣṇā tvac)
- giver of nourishment and wealth (iṣ, gomad)
- protector who encircles with peace (śarma)
Also by this seer
- Associated broadly with the Pavamāna Soma corpus of Mandala 9 (hymns used during soma purification and offering).
The rite, step by step
- Press the soma plant and collect the expressed juice (suta).
- Strain/purify it through the filter (pavitra), allowing the streams to “flow” as the hymn is recited.
- Mix/prepare the soma with appropriate adjuncts according to rite (commonly with water; milk is typical in many soma contexts).
- Offer libations to the gods (especially Indra and the Soma-deities) while invoking Soma’s protective, nourishing flow.
- Conclude with petitions for peace, shelter, strength, and settled well-being for the community.
Offerings
- Purified soma juice (pavamāna)
- Libations into the fire/offerings in the soma rite
- Common soma adjuncts (water; often milk/curds in broader practice)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma as he flows in purified streams, drives away darkness, and brings nourishment, wealth, strength, and protective peace to the worshippers.
It is a metaphor for purification: as Soma is strained, he casts off impurity; spiritually, it points to removing inner ignorance and obscurity.
It is suited to recitation during soma pressing and straining, when the juice is purified and offered, while praying for prosperity and shelter for the community.
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