Sukta 83
Sukta 9.83
Ascribed in RV 9 to Pavāmāna seers.
Likely Triṣṭubh (verify against full hymn).
This short Pavāmāna hymn praises Soma as he is purified through the stretched filter (pavitra), becoming fit to enter the sacrifice and carry the offering-force to the divine seat. The verses emphasize that only what is “ripened/heated” (prepared, refined) can pass the sieve—an image for both ritual clarification and inner maturation. Soma is then celebrated as world-upholding, dawn-radiant, and royal-victorious, winning wide fame (śravas) through his purifying movement.
In this hymn
Addressed to
Mantras
Mantra 1
पवित्रं ते विततं ब्रह्मणस्पते प्रभुर्गात्राणि पर्येषि विश्वतः । अतप्ततनूर्न तदामो अश्नुते शृतास इद्वहन्तस्तत्समाशत ॥
शब्द के गुरु, तुम्हारा फ़िल्टर बहुत फैला हुआ है। तुम सब तरफ से हमारे शरीर को घेर लेते हो। जो कच्चा है, जो पकड़ा नहीं है, वो उस लेवल तक नहीं पहुँच सकता। सिर्फ वो जो पक गया, जो तैयार हो गया, वो उसे उठा सकता है और पूरा पहुँच सकता है।
Mantra 2
तपोष्पवित्रं विततं दिवस्पदे शोचन्तो अस्य तन्तवो व्यस्थिरन् । अवन्त्यस्य पवीतारमाशवो दिवस्पृष्ठमधि तिष्ठन्ति चेतसा ॥
तपस को साफ करने वाला फ़िल्टर आसमान पर बिछा हुआ है। उसके चमकते हुए तान गए हैं और पक्के हैं। तेज़ ताकतें इस फ़िल्टर की रक्षा करती हैं। चेतना से वो आसमान की पीठ पर खड़े हैं, ताकि ऊपर से आने वाला फ़्लो साफ हो सके।
Mantra 3
अरूरुचदुषसः पृश्निरग्रिय उक्षा बिभर्ति भुवनानि वाजयुः । मायाविनो ममिरे अस्य मायया नृचक्षसः पितरो गर्भमा दधुः ॥
चितकबरा रंग वाला सुबह के पहले चमकता है। बैल जो जीतना चाहता है वो दुनिया को संभालता है। अपनी ताकत से जो नज़र रखते हैं वो उसे नापते हैं। पूर्वज जो इंसान की तरह देखते हैं, वो गर्भ को अंदर रख देते हैं, ताकि खुशी हमारे अंदर पैदा हो।
Mantra 4
गन्धर्व इत्था पदमस्य रक्षति पाति देवानां जनिमान्यद्भुतः । गृभ्णाति रिपुं निधया निधापतिः सुकृत्तमा मधुनो भक्षमाशत ॥
गंधर्व अपनी जगह पे खड़ा रहता है। वो देवताओं के जनम की हिफाजत करता है। दुश्मन ताकत को वो छुपा के पकड़ लेता है। खजाने का मालिक है वो। जो अच्छा काम करते हैं, वो मीठा हिस्सा पाते हैं। कोई छीन नहीं सकता उनसे।
Mantra 5
हविर्हविष्मो महि सद्म दैव्यं नभो वसानः परि यास्यध्वरम् । राजा पवित्ररथो वाजमारुहः सहस्रभृष्टिर्जयसि श्रवो बृहत् ॥
हे सोम, तू एक ऐसी भेंट है जो भेंट की ताकत से भरा है। आसमान को कपड़ा पहन के तू यज्ञ के आस पास घूमता है। तू राजा है, तेरा रथ पवित्र करने वाला है। तू जीत पे सवार है। हज़ार तीरों जैसी ताकत से तू बड़ी कीर्ति जीतता है।
Inside Sukta 83
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
The hymn opens with the pavitra stretched wide, under the lordship of sacred formulation (Brahmaṇaspati), framing purification as an all-encompassing process.
- Development
It develops the principle that only what is prepared and ripened can pass into the fulfilled state, then expands Soma’s identity into cosmic radiance at dawn and world-supporting power.
- Climax
Soma is revealed as the bull upholding the worlds, measured by seers and placed as an embryo by the Fathers—an image of hidden potency coming to birth in us.
- Where it settles
It resolves with Soma’s royal procession around the sacrifice, his filter as chariot, mounting vāja and winning great śravas—victory and wide renown through purification.
The deity: Soma Pavāmāna
- In the VedaIn this sukta, the “pavitra” is foregrounded, with Brahmaṇaspati addressed as the lord of the sacred formulation that governs purification and right utterance.
- Cosmic functionHe renews and sustains vitality, upholds the worlds, and energizes gods and humans alike; as purified flow he mediates between earth and heaven and makes offerings effective.
- Inner significanceThe sieve symbolizes discernment and inner refinement: raw impulse and unprepared nature cannot attain the goal, but what is ‘cooked’—disciplined, clarified, truth-aligned—becomes fit for illumination and victorious strength.
The seer
- Pavāmāna seer (exact attribution of RV 9.83 uncertain)Associated with the Soma Pavamāna corpus of Mandala 9—hymns shaped for the pressing, straining, and consecration of Soma as the living current of inspiration and ritual potency.
Famous verses
pavitraṃ te vitatam brahmaṇaspate
अरूरुचदुषसः पृश्निरग्रिय उक्षा बिभर्ति भुवनानि वाजयुः । मायाविनो ममिरे अस्य मायया नृचक्षसः पितरो गर्भमा दधुः ॥rājā pavitraratho
Attributes of the deity
- Purifying flow (pavāmāna)
- Filter/sieve imagery (pavitra)
- Bull-like vigor and world-support
- Dawn-radiance and emergence
- Royal sovereignty and victory
- Bestower of vāja (power/prize) and śravas (renown)
Also by this seer
- Pavamāna (Soma) hymns across Rig Veda Mandala 9 (general attribution to multiple Soma-seers rather than a single fixed author for every sukta).
- Liturgical usage in Soma sacrifice recitations (pavamāna-stotras/śastra traditions in later śrauta settings, broadly connected to Mandala 9 material).
The rite, step by step
- Press Soma and mix/prepare according to rite (initial extraction).
- Strain through the pavitra (wool/grass filter), invoking the power of sacred speech and correct formulation (Brahmaṇaspati).
- Collect the clarified Soma; circulate it ritually around the adhvara (sacrificial course).
- Offer libations to the fire and the gods; affirm Soma’s kingship and victory-bestowing force.
- Conclude with praise for the attained ‘ripe’ state—purified Soma fit for the divine seat and for granting śravas/victory.
Offerings
- Clarified Soma juice (libations)
- Ghee and associated oblations (as customary in Soma contexts)
- Praise/śastra as verbal offering (brahman—sacred formulation)
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Soma as he is purified through the ritual filter (pavitra), teaching that only what is properly prepared and refined becomes fit to reach the divine goal and empower the sacrifice.
Because purification is not only physical straining but also right sacred speech and correct ritual formulation; Brahmaṇaspati represents the lordship of that purifying “word” and ordered rite.
It can symbolize inner discernment and maturation: raw, unformed states cannot ‘pass through,’ but disciplined, clarified consciousness becomes luminous, strong, and capable of true attainment.
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