Sukta 77
Sukta 9.77
Soma Pavamāna (as Indra’s vajra-form)
This short Pavamāna hymn praises Soma as he is purified and made ready in the vessel, shining as Indra’s vajra—an irresistible force that brings victory and abundance. The verses picture the filtered Soma as sweet, radiant, and law-bearing (ṛta), drawing to himself the rich streams of ghee-like essence and energizing the sacrificer with strength, “rays” (go), and inspired speech. In its closing movement, the Soma-flow is identified with the wide, faithful powers of Varuṇa and Mitra, making the purification not only a ritual act but a harmonizing of cosmic order and inner truth.
Mantras
Mantra 1
एष प्र कोशे मधुमाँ अचिक्रददिन्द्रस्य वज्रो वपुषो वपुष्टरः । अभीमृतस्य सुदुघा घृतश्चुतो वाश्रा अर्षन्ति पयसेव धेनवः ॥
यह बर्तन के अंदर आवाज़ करता है, जैसे शक्कर भरा हो। यह इंद्र की बिजली है, सबसे ज़्यादा चमक-दार। उसकी तरफ से सच्ची नदियां आती हैं, जैसे घी टपक रहा हो। जैसे गाय दूध देती है, वैसे यह नदियां आती हैं।
Mantra 2
स पूर्व्यः पवते यं दिवस्परि श्येनो मथायदिषितस्तिरो रजः । स मध्व आ युवते वेविजान इत्कृशानोरस्तुर्मनसाह बिभ्युषा ॥
वो पुराना सोम रस पवित्र होके बह रहा है। एक बाज़ ने उसे आसमान से लाया था, दुनिया के पार से। वो मीठा रस लेके जल्दी-जल्दी आ रहा है, ताकत से काँप रहा है। एक तीर मारने वाले ने उससे डरना चाहा था, पर वो भी डर गया।
Mantra 3
ते नः पूर्वास उपरास इन्दवो महे वाजाय धन्वन्तु गोमते । ईक्षेण्यासो अह्यो न चारवो ब्रह्मब्रह्म ये जुजुषुर्हविर्हविः ॥
पुराने और नए सोम की बूंदें हमारे लिए चलें। वो ताकत और चमक लाएं, जैसे गाय का दूध। वो साँप की तरह तेज़ हैं, सबको दिखते हैं। हर पूजा में वो मंत्र के साथ आते हैं, भगवान के पास जाते हैं।
Mantra 4
अयं नो विद्वान्वनवद्वनुष्यत इन्दुः सत्राचा मनसा पुरुष्टुतः । इनस्य यः सदने गर्भमादधे गवामुरुब्जमभ्यर्षति व्रजम् ॥
यह सोम जानता है क्या चाहिए। वो हमारे लिए जंगल की तरह छुपा हुआ माल ढूंढता है। लोग उसकी तारीफ करते हैं, वो सीधा चलता है। अंदर कुछ नया बना रहा है, जैसे बच्चा पैदा होता है। फिर वो चमकदार गायों के खुले में दौड़ता है।
Mantra 5
चक्रिर्दिवः पवते कृत्व्यो रसो महाँ अदब्धो वरुणो हुरुग्यते । असावि मित्रो वृजनेषु यज्ञियोऽत्यो न यूथे वृषयुः कनिक्रदत् ॥
वो सही काम करता है, आसमान से नीचे आता है। बहुत बड़ा है, कोई उससे धोखा नहीं दे सकता। वरुण बड़ा है, कानों का मालिक है। मित्र भी पूजा में बैठता है, जैसे घोड़े में ताकत होती है, वो चिल्लाता है और जीत की तरफ ले जाता है।
Inside Sukta 77
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Soma is heard and seen in the vessel—sweet, radiant, and explicitly named as Indra’s vajra-like power.
- Development
The hymn expands the imagery: streams of ṛta and ghee-like richness flow toward him; the Soma-drops, ancient and later, speed toward great strength and ‘rays,’ accepting offering and mantra in a continuous inner movement.
- Climax
Soma’s purified force is universalized: he flows from the luminous heaven as the ‘right-doer’ essence, vast and unbetrayable—identified with Varuṇa’s wide law and Mitra’s sacrificial harmony.
- Where it settles
The flow culminates in a vigorous, victorious drive—like a strong stallion crying within the herd—leaving the hearer with energized aspiration and ordered power ready for ritual offering and inner conquest.
The deity: Soma Pavamāna
- In the VedaSoma is the pressed and filtered sacred drink, ‘pavamāna’ as he runs clear through the wool/strainer into the vessel—sweet (madhumat), radiant (vapuṣo vapuṣṭara), and compelling like Indra’s thunderbolt.
- Cosmic functionHe mediates between heaven and earth through sacrifice, quickening the gods, strengthening Indra for victory, and establishing the flow of ṛta (cosmic truth/order) as abundance, inspiration, and protection.
- Inner significanceThe clarified Soma symbolizes purified consciousness and concentrated life-force: when filtered, it becomes decisive will (vajra), luminous discernment, and mantra-powered aspiration that aligns the seeker with truth and right action.
Famous verses
indrasya vajro vapuṣo vapuṣṭaraḥ
brahma-brahma ye jujuṣur havir-haviḥ
चक्रिर्दिवः पवते कृत्व्यो रसो महाँ अदब्धो वरुणो हुरुग्यते । असावि मित्रो वृजनेषु यज्ञियोऽत्यो न यूथे वृषयुः कनिक्रदत् ॥Attributes of the deity
- Pavamāna (self-purifying, flowing clear)
- Madhumat (honey-sweet delight)
- Vajra-like force (Indra’s empowering might)
- Ṛta-linked (streams of Truth)
- Ghee-dripping richness (ghṛtaścuta)
- Swift, visible movement (serpent-like imagery)
- Wide-law power (Varuṇa aspect)
- Harmonizing, sacrificial friendliness (Mitra aspect)
Also by this seer
- General participation in Mandala 9’s Soma-Pavamāna hymns (praise of Soma in the act of filtration and pressing).
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma on the soma-stones and collect the juice.
- Filter/purify through wool or strainer into the vessel (kośa/droṇa), reciting Pavamāna verses.
- Offer purified Soma in libations to Indra (and associated deities), maintaining ṛta through correct chant and measure.
- Complete with additional offerings and prayers for vāja (victorious force), go (rays/cattle), and protection under Varuṇa–Mitra order.
Offerings
- Purified Soma juice (pavamāna)
- Ghee (as accompanying oblation and as the hymn’s symbolic ‘richness’)
- Havis offerings paired with mantras (havir-haviḥ)
Frequently Asked Questions
The hymn praises Soma Pavamāna—Soma as he is purified and made ready for offering—described as Indra’s thunderbolt-like power.
Because purified Soma is seen as the force that empowers Indra to overcome obstacles; spiritually, it represents a concentrated, decisive energy born from purification.
The final verse shows Soma’s flow as carrying the powers of Varuṇa (vast, unbreakable cosmic law) and Mitra (harmony and right relationship), so the ritual purification also signifies alignment with ṛta.
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