Sukta 43
Sukta 9.43
Soma Pavamāna
This short Pavamāna Soma hymn celebrates Soma as he is purified in the filter, compared to a swift steed cleansed by the radiant “cows” (rays) and then adorned by the poets’ hymns. It asks the bright Indu to bring splendid wealth (rayi), many-radianced brilliance, and to empower the chanting seer with victorious strength and noble hero-energy (suvīrya).
Mantras
Mantra 1
यो अत्य इव मृज्यते गोभिर्मदाय हर्यतः । तं गीर्भिर्वासयामसि ॥
वो सोम जल्दी से साफ होता है, जैसे तेज़ घोड़ा दौड़ के फिट हो जाए। रोशनी के किरण उसे चमका देते हैं। यह सुनहरा रंग का है। हम अपने गानों से उसे और भी चमक देते हैं।
Mantra 2
तं नो विश्वा अवस्युवो गिरः शुम्भन्ति पूर्वथा । इन्दुमिन्द्राय पीतये ॥
हमारी सारी दुआएं उस सोम को सजाती हैं, जैसे पुराने ज़माने में होता था। यह चमकता हुआ बूंद है। इंद्र के लिए है ताकि वो पी सके और ताकत पाए।
Mantra 3
पुनानो याति हर्यतः सोमो गीर्भिः परिष्कृतः । विप्रस्य मेध्यातिथेः ॥
सोम खुद को साफ करता है और आगे बढ़ता है। यह सुनहरे रंग का है। हमारे गानों से तैयार हो के चलता है। रिशि इस काम में मदद करते हैं जो समझ रखते हैं।
Mantra 4
पवमान विदा रयिमस्मभ्यं सोम सुश्रियम् । इन्दो सहस्रवर्चसम् ॥
हे सोम, जो खुद को साफ करता है, हमारे लिए धन ला। वो धन अच्छा हो, चमकता हो। हे इंदु, हज़ारों रोशनी वाला धन दे।
Mantra 5
इन्दुरत्यो न वाजसृत्कनिक्रन्ति पवित्र आ । यदक्षारति देवयुः ॥
इंदु दौड़ता है जैसे घोड़ा दौड़ के कुछ ला दे। वो साफ करने वाले में कूदता है। जब भगवान को ढूँढने वाला आगे बढ़ता है, तब यह उस पार चला जाता है।
Mantra 6
पवस्व वाजसातये विप्रस्य गृणतो वृधे । सोम रास्व सुवीर्यम् ॥
सोम, तू खुद को साफ़ कर ताकि हमें शक्ति मिले। जो रिशि यह गा रहा है, उसकी बुद्धि बढ़े। हमें ऐसी ताकत दे जो दिल को स्ट्रांग करे।
Inside Sukta 43
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma is introduced as a swift steed being cleansed by the shining ‘cows’ (rays), readying him for joy and offering.
- Development
The poets intensify praise: Soma is made radiant by hymns, and the focus turns to what his purified brilliance brings—splendid wealth and many-rayed glory.
- Climax
A direct petition: Pavamāna is asked to ‘find’ and deliver suśriya rayi and sahasravarcas (thousandfold radiance).
- Where it settles
The hymn ends with an actionable request—purify for victory and increase the praising seer, granting suvīrya (noble, effective hero-power).
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma is the pressed, flowing, and self-purifying divine drink, bright and golden, rushing through the woolen filter and becoming fit for the gods. He is praised as radiant, exhilarating, and as one whom poets “clothe” with inspired speech.
- Cosmic functionMediator of vitality and light: he invigorates gods and humans, supports ṛta (ordered truth), and turns the raw plant-juice into a luminous, life-sustaining power that enables victory, wealth, and inspired vision.
- Inner significanceThe purification of Soma mirrors inner refinement—clarifying consciousness, intensifying inspiration (dhī), and converting raw impulse into illumined strength and joyful ecstasy directed toward truth.
The seer
- Anukramaṇī-attributed Soma Pavamāna seer (tradition does not preserve a single, stable personal name for RV 9.43)Associated with the Mandala 9 Soma-Pavamāna corpus that poetically maps the ritual purification of Soma into a vision of spiritual illumination and ecstatic inspiration.
Famous verses
यो अत्य इव मृज्यते गोभिर्मदाय हर्यतः । तं गीर्भिर्वासयामसि ॥sahasravarcasam
pavasva vājasātaye
Attributes of the deity
- self-purifying (pavamāna)
- radiant/bright (indu)
- golden-hued
- ecstasy-giving (madāya)
- victory- and strength-bestowing (vājasāti, suvīrya)
- inspirer of hymns and seers
Also by this seer
- Part of the broader Pavamāna (Soma purification) hymns of Mandala 9, used across Soma-pressing liturgies
- Contributes to the recurring Rigvedic imagery of Soma as Indu (the bright drop) whose purification yields light, vigor, and inspired speech
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma (abhiṣava) and collect the juice
- Filter/purify through the woolen strainer (pavitra), allowing Soma to ‘run’ as Pavamāna
- Recite Pavamāna verses as Soma flows, ‘adorning’ him with stoma (praise)
- Mix/prepare Soma according to the rite (often with water/milk as prescribed)
- Offer Soma libations to the deities (especially Indra and associated gods)
- Conclude with petitions for rayi (wealth), brilliance, victory, and inner power for the chanter
Offerings
- Pressed Soma juice (primary)
- Libations of purified Soma
- Accompaniments as per rite (water, milk/curds in some preparations)
Frequently Asked Questions
The deity is Soma Pavamāna—Soma as he flows through the filter in the Soma sacrifice, becoming purified, bright, and fit to be offered.
It asks for splendid wealth (rayi), great radiance (sahasravarcas), success in winning strength and plenty (vājasāti), and noble inner power (suvīrya).
Because the ritual purification is like grooming a fast steed: Soma is ‘cleaned’ by the bright rays and then ‘adorned’ by hymns, showing both physical filtering and inner illumination.
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