Sukta 46
Sukta 9.46
This short Pavamāna hymn celebrates Soma as he surges forth in the act of purification, rushing for the gods’ enjoyment and gaining luminous power as he flows. It vividly portrays the pressing and cleansing—seizing the bright Soma with the churning staff, mixing him with “cows” (rays/milk), and preparing his exhilarating potency especially for Indra. The purpose is both ritual and symbolic: to empower the sacrifice and to manifest purified, uplifted consciousness.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
असृग्रन्देववीतयेऽत्यासः कृत्व्या इव । क्षरन्तः पर्वतावृधः ॥
यह तेज़ धारें देवता लोगों के लिए निकली हैं। जैसे कोई काम में लगा हो, वैसे ही बह रहे हैं। पहाड़ भी उनसे बड़े हो रहे हैं।
Mantra 2
परिष्कृतास इन्दवो योषेव पित्र्यावती । वायुं सोमा असृक्षत ॥
चमकते बूंदें साफ हो के तैयार हैं। जैसे कोई नयी दुल्हन अपने पुरखों की ताकत ले के आये, वैसे ही सोम ने वायु के पास जाना है। हवा के साथ मिल गई।
Mantra 3
एते सोमास इन्दवः प्रयस्वन्तश्चमू सुताः । इन्द्रं वर्धन्ति कर्मभिः ॥
यह सोम की बूंदें हैं जो बड़े चढ़ावे के साथ मिल रही हैं। इनको दबा के बर्तन में भरा है। यह सब इंद्र की ताकत बढ़ा रहे हैं। यह सब यज्ञ के काम से होता है।
Mantra 4
आ धावता सुहस्त्यः शुक्रा गृभ्णीत मन्थिना । गोभिः श्रीणीत मत्सरम् ॥
जल्दी आओ, तुम लोग जो काम में माहिर हो। चमकता हुआ सोम को पकड़ो। उसे मथनी से हिलाओ। फिर उसमें चमक और ताकत मिलाओ ताकि वो खुशी दे सके।
Mantra 5
स पवस्व धनंजय प्रयन्ता राधसो महः । अस्मभ्यं सोम गातुवित् ॥
हे सोम, तू साफ हो के बह। तू धन और संपत्ति जीता है। तू बड़ी खुशियाँ लाने वाला है। हमारे लिए रास्ता ढूँढ़ और हमें भी ले चल।
Mantra 6
एतं मृजन्ति मर्ज्यं पवमानं दश क्षिपः । इन्द्राय मत्सरं मदम् ॥
यह सोम साफ होने के लायक है। वो खुद को साफ कर रहा है। दस हाथ मिल के जल्दी से उसे साफ करते हैं। यह सब इंद्र के लिए खुशी और ताकत लाता है।
Inside Sukta 46
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma’s swift outflow begins—energetic, purposeful, rushing forth for the gods’ enjoyment (RV 9.46.1).
- Development
The hymn turns to the concrete liturgy: skilled hands run, seize the bright Soma, churn and mix him with go- to intensify his delight-giving power (RV 9.46.4).
- Climax
The concentrated image of purification peaks: Soma, fit to be cleansed, is vigorously purified by ‘ten swift hands,’ becoming Indra’s rapture and strength (RV 9.46.6).
- Where it settles
The hymn rests in the accomplished transformation—Soma’s cleansing is complete and his intoxicating, empowering essence is ready for divine reception and ritual efficacy.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- Cosmic functionTransforms raw plant-juice into a consecrated, luminous essence that invigorates the gods, sustains ṛta (cosmic order), and empowers Indra for victorious action.
- Inner significanceThe purification of Soma mirrors the refinement of mind and vital force: impulses are ‘strained’ and clarified into a concentrated joy (matsara/mada) that supports courage, clarity, and inspired speech.
The seer
- AnirdeśyaThe focus is on the liturgy of purification rather than a personalized seer-signature.
Famous verses
असृग्रन्देववीतयेऽत्यासः कृत्व्या इव । क्षरन्तः पर्वतावृधः ॥आ धावता सुहस्त्यः शुक्रा गृभ्णीत मन्थिना । गोभिः श्रीणीत मत्सरम् ॥एतं मृजन्ति मर्ज्यं पवमानं दश क्षिपः । इन्द्राय मत्सरं मदम् ॥Attributes of the deity
- pavamāna (self-purifying/flowing)
- śukra (bright, radiant)
- marjya (fit to be cleansed)
- indriya-vardhana (strengthening Indra/heroic power)
- rasa (sap/essence)
- pavitra-gāmin (moving through the filter)
Also by this seer
- Associated broadly with the Mandala 9 Pavamāna cycle (Soma purification hymns) used in Soma-pressing liturgy.
- The diction and imagery align with the Pavitra (filter) and Adhvaryu/pressing operations typical of RV 9 rather than a distinct family style.
The rite, step by step
- Press the Soma plant to express the juice (savana context).
- Agitate/churn with the manthana/manthin (churning staff) to release and aerate the juice (RV 9.46.4).
- Strain through the pavitra (filter) and cleanse repeatedly—‘ten swift hands’ imagery for coordinated priestly action (RV 9.46.6).
- Mix/fortify with go- (commonly milk; also ‘rays’ as a poetic double sense) to strengthen the matsara (exhilarating potency) (RV 9.46.4).
- Offer the purified Soma in libation, especially oriented to Indra’s empowerment (RV 9.46.6).
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (pavamāna soma)
- Milk/curd admixture (go-)
- Libations to Indra and the gods
Frequently Asked Questions
It describes Soma in the act of purification—rushing forth, being churned and strained, and becoming a bright, powerful drink offered to the gods, especially to Indra.
These are ritual images from Soma preparation: priests handle and churn the juice and mix it with milk (and poetically, with ‘rays’ of light) to strengthen its invigorating potency.
He symbolizes inner purification: raw energies and emotions are refined through discipline into a clear, luminous joy that supports strength, clarity, and inspired power.
Ask anything about Sukta 46 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.
